301 KAR 2:178. Deer hunting on Wildlife Management Areas and state parks.

301 KAR 2:178. Deer hunting on Wildlife Management Areas and state parks.

RELATES TO: KRS 148.029(5), 150.010, 150.025(2), 150.105, 150.170, 150.175, 150.180, 150.340, 150.360, 150.370, 150.390, 150.395, 150.640(1), 150.710, 150.990

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: 148.029(5), 150.025(1), 150.105, 150.620

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 150.025(1) and 150.620 authorize the department to establish hunting seasons, bag limits, methods of taking and other matters necessary to carry out the purpose of KRS Chapter 150 on Wildlife Management Areas. This administrative regulation establishes deer hunting seasons, application procedures and other matters pertaining to deer hunting on Wildlife Management Areas that differ from statewide requirements. KRS 148.029(5) authorizes the Department of Parks, in cooperation with the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, to implement wildlife management plans on state parks. KRS 150.105 authorizes the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to permit the destruction of animals that are causing damage to property or spreading disease. KRS 150.025(1) authorizes the Department of Fish and Wildlife to open seasons and make those seasons apply to a limited area of the state. This administrative regulation is necessary to allow controlled deer hunting at selected state parks to relieve serious overpopulations of white-tailed deer that are damaging the ecological integrity of the parks.

Section 1. Definitions. (1) "Bonus quota hunt deer permit" means a permit that authorizes a hunter participating in a Wildlife Management Area or state park quota hunt and who possesses a statewide deer permit to take additional deer during a quota hunt.

(2) "In-line muzzleloading gun" means a firearm capable of being loaded only from the discharging end of the barrel or cylinder, that is also equipped with an enclosed ignition system located directly behind the powder charge.

(3) "Mobility-impaired" means an individual who meets the requirements of Section 2(1) of 301 KAR 3:026.

(4) "Modern firearm season" means the ten (10) or sixteen (16) consecutive day period beginning the second Saturday in November when breech-loading firearms may be used to take deer.

(5) "Optical enhancement" means any sighting device other than open or "iron" sights.

(6) "Quota hunt" means a Wildlife Management Area or state park deer hunt where a participant is selected by a random drawing.

(7) "Statewide deer requirements" mean the season dates, zone descriptions and other requirements for deer hunting established in 301 KAR 2:172.

(8) "Wildlife management area or WMA" means a tract of land the department controls or manages through ownership, lease, license or cooperative agreement.

(9) "Youth" means a person under the age of sixteen (16) by the date of the hunt.

Section 2. General WMA Requirements. (1) Unless specified otherwise in this administrative regulation, statewide deer requirements shall apply to a WMA.

(2) Unless specified otherwise in Section 6 of this administrative regulation, a WMA in two (2) or more deer hunting zones as specified in 301 KAR 2:172 shall be governed by the most liberal zone requirements of the zones in which it lies.

(3) Deer hunting on WMAs listed in Section 6 of this administrative regulation, shall be permitted only as stated, except archery hunting is allowed under the statewide archery requirements established in 301 KAR 2:172, Section 5(1), unless otherwise noted.

(4) An open firearm deer hunt:

(a) Shall be limited to United States Armed Forces and National Guard veterans who are residents of Kentucky, or nonresidents stationed in Kentucky, and who were deployed out-of-country during any portion of the most recent regular statewide deer season;

(b) Shall be the Wednesday following the third Monday in January for ten (10) consecutive days; and

(c) Participants shall follow statewide deer requirements and hunt only on WMAs designated as open for this special hunt.

(5) On a WMA, a person:

(a) Shall not use a nail, spike, screw-in device, wire or tree climber for attaching a tree stand or climbing a tree;

(b) May use a portable stand or climbing device that does not injure a tree;

(c) Shall not place a portable stand in a tree more than two (2) weeks before opening day, and shall remove it within one (1) week following the last day, of each hunting period;

(d) Shall plainly mark the portable stand with his name and address; and

(e) Shall not use an existing permanent tree stand.

