2012-2013 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping
Guide
Deer Hunting
TYPES OF DEER
PERMITS
STATEWIDE DEER PERMIT
All deer hunters, unless license exempt, must first buy and carry proof
of purchasing a statewide deer permit while deer hunting. This permit allows a
hunter to take two deer: one antlered and one antlerless, or two antlerless. It
doesn’t matter if the antlered or antlerless deer is taken first.
ADDITIONAL DEER PERMIT
To take more than two deer, an Additional Deer Permit must be purchased.
The Additional Deer Permit is valid for deer of either sex. Regardless of what
permit a deer hunter carries, the statewide season limit for antlered deer is
one per hunter.
In Zone 1, hunters may take an unlimited number of antlerless deer. In
Zones 2-4, hunters may take a total of four deer. The statewide limit is ONE
antlered deer per hunter, per season. The Additional
Deer Permit is
not valid unless the hunter has first purchased an annual hunting license and
statewide deer permit and is able to show proof of that in the field. A
statewide or Additional
Deer Permit may
be used on public and private land, and during some quota hunts.
Carry proof
Hunters who buy their license or permit by phone or internet must
carry while hunting: a picture ID and proof of purchase (an
authorization
number, paper license or computer print out). Paper
licenses/permits
must be signed and all information completed before hunting.
ONE-DEER PERMIT OPTION FOR YOUTH HUNTERS
Youth under the age of 12 do not need a hunting license or deer permit.
Resident youth hunters, unless license exempt, and nonresident youth hunters
ages 12-15 may buy and use up to two (2) youth deer permits in lieu of a
statewide deer permit. This permit allows the
holder to take one
(1) deer, and is valid for either
sex deer when zone restrictions allow. Youth must buy an Additional
Deer Permit to
take more than two deer. All hunters, including youth, must follow all deer
hunting laws, zone harvest restrictions and bag limits.
DEER Management Zones
Zone 1
Anderson, Ballard, Boone, Bracken, Calloway, Campbell, Carlisle, Carroll,
Christian, Crittenden, Franklin, Fulton, Gallatin, Grant, Graves, Harrison,
Henry, Hickman, Jefferson, Kenton, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken,
Oldham, Owen, Pendleton, Robertson, Scott, Shelby, Spencer, Trigg, Trimble,
Washington, and Woodford counties.
Zone 2
Allen, Bourbon, Boyd, Bullitt, Carter, Fayette, Fleming, Green, Greenup,
Hardin, Hart, Henderson, Hopkins, Jessamine, Larue, Lawrence, Lewis, Logan,
Mason, McLean, Mercer, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Nicholas, Todd, Union, and Webster
counties.
Zone 3
Adair, Barren, Bath, Boyle, Breckinridge, Butler, Casey, Clark,
Cumberland, Daviess, Edmonson, Elliott, Estill, Grayson, Hancock, Johnson,
Lincoln, Madison, Marion, Meade, Menifee,
Metcalfe, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Ohio, Powell, Rowan, Simpson, Taylor,
Warren, and Wolfe counties.
Zone 4
Bell, Breathitt, Clay, Clinton, Floyd, Garrard, Harlan, Jackson, Knott,
Knox, Laurel, Leslie, Lee, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Owsley, Perry,
Pike, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Wayne, and Whitley counties.
DEER HUNTING ZONES &
SEASONS
EER
Statewide
Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Modern Gun
Nov. 10-25, 2012
(either sex)
Nov. 10-19, 2012
(either sex)
Nov. 10-19, 2012
(antlered
only)
Archery
Sept.
1, 2012 - Jan. 21, 2013 (either sex)
Sept.
1, 2012 - Jan. 21, 2013
(either sex, except antlered
only Oct. 20-21, Nov. 10-19
and Dec.
8-13)
Crossbow
Oct. 1-21 and Nov. 10 - Dec. 31, 2012 (either sex)
Oct.
1-21 and Nov. 10 - Dec.
31, 2012 (either sex, except
antlered only Oct. 20-21,
Nov. 10-19
and Dec. 8-13)
Muzzleloader
Oct. 20-21 and Dec. 8-16, 2012 (either sex)
Oct. 20-21 and Dec. 8-13
(antlered
only) and
Dec. 14-16, 2012 (either sex)
Youth-only
Firearms
Oct. 13-14, 2012
(either sex)
Free Youth
Weekend*
Dec. 29-30, 2012
(either sex)
*During the Free Youth Deer Hunting Weekend, hunters ages 15 and
under may hunt deer with a firearm without a license or deer permit, but must be
accompanied by an adult.
