NEWS

It was a litle bit of a slow archery season with lot's of heat and little rain. Gun season has exceedeed my expectations for great hunt's and some monster deer taken. Greenup County has produced some giants in the last 7 years. This year has been as good or better than most, with gun season coming in the peak of the rut, it's been fun to watch, and also fun to see all those pics coming in. With colder temps the rest of the week, and possible snow, the bucks should keep moving.

Here's the spring hunting guide from the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources. The laws have changed this year, so read the following and pay special attention to the new feeding laws.

For the KDFWR website: 

https://fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Pages/Spring-Turkey-Hunting.aspx

General Turkey Season - April 1-2, 2023

Youth-Only Season - April 15 - May 7, 2023

Feeding of Wildlife

From March 1 through July 31, it is illegal to feed wildlife with grain, seed or manufactured animal feed outside the curtilage of the home (the area immediately surrounding a home or group of homes). This regulation does not apply to normal agricultural practices or food plots, or municipal areas not open to legal hunting or trapping.

No Pre-Season Calling

A person shall not mimic the sound of a turkey in an area open to turkey hunting and where turkeys are reasonably expected to be present from March 1 until the opening of the youth-only turkey season, and from the close of the youth-only turkey season until the opening of the state-wide turkey season. However, locating turkeys with an owl, crow, coyote, or woodpecker call is permitted when scouting.

Hunter Requirements

Adult Hunters: Unless exempt, all spring turkey hunters ages 16 and older must carry with them in the field proof of purchase of a valid Kentucky hunting license and a valid spring turkey permit. Short-term (1- or 7-day) hunting licenses are not valid for turkey hunting. The spring turkey permit is valid for the general spring season and allows a hunter to harvest up to the spring season bag limit of turkeys. Persons ages 16 and older may not hunt turkeys during the youth-only season.

Youth Hunters: Children ages 15 and younger may hunt turkeys during the youth-only hunting weekend and the general spring season. Visit our special Youth Turkey Weekend FAQs page to learn more about this hunting opportunity just for ages 15 and younger.

Youths younger than age 12 are exempt from license and turkey permit requirements. Unless exempt, all spring turkey hunters ages 12-15 must carry with them in the field proof of purchase of a valid Kentucky hunting license and a valid Spring Turkey Permit. Youths ages 12-15 are eligible to purchase a Youth Turkey Permit, which is valid for the harvest of one turkey during a license year. Youth hunters must abide by season bag limits and harvest restrictions. The resident-only Youth Sportsman’s License includes two (2) Youth Turkey Permits.

Youth hunting licenses and permits are valid for the entire license year if they are purchased before the child’s 16th birthday. Youths who hunt turkeys with a firearm must be accompanied by an adult who shall remain in a position to take immediate control of the firearm at all times.

Spring Season Bag Limits

A legal turkey is defined as a wild turkey that is male or has a visible beard. During the spring season, hunters may only harvest one bearded turkey per WMA. No more than one (1) bird may be taken per day. No more than two (2) birds may be taken per spring season. Any combination of male turkeys, or turkeys with visible beards, may be included in this two-bird season limit. Turkeys taken by youths during the youth-only season count toward their spring turkey bag limit.

Harvest Recording

All harvested turkeys must be logged and telechecked. 

Caller/Assistant

Anyone may call turkeys, or assist in the hunt. Callers and assistants are not required to possess a hunting license or turkey permit, and may carry equipment while in the field.

Legal Spring Turkey Hunting Equipment

Hunters may only use the following to take turkeys during the spring seasons:

• Breech-loading or muzzle-loading shotguns no larger than 10 gauge and no smaller than .410.

• Breech-loading shotguns must be plugged to hold a maximum of three shells (two in magazine and one in chamber).

• Lead or non-toxic shot no larger than No. 4.

• Longbows, recurve bows and compound bows of any draw weight (no minimum).

• Crossbows of any draw weight (no minimum) with a working safety device.

• Non-barbed broadheads with a minimum cutting diameter of 7/8-inch, whether expandable or non-expandable.

Prohibited Spring Turkey Hunting Methods

A person hunting wild turkeys shall not:

• Hunt over bait. An area is considered baited until 30 days after the bait has been removed. However, a person may hunt wild turkeys on an area where grain, feed or other substance exists as the result of a bona fide agricultural practice or manipulating a crop for a wildlife management purpose.

• Use a dog during the spring season.

• Hunt from a boat, or from any type of vehicle unless prescribed by regulation (see “Hunting Method Exemptions” in the “General Information” section of this guide).

• Use or possess an electronic or digital calling device.

• Harvest a roosting turkey.

• Use live decoys.

Concealed Carry Deadly Weapons Permits

Anyone who may legally possess firearms may carry firearms while hunting, but any firearms carried concealed must be done so pursuant to KRS 527.020.

Recording, Checking, and Tagging

All successful turkey hunters must follow the steps for recording, checking and tagging their harvest. 

Shed season is here and the bones have started dropping, time to get out there and pound the ground.

Our leases run from Jan 31 to Jan 31, it's almost time to renew, don't wait too long!

Since we started signing up hunters in 2016, it seems like every deer season has been exciting, except for 2017 and the EHD breakout. I can say that 2022 exceeded my expectations, and has to be the best year we've had yet. The deer just seemed to grow bigger this year, probably because most of our hunter's have good management skills. Thank's to everyone that let us share in the good times. 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​NEW THIS YEAR​

Proposed changes to bear hunting regulations have received final legislative approval and are effective as of Oct. 20, 2022. 

https://fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Pages/Bear-Hunting.aspx