(6) A person without a valid quota hunt confirmation number shall not enter a WMA during a quota hunt on that area except:

(a) To travel through a WMA on an established road or to use an area designated open by a sign; or

(b) To accompany a movement-impaired hunter who was drawn to hunt. Only one (1) assistant shall be allowed and the assistant shall not be required to have applied for the quota hunt.

(7) Except if waterfowl hunting or hunting at night, a person hunting any species or a person accompanying a hunter shall wear hunter orange clothing as specified in 301 KAR 2:172 while on a WMA when firearms are permitted for deer hunting or while hunting within the sixteen (16) county elk zone when firearm elk season is in progress.

(8) A person shall not place, distribute or hunt over bait as prohibited in 301 KAR 3:010.

Section 3. General Quota Hunt Procedures. (1) A person who is not selected and applies to hunt the following year shall be given one (1) preference point for each year he was not selected.

(2) A random selection of those with preference points shall be made for each year’s quota hunts before those without preference points are chosen.

(3) Each applicant’s preference points are independent of each other. If applying as a party, the entire party is selected if one (1) member of the party is selected.

(4) The commissioner may extend the application deadline if technical difficulties with the automated application system prevent applications from being accepted for one (1) or more days during the application period.

(5) Unless otherwise specified in Section 6 of this administrative regulation, a hunter may take up to two (2) deer on a quota hunt, only one (1) of which may be an antlered deer.

(6) Bonus quota deer hunt permits shall only be used for quota hunts. Deer taken with these permits do not count toward the statewide total deer limit.

(7) There shall be one (1) person drawn from the eligible applicants to the quota hunts who were not selected in the original drawing. This person shall receive one (1) deer permit which carries with it all the privileges of the Special Commission Permit described in 301 KAR 3:100.

Section 4. Quota Hunt Application Process. A person applying for a quota hunt shall:

(1) Call the toll free number listed in the current fall hunting and trapping guide from a touch-tone phone between September 1 and September 30;

(2) Enter his Social Security number;

(3) Indicate a first and second choice of hunts; and

(4) Pay a three (3) dollar application fee for each applicant, prior to the draw by:

(a) Check;

(b) Money order;

(d) Master Card.

(5) Not apply more than one (1) time;

(6) Not apply as a group of more than five (5) persons; and

(7) Not be eligible to participate in a quota hunt unless selected pursuant to this administrative regulation, or accompanying a movement-impaired hunter.

Section 5. Quota Hunt Participant Requirements. Except as otherwise specified in this administrative regulation, a person selected to participate in a quota hunt shall:

(1) Check-in and show his Social Security number;

(2) Possess an annual Kentucky hunting license, except:

(a) A person on military furlough for more than three (3) days who shall show his military identification and status instead of a license; or

(b) If not deer hunting.

(3) Show proof of purchasing a current statewide deer permit;

(4) Possess a deer permit that authorizes the taking of deer with the equipment being used and in accordance with the zone restrictions where the hunt will occur;

(5) Possess an unused bonus deer permit, if he has already taken the two deer authorized by possession of the statewide deer permit;

(6) Not be required to possess a deer permit if he possesses and presents a senior/disabled combination hunting and fishing license at time of check-in or if not deer hunting;

(7) Hunt on assigned date and in assigned areas selected by random drawing of applicants when necessary;

(8) Comply with hunting equipment restrictions specified by the type of hunt;

(9) Check in from noon to 8 p.m. local time on the day before the hunt or between 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time on the day of the hunt, except as otherwise specified in this administrative regulation;

(10) Except as otherwise specified in this administrative regulation, check deer daily at the designated WMA or state park check station and check out:

(a) When finished hunting;

(b) When the hunter’s bag limit is reached; or

(11) Be declared ineligible to apply for the next year's drawing if the hunter fails to check out properly; and

(12) Comply with all quota hunt requirements, including the fifteen (15) inch minimum outside antler spread harvest restriction for antlered deer when in effect, or be ineligible to apply for a quota hunt the following year.

Section 6. WMA Hunting Dates, Requirements and Restrictions. (1) Adair WMA. The crossbow season shall be open under statewide requirements.

