Applicants can only purchase their quota hunt application through the department’s secure license sales webpage by clicking this link: “Purchase Licenses Here". If you do not have a credit card, you may purchase a prepaid debit card at a bank or large retail store. Although the elk lottery costs $10, processing fees may apply, so be sure to add a few extra dollars when loading the card. 

You cannot apply for the elk lottery at license vendors.

Only individual permits are awarded; no group applications are accepted.

How much does it cost to apply?

It costs only $10 to apply. Adult hunters may apply for up to 2 tag types.  Youth may also enter a separate lottery for the youth-only Paul Van Booven hunt.  

What is the deadline to apply?

Midnight Eastern standard time, April 30.

How do you know if you have been drawn?

On our website, enter your social security number and birth date to see if you were drawn. You may also call our Information Center at 1-800-858-1549 for assistance. The Information Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday. 

When will you know whether you’ve been drawn?

Results of the elk draw will be posted on the department’s web site in early May.

How do you hunt elk in Kentucky?

Click here for an article on the essentials of elk hunting. This informative article ran in Kentucky Afield, the official magazine of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

How are hunters picked?

Hunters are picked at random by a computer.  The youth-only lottery will be conducted before the other regular lotteries. Youth drawn for that hunt cannot be drawn for one of the 4 regular tag lotteries.  The lottery for the bull firearms tags will conducted first, followed by bull archery/crossbow, cow firearms, and cow archery.  Once a hunter is selected for a tag, if that hunter also entered the lottery for another tag type, his or her name will automatically be ineligible for the later lottery (in other words, a hunter cannot be drawn twice).

Do you stand a better chance of being drawn if you’ve applied before?

No. Hunters applying for the first time, who have applied previously, or who have been selected for a previous hunt all have an equal chance to be picked. There is no preference or bonus point system for Kentucky elk hunts.

Can you apply for the elk hunt drawing if you live outside of Kentucky?

Yes, non-residents are eligible for the elk hunt drawing.

Special youth hunt information.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources opened one of the state’s best places to hunt elk for a special youth-only hunt. Five youth hunters have the opportunity to gun hunt in a 2,300-acre area normally reserved for bow hunting only. The site of the hunt, Paul Van Booven Wildlife Management Area in Breathitt County, was one of the original elk release sites.

Youth hunters must apply for the Youth WMA Elk Lottery online only via the Web site of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. It costs $10 to apply. The drawing is open to Kentucky residents and non-residents.

When you apply online, the youth hunt option does not appear immediately. You must enter a valid birth date for this option to appear.

Currently, youth-only quota hunt drawing is open to any applicant who will be less than 16 years old by the first day of the hunt. All youth hunters should have the size, strength and maturity to safely handle and shoot a firearm, bow or crossbow. An adult must accompany any youth firearms elk hunter and be in the position to take immediate control of the gun.

Youth hunters may also apply for the general elk hunt by paying an additional $10 application fee online at https://fw.ky.gov/license/olpsintro.aspx.

If you are drawn for a quota hunt elk permit, can you give it or sell it to anyone else?

No. These are non-transferable.

Do you have to buy a hunting license before you apply?

No. You can buy your hunting license at any time – as long as you have a valid license and permit when you are actually in the field hunting.

What other permits are required if you are drawn for an elk hunt?

Kentucky residents: All Kentucky residents aged 12 and older drawn for an elk hunt, must purchase an elk permit ($30). In addition, anyone over the age of 15 must purchase an annual hunting license ($20). Youths 12-15 years old must purchase a youth hunting license ($5), while youths under the age of 12 do not need a hunting license.

Non-residents: All out-of-state hunters drawn for an elk permit, including youth hunters, must buy an elk permit ($365). In addition, anyone over the age of 15 must purchase an annual non-resident hunting license ($130). Youths 12-15 years old must purchase a youth hunting license ($5).

Where are the elk in Kentucky?

Kentucky’s free-ranging elk herds are located in the eastern and southeastern portions of the state. Nearly all the elk are located within Kentucky’s 16-county Elk Restoration Zone.

How do you find a spot to hunt?

Drawn hunters must specify their first, second and third choice Elk Hunting Unit (EHU). A second drawing will be conducted in July to assign each hunter to an Elk Hunting Unit. 

Several wildlife management areas (WMAs) open to public hunting have elk herds. Recommended areas include Begley, CONSOL of Kentucky, Boone Forestlands, Elk Forest and Redbird wildlife management areas. Also, the ICG Hunter Access Areas have good numbers of elk. Areas open for bow hunting only for elk include the Paul Van Booven WMA. Maps and additional information about all these locations may be found at: http://fw.ky.gov/kfwis/viewable/ViewableWMA.asp?lid=879&NavPath=C267 

The elk hunting unit map also shows the locations of the original elk releases. These release areas still have the highest concentrations of elk. Hunters are ultimately responsible for doing their own legwork and research to find a place to hunt.

Hunters must hunt within their assigned EHU, regardless of public or private land boundaries.

Those people drawn for a hunt will be provided a list of elk guides.

Can you use an ATV for an elk hunt?

No vehicles, including ATVs (all-terrain vehicles), can be taken off a maintained road on any Wildlife Management Area. ATVs are not allowed on WMAs. ATVs can otherwise be used for elk hunting, with permission from the landowner.

How can you retrieve an elk if it’s downed in an inaccessible area?

Hunters are responsible for retrieving their own game. Sometimes this requires quartering an elk to bring out the meat. The animal must be telechecked before doing this. Click here for an article on how to quarter an elk. This informative article ran in Kentucky Afield, the official magazine of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

What weapons are allowable for elk?

Modern rifles chambered for .270 caliber or greater, muzzleloaders of .50 caliber or greater, high-powered handguns, shotguns of 20 gauge or larger firing slugs, crossbows and bows. For more detailed information, click onto this link: http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/301/002/132.htm

You may use archery equipment or crossbows during the appropriate seasons if you are drawn for an archery/crossbow tag.   

When are the elk seasons?

These seasons are proposed by the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission, and must be approved by legislators before being finalized. Be sure to check the 2012 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide for finalized season dates. The guide will be available in July.

Archery-only, bull only (no crossbows during this period except youth or exemptions): Sept 15 – 28

Firearms bull week 1: Oct 6 - 12

Firearms bull week 2 : Oct 13 – 19

Either sex archery and crossbow: Oct 20 – 21; Nov 10 – Dec 7; Dec 22 - 31

Either sex archery only: Oct 20 – Dec 7 ; Dec 22 – Jan 21, 2012

Firearms cow week 1: Dec 8 – 14

Firearms cow week 2: Dec 15 – 21

Youth-only Paul Van Booven WMA hunt
Sept. 22-24 (Bull or cow)

Please note: A firearms hunter may only hunt during the 7 day season for which he is drawn. He may NOT continue hunting with a bow or crossbow outside of that week.

An archery or crossbow hunter may NOT hunt during the 4 firearms weeks.

A cow archery/crossbow hunter may not hunt during the 1st 2 weeks of the season in Sept.