So clear your At the peak of the market-hunting era, waterfowlers Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. The Bluegrass Region is where hunters will find the most generally liberal gun-hunting season. Art Lander's Outdoors: Officials optimistic as Sept. 4 opening of 2021 The permit is only valid for a hunters lifetime, and once it expires, the person must obtain a hunter education certification. "While continued slow growth in deer numbers in Appalachian Kentucky should lead to even more trophy entries being taken from the poor deer habitat in the eastern third of the state, our west-central counties should continue to be tried-and-true producers of trophy bucks into the foreseeable future.". That makes the hunting tougher for with bow or gun. According to its ear tag, it was the same buck that he captured on the Lake Cumberland park's tennis courts. Stay connected with Kentucky Living between magazine issues! Third party advertisements support hosting, listing verification, updates, and site maintenance. And a key question to ask yourself (and wildlife managers) is why isn't the area close to home producing many record entries. The conclusion: hunt the afternoon, and hunt early. Why not get a few years of hunting the honey holes before the tags are even more impossible to draw? Favorable hunting weather during the 16-day modern gun season in November helped drive the harvest total higher. At that point, he could tell it was a good deer. ", As part of the Boone and Crockett Clubs record verification process, a hunter must list, as precisely as possible, where the animal was taken. Savvy hunters can use this county data to help them focus on areas that may have healthier populations, and thus, bigger heads, antlers and horns. Certain game animals are required to be logged and tagged after they have been captured. Counties with less habitat can have a lower harvest, yet rank high in deer per square mile -- just because in general, fewer deer are taken from smaller counties. Deer permits for the entire state are $10 each, while youth permits are $6 each. Hes a union carpenter and lived a couple of miles from his current property. It is a species that should be reintroduced to the deer hunting community more than two decades after its extinction. Read The Next Article: 22 Great Bucks from Deer Season 2022. This equates to approximately 18,000 pounds of venison on the table. Though Settle didnt post the buck on social media, he immediately sent the photos of his trophy to his stepdad. The table will reveal an alphabetical list of states. Gordon Whittington gets technical with his TenPoint crossbow, specifically relating to space awareness. There is no definitive answer to this question as the size of bucks can vary greatly depending on the area of Kentucky that you are looking at. If youre into that sort of thing, why not let the records help you in your search? This push turned the monster buck broadside, then it quartered away at 23 yards. This record-breaker could also potentially rank as the number-three non-typical in the entire state. Here are the state record whitetails for each state typical and non-typical. There were entries from all regions of the state represented, with Garrard County bringing in the most (3). After a record season, the chances of topping it the very next year are normally slim. The permit system is simple and straightforward to use, and there are no special requirements other than a hunting license to obtain one. To the west of this area, farm fields are larger and cover more restricted, making bucks more vulnerable to harvest by gun. All Rights Reserved. Zone 2 is located in the eastern part of the state, and includes all of the counties east of a line running from Calloway County down to Pulaski County. But while there are approximately 1.8 hunters for each antlered buck, only around 35 percent of our hunters take a deer each year and nearly 50 percent of those are antlerless. Jul 14, 2016 #11 pentail Bacon. Before we interviewed Settle, we confirmed with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife that the buck had been checked in as being killed and tagged in Kentucky on telecheck. Mike Clerkin offers advice for hunting whitetails with a pistol. It is possible, however, for a landowner to apply for a transferable elk hunting permit if they wish to allow public hunting on their property. Deer are being harvested more frequently in Kentucky as a result of increased hunting opportunities and a growing deer population. Not to be outdone, Coues' deer have a number of high-scoring entries, and desert sheep are scattered through the top 50. Kentucky deer hunting statistics for the 2022-23 season. He also learned valuable information in those first few sits in his hang-on stand. I want that to be a rack but must be brush or a pile of sticks, or something., Settle got out his Bushnell Powerview 7-1525 binoculars for a better look. He picked up his dad and they took their time returning to the woods. Hunters beat the 10-year average, but fell short of the all time record of