Elk Hunt Loyalty Redraw

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will conduct a secondary drawing of Elk Quota Hunt Permits each year to award unclaimed permits as a loyalty reward to long-time applicants.

Each year, some permits awarded in the drawing go unpurchased. The Loyalty Redraw will randomly award these leftover permits to Kentucky residents who have applied to the elk hunt drawing the most years without ever being drawn. Long-time applicants will be entered automatically into the Loyalty Redraw.

 

Annual Elk Quota Hunt Permit Applications

From August 1 to April 30, anyone can apply for a shot at one of the elk permits available through the Kentucky Elk Hunt Drawing. Individuals may apply for the three permit types: bull firearm, cow firearm, and either-sex archery or crossbow. Applicants aged 15 and under may also apply for special youth either-sex permits.

ELK HUNTING RESOURCES:

OTHER RESOURCES

Randomized Drawing

The Kentucky Elk Hunt Drawing is conducted each year through a random electronic selection from all applicants that year. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife takes several steps to ensure the drawing is fair and impartial and to maintain public confidence.

  • The department contracts out the electronic drawing to the Commonwealth Office of Technology, which uses a unique number in place of each applicant's name and contact information to guarantee the drawing is "blind." After the drawing, names and contact information are rematched with the winning numbers.
  • A third-party accounting firm audits the results to ensure accuracy.
  • The certified results are delivered to an external organization for public announcement.

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2024, 46 applicants had applied every year since 2001 without being drawn. The Elk Hunt Loyalty Redraw Drawing was established to give these applicants higher odds of obtaining a permit if they reapply to the drawing again. Any applicants eligible for the Loyalty Redraw that are not drawn in the current hunting season will get the first dibs in this secondary drawing for leftover permits the following year.

Eligibility and Notification

Only Kentucky resident applicants are eligible for this secondary bonus drawing, but no reapplication is necessary. Resident hunters with a history of the most years applying for an elk permit will be automatically included.

Applicants selected for permits through the Loyalty Redraw will be notified and have until June 30 to purchase permits. Unpurchased permits return to the general pool without affecting future eligibility.

FIND YOUR LICENSE HISTORY

To determine how many years you have applied to the Kentucky elk hunt drawing, visit My Profile and click "View All" next to "License History."

Elk Hunt Unit Applications

All permit holders will have until June 30 to apply for preferred elk hunting units. Those who don't apply will be automatically assigned.

Elk hunting units ensure hunting pressure is distributed across the 16-county elk zone.

For more information, review the Elk Quota Hunt Loyalty Redraw Regulations.