At the moment, lucky awardees are already participating in Kentucky’s 2023 elk hunt — taking their shot at the largest herd east of the Rocky Mountains thanks to last year’s permit application period.
Now, 2024’s elk hunters can get an earlier start on next year’s efforts.
Officials with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources announced this week that prospective elk hunters can apply for their opportunity earlier than January 1, 2024 — which is a change from previous quotas.
Kentucky’s annual elk permit application period now opens August 1 and continues through April 30 into the following year. This increases the application period length from four months to nine.
The decision comes after past applicant surveys indicated their top reason for not applying was because of “simply forgetting and missing the deadline,” and applicants also expressed support for an earlier opening to the window.
Hunters applying in the fall and winter should remember they are not applying for that season’s hunts.
Applications may be purchased wherever hunting licenses are sold, or online at fw.ky.gov through MyProfile.
Hunting permits offered this quota include bull firearms, cow firearms, either-sex crossbow/archery, and youth either-sex (with any hunting method).
Each application costs $10 for residents and non-residents. Hunters may apply for all three permits if desired, and youths may apply for all four.
After results of the drawing are announced in May, elk permits must be purchased before midnight (Eastern) June 15 of each year. Unclaimed permits carry into the department’s new loyalty redraw, a secondary drawing for those who have applied the most years without ever being selected.
And for example, following the completion of the 2023 general elk hunt drawing, 15 unclaimed elk permits were subsequently awarded to hunters chosen through the loyalty redraw.
Up to 500 elk permits will be available for the 2024 season.