nearly . But nothing prepared Settle for the buck he started getting trail cam pictures of in July 2020 at one of his mineral plots. "The wildlife and its habitat cannot speak. They also offer tips on safety and regulations. Life happens quickly, so take a snapshot! That shatters the existing Webster County record for any method of take. Read the full . Hunters beat the 10-year average, but fell short of the all time record of nearly 156,000 deer taken during the 2015 season. Ground Zero: Kentucky's Record Bucks - Game & Fish - Game & Fish He has worked for The Arizona Republic, The Associated Press and The South Florida Sun Sentinel in addition to working as a travel reporter in Central America and Southeast Asia. A hunter with a permit may hunt within the state of Kentucky without having to obtain a Hunter Education Certificate for a period of one year from the date of purchase. What keeps us going? For starters, this is where other sources such as magazines, websites and tag services get their intel. There have only been a few buck taken with a muzzleloading gun, but this one was the largest. The next step is to investigate that states hunting regulations, unit breakdowns and tag options available for that area. Since 2000, Hart County has emerged as the top producer of trophy deer. It all starts with a subscription to Big Game Records LIVE. Counties in the region that ranked highest in deer density were Cumberland, Taylor and Adair, all of which are carrying about three deer per square mile of habitat. Hunts in Owen County set a new record in 2013, bagging 4,069 deer. Derek Settle solo hunted a monster buck thats sure to make the record books and is quite possibly the biggest buck ever taken in Kentuckya state that is known for its booners. The white-tail deer, the most abundant deer species in North America, is native to Kentucky and most of the country. The buck was a non-typical that scored 200 7/8 on the Pope and Young scale, the second highest Pope and Young Club entry from Kentucky. In this region, the top five counties all saw good increases in harvest over the previous year, a sign of the excellent 2006 season throughout Kentucky. You get really excited, because thats what youre there for, Mooney says. I went down to him, and I dropped to my knees, grabbed hold of his rack, and told Dad, Have you ever seen such a deer?. There are numerous public lands, including wildlife management areas, hunting access areas, state parks and forests, and national recreation areas. Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. From all indications, the 2007 season should give hunters the same opportunity to be successful, reach that magic mark and help keep the herd in balance and in check. Kentucky Bowhunter Shoots Monster 200+ Non-typical Whitetail If you want to allow public hunting on your property, you should apply for a hunting permit. Haynes Shelton provides some tips for planning and setting up shooting lanes. F&W should have the Kentucky records available somewhere. Dr. James Kroll is in Kentucky hunting the rut. Kentucky State Big Game Records | Boone and Crockett Club Yet a reduction of more than 10,000 was somewhat unexpected. Whatever the reason, 2005 was an off year, though the 2006 season was another story altogether. Whatever the reason, Kentucky has indeed managed to find the "sweet spot" of hunting opportunity for trophy deer. And get this: Nearly all of the hunters heading afield then are carrying scoped centerfire rifles. In addition to the Purchase Region, Blue Grass was the only area besides the Purchase Region with a high bag total of more than 3,000 bucks. Now Kentucky taxidermists stay plenty busy mounting big bucks. In 2014 Justin Mooney, of Dixon, Kentucky, has taken first place in an Archery Shooters Association state tournament, finished in the top 10 at a national ASA tournament, and celebrated the birth of his first child. Because youre reading this at the Boone and Crockett Clubs website, we assume youre familiar with the records-keeping system. Settle was able to get an official SCI Green Score on the incredible buck, which came in at a whopping 311 2/8 inches. Whether you are looking for a particular entry or doing your homework to find out which areas are producing trophy-class game you will find this database and variety of search features easy to navigate and loaded with options to find exactly the information you are looking for. You'll note by looking at the map that these counties, as well as the others mentioned, are not in the heart of the Cumberland Plateau. I was telling myself, Its OK. Nobody would blame you to give up right now and not try to shoot because of how crazy this deer is. Many fur-bearing animals, such as bobcats and otters, as well as deer, elk, bears, and turkey, can be found here. Hunting applications can be downloaded from the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at www.ky.gov/hunt. Furthermore, the herd has the potential to support the harvest of over 130,000 deer per year. The Kentucky record for a non-typical deer is 271-7/8 inches, officials