Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deer hunting season structure in Kentucky?
According to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the state has one of the best and longest hunting seasons in the South. Archery season starts in late September and runs all the way to mid-January, which lets hunters get in the woods before the deer change their patterns for the fall. The main modern rifle season runs for two weeks, starting the second Saturday in November, which hits right in the middle of the peak rut when the big bucks are moving. You can use a crossbow during any of the seasons. Because the season stays open so late, hunters get a great chance to hunt bucks after the crazy rifle season pressure dies down.
What other big game and wildlife are hunted in Kentucky?
According to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the state brought back black bear hunting in the eastern mountains after the population bounced back nicely. Wild turkey hunting is fantastic across the whole state, with seasons in both the spring and fall. The biggest success story is the elk herd. The state brought elk back to the eastern mountains and now manages one of the biggest free-roaming elk herds in the eastern United States across 16 counties. Getting an elk tag requires winning a massive lottery draw, but if you buy land in the eastern mountains, you have the rare chance to hunt deer, turkey, bear, and elk all in the same area.
How active is hunting lease activity in Kentucky?
Hunting leases are very common, especially in the western river bottoms where the big bucks live and in the eastern mountains where the game is diverse. Based on local hunting lease data, standard hunting land usually rents for 5 to 15 dollars per acre every year. If you own prime deer land out west with trail camera pictures proving you have monster bucks, you can charge 12 to 20 dollars per acre. Down south properties that offer good deer and turkey hunting rent for 8 to 15 dollars per acre. In the eastern mountains, landowners are starting to charge a premium if their property touches the public elk hunting zones because lucky tag winners desperately want private access.
