Quota Hunts

QUOTA HUNTS FOR DEER

To apply for quota hunts, call: 1-877-598-2401

During the month of September only, hunters may call toll-free to apply for Deer, Pheasant & Waterfowl Quota Hunts. Applications for all three types of quota hunts can be made at the same time. Hunters should tell the operator they want to apply for a Kentucky quota hunt when calling.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Any resident or nonresident hunter may apply for a Deer Quota Hunt. Only the person(s) successfully drawn for quota hunts may hunt. SUBSTITUTIONS ARE NOT ALLOWED. Before you apply, it is best to review the Hunt Choices chart and Special Instructions for Quota Deer Hunts for hunt dates and other important details about particular hunts.         

Any legal deer hunting equipment is permitted during a quota hunt unless otherwise stated in the Special Instructions section. During hunts where firearms are permitted, hunters must comply with Kentucky’s Hunter Orange Clothing law. 

Hunters may take two deer on quota hunts, only one of which may be antlered, unless otherwise stated under the Special Instructions for Quota Deer Hunts.

On hunts where an antler spread limit is in effect, hunters who take bucks under the 15-inch minimum outside spread limit will be ineligible to apply for a quota hunt the following season, and are subject to citation and having their deer confiscated. Harvested deer must be recorded and reported for each hunt as noted in the Special Instructions section. 

Statewide licensing requirements apply to quota hunters. A hunter who has a Bonus WMA Quota Hunt Deer Permit does not have to count deer taken on a quota hunt as part of his or her season limit. A Bonus WMA Quota Hunt Deer Permit is only valid if a statewide deer permit has already been purchased, and when used during a WMA or State Park Quota Hunt, or during the West Kentucky WMA Open Gun Hunt or Grayson Lake WMA Open Youth Deer Hunt.

During all quota hunts, the West Kentucky WMA Open Gun Deer Hunt (Dec. 1-2), and the Grayson Lake WMA Open Youth Deer Hunt (Nov. 3-4), only persons participating in these hunts will be allowed to enter a WMA, except to use established public roads or areas designated open by signs. Waterfowl hunting may be posted open on some areas.

Hunters are required to get permission from private landowners before crossing private property to access any quota hunt area or to retrieve downed deer from private property. Quota hunters are expected to abide by the General User Guidelines for WMAs provided in this guide. Respect the property rights of adjacent landowners and do not trespass. Scouting and set-up of portable tree stands is permitted prior to hunts any time these areas are open. Portable tree stands and climbing devices that do not injure trees may be used. On state park lands, firearms or bows may not be carried afield while scouting or setting up tree stands before the hunt.

The KDFWR handles the application and random drawing selection only for the WMAs it owns or operates. Drawings for quota hunts on areas not owned or operated by the department are conducted by the governing agencies of those lands. To apply for hunts on these areas, contact them directly.

Numbers for other hunting areas are provided at the end of the Public Land Hunting section of this guide. 

Owners of private inholdings (private property completely surrounded by WMA lands) or their guests may travel within the owner’s lands, but may not enter the WMA except as described above.

Hunt area maps and quota hunt information will be available when hunters check in for quota hunts. Maps and information about WMA quota hunts are also available in advance through the KDFWR website at fw.ky.gov or by calling 1-800-858-1549. Check station locations are shown on these maps. Specific requirements for those drawn for quota hunts appear later under Special Instructions for Quota Deer Hunts.

MOBILITY-IMPAIRED QUOTA HUNTS 

Persons with one of the following physical conditions are eligible to apply for a mobility-impaired quota hunt at Green River Lake WMA, Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, Taylorsville Lake State Park or Zilpo-Twin Knobs Campground. At check in, drawn hunters must show a WMA Mobility-Impaired Access Permit, available in advance of the hunt date from the KDFWR.

• Has permanent paralysis of at least one (1) leg;

• Has at least one (1) foot amputated;

• Is permanently confined to a wheelchair or must use crutches or a walker as a means of support to pursue daily activities;

• Is restricted by a lung disease to such an extent that the person’s forced respiratory expiratory volume for one (1) second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one (1) liter, or the arterial oxygen tension is less than sixty (60) mm/Hg on room air at rest;

• Requires portable oxygen;

• Has a cardiac condition to the extent that the person’s functional limitations are classified in severity as Class 3 or Class 4 according to standards set by the American Heart Association; or

• Has a diagnosed disease which creates severe mobility impairment.