(2) Ballard WMA.

(a) The quota hunt shall be for two (2) consecutive days beginning on the first Saturday in November.

(b) On the main tract, the archery, crossbow, and youth firearm seasons shall be open under statewide requirements through October 14.

(c) The crossbow, modern firearm, youth firearm and muzzleloader seasons shall be open under statewide requirements only on the 400 acre tract south of Sallie Crice Road.

(d) A deer hunter shall not take an antlered deer with antlers having an outside spread of less than fifteen (15) inches.

(3) Barren River WMA. Open under statewide requirements except that on the Peninsula Unit, including Narrows, Goose and Grass Islands, a person shall not hunt deer with a modern firearm.

(4) Beaver Creek WMA. The quota hunt shall be for two (2) consecutive days beginning the first Saturday in November.

(a) The limit shall be one (1) deer during the quota hunt.

(b) A deer hunter shall not take an antlered deer with antlers having an outside spread of less than fifteen (15) inches.

(5) Boatwright WMA. Open under statewide requirements except that on the Swan Lake Unit the archery season shall be open under statewide requirements through October 14, and the October youth deer season shall be open under statewide requirements.

(6) Cedar Creek Lake WMA. The crossbow season shall be open under statewide requirements.

(7) Central Kentucky WMA. The archery hunt shall be:

(a) On Wednesdays, from the first Saturday in September through December 17, except during scheduled field trials as posted on the area bulletin board; and

(b) December 18 through the third Monday in January.

(8) Clay WMA.

(a) On the main tract, crossbow and youth firearm seasons shall be open under statewide requirements, except archery hunting shall be prohibited during the quota fox hunting field trials as established in 301 KAR 2:049.

(b) On the Bailely and Marietta Booth Tracts, the youth firearm seasons shall be open under statewide requirements.

(9) Dewey Lake WMA.

(a) The archery and youth firearm seasons shall be open under statewide requirements.

(b) A deer hunter shall not take an antlered deer with antlers having an outside spread of less than fifteen (15) inches.

(10) Dix River WMA. The crossbow, youth firearm, and muzzleloader seasons shall be open under statewide requirements.

(11) Fishtrap Lake WMA.

(a) The quota hunt shall be for two (2) consecutive days beginning on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. The limit shall be one (1) deer.

(b) The youth firearm season shall be open under statewide requirements.

(12) Grayson Lake WMA.

(a) An open youth hunt shall:

1. Be the first Saturday in November for two (2) consecutive days;

2. Be limited to youth hunters age 15 and under;

3. Require check-in from noon to 8 p.m. Eastern Time on the day before the hunt or between 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Time on hunt days;

4. Check-out as follows:

a. When finished hunting;

b. When the hunter’s bag limit is reached; or

c. By 8 p.m. Eastern Time on the final day of the hunt.

5. Have a two (2) deer bag limit, only one (1) of which may be an antlered deer;

6. Have bonus deer permits apply; and

7. Except to travel through Grayson Lake WMA on an established public road or to use an area designated open by a sign, a person who has not checked in shall not enter the Grayson Lake WMA during the open youth hunt.

(b) The property of Camp Webb shall be open for a mobility-impaired deer hunting event during the October youth hunt as established in 301 KAR 3:110.

(c) The crossbow hunt shall be from the first Saturday in September through the third Monday in January, except during the November open youth hunt.

(d) The statewide youth firearm season shall be open under statewide requirements.

(13) Green River Lake WMA.

(a) The quota hunt shall be for two (2) consecutive days beginning the first Saturday in November.

(b) Fifteen (15) openings shall be reserved in the quota hunt for mobility-impaired persons.

(c) A deer hunter shall not take an antlered deer with antlers having an outside spread of less than fifteen (15) inches.

(d) For the purposes of check-in and check-out times, the Green River Lake WMA shall be considered to be located in the Eastern Time Zone.

(14) Higginson-Henry WMA.

(a) The youth firearm deer season shall be open under statewide requirements.

(b) A deer hunter shall not take an antlered deer with antlers having an outside spread of less than fifteen (15) inches.

