Elk Draw is open

[Nick Beline]

Seems like I’m gonna have to figure out how to get the Army to pay more with prices like that

 

[JimRu]

Someone give an honest answer. What are the chances for a guy who doesn’t hire an outfitter and would only hunt public land? 1% chance at a harvest? Worse?

I went diy and shot a bull in 2020 on public land. It is not an easy hunt but it is definitely doable with some scouting.

 

[ManofManyStangs]

Had my units screwed up I know Unit 6 only.

 

[WXman]

Someone give an honest answer. What are the chances for a guy who doesn’t hire an outfitter and would only hunt public land? 1% chance at a harvest? Worse?

Based upon what I saw last year, very very slim.

I went on week 1. Odds should be better right? And I took two guys with me who were avid lifetime hunters, and who had been drawn for the elk hunt in the past. We scouted. We checked out all the sites in my zone. We were in the woods well before sunrise. Didn't even see a single elk, much less get a shot at one. We saw very little elk sign and no elk rubs.

Ran into a guy at a gas station who had paid over $5,000 for an outfitter. He said the outfitter was encouraging him to shoot whatever he saw because "there may not be another chance".

Ran into some locals at a Steak N Shake. They said the elk are all gone. And what is left is being hoarded by Outfitters.

 

[ManofManyStangs]

Ran into some locals at a Steak N Shake. They said the elk are all gone. And what is left is being hoarded by Outfitters.

I think it depends on the unit, also "some" locals are territorial and not always telling the truth. For instance I had some locals tell me I wasn't allowed to hunt a certain spot I had no business up there, but I had written permission $50 says they didn't. Most ppl would've turned away, but not me can't BS a BS'er.

 

[Catridge]

I’m done with the elk draw been applying for years , too many tags already in political pockets !!!!

 

[1wildcatfan]

I’m done with the elk draw been applying for years , too many tags already in political pockets !!!!

Name names.

 

[stargazer]

After reading how some folk's hunts are going in a different thread, I wish I hadn't put in for an elk tag. If by some miracle, I get drawn, I will decline it. Lived in Kentucky my entire life and it's sad to see how hunting has taken a downturn, especially with the KDFWR. Looks like they don't know what they are doing with the elk draw or hunts. They have WMAs that don't have elk but they assign hunters to hunt there. If they were going to stock elk, they should have put them where everyone will have a chance at one. When they first discussed the idea of stocking elk back to eastern KY, the insurance companies got involved. They wanted to make sure that the chance of the elk expanding out of eastern KY was 0%. They don't want to pay out on any claims if someone hits an elk in their car. That, I believe is the main reason why there are very few elk in KY.

 

[Little FR]

After reading how some folk's hunts are going in a different thread, I wish I hadn't put in for an elk tag. If by some miracle, I get drawn, I will decline it. Lived in Kentucky my entire life and it's sad to see how hunting has taken a downturn, especially with the KDFWR. Looks like they don't know what they are doing with the elk draw or hunts. They have WMAs that don't have elk but they assign hunters to hunt there. If they were going to stock elk, they should have put them where everyone will have a chance at one. When they first discussed the idea of stocking elk back to eastern KY, the insurance companies got involved. They wanted to make sure that the chance of the elk expanding out of eastern KY was 0%. They don't want to pay out on any claims if someone hits an elk in their car. That, I believe is the main reason why there are very few elk in KY.

You may as well go. It’s pretty country but I’ll not be putting in again.

 

[bgkyarcher]

I went diy and shot a bull in 2020 on public land. It is not an easy hunt but it is definitely doable with some scouting.

Totally depends on the unit......

 

[bgkyarcher]

After reading how some folk's hunts are going in a different thread, I wish I hadn't put in for an elk tag. If by some miracle, I get drawn, I will decline it. Lived in Kentucky my entire life and it's sad to see how hunting has taken a downturn, especially with the KDFWR. Looks like they don't know what they are doing with the elk draw or hunts. They have WMAs that don't have elk but they assign hunters to hunt there. If they were going to stock elk, they should have put them where everyone will have a chance at one. When they first discussed the idea of stocking elk back to eastern KY, the insurance companies got involved. They wanted to make sure that the chance of the elk expanding out of eastern KY was 0%. They don't want to pay out on any claims if someone hits an elk in their car. That, I believe is the main reason why there are very few elk in KY.

The reason there aren't many is over kill, and the department doesn't give poaching and predation credit for the numbers they take. Their night surveys are a joke as well. They count every light up as an elk, even though the majority are wild horses and cattle. They're idiots, plain and simple.

 

[RLWEBB]

I got drawn in 2020. Not eligible to put in again for another year I believe.

24

 

[RLWEBB]

I’m done with the elk draw been applying for years , too many tags already in political pockets !!!!

Yeah, tell us whose pockets?

 

[Strutter]

What do you guys think about the redraw they are talking about?

 

[Feedman]

What do you guys think about the redraw they are talking about?

Never heard of it.
Do you have details?