APPLICATION DIRECTIONS

Hunters may call and apply one time for a quota deer hunt. Applicants will be given the option to pick a first and second hunt choice, but may be drawn to participate in only one quota hunt. The non-refundable fee is $3 per hunter to apply. Each hunter that applies correctly, but isn’t selected, will receive a preference point that increases the odds of being drawn next year (assuming the hunter applies the following year). Unselected hunters who do not apply the following year will lose all previously credited preference points. Applicants are selected based on individual preference points. Up to five people can apply together with one call. If any one of the group’s Social Security numbers is drawn, the others in the group are automatically drawn, too.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: What happens to my preference points if I don’t apply one year?

A: Hunters lose all previously credited preference points if they do not apply. You must apply each year to continue building preference points.

Q: If I am drawn for my second hunt choice, do I keep my preference points?

A: No. When a hunter is drawn for a quota hunt, he or she loses all previously credited preference points, even if drawn for their second hunt choice.

CHECK-IN INSTRUCTIONS FOR QUOTA DEER HUNTERS

1. All quota deer hunters must check in before they hunt and out when finished hunting, the bag limit is reached, or when the hunt period concludes, and check deer daily at the designated check station, except quota hunters on the Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park Quota Hunt and Green River Lake State Park Archery/Crossbow-Only Quota Hunts.

2. At check-in, quota deer hunters must show the following:

a. Their Social Security number or hunt confirmation number

b. A valid Kentucky hunting license (except those on military furlough of more than 3 days who shall present their military identification and furlough verification papers)

c. A statewide deer permit (a youth may show a youth deer permit; military personnel on leave of more than 3 days must show identification and papers as above)

d. A hunter education card or temporary hunter education exemption permit if required under the Kentucky Hunter Education Law.

3. If a quota hunter has already taken two deer with the statewide deer permit, he or she must have either a valid Bonus WMA Quota Hunt Deer Permit or a Bonus Antlerless-only Deer Permit in possession while hunting.

4. Persons checking in for a mobility-impaired hunt must present a KDFWR-issued WMA Mobility-Impaired Access Permit, obtained prior to the hunt.

5. Landowner license exemptions do not apply when on a quota hunt.

6. Hunters who fail to check-out, when required, or violate other hunt requirements will be blocked from applying for any quota deer hunt next year.

Watch the clock

Check-in and check-out times for WMA quota hunts are:

• Day before hunt: Noon – 8 p.m. local time

• Hunt days: 5:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. Eastern, 4:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Central, depending on location of the WMA. (Green River WMA is considered in the Eastern Time Zone)

Two bucks?

Hunters who want to take an antlered deer (where permitted) during a quota hunt, and have already taken an antlered deer previously during the season, must possess a Bonus WMA Quota Hunt Deer Permit.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR QUOTA DEER HUNTS

Unless otherwise stated below, hunters may take up to two (2) deer (only one of which may be antlered) during a quota hunt.

BALLARD, BEAVER CREEK, FISHTRAP LAKE, GREEN RIVER LAKE, GREEN RIVER LAKE MOBILITY-IMPAIRED, GREEN RIVER LAKE STATE PARK, JENNY WILEY STATE PARK, MILL CREEK, PAINTSVILLE LAKE, PENNYRILE STATE FOREST-TRADEWATER AND WEST KY QUOTA HUNTS

• Hunters participating in the Ballard, Beaver Creek, Green River Lake, Green River Lake Mobility-Impaired, Green River Lake State Park, Jenny Wiley State Park, Paintsville Lake, Pennyrile-Tradewater and West Ky quota hunts CAN NOT TAKE an antlered deer with an outside antler spread of less than 15 inches.

• The Green River Lake WMA Mobility-Impaired Quota Hunt is limited to persons who are mobility-impaired and meet the eligibility requirements as previously outlined. (Mobility-Impaired Access Permit required at check-in.) Drawn hunters may be accompanied by another person but that person will NOT be permitted to hunt.

• The limit for hunts on Beaver Creek, Fishtrap Lake and Mill Creek WMAs is one deer of either sex per hunter.

BARREN RIVER LAKE, DALE HOLLOW LAKE, GREEN RIVER LAKE (STATE PARK), GREENBO LAKE, JENNY WILEY, LAKE BARKLEY, AND TAYLORSVILLE LAKE STATE PARK QUOTA HUNTS 

• The Taylorsville Lake State Park Quota Hunt on Dec. 1-2, and the Jenny Wiley State Park Quota Hunt, are limited to persons who are mobility-impaired and meet the eligibility requirements as previously outlined. (Mobility-Impaired Access Permit required at check-in.) Drawn hunters may be accompanied by another person, but that person will NOT be permitted to hunt.

• To spread hunting pressure over these parks, and to make getting harvested deer out of the woods easier, hunters are encouraged to use boats to access more remote portions of the hunt areas. State park boat ramps will be open for use during quota hunts.