(15) J.C. Williams WMA. The crossbow season shall be open under statewide requirements.

(16) Kentucky River WMA. The crossbow season shall be open under statewide requirements.

(17) Kleber WMA.

(a) The crossbow season shall be open under statewide requirements, except during a quota hunt.

(b) The quota hunts shall be as follows:

1. The first quota hunt shall be for two (2) consecutive days beginning the first Saturday in November; and

2. The second quota hunt shall be for two (2) consecutive days beginning the first Saturday in December.

(18) Knobs State Forest WMA. The crossbow season shall be open under statewide requirements.

(19) Lake Barkley WMA. Open under statewide requirements except that the North Refuge is closed from November 1 to February 15 and Duck Island is closed from October 15 to March 15.

(20) Lewis County WMA.

(a) The modern firearm and youth firearm seasons shall be open under statewide requirements, except that the use of modern rifles and handguns shall be prohibited.

(b) The October muzzleloader season shall be open under statewide requirements.

(21) Livingston County WMA. The crossbow, youth firearm, muzzleloader, and modern firearm seasons shall be open under statewide requirements, except a person shall not hunt deer with a modern gun during the modern firearm deer season.

(22) Curtis Gates Lloyd WMA. The crossbow season shall be open under statewide requirements.

(23) Mill Creek WMA. The quota hunt shall be for two (2) consecutive days beginning the first Saturday in November. The limit shall be one (1) deer.

(24) Mud Camp Creek WMA. The crossbow, youth firearm, and muzzleloader seasons shall be open under statewide requirements.

(25) Mullins WMA. The crossbow season shall be open under statewide deer requirements.

(26) Ohio River Islands WMA. On the Stewart Island Unit:

(a) The muzzleloader season shall be for two (2) consecutive days beginning the third Saturday in October.

(b) The archery season shall be from the first Saturday in September through October 14.

(d) The remainder of the WMA shall be open under statewide requirements.

(27) Paintsville Lake WMA.

(a) The quota hunt shall be for two (2) consecutive days beginning the first Saturday in November.

(b) The youth firearm season shall be open under statewide requirements.

(c) A deer hunter shall not take an antlered deer with antlers having an outside spread of less than fifteen (15) inches.

(28) Peabody WMA.

(a) The crossbow, youth firearms and muzzleloader seasons shall be open under statewide requirements.

(b) The modern firearm season shall be open under statewide requirements for ten (10) consecutive days beginning the second Saturday in November.

(29) Pennyrile State Forest-Tradewater WMA.

(a) The quota hunt shall be for two (2) consecutive days beginning the first Saturday in November.

(b) A deer hunter shall not take an antlered deer with antlers having an outside spread of less than fifteen (15) inches.

(30) Pioneer Weapons WMA. Statewide requirements shall apply except that a person:

(a) Shall not use a modern firearm;

(b) Shall not use an in-line muzzleloading gun;

(d) May use a crossbow during the entire archery season.

(31) Dr. James R. Rich WMA.

(a) The crossbow season shall be open under statewide requirements, except during a quota hunt.

(b) The quota hunts shall be as follows:

1. The first quota hunt shall be for two (2) consecutive days beginning the first Saturday in November; and

2. The second quota hunt shall be for two (2) consecutive days beginning the first Saturday in December.

(32) Sloughs WMA.

(a) On the Sauerheber Unit, the archery, muzzleloader and youth firearm seasons shall be open under statewide requirements through October 31, except that the Crenshaw and Duncan II Tracts shall be open under statewide requirements through the end of modern firearm season.

(b) The remainder of the WMA shall be open under statewide requirements.

(33) South Shore WMA.

(a) The youth firearm, October muzzleloader and modern firearm seasons shall be open under statewide requirements through November 14, except that the use of modern rifles and handguns shall be prohibited.

(b) The archery season shall be open under statewide requirements, except the area shall be closed November 15 through January 15.

(34) Paul Van Booven and Robinson Forest WMAs.

(a) A person shall not hunt deer on the main block of Robinson Forest.

