Eastern KY around Knott county, Western KY around KY Lake region and along Tennessee border. Kentucky began it's elk restoration around 1998 and brought several different species of elk coming from Utah, Kansas, Arizona, North Dakota, Oregon and New Mexico. Right now there is about 5K elk spread out over the state and their goal is to get 8-9K. I would love to spend a week in my own backyard hunting these awesome animals!
Ryan, I know where a couple giant bulls were hanging out up that way this past fall.:D One bull which I believe was a 7X7 was hangin out with about a dozen cows in a camp's yard while the campers were sitting 20 yards away sitting around a camp fire. This summer/fall I will be making several trips up to Winslow Hill and the surrounding areas trying to get some photo's of the elk.
Unless they have changed the rules, just because you might get drawed for a KY. elk doesn't mean you will get an either sex tag. For the same money you could draw a cow tag only......main reason I don't apply in Kentucky.
It is SOO worth the drive. You can get some great photo opps. We like to plan at least one of our camping trips near there so we can check out the elk. Matt, From what I understand about the guides, is that they either try and contact you or the PGC gives you a list to pick from. No one says you have to use one, but I think the majority of people do, just because its a once in a lifetime draw, and few people have any knowledge of the areas up there.
I've been putting in for 3 years with no luck... well no exceptionally good luck, which is what it would take to draw a tag. Kind of fun anyway though. Sure would be nice to hunt elk after a 5 hour drive instead of 25-30.
15 or so years ago the Mn DNR Introduced elk here In Mn again. It just don't seem right though although elk are a native animal to Mn. Did you all know elk were once a flat land animal? BM, I've saw some of them pics you've took of them elk, some big SOB's If I remember right.
Not only does KY have elk, it has the largest population of elk of any state east of the continental divide, including South Dakota even! Tons of elk, IF you draw one of the few bull tags....it's all but guaranteed as far as a hunt goes. I've put in every year since it started and have yet to draw, but eventually I think I will. I'd be almost as happy with a cow tag after eating an elk steak this past year.
Yea Steve, I have a few pics of some big bulls, the size of some of the bulls here in PA is just crazy.
I've always thought of my first elk hunt coming from out west. To me it seems like it's more of hunting for the experience than the actual kill.....if they were out my backdoor though, I would probably hunt them too.