• Areas within these parks that are off limits to hunting (such as lodges, campgrounds, employees’ residences, maintenance compounds, ranger stations, water treatment plants, picnic areas and marinas/boat ramps) are marked with signs and/or flagging tape or as indicated on hunt maps. Additionally, there is to be no hunting within 100 yards of a maintained road or building. Hunters must also have their firearms unloaded and cased when not in legal hunting areas.

• Hunters drawn to hunt in the Dale Hollow Lake State Park Quota Hunt and Green River Lake State Park Archery/Crossbow Quota Hunts do not have to check in or out, but shall telecheck any harvested deer as required by statewide regulations.

• Portable stands and tree climbers may be placed in trees no earlier than 24 hours before the start of the hunt, and must be removed within 24 hours of its conclusion. Tree stands must not be left unattended for more than 24 hours.

GRAYSON LAKE WMA OPEN YOUTH, WEST KENTUCKY WMA QUOTA AND OPEN HUNTS, AND ZILPO-TWIN KNOBS CAMPGROUNDS QUOTA DEER HUNTS

• The designated scouting day for the Grayson Lake Open Youth Hunt is the Friday preceding the hunt. On this day, vehicles will be permitted within the hunt area between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. for youths (and their accompanying adults) registered for the hunt. Department personnel will be available at the check station 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to answer questions and provide additional information. Scouting is permitted on other days prior to the hunt, but access will be by walk-in or boat only.

• On West Kentucky WMA, Tracts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are the only areas quota and open gun hunters are allowed to deer hunt. Shotguns used with slugs or muzzleloaders are the only firearms permitted for deer hunting anywhere on this area.

• The Zilpo-Twin Knobs Campgrounds quota hunt is limited to persons that are mobility-impaired and who meet the eligibility requirements as described previously. (Mobility-Impaired Access Permit required at check-in). Check-in will be upon hunter arrival the day of the hunt from 5:30 a.m. until close of the legal hunting time. Each hunter can be accompanied by one individual who may not hunt, but may assist the hunter with retrieval and field dressing of downed deer, etc. Hunters will be assigned randomly to one campground or the other. After October 8, hunters can find out about their assignment by calling the KDFWR and providing their confirmation number to the operator. Assignments are final. All hunters will be escorted to designated stand locations from which they will be required to hunt. Hunting can only be done from these locations unless otherwise informed by hunt management personnel. Hunter stand locations will be assigned by random drawing at check-in. Vehicular access to the campgrounds for scouting prior to the hunt is not permitted.

2007-08 DEER QUOTA HUNT CHOICES

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO CALL & APPLY for Deer & Pheasant Quota Hunts

There are no mail-in applications. You MUST APPLY BY PHONE from September 1-30 only. The following instructions and worksheets are a guide to save you time when you call.

1. Have the Social Security number for each hunter in your party. Up to five may apply as a group.

2. Choose the hunt(s) you wish to apply for (see the Deer Quota Hunt Choices chart and Pheasant Quota Hunts section for details).

3. Have one of the following payment methods ready before you call: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, debit card or e-check. Only one e-check will be accepted for group applications.

4. Call toll-free 1-877-598-2401 from any touch-tone telephone.

5. Provide the information requested by the operator. At the end of the call you will be given a confirmation number. Write this number down. You will need it later to find out if you were selected to hunt.

6. After October 5, log on to fw.ky.gov to find out if you were drawn for any type of quota hunt. Hunters who confirm being drawn on-line may print that confirmation as proof of applying successfully. Applicants may also call the KDFWR weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern at 1-800-858-1549 after October 8 and provide either their confirmation number or Social Security number.

QUOTA HUNT APPLICATION WORKSHEET

CALL 1-877-598-2401. DO NOT MAIL THIS WORKSHEET!

DEER QUOTA HUNTS

1. Social Security numbers for my group:

2. Select up to two hunts ($3 total per hunter) from the Deer Quota Hunt Choices chart:

1st Hunt #

2nd Hunt #     

3. My payment method:

Confirmation number: 

PHEASANT QUOTA HUNTS

1. Social Security numbers for my group:

2. Select a first, second and third choice ($3 total per hunter), or you may apply for any available date from the hunts below.

Green River #1 (Nov. 16)

Green River #2 (Nov. 17)

Green River #3 (Nov. 18)

Clay #1 (Dec. 7)

Clay #2 (Dec. 8)

Clay #3 (Dec. 9)

3. My payment method:

Confirmation number: 

PHEASANT, WATERFOWL & DOVE QUOTA HUNTS

PHEASANT

Quota pheasant hunts are offered at Green River Lake WMA (100 hunters per hunt) on Nov. 16, 17 and 18, 2007, and at Clay WMA (70 hunters per hunt) Dec. 7, 8 and 9, 2007. Advance application by phone is required.