(b) The muzzleloader, modern firearm, and youth firearm seasons shall be open under statewide requirements, except a person shall not hunt deer with a modern gun.

(35) T.N. Sullivan WMA. The crossbow season shall be open under statewide requirements.

(36) R.F. Tarter WMA. The crossbow, youth firearm and muzzleloader seasons shall be open under statewide requirements.

(37) Taylorsville Lake WMA.

(a) The quota hunt shall be as follows:

1. Two (2) consecutive days beginning the first Saturday in November;

2. Two (2) consecutive days beginning the first Saturday in December; and

3. Two (2) consecutive days beginning the first Saturday in January.

(b) The youth firearm season shall be open under statewide requirements.

(c) The crossbow season shall be open under statewide requirements, except that it shall be closed during the quota hunt.

(38) Twin Eagle WMA. The crossbow season shall be open under statewide requirements.

(39) Twin Knobs Campground.

(a) The quota hunt shall be on the second Saturday in December for mobility-impaired persons.

(b) The area shall be closed to the statewide archery season.

(40) West Kentucky WMA.

(a) All tracts, except Tract 8A, shall be open under statewide requirements for the archery and crossbow seasons except that the areas shall be closed during quota and firearm deer hunts.

(b) Tracts 1-6 shall be open to shotgun and muzzleloader hunters participating in the quota and open firearm deer hunts. Tract 7 and "A" Tracts shall not be open for quota or firearm deer hunts.

(d) The firearms season shall:

1. Be the second Saturday after Thanksgiving for two (2) consecutive days;

2. Be limited to the first 300 hunters;

3. Require check-in from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Central Time on the day before the hunt or between 4:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Central Time on hunt days;

4. Check out as follows:

a. When finished hunting;

b. When the hunter’s bag limit is reached; or

c. By 7 p.m. Central time on the final day of the hunt.

5. Have a two (2) deer bag limit, only one (1) of which may be an antlered deer;

6. Have bonus deer permits apply; and

7. Except to travel through West Kentucky WMA on an established public road or to use an area designated open by a sign, a person who has not checked-in shall not enter the West Kentucky WMA during firearm season.

(e) Firearm hunters shall not use modern rifles or handguns.

(f) A person shall not carry a firearm in posted zones.

(g) Archery and crossbow hunters shall check-in with U.S. Energy Corporation security personnel before hunting on the "A" Tracts.

(h) A deer hunter shall not take an antlered deer with antlers having an outside spread of less than fifteen (15) inches.

(41) Yatesville WMA. The crossbow, youth firearm, muzzleloader, and modern firearm seasons shall be open under statewide requirements, except a person shall not take antlerless deer with a firearm during the modern firearm deer season.

(b) The youth firearm seasons shall be open under statewide deer requirements.

(42) Yellowbank WMA.

(a) The crossbow and youth firearm deer seasons shall be open under statewide requirements.

(b) A deer hunter shall not take an antlered deer whose antlers have an outside spread of less than fifteen (15) inches.

(43) Zilpo Campground.

(a) The quota hunt shall be for any deer on the second Saturday in December for persons with a disability which impairs their mobility as defined in 301 KAR 3:026.

(b) The area shall be closed to the statewide archery season.

Section 7. State Park Deer Seasons. The following state parks shall be open to deer hunting as specified below and according to requirements in Section 8 of this administrative regulation:

(1) Lake Barkley State Resort Park. Deer hunting shall be permitted on the second Tuesday of January for two (2) consecutive days.

(2) Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park. Deer hunting shall be permitted on the fourth Tuesday of December for four (4) consecutive days.

(3) Greenbo Lake State Resort Park. Deer hunting shall be permitted on the second Tuesday of January for two (2) consecutive days.

(4) Green River Lake State Park.

(a) Archery and crossbow deer hunting shall be permitted beginning the second Thursday of December for four (4) consecutive days; and

(b) Archery and crossbow deer hunting shall be permitted beginning the third Thursday of December for four (4) consecutive days.

(c) A deer hunter shall not take an antlered deer with antlers having an outside spread of less than fifteen (15) inches.

(5) Taylorsville Lake State Park.