say. There was a wild sapling pushed right up against the trees on the weed line. Consider that the majority of its top 10 record entries have been entered since 2000. Published Oct 22, 2014 8:32 PM EDT. Give a Gift You will have the opportunity to share your hunting grounds with others in addition to collecting a permit fee for each hunting season. Heres what you need to know, and the photos to prove it. During the 2006 deer season, both the Bluegrass and Green River regions placed 16 counties apiece in the 1,000-harvest club. If your favorite hunting area close to home is within a county that isnt producing big animals, at least you can temper your expectations. This indicates that these three counties are knocking on the door of having much improved herd numbers, say, over just five years ago -- despite having less-than-ideal habitat for deer to thrive in. Hows this for a year of accomplishments? I was at full draw. Settle's buck could be a Kentucky state record. Where Is The Best Deer Hunting In Kentucky? Forty minutes after the hunt began, it was over. Translated for hunters, this means those places that produce seriously large antlers, heads, and horns. According to veteran biologist David Yancy, deer project leader for the Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, there are reasons for the state's continued productivity on trophy bucks. The shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset. Kentucky Public Deer Hunting Land Map. I owe a lot of this to him., Read Next: Utah Hunter Arrows Insane Opening Day Mule Deer. Kentucky has grown into a trophy-buck state in the last few years, with a non-typical whitetail record of 270 inches and a buck record of 283-5/8 set in Muhlenberg County in 2012. I knew that if I would get the opportunity, I didnt want to be all out of breath and shaky., He stopped for a longer break around 55 yards from the buck. Ohio is currently one of the top states for record-book whitetails. This year, while Saturdays number of 20,263 was lower, hunters made up for that on Sunday with 12,126 deer harvested, for a total of 32,389. His sons took some good deer as well. Taken in Pushmataha County, this deer is nearly 2 inches bigger than the previous record. Either way, the numbers certainly show that whitetails in the Bluegrass are alive and well -- and plentiful. All Game & Fish subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. He just disappeared, Settle says. With an unofficial green net score of 196 inches the buck should smash the state's crossbow typical record (currently 179") and rank among Wisconsin's best typicals ever. The rack is still in the drying phase before it can be officially scored B&C. In some cases, only two of those four may be taken with a firearm. Allen County, Kentucky Genealogy Muhlenberg County, Logan County, Christian County, Pulaski County, and Hart County are the top five counties in terms of total deer harvest, and they all have populations of deer that exceed the state average, indicating that they see an increase in deer harvest each year. Although it is not currently in Kentucky, chronic wasting disease has spread to other states and is in the process of becoming more common. The number of deer killed by hunters in this area is higher than in other parts of the country, such as the northeast and southeast. Reach millions of readers across the Commonwealth by sharing your business or product with people who care about the same things you do. The deer must enter the drying stage before the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife can post the official score. To hear many serious trophy bowhunters tell it, Kentucky must be a figment of someone's fertile imagination. I would only move when it got windy. Since 1958, more than 600 of Kentuckys white-tailed deer have made the record books for their trophy-sized antlers and been listed in the Boone and Crockett Club, which tracks and scores big game animals. Deer hunting is plentiful throughout Kentuckys Blue Grass Region. "Camera use facilitates trophy whitetail production in two ways," he points out. Deer Harvest Results. Hunter Education Courses for all skill levels are available at HUNTINGsmart! Most of the 29-county region saw a jump in individual county harvests last season. "We have a lot of veteran hunters who aren't necessarily eager to shoot the first buck they see anyway," Yancy points out. I never told a soul about him. See how deer season is progressing in your county by going online to www.fw.ky.gov. Five minutes of tracking was all it took to retrace the deers final steps. Then, late in the summer, three weeks passed without a single image of the huge whitetail. Rather, they lie on the outskirts of the more mountainous Southeast Region. Or just the county by county deer records that were included. For more on record-class bow bucks from Kentucky and across North America, visit Pope and Young Club. Then, once it's known a big buck frequents an area, cameras can assist hunters in patterning the deer.With only one buck tag per season, and the knowledge big bucks are out there, it's possibly led to even more selective harvest. The deer is never where you think hes supposed to be.. A good way to use the county search is to narrow down areas that are not producing entries as well. So how can Kentucky keep cranking out Pope & Young bucks? The property hunted wellreally well. Mike Clerkin is in Pike County Illinois chasing whitetails with his muzzleloader. "No, not really," he says. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1975 who is at least 12 years old and holding a Hunter Education card is required to carry a Hunter Education card when hunting. I was hoping Id maybe see him again. Mooney seized the opportunity. The Kentucky buck Heath Buchanan calls "Joker" is a Bluegrass State phenomenon. Mooney called his father, waited 10 minutes, then climbed down and walked to the truck. "There's a selective mindset among many hunters and landowners, which results in most small bucks getting a free pass.". With that book and the County Search tool, you can spend many a wintry evening planning your next fall hunt. Kentucky is one of only a few states in the country where you can hunt from your own home without first obtaining permission from the land owner. Last season, three counties came on strong and made the cut -- although interestingly, the county wasn't one of the three in 2005. In Kentucky, deer hunting is regulated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Thats when his intensive archery training kicked in. Or else it was time to restock the freezer from the big harvest two years before. During some periods of the season, that may mean no hunting of antlerless deer with a firearm, so be sure and check seasonal regulations for all the details. Genetics also play a role: records dating back to the World War I era show that Kentucky imported deer from Michigan and New Jersey to bolster the herd. That's a key in locating where more whitetails will potentially be in this neck of the woods. His rack was just the icing on the cakeitll never happen again to me.. Contact them at (800) 689-6619 or (859) 509-2704, or go to whitetailheavenoutfitters.com. solo hunt on his property G.O. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. He was a disabled veteran who served the country in the Army and was commended by Kentucky Senator Robert Mills for making many lasting contributions to his friends, family, community, and nation before his passing on March 25, 2021. Terry was never able to join Settle in the field when he was alive because of his disability. However, after now reading Facebook comments and seeing photos of his deer that were posted on the page of an Indiana deer preserve, one thing is clear: Someone is not telling the truth. The biggest harvest numbers from last year were posted in Lawrence, with more than 1,500 being taken. Big Bucks Christian, Hardin, Shelby, Breckinridge and Pendleton posted the top five harvest totals for the 2022 season. I was bringing him along for the ride. Kentuckys other top areas for big bucks over the past seven seasons include Casey, Henderson, Lewis, and Grayson counties. Hows this for a year of accomplishments? Click Here: http://bit.do/fSRzN , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFP-jOHTsc0&t=8s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6ETHU_ypZY&t=5s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYOoABQMAEI&t=4s, Everything You Need to Be a Run and Gun Turkey Hunter. Suggest Listing Sage Marshall ! In this region, Cumberland and Taylor counties -- though not among the counties with 1,000 or more deer harvested -- are still good spots to find more deer this season. By the time Powers took his record deer, hunting had become a realistic pursuit all over the state. No one would believe me anyway. I felt the dread of thinking its never going to work out again. I came in on his left rear flank.. These Major League Fishing pros share the best tips and advice they've ever received. The 2022-2023 season ran from September through Jan. 16. In the Green River Region, a wide variety of deer hunting opportunities are available. Closing day for each license year: 1999: January 17, 2000 2000: January 15, 2001 2001: January 21, 2002 2002: January 20, 2003 2003: January 19, 2004 I consider this year's CWD surveillance effort a success," Thompson said. Hunting waterfowl and doves during this season does not necessitate wearing hunter orange. | However, deer can overpopulate an area if their numbers are not kept in check. When you click on the arrow next to the state, youll see a list of counties populate underneath, and youll see that one county has 19 entries. I mean, these guys are so tricky and sneaky.. The county's largest non-typical on the Pope and Young record books measured 167 1/8, and Boone and Crockett's largest for the county measured 204 inches. If you live in Kentucky and intend to hunt on your own property, you, your spouse, and your dependent children do not need to obtain a deer permit or a license. Likewise, five other counties on the top 20 deer-density list had fewer than 1,000 