Each day’s quota hunt will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. Eastern time. Equipment legal for hunting other small game species is permitted during these hunts. Dogs are permitted. The daily bag (hunt) limit is two birds of either sex per hunter and wearing hunter orange as defined in Kentucky’s hunter orange clothing law is required.

Rabbit, quail and squirrel hunting is closed on Green River Lake WMA Nov. 16-19, 2007. Rabbit, quail, squirrel and grouse hunting is closed on Clay WMA Dec. 7-10, 2007. Only hunters with a pheasant quota hunt permit may take pheasants during the quota hunt, or on the day following the last quota hunt day.

APPLICATION DIRECTIONS

An individual can apply only one time for a pheasant quota hunt. Hunters will only be drawn for one hunt day. Up to five people may apply as a group for a single hunt. Social Security numbers for each applicant are required. The hunter who calls in the application will be responsible for paying $3 per Social Security number entered. Application fees are nonrefundable. Applicants will be given a first, second and third choice of hunt dates, or any available.

Hunters under 16 years old who apply for a pheasant hunt must do so as part of a party that includes at least one adult.

REQUIREMENTS FOR DRAWN QUOTA PHEASANT HUNTERS

• All quota pheasant hunters must carry while hunting:

1. A valid pheasant quota hunt permit

2. Proof of a valid Kentucky hunting license

3. Form of identification

4. A hunter education card or temporary hunter education exemption permit if required under the Kentucky hunter education law.

• Hunters shall wear hunter orange clothing as defined in Kentucky’s hunter orange clothing law on all hunts.

• Those drawn for a quota pheasant hunt will be required to:

1. Purchase a $25 pheasant permit

2. Send in a self-addressed stamped envelope AND the pheasant hunt permit fee payment by check or money order to: KDFWR Pheasant Hunt, #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601 

3. Include his or her confirmation number with the payment. (A payment for a party shall cover the full amount of the party’s permit fees in one check.)

4. Mail the permit payment postmarked no later than midnight October 30, 2007. 

Payment of permit fee(s) is required in advance from an individual, or the person who applies for a party of hunters, for ALL members of the party. Payments received for less than the total amount due will NOT BE REFUNDED and no permits will be issued for a hunt. Please make sure you send in the correct amount for the number of hunters in your party.

Failure to comply with any of the permit payment directions given above may result in being disqualified from this year’s or future hunts. 

BONUS HUNT DAYS

The day following the final pheasant quota hunt on each WMA is reserved as a free, bonus hunt day for drawn pheasant quota hunt permit holders. Therefore, ONLY hunters who possess a permit for a Green River WMA quota pheasant hunt may hunt pheasants on Green River WMA on Monday, Nov. 19, 2007.  ONLY hunters who possess a permit for a Clay WMA quota pheasant hunt may hunt pheasants on Clay WMA on Monday, Dec. 10, 2007. No additional fee will be charged for the bonus hunt day, but quota hunters must carry their pheasant hunt permit, hunting license and wear hunter orange clothing as required during their previous hunt. The daily bag limit for bonus hunt days is three birds per hunter.

(See the Green River and Clay WMA listings in the Public Land Hunting section for season dates and limits for the open pheasant season following the bonus hunt day.)  

WATERFOWL

Waterfowl hunters will be able to apply for quota hunts by calling the same phone number and following the same payment process in place for deer and pheasant hunts during the month of September. There will be a minimum $3 charge to apply. A hunter can apply for a maximum of one hunt per area. 

However, dates for waterfowl hunts on the Ballard, Sloughs and Boatwright WMAs are not approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service until late August, which is too late to be included in this guide. Therefore, waterfowl quota hunt dates and other instructions WILL BE POSTED SEPTEMBER 1 on the KDFWR website at fw.ky.gov, and will be available from the KDFWR Information Center at 1-800-858-1549 weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern.

DOVE

Special Hunter Note: The KDFWR offers youth hunters and an accompanying adult the opportunity to participate in Mentor Dove Hunts on a limited number of public fields on the first Saturday in September of the dove season (Sept. 1, 2007). Other than statewide licensing requirements, no additional hunt permits are required.

Participants must call the KDFWR Information Center (1-800-858-1549) weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m Eastern from August 13 to August 22 to reserve a spot for these hunts. Reservations will not be taken outside these dates. Reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis until the designated spaces are filled. Locations of mentor hunts will be published in the 2007 Dove Hunting Guide, and will be available from the KDFWR website and Information Center in mid-August.