Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Kentucky Elk Draw

Anybody get lucky this year? I can't find any results, but I'm not holding my breath about my chances. Been putting in for a tag since the draw first started, and have yet to draw one.

same story here. I gave up a few years ago.

When I found out how crooked and corrupt the Elk draw is, I quit pissing away money on it.

I have been tempted to do so, and probably should. But, I keep thinking that some day the odds will be on my side. However, there is no doubt that KDFWR is a crooked azz bunch, and caters to the people that give it the best publicity.

Can you elaborate on this because apparently I've been pissing away my $ since 2012.

I know of a local family who has members who have been drawn multiple times. The wife, the kids, etc. Amazing to know the patriarch was a commissioner. Fish and Wildlife holds tags for favors, raffles them and then keep up with the big "draw" every year.

Its pretty funny how a lot of these "hunting shows" tend to draw Kentucky tags and most if not all of the "Hunters" are from out of state.

Similar schitt happens here in Michigan with our elk draw.

My buddy was a salesman for Hewlett Packard for years. They got the bid for the DNR hunting and fishing license machines. After it was all done the DNR asked him if he wanted to be drawn for an elk tag. Dumfuk said he had no interest in killing an elk.

This is the state where members of the legislature mysteriously get UK basketball tickets for free. Comes as no surprise that the elk draw may just be a teensy bit corrupt.

That's why I won't run for the legislature. I'd rather have a fever blister than have to go to a UK basketball game.

I got student tickets over 50 years ago. Saw Rupp and Issel. IMO, current day UK basketball doesn't compare to that.

I have put in a few times but also felt it was a fishy draw. Same for moose tags in New Hampshire. Seems a few guido sounding families seem to get Lucky every year with several families members drawing tags in several zones and seasons. You would come out cheaper to go poach one. If you got caught the fines would be less then paying for twenty years of lost money waiting to draw.

You don't get to keep the meat or antlers if caught poaching.

Not selected. I guess I went about it the wrong way, should have told them I had a hunting show.

Should have filled out your application using Jackie Bushman as the name and an Alabama address, you would have drawn.

I know of a local fellow in his 20’s who drew 2 yrs ago….went with an outfitter and killed a nice bull. Just a regular guy who applied.

Quite a bit more of that would happen if they ran the draw fairly.

I didn’t draw either. I’ve wasted $10 on less…

Same boat here. I am glad to know the elk are in Kentucky and expanding.

Me too. I don't buy lottery tickets, and a chance to kill an elk in state is worth taking a chance on. I just wish the draw was run a little bit better though.

I applied for both bull and cow tags. I drew neither.

I sent Pat and Nicole a message asking how they get a Kentucky elk tag nearly every year and they didn’t respond.

It may be Nicole that's responsible................just saying, if you catch my drift.

I'm guessing a whole lot of those shows are not getting their tags through the draws, but from landowners given tags to give/sell at their discretion.

I didn’t get drawn either. I’ve put in every year since inception and never been drawn.

have put in every year since they started around 1998-2000, never got drawn .but wifes cousins family member got drawn .He just a reguler Joe from Eastern Ky

From what I've been told, KDFWR has tags that are sold to companies or individuals who are willing to spend the big bucks to do so. These tags are the ones that end up in the hands of the hunting celebrities. Never forget this.........KDFWR is all about money, and the more publicity that Kentucky elk hunting generates, the more money they will be raking in.

James I agree. I used to put in every year when they first opened it... then as they promoted it more and more, it got unobtainable.

I'll be going into this Michigan Elk draw with 20 trys this, but so will a bunch of others!

F all these non-tradition elk states. The have a herd of 2 elk and 50 bazillion hunters who want one of those two big ones. Pure BS.

Applied for bull and cow tags 0/2. This was my first year applying, I was planning to use my points in Wyoming but my wife is due in November…

I do believe I heard that KY is going to implement a system for loyal applicants similar to points systems out west though, maybe odds will start getting better for those who have put in for a while.

Just going to make it all but impossible for those not on the ground floor. Though I participate in many point systems in many states, I detest them. Random draw is the only fair way IMO.

REAL, FAIR, random draw which has never taken place to date in Kentucky.

Well, KY Fish & Wildlife has completely fugged the turkey population and turkey season, has basically turned deer season into one big archery hunt (screw the firearms hunters), for years had absolutely ridiculous varmint regulations, and currently has absolutely ridiculous bear regulations - if there is a way they could screw up elk season, you know they would get it done.

The only person I know that has ever been drawn lives in your front yard

I drew a late season cow tag last year after 4-5 years of applying. I was not successful due to a number of factors including guide incompetence and very warm weather.

After listening to some of the locals discussions, I probably won’t waste my money again. They all believe that the KYFW is crooked in the draw system just as some of you have said. They also said that KYFW had trapped some elk in the area we were hunting for relocation but continued to issue the same number of tags so the population was way down……

As usual with state govt, money is the only thing that matters…..

LOL..........he must have gotten luck from his mama, because he didn't get it from me. I know a person from Logan County who got drawn several years ago.

I put in every year. I know it's corrupt as hell, but for two gallons of gas, it's not a crazy spend.

Hell, I drive 2000 miles each way to hunt elk every year. Would be nice to stay within 4-500miles and hunt elk.

I drew a gun tag for a cow elk in 2010. Got a nice cow.

I just saw this. Sorry again SAS.

I got drawn in 2018 and got one. Elk herd has been hit hard with too many tags and KDFW shipping elk to other states. If you want a decent chance at a Bull you almost need to use an outfitter and they are not cheap. What really blows is that you can get drawn, but then not get an area your guide has access too. The whole process is a joke. I haven't put in since I got mine in 2018.

I didn’t apply this year for the first time in a long time. Too many health problems this year, but I hope to get back on the wagon again next year. We’ll see.

I got drawn for a cow archery tag 9 years ago. Hunted public land and had several opportunities but never could get it done with my longbow. Was in elk most every day, but anything that could go wrong went wrong.

Ask Steve Rinella! Hell he got a tag and didn’t even have to enter into the draw….

I’ll never apply in KY because I have no celeb status.

I live in Ky took 6 years to get drawn for cow Elk. There are so many people in Ky alone and out of state putting into drawing. Chance of getting drawn are slim for everyone. Don’t give up. Bow hunt are the best odds not to many put in for hunt. But I have always put in for Bull and Cow rifle. Got drawn 9 years ago. There is a small number of Bulls and Cows to be drawn. Once drawn example Bull you cannot be drawn again for 3 years. It might be longer now I don’t know