(a) Deer hunting shall be permitted for two (2) consecutive days beginning the first Saturday and Sunday of November, and for two (2) consecutive days beginning the first Saturday and Sunday of December at Taylorsville Lake State Park.

(b) In odd-numbered years, the November hunt shall be open to any hunter, and the December hunt shall be open to mobility-impaired persons.

(c) In even-numbered years, the November hunt shall be open to mobility-impaired persons and the December hunt shall be open to any hunter.

(d) Persons who participate in the hunt held for mobility-impaired hunters shall comply with the requirements established in 301 KAR 3:026.

(6) Yatesville Lake State Park.

(a) Muzzleloading firearm, archery, and crossbow deer hunting shall be permitted under statewide deer requirements on the second Monday of December for three (3) consecutive days.

(b) Check-in at the park campground gate is required from noon to 8 p.m. Eastern Time on the second Sunday of December.

(7) Barren River Lake State Resort Park. Deer hunting shall be permitted on December 26 and 27.

(8) Jenny Wiley State Resort Park.

(a) Muzzleloading firearm, archery, and crossbow deer hunting shall be permitted on the first Saturday of January for two (2) consecutive days.

(b) The hunt shall be open to mobility-impaired persons.

(d) A deer hunter shall not take an antlered deer with antlers having an outside spread of less than fifteen (15) inches.

Section 8. State Park Deer Hunt Requirements. (1) Except for the open hunt at Yatesville Lake State Park, a person shall not hunt on a state park unless he:

(a) Was selected by a random drawing as described in Section 3 of this administrative regulaiton; or

(b) Is a member of the successful applicant’s hunting party.

(2) Check-in and check-out requirement.

(a) A person participating in a state park hunt, except for the quota hunts at Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park and Green River Lake State Park, and the Yatesville Lake State Park open deer hunt, shall:

1. Check in and check out as required in Section 5 of this administrative regulation;

2. Furnish at check-in:

a. Either his Social Security or confirmation number, showing that he was a successful applicant for the hunt; and

b. A driver’s license or other form of government-issued identification; and

3. Check in between noon and 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time the day before the hunt at the state park campground if hunting in the Yatesville Lake State Park open deer hunt.

(b) A person who does not check out as required above shall not be eligible to apply for a quota hunt the following year.

(3) A person participating in a state park deer hunt shall:

(a) Comply with the provisions of 301 KAR 2:172;

(b) Check deer daily at the designated park check station, unless specified in paragraph (c) of this section.

(c) Telecheck deer taken in Barren River Lake State Resort Park, Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park, and Green River Lake State Park quota hunts, and in the Yatesville Lake State Park open deer hunt, as specified in 301 KAR 2:172.

(4) A person participating in a state park deer hunt shall not:

(a) Take more than two (2) deer in a quota hunt, only one (1) of which may be antlered;

(b) Hunt over bait;

1. A tree stand except a portable stand;

2. Climbing devices which nail or screw to the tree; or

3. Climbing spikes.

(d) Leave a deer stand unattended for more than twenty-four (24) hours;

(e) Discharge a firearm within 100 yards of a maintained road or building;

(f) Hunt:

1. In an area posted as closed by signs; or

2. Outside the park boundaries. (21 Ky.R. 2571; eff. 5-10-95; Am. 1877; eff. 6-6-96; 23 Ky.R. 3873; eff. 7-9-97; 24 Ky.R. 2744; eff. 8-17-98; 25 Ky.R. 2655; 26 Ky.R. 44; eff. 7-14-99; 27 Ky.R. 206; 748; eff. 8-24-2000; 3336; 28 Ky.R. 360; eff. 8-15-01; 2646; eff. 8-12-02; 29 Ky.R. 2523; 2874; eff. 6-16-03; 30 Ky.R. 985; 2562; eff. 1-5-04; 31 Ky.R. 345; eff. 8-26-04; 832; eff. 1-4-05; 1711; 32 Ky.R. 58; eff. 7-13-05; 32 Ky.R. 2101; 33 Ky.R. 96; eff. 7-12-06; 3447; eff. 8-6-07.)