BAG LIMITS
Bag limits and harvest restrictions apply to all hunters. There is no
daily bag limit on deer, but shall not exceed season bag limit. See the
“Restrictions By Zone” box on page 17 for details. Landowners, dependents and
tenants are prohibited from taking deer they don’t claim and check in as their
own.
See page 41 for deer hunting regulations and bag limits on WMAs.
A hunter must abide by all license and permit use requirements, season
dates, and equipment and harvest restrictions
in effect for the location where they
hunt and time when they hunt.
Q: Can
a hunter take a deer for someone else?
A: No.
Hunters must claim any deer they take as their own. They
must use their own license/permit and harvest log, and telecheck
the
deer using their own Social Security number.
Maps online See
statewide harvest maps, hunting zones and more at
fw.ky.gov. Click
“Maps & Online Services,” then “Game Maps.”
RESTRICTIONS BY ZONE
ZONE 1
• A hunter may take an unlimited number of antlerless deer. Two
(2) deer may be taken using the statewide deer permit and an unlimited number of
antlerless deer may be taken using Additional
Deer Permits.
• A hunter is limited to one (1) deer with visible antlers
(excluding button bucks) per license year statewide.
• Hunters shall abide by the equipment restrictions in place for
each season.
ZONE 2
• A hunter may take no more than four (4) deer total and combined
in Zones 2, 3 and 4. Two (2) deer may be taken using the statewide deer permit
and two (2) deer may be taken using one Additional
Deer Permit.
• A hunter is limited to one (1) deer with visible antlers
(excluding button bucks) per license year statewide.
• Hunters shall abide by the equipment restrictions in place for
each season.
ZONE 3
• A hunter may take no more than two (2) deer with a firearm, and
no more than four (4) deer total and combined in Zones 2, 3, and 4. Two (2) deer
may be taken using the statewide deer permit and two (2) deer
may be taken using one Additional
Deer Permit.
• All four (4) deer may be taken with archery or crossbow
equipment.
• A hunter is limited to one (1) deer with visible antlers
(excluding button bucks) per license year statewide.
• Hunters shall abide by the equipment restrictions in place for
each season.
ZONE 4
•A hunter may take no more than two (2) deer with a firearm (one
with a modern firearm and one with a muzzleloader, or both with a muzzleloader).
• A hunter may take no more than four (4) deer total and combined
in Zones 2, 3 and 4. Two (2) deer may be taken using the statewide deer permit
and two (2) deer may be taken using one Additional
Deer Permit.
• All four (4) deer may be taken with archery or crossbow
equipment.
• A hunter is limited to one (1) deer with visible antlers
(excluding button bucks) per license year statewide.
• Antlerless deer can only be taken with a firearm by a youth
during Youth Season or Free Youth Weekend, or by any hunter during the final
three days of the December muzzleloader season.
• Hunters shall abide by the equipment restrictions in place for
each season.
In summary…
Hunters may take a total of four deer statewide, except in Zone 1, where
hunters may take an unlimited number of antlerless deer using
Additional Deer Permits. In
Zone 3 a hunter may take no more than two (2) deer with a firearm. In Zone 4 a
hunter may take no more than two (2) deer with a firearm (one with a modern
firearm and one with a muzzleloader, or both with a muzzleloader). In Zone 4
antlerless deer may only be taken with a firearm by a youth during Youth Season
or Free Youth Weekend, or by any hunter during the final three days of the
December muzzleloader season. If a hunter takes two (2) antlerless deer on a
statewide deer permit, one (1) antlered deer may still be taken,
if an Additional
Deer Permit has
been purchased.
Q: Can
a hunter take two deer from private land in a Zone
2 county, and later take three more deer from another private
farm in a Zone 3 county?
A: No.
If you hunt private land in Zone 2, 3, or 4, the total season
bag limit is four deer per hunter. Even if you hunt in more than
one
of these zones, four deer is all you can legally take. (You can
take additional antlerless deer in Zone 1.)
