Proposed Hunting regulation modifications KY

The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission at its quarterly meeting Dec. 2 proposed issuing 900 quota hunt elk permits for the 2012-2013 elk seasons. Commission members also voted to modify some deer, small game and furbearer regulations.
The commission recommends all hunting, fishing and boating regulations for approval by the General Assembly and approves all expenditures by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. All recommendations must be approved by legislators before they become law.
In elk-related business, the commission proposed issuing 900 elk permits for the 2012-2013 season, an increase of 100 permits from last season.
In deer-related business, the commission recommended modifying deer permit regulations. They proposed removing the one deer per day limit on wildlife management areas (WMAs) in Zone 1 counties during open, quota gun or mobility-impaired hunts. Hunters also will be allowed unlimited harvest of antlerless deer on WMAs in Zone 1 counties, provided they purchase the proper permits.
In other deer-related business, the commission proposed allowing a hunter who takes two antlerless deer on their statewide deer permit to be able to harvest an antlered deer on the two deer bonus permit, provided they have not already harvested an antlered deer. The one antlered deer season bag limit remains. Deer hunters who apply for quota hunts may exercise a “no hunt this year” option so they may keep their preference points if they cant participate in the quota hunts for a particular year.
In furbearer-related business, the commission recommended increasing the season bag limit on river otters from six to 10 in 58 counties, mainly in the Purchase region and north-central Kentucky. They also proposed moving the opening of raccoon hunting season from Nov. 1 to Oct. 1 annually and allowing raccoon hunters to use a squaller type of raccoon call year-round. Bobcat hunting season will now open on the fourth Saturday in November and close one month later, on the last day of February.
In small-game related business, the commission recommended the use of preference points for the small game quota hunts administered by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Also, the pheasant quota hunt permit will now be available at both license vendors and on-line from the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov.
The next Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting will be held at 8 a.m., Friday, March 2, at #1 Sportsmans Lane off U.S. 60 in Frankfort. Persons interested in addressing the Commission must notify the Kentucky Fish and Wildlifes Commissioners office in writing at least 30 days in advance to be considered for placement on the meeting agenda. People who are hearing-impaired and plan to attend the meeting should contact Kentucky Fish and Wildlife at least 10 days in advance and the agency will provide a translator. To request to address the commission, write to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, Commissioner Dr. Jon Gassett, #1 Sportsmans Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601.