Apply now for quota deer, small game, waterfowl an

Hunters may apply throughout September for a variety of quota hunts in Kentucky.

Quota hunts help manage hunting pressure on popular public areas by limiting numbers. The deadline to apply for these opportunities is midnight (Central time) Sept. 30.

Applications for quota deer, small game and waterfowl hunts at state wildlife management areas and other public lands may be submitted online at [URL="https://app.fw.ky.gov/QuotaHunt/"]fw.ky.gov[/URL] or by calling 1-877-598-2401. Applications and lists of available quota hunts are available on the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ website by clicking the “[URL="http://fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Documents/Kyhunt14-15%20quota%20hunts.pdf"]hunt[/URL]” tab.

Bear hunters must apply online for the quota hunt with dogs held in the Western, Central and Eastern chase areas.

Approximately 70 percent of hunters who applied for a quota hunt last year utilized the online application system.

“It’s easy to use,” said Chip Quarles, information systems manager with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “By applying online and providing an email address, hunters will receive a confirmation email. That’s an advantage, as well as having access to all of our public lands information on the website.”
There are 30 quota deer hunts to consider this season, including a new opportunity Dec. 6-7 at Dewey Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Floyd County with 150 slots available. For this area’s hunt, there is a one deer limit and a 15-inch minimum outside antler restriction for bucks.

Also different this year, the quota deer hunt on Nov. 1 and 2 at Beaver Creek WMA is for antlered deer only with a one buck limit. At Big Rivers WMA, the quota deer hunt has been moved to the first weekend in November. The hunt dates are Nov. 1 and 2.

When applying for a WMA quota deer hunt, hunters may pick a first and second hunt choice, but can only be drawn to participate in one. Antlered deer harvested during WMA quota hunts count toward the statewide bag limit.
Small game hunters may apply for pheasant quota hunts scheduled Nov. 21, 22 and 23 at Green River Lake WMA, Dec. 5, 6 and 7 at Clay WMA and Dec. 12, 13 and 14 at Yellowbank WMA.

Bobwhite quail quota hunts on the Ken Unit of Peabody WMA are scheduled Nov. 25 and Dec. 23, 2014 and Jan. 3, 10 and 20, 2015. A mentor hunt is scheduled Nov. 22.

Upland bird quota hunts at Clay WMA are scheduled Nov. 5, Nov. 16, Dec. 14 and Dec. 16. Hunters may take bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse and woodcock during the upland bird quota hunts, when the seasons for all three species are open. Woodcock season opens Nov. 1 and ends Dec. 15.

Waterfowl hunters may apply for quota hunts at Ballard WMA and the Sauerheber Unit of Sloughs WMA. The hunts at Ballard WMA are held Wednesdays through Sundays (excluding Christmas and New Year’s Day) from Dec. 3, 2014 to Jan. 25, 2015. Waterfowl quota hunts are held daily at Sloughs WMA from Nov. 27, 2014 through Jan. 25, 2015, but hunters must apply for a block of dates.

The bear quota hunt with dogs season is Dec. 22-26. Hunters must have a bear chase permit before applying. Applicants may apply as a hunt party of no more than five people. All persons drawn for this hunt must also obtain a bear permit to take a bear. An individual hunter or hunt party drawn for the bear quota hunt with dogs season can take no more than one bear in a license year. The statewide harvest quota for this hunt is five bears of either sex. If the limit is reached, the season will close 30 minutes after sunset that day.

Results of the drawings will be posted on Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s website by Oct. 8[B]. [/B]Applicants may also call the department at 1-800-858-1549 and provide either their confirmation number, order number, or Social Security number to find out if they were selected.