ANTLERED DEER LIMIT
From Sept. 1, 2012 through Jan. 21, 2013, a person may take no more than one
(1) deer with visible antlers (excluding button bucks) in Kentucky, except
bonus antlered deer may be taken on Land Between the Lakes, Reelfoot National
Wildlife Refuge, Ft. Campbell and Ft. Knox Military Reservations and Blue Grass
Army Depot as determined
by the governing agency for each area.
ANTLERLESS DEER LIMIT
1. In Zone 1 counties, there is no season limit on antlerless
deer.
2. In Zone 2, 3 and 4 counties, the combined
season limit is four (4) per
hunter. Hunters may choose to take up to one (1) antlered deer
and three
(3) antlerless deer, OR take up to four (4) antlerless deer
total.
Taxidermists only:
Inedible parts of wildlife, including mounts, antlers, and other inedible
parts of legally taken deer, may ONLY be
sold to or purchased from a licensed taxidermist.
HUNTING EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS
MODERN GUN SEASON
During modern gun deer season, hunters may hunt with modern
firearms, muzzleloading firearms, archery and crossbow equipment, and must
follow season restrictions, zone guidelines and hunting requirements in effect.
ALL HUNTERS, and persons accompanying hunters, must wear hunter orange
clothing. Persons ages 15 and
under who hunt deer with a firearm must be accompanied by an adult who shall
remain able and in a position to take immediate control of the youth’s
firearm at all times.
ARCHERY SEASON
During portions of the deer season when only archery equipment can be
used, deer hunters shall not use firearms
or crossbows to take deer. Hunters using archery equipment during
a deer firearms season must follow
all firearm season restrictions, zone
guidelines and hunting requirements in effect, and MUST wear
hunter orange clothing. The only exception is on state owned or managed WMAs
where firearms hunting for deer or elk is prohibited. On these areas hunters are
not required to wear hunter orange while hunting for deer or elk with archery
equipment during firearms seasons.
CROSSBOW SEASON
Hunters may take deer with crossbows and archery gear during crossbow
seasons, but shall not use firearms to take deer during crossbow seasons.
Hunters using crossbows during a deer firearms season must follow all firearm
season restrictions, zone guidelines
and hunting requirements in effect, and MUST wear hunter orange
clothing. The only exception is on state owned or managed WMAs where firearms
hunting for deer or elk is prohibited. On these areas hunters are not required
to wear hunter orange while hunting for deer or elk with crossbows during
firearms seasons.
MUZZLELOADING SEASON
Muzzleloaders, archery and crossbow equipment may be used during this
season. ALL HUNTERS must
comply with the hunter orange clothing law. Persons
ages 15 and under hunting deer with a muzzleloader must be accompanied by an
adult who shall remain able and in a position to take immediate control of the
youth’s muzzleloader at all times.
LEGAL FIREARMS EQUIPMENT
• Any caliber centerfire rifle or centerfire handgun. But,
firearms
may NOT be able to hold more than 11 rounds (10 in magazine and
one in chamber), may NOT be fully-automatic (capable of firing more than
one round with one trigger pull), and may NOT be shooting full
metal jacketed or tracer bullet ammunition.
• Shotguns, no larger than 10-gauge, shooting slug ammunition
(includes saboted bullets) ONLY.
• Muzzleloading rifles, handguns, or shotguns shooting round
balls, conical bullets, or saboted bullets.
LEGAL ARCHERY EQUIPMENT
• Longbows, recurves and compound bows of any draw weight
(no minimum).
• Wood, carbon or metal arrows, but arrows may NOT be
chemically-treated.
• Fixed blade or mechanical broadheads at least 7/8” wide (when
blades extended), but broadheads may NOT be barbed, or chemically-treated.
LEGAL CROSSBOW EQUIPMENT
• Crossbows of any draw weight (no minimum), with a working
safety.
• Wood, carbon or metal arrows (bolts), but arrows (bolts) may
not be chemically treated.
• Fixed blade or mechanical broadheads at least 7/8” (when blades
extended), but broadheads may NOT be barbed, or chemically treated.
LEGAL MUZZLELOADING EQUIPMENT
• Muzzleloading rifles or handguns of any caliber, with flint
or percussion ignition (including in-lines), shooting round
balls, conical bullets or saboted bullets.
