Kentucky's modern gun deer season one week away
By Kenny Darnell
Columnist
Don't look, Ethel, but Kentucky's modern gun season for deer will open next Saturday, Nov. 12th.
The season has grown along with the Commonwealth's deer heard, but not in the same proportion as it runs for only 16 days. Still, that's a far cry from meager seasons which began in the 1970's and a quantum leap from the no-season years.
Hunters in “God's Country” are expected to harvest around 125,000 deer again this year - and that's only counting the ones that are reported. By some estimates, deer taken by poachers and hunters who fail to report their deer could double the annual harvest level. Yet the herd continues to grow.
For anyone hunting deer in Kentucky, the first hurdle is the license and deer tag. Residents must have a resident hunting license and a deer tag. Non-residents must purchase the ever-more-expensive non-resident license along with a non-resident deer tag.
Hunters residing within the borders can expect to shell out $40 for the deer hunting combination while those who live somewhere on the other side of the line will have to plunk down $165.
One hundred, sixty-five dollars is terribly cheap to hunt in one of the hottest states for taking record book quality deer. It's even more of a bargain when compared against our neighbor to the south, Tennessee, which will gouge hunters for nearly $300 for the opportunity to shoot a scraggly raghorn. The secret to Kentucky's top quality deer hunting is the one-buck rule.
Unless a person hunts on land he or she owns, a license and a tag is in order. Any hunter born after Jan. 1, 1975 must also have a hunter education card. The next most important thing a deer hunter needs is a fine writing instrument for completing the initial portion of the harvest log before even moving the deer's carcass.
All deer harvested in the Commonwealth must be logged onto the handy-dandy harvest log on the back of the deer tag or hunting license, and reported to the KDFWR via the magical Telli-check line by midnight on the day the deer is recovered.
Hunters who harvest a deer on their own land and are not required to have a license or deer tag must make their own harvest log. A sample can be found in the hunting guide or any license vendor can print out a blank log. When reporting a deer, be sure to wait for the conformation number and write it on the handy-dandy harvest log.
Anyone going afield during the modern gun season, with the exception of waterfowl hunters, must wear a hunter orange hat plus an orange coat or vest that is visible from all sides. It must be solid orange - the hunter orange camouflage pattern is not legal in Kentucky. Orange must be worn at all times while in the field during this time, regardless of the hunting method.
Any centerfire rifle is legal for deer in Kentucky, along with shotguns loaded with slugs. Buckshot is not allowed; neither are fully jacketed military style bullets. Rimfire cartridges are not allowed, either. Rifles and shotguns cannot hold more than ten total rounds, and no fully automatic weapons are allowed.
Harvest limits are set by zones which can be found in the Hunting Guide. Most west Kentucky counties are Zone 1 which means unlimited harvest of does - provided the hunter has the proper tags.
There is no limit to the number of deer a hunter may take per day, but as always, only one antlered buck is allowed per season. An antlered buck is defined as having a visible antler. Button bucks are excluded, but must be reported as a male deer with no visible antler on the handy-dandy harvest log.
The woods will be full of hunters come Saturday. The most important issue is safety. Expect to see other hunters in the woods even if you are on private property. There are enough criminal trespassers out there to sustain a “no-limit” season on poachers.
Please be mindful of property lines and the requirement to have the permission of the landowner when hunting. The old days of following a bird dog over everyone's property are over. Deer hunters are a serious lot and trespassers are not taken lightly.
Wouldn't you know it? As I reported last week, it is time for some numbskull to start blaming hunters for the increased number of deer on seen on the roads during the fall.
I just received a press release from the Kentucky Deptartment Of Transportation attributing the increased presence of deer to “hunting pressures.” Good grief. Wonder how the Transportation Dept. explains nighttime deer movement? Hey guys, go ahead and pave over that deer carcass and take another coffee break.
Tonight is the night for the annual Murray/Calloway Ducks Unlimited bash at the Murray Country Club. Doors will open around 6:30, and a meal will be served.
This is the big fund-raiser for the local DU chapter. There will be door prizes, raffles, drawings, auctions and a lot of duck hunting fun. And don't forget that the official DU banquet merchandise is only available at a DU event - and it's collectable, to boot. Come on out the country club. Tickets will be available at the door. Remember, it's for the ducks!
Above all, be safe this weekend, respectful to landowners and courteous to fellow hunters. It's deer season, the season we've waited a whole year for. Let's have fun!
Story created Nov 05, 2005 - 01:41:04 EST.
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