[Pinefarm]

I just found out today that one of my oldest hunting buddies just took a job in KY. I guess it's just over the border from Cinci. It's in Boone county. Anyone familiar with this area? He said he thought the archery season ran well into Jan. Is this true? I'll check the KDNR page too.

 

[Jeff Sturgis]

I hunted 2 season in KY, and althouth I didn't shoot a buck, I passed up some nice 2.5 year old 8's, and saw enough pictures and video from my friends to go for one of the few booners running around in the area. Not very many hunters, 1 buck license, and a strong encouragement from DNR officials to practice QDM. Exceptional habitat in most areas, and although KY ranks around 10th in the country for B/C, they are up near the top, if not at the top, for B/C per square mile.

Lots of voluntary QDM and habitat improvement, much like ILL, Iowa, WI, MI, etc..

I had less appreciation for the 10 hour drive though.

 

[Swamp Monster]

Bob Check your PM's. Ohio's season runs until the end of January, KY's probably is similiar ar even longer.

 

[I'llbeoutside]

I believe it closes on Jan 19. I know some seasons and limits are different for some counties. My new in-laws have 260 acres in the sw region and I have been doing a little scouting each visit down there. I have seen a few nice bucks and it looks real promising. I hope to get a chance to hunt down there next year. No one has hunted it since they moved there about ten years ago. I know they were starting to get some real high numbers of deer in the area you are talking about a few years ago.

 

[mal]

hunted firearms season in KY a couple of times and shot deer each time (small buck and nice doe) and a buddy shot one that scored in the 150's. nice thing is that rifles are OK. nice hilly country around the ohio river valley with lots of oaks. saw the largest rack i've ever seen in the wild in KY...it was about 400 yards away...looked like a moose thru the binocs. that was in lewis county on some logged out lease. always saw good numbers too. lots of hikin' and climbin'.

 

[jimmyboy]

Archery season opens 6 Sept thru 15 Jan - early mzl 3rd weekend Oct - youth hunt 4th weekend of Oct - firearm 1st Sat Nov for 15 days. Late mzl 13-19 Dec - Hunt license & permit for non-res deer $140.

 

[skulldugary]

My family is originaly from Middlesboro Ky.right on the Ky,Tenn,Va. border.My folks still have a home there and there are some dandies to be had,but land owners are getting wise as to the money that can be made from letting people hunt thier land.My cousin is a cop in Pineville and said some real hogs get hit with cars on 25E.I could go down anytime I wanted to hunt Ky.or Tenn,but It's just not someting that I'm really interested in..

 

[brdhntr]

Been hunting Caldwell Co. for 4 yrs. I go with a group of guys that has been hunting with one outfitter for the past 13yrs. All 4yrs, I've had the same farm to hunt, and every year, I've seen at least one P&Y buck in the week I spent there. One big 10pt I've seen multiple years will probably make B&C. Not sure if the area you are hunting will be as good, but I'd give it a try at least one year. Well worth the trip for me.

 

[Pinefarm]

brdhntr, trust me, I plan on making every attempt. We're already planning on Illinois next year too. It's kinda sad, but I'm forced to shift much of my hunting energies away from my own property in the west central lower. I'll continue to do lots of habitat work in the Spring and Summer here, and will still hunt, but my prime time off with be focused elsewhere. Something about the prospect of the biggest buck in the area being a 90 class that just doesn't excite me anymore, like it did 20 years ago. I guess I'm looking as forward to the 2004 season at my camp in MI like the upcoming 2004 Detroit Tiger season. The prospects for both are the same. I'm afraid 2005 and 2006 look similar, unless something drastic happens. Then again, maybe me and my hunting buddies here going elsewhere is that "something drastic". We'll see...
Thanks for all the info.

 

[mich buckmaster]

Does anyone know of any guides or outfitters in Kentucky that is worth a lick? I have done many searches on the Internet and havent found very many.

Some outfitters dont advertise on the net, but word of mouth.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[wild bill]

good luck bob and i hope you make it down there. this summer i will be making trips down to tenn to look into the hunting. my parents moved there this fall and i've talked to a couple people from a tenn forums and they have offered to help me out.

 

[Neal]

My brother's 2003 Trigg County, KY muzzy buck.

 

[treeclimber24359]

SKULLDUGARY yes alot of deer do get hit on 25E and on 119. My cousin used to be a cop in pineville now i believe hes a baliff or something. Yes there are some very nice bucks in the area have seen some booners. As for guides have never heard of any.

 

[brdhntr]

Originally posted by mich buckmaster
Does anyone know of any guides or outfitters in Kentucky that is worth a lick? I have done many searches on the Internet and havent found very many.

Some outfitters dont advertise on the net, but word of mouth.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

We hunt with Jim Leech, Jim Leech KY outfitter . He and his guides are really good guys. Accommodations aren't 5 star, but adequte for a hunting camp, and the food makes up for it. The guides know their thing and will do their best to get you on some deer. The pictures have a lot of the deer we have taken in our week long hunt. Our group knows the land so well, that we do it ourselves. If you decide to go with them, let me know and I'll give you some info on the land/where the good hunting is. Especially if you go down after the week we are there.

We, also, may have a slot open in our group, if you are a bowhunter. We go time our hunt so it ends the Wednesday before their rifle season. Weather can be tricky, but we do pretty well. Right now, I have one new guy on the waiting list, we will have a better idea of how many openings come February. The rule is guys who went the year before get top priority.

 

[mike h]

Give me a minute and I will post a couple of Kentucky's deer taken this Muzzleloading season.

 

[mike h]

Here is a couple of our friends with there Ky deer from this Muzzleloading season not far from our property....

 

[mike h]

Here is a couple from the cam on our property....Should be a Nice one next year...He is an 8 point and you can't tell it from the picture but the one in the back is a 4 pointer with about 14 inch tall main beams. Both of these deer were passed up this deer season many times....

 

[I'llbeoutside]

I like what I am reading. I may have to visit the in-laws a little more. They are in Barren county and have some prime property. A mix of hardwoods, creek bottoms and ag land. I will get in a couple of hunts next year.

 

[Dangler]

MI Buckmaster, I met an outfitter at the Deer & Turkey Spectacular in 2001. Talked to him for awhile and got his brochure, but haven't been there so can't personally vouch. Near Land Between the Lakes (LBL):
Jerry Woosley
Bucks and Beards
P.O. Box 218
Crofton, KY 42217
(270) 424-9848

I also know a CO that works in the central part of the state that could provide some helpful information if you end up hunting in that area.