taken, but scored very well using that parameter as an measure of herd size. The department sets the dates and times for deer hunting, as well as the areas where hunting is allowed. Records indicate that most of those came from outside of Daviess County and with a modern gun, rarely a bow. State by State Whitetail Records Just $1 per month , The full story of how Derek Settle put it all together to take this buck of a lifetime on a D.I.Y. Ruger's popular American bolt-action rifle has been a hit with hunters for years. Western Whiskerfish: Trophy Flatheads, Channels, Even Blues, Make Crawfish Part of Perfect Summertime Meal, DIY: Earthworms Can't Hide When 'Grunters' Are Hunting, Exotic Fishing Paradise Awaits in South Florida, Euro Nymphing 101: Trout Tactics from Across the Pond, Awesome Start to Minnesota Turkey Hunting, Bass Crash Course: How to Properly Tune a Baitcasting Rig, Winchester Big Bore: Backcountry Bear Protection. As the accompanying map illustrates, no single county has them to itself. Since 2010, the hottest counties for P&Y entries (white stars on map) have continued to reflect a broad pattern. Since 2000, Hart County has been consistently ranked as one of the top trophy deer counties in the country. This year, the rifle will be chambered in 7mm PRC, the hot new load that was a hit at SHOT Show 2023 in Las Vegas. CITES tags must immediately be attached to the animal or pelt per the instructions included with the mailed tag and remain with the pelt until it is processed. Land owners are not required by law to allow hunters to retrieve game or dogs from their property, so be sure to ask before you go hunting. Tim Young remembers, "Man, he looked big." If you are going out for a hunting adventure with a friend, both of you must have a valid hunting license and permit. For this article, were focusing on how to scout with the County Search tool. Once again, Bracken County is tops in the Northeast in terms of highest deer density, holding 7.66 deer per square mile. In 2006, the Northeast Region reported more than 16,000 deer taken, which was also an increase over the previous season. It was taken in Franklin County in 2002. Hunters took 144,506 deer last season, at least 7% of which were harvested using muzzleloaders, like modern versions of the same firearms used by the Continental Army to fend off the British. Every county in Kentucky produces trophy Whitetails on a regular basis, and the number of trophy Whitetails grows each year. The best chances of winning a trophy buck are in Pendleton, Garrard, Boone, and Henry. This past weekend hunters harvested 2,603 more deer on the opening weekend of gun season than they did in 2020. Instead, he relied on attractants like the Sugar Beet Crush. They offer extremely limited habitat, compared to other more rural counties in this region. They simply werent old enough to grow big antlers. (High fence deer in Kentucky do not have to be checked in.) Wilson accepted the offer, and he was touched by the message he received. The deer population has increased naturally, and the hunting opportunities provided by these counties have increased as well. Would really appreciate it. Mooneys knees eventually stopped shaking. Dec 21, 2011 #3 BadDuck 12 pointer Aug 13, 2007 4,214 Bullitt County WHAT!?!? I could tell that a lot of deer were running through here, he says, noting that the neighbors also allow him to hunt their adjoining land. Click on the Hunting tab, then Telecheck Results. From there, you can access comprehensive databases of current deer harvest by county, weapon, regions, or public lands. Then, the buck started to turn. That year, the weather was quite warm early in the season. Hunting and other recreational activities on public lands are subject to specific regulations administered by the state. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Counties in the Northeast Region continue to be generally managed under a four-deer season limit. In fact, a majority of hunters take only one deer anyway, often taking a doe late in the season when if no buck can be found. Whitley County had a harvest of over 1,000 animals in 2005, but reported a few less in 2006. Id never seen anything like him before. "your secret spot is safe because the Club will not publicly list anything more specific than the county. Hunts in Owen County set a new record in 2013, bagging 4,069 deer. The previous record stood for nearly two years before being surpassed by a buck from Iowa with 16 inches of total length. By 4:25 p.m. Mooney was perched in a tree along a hardwood ridge. While it may seem like just a list of hunters who killed something really big, its a whole lot more. If numbers arent exactly your thing or perhaps you like more visual elements, scroll down to the Top County Visualizer and enter in the same search criteria, including the state that you now know has the most entries for whitetails between 2015 and 2020. If you intend to go hunting in Kentucky, you should be familiar with the states hunting laws and regulations.

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