• Muzzleloading firearms equipped with open sights or telescopic
sights (scopes).
• Muzzleloading shotguns no larger than 10-gauge, shooting round
balls, conical bullets or saboted bullets.
Hunter orange required!
Kentucky’s Hunter Orange Clothing Law requires ALL HUNTERS and persons
accompanying them, hunting for any species during the modern gun, muzzleloading,
and youth firearm deer seasons, or a firearm elk or bear season, to wear solid,
unbroken hunter orange color visible from all sides on the head, back and chest.
YOUTH DEER HUNTING
Youth may hunt deer during any open season, including two special deer
seasons for resident and
non-resident hunters who have not
reached their 16th birthday. The legal equipment for these youth firearms hunts
is the same as the legal equipment for modern gun season
for deer. Youth hunters should select “statewide license” when
telechecking their deer, and use their social security number. Youth 15 years
of age and under hunting deer with a firearm, during any season, must be
accompanied by an adult who shall be in position to
take immediate control of the youth
hunter’s firearm at all times.
Adults accompanying youth deer hunters during either of these
hunts
may NOT use firearms to take deer. Adults accompanying youth
hunters are not required to possess a hunting license or deer permit if the
adult is not deer hunting, but by law, the hunter and the accompanying adults
must wear hunter orange clothing.
OCTOBER YOUTH-ONLY FIREARMS SEASON
The first special youth deer season is on the second weekend of October.
In 2012, the dates are Oct. 13-14. Youth hunters may take deer with firearms, or
any other legal method, statewide. During the October youth-only fireams season
the appropriate hunting license and deer permits are required for hunters ages
12-15, and all bag limits, zone restrictions and deer hunting requirements
apply. Youth hunters under age 12 are not required to have a hunting license or
deer permit.
FREE YOUTH DEER HUNTING WEEKEND
On the first weekend following Christmas, this year on Dec. 29-30,
2012, resident and
nonresident youth 15 years of age and under, who are accompanied by an adult,
are eligible to participate in this hunt. Youth hunters may hunt deer with
firearms, or any other legal method, statewide without
a hunting license or deer permit, but
all bag limits, zone restrictions, and deer hunting requirements apply.
Q: A
youth hunter took a buck during modern gun season. Can
a second buck be taken during the Free Youth Deer Hunting
Weekend?
A: No.
Kentucky has a one-buck limit per hunter, per season.
Q: How
many Youth Deer Permits ($10 each) may a youth hunter purchase?
A: Two.
To take additional deer, youth hunters must urchase Additional
Deer Permits ($15
each, for two deer). See pages 16-17 for season bag limits and harvest
restrictions for Zones 1-4.
Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry (KHFH), a nonprofit, volunteer run
organization, encourages hunters to harvest and donate deer each season, to be
distributed to homeless shelters and food banks throughout the state. You can
also donate $2 when renewing your car or truck’s
registration and help pay the cost of turning venison into a
nutritious
meal for the less fortunate in local communities across Kentucky.
To view a list of more than 40 participating processors visit
their website at
www.huntersforhungry.org
CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE (CWD)
If you hunt deer in Illinois, Missouri, Virginia and West
Virginia and any other CWD positive state you may not bring a deer back into
Kentucky unless the brain and spinal column have been removed first.
Allowed parts from CWD-infected states and provinces include:
quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or
head attached, boned-out meat, antlers, antlers attached to a
clean skull plate, a clean skull, clean teeth, hides and finished taxidermy
products.
CWD has not been detected in Kentucky.
CWD has been found in 21 states and 2 Canadian provinces:
Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas,
Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma,
South Dakota, Texas,
Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Alberta and
Saskatchewan.
KENTUCKY’S TROPHY BUCKS
This list includes deer scored and reported to Kentucky Fish
and Wildlife by May 1. It is possible unreported bucks taken last
year in Kentucky may have scored 160 typical or 185 nontypical or higher.
Boone & Crockett Trophy Deer 2011 Season-Typical
Hunter County Method
180 5/8 Ryan S. Cox Bath Archery
180 3/8 Michael Farris Christian Modern gun
179 5/8 Dean Trent Green Modern gun
176 4/8 Justin Yeary Shelby Modern gun
175 3/8 Tim Gosser Casey Modern gun
174 6/8 Ramsey Wisdom Metcalfe Modern gun
174 5/8 Devon Wilson Harrison Modern gun
174 4/8 Marion E. Wells, III Scott Modern gun
174 1/8 Ricky Roy Todd Modern gun
173 7/8 Kevin C. Peak Shelby Muzzleloader
173 5/8 Billy R. Nelson Livingston Modern gun
173 1/8 Kalem Newton Kenton Archery
172 7/8 Randy Huddleston Whitley Modern gun
172 2/8 Darick Knuckles Knox Modern gun
172 2/8 Troy Sluder Green Archery
171 4/8 Kevin Roseberry Campbell Archery
171 2/8 Marvin Weaver Hart Archery
171 1/8 James C. Epling Greenup Muzzleloader
170 6/8 Donald R. Barnes Warren Modern gun
167 7/8 Chris Brown Christian Muzzleloader
167 1/8 Paul Hill Johnson Modern gun
167 0/8 Jessie Morris Whitley Modern gun
166 3/8 Mike Sweeney Todd Muzzleloader
166 1/8 Roy D. Franklin Oldham Archery
165 4/8 William Hamm Greenup Modern gun
165 2/8 William M. Collins Bullitt Modern gun
165 1/8 Aaron Thomas Ohio Modern gun
165 0/8 Chatty Lee Casey Modern gun
164 7/8 Daniel Jarboe Ohio Muzzleloader
164 7/8 Bryan Wilson Ohio Modern gun
164 5/8 Henry Byer Lincoln Archery
164 5/8 John Lemker Boone Modern gun
164 4/8 Josh Taylor Casey Modern gun
164 1/8 Donnie Oliver Christian Modern gun
163 7/8 Lee Daniel Campbell Breathitt Archery
163 6/8 Michael Studer Campbell Archery
163 5/8 Jimmy Davis Carter Muzzleloader
163 1/8 Dylan Henderson Todd Modern gun
162 5/8 Randell Shelton Clinton Modern gun
161 0/8 Brian K. Green Bracken Crossbow
160 6/8 Vincent Sulfridge Whitley Modern gun
160 3/8 Russell Allen Owen Archery
160 3/8 Tyler Williams Pike Modern gun
160 2/8 Tony Mahaffey Rockcastle Archery
160 2/8 Jimmy Lambert Ohio Modern gun
160 2/8 Jimmy Thompson Daviess Modern gun
160 2/8 Darryl True Harrison Modern gun
160 1/8 Rick Williams Casey Modern gun
160 1/8 Shane E. Stiltner Greenup Archery
160 1/8 Michael E. Noffsinger Hopkins Modern gun
Boone & Crockett Trophy Deer 2011 Season-Non-Typical
Hunter County Method
203 1/8 David A. Daugherty Hopkins Modern gun
202 0/8 Jacob Duke Hardin Archery
200 3/8 Kristopher D. Kelley Logan Archery
198 7/8 Stanley Young Owsley Modern gun
198 2/8 Robert Ammons Hardin Archery
196 5/8 Chris L. Broughton Whitley Modern gun
196 2/8 Vandy Thomason Graves Archery
193 6/8 Steve Otten Gallatin Muzzleloader
193 5/8 Johnny Cornett Laurel Modern gun
191 6/8 Matthew B. Bailey McLean Modern gun
191 5/8 Tyler Parks Nicholas Modern gun
190 7/8 Billy D. Uzzle, Jr. Fulton Modern gun
190 1/8 Kent Robinson Greenup Archery
188 3/8 Shannon Boling Owen Archery
188 2/8 Huey Vincent Edmonson Modern gun
187 4/8 David E. Ison Elliott Archery
Bill Cooper photo
HOW TO GET ON NEXT YEAR’S TROPHY LIST
Hunters who take a white-tailed deer in Kentucky this season that
officially scores 160 or higher typical, or 185 or higher non-typical in the
Boone & Crockett scoring system should contact the department. Call
1-800-858-1549 to find a scorer or report an official score. Completed official
score sheets may be sent to the address below. Please indicate the method used
to take the trophy buck. Trophies taken this season will be published in the
next season’s guide. Good, sharp photos may also be printed if received by April
1. Submissions may be sent to: Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide, #1 Sportsman’s
Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601. Please send a copy of
your photos and score sheets, as they will not be returned.
