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Redbird Ranger District Kid’s Fishing Derby
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

Families can take a free test drive of fishing fun during the first weekend of June. Kentucky celebrates free fishing weekend across the state June 1-2. It’s been an annual event since at least 1992. Moms, dads, grandparents, extended family and out-of-state visitors all can sample Kentucky’s fishing opportunities without having to buy a license or permit during this weekend. Size and creel limits on the number of fish that angles may keep still apply, however. Anglers may keep trout without possessing a trout permit during free fishing weekend.

With special events across the state planned for Saturday, June 1, most families can find fishing opportunities just a short drive away. A number of events are geared toward kids under the age of 16. Several include a free hot dog lunch, bait and loaner fishing equipment for anglers. Families wanting the fun to last the entire weekend should consider a state park stay – Kentucky has a number of parks situated at prime fishing lakes. Find out more online at:

parks.ky.gov

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources also stocks 39 community lakes across the state as part of its Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) program. Most of these lakes received a stocking of channel catfish this month. To find the nearest lake, go online to:

fw.ky.gov

then click onto the FINs logo on the right hand side of the page. Fishing event planned for June 1:

Clay County: Redbird Ranger District Kid’s Fishing Derby, Little Double Creek Pond, located behind office at 91 Peabody Road, Big Creek, Ky.. Fishing from 9 a.m. to noon. Registration from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Open to kids 16 and under. Prizes for various age divisions. Food and drinks provided to participants. Pond has special stocking of trout. Anglers should bring their own bait and fishing equipment. The pond is located in the Redbird District of the Daniel Boone National Forest, due east of London off KY 66. Call [phone] for more information.

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Kentucky Afield Outdoors:
Hit some small waters now that summer's here
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

It is hard to believe you needed a jacket for an evening outdoor barbeque on the weekend after the Preakness Stakes, but you did this year. his past spring was one of the coolest in memory. Now that June is around the corner with temperatures finally striking the upper 80s, it is time to hit some overlooked small lakes to catch nice bluegill, redear sunfish, also called shellcrackers, largemouth bass and sunfish.

Smaller lakes grant excellent fishing opportunities to bank-bound anglers. With Free Fishing Days coming this Saturday and Sunday, try some of these lakes with a family member, especially one who doesn't fish or has fallen out of the habit. On Free Fishing Days, anglers may fish Kentucky waters without a fishing license and keep fish if they abide by the proper minimum size and daily creel limits.

The fisheries division last week stocked several Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) lakes with 4- to 7-inch hybrid sunfish. Whitehall Park Lake in Madison County received 1,800 hybrid sunfish and Millennium Park Lake in Boyle County got 1,000 hybrid sunfish.

Lake Mingo in Jessamine County received 750 fish while Waymond Morris Park Lake and Yellow Creek Park Lake in Daviess County each received 1,500 hybrid sunfish. They stocked 660 of these fish in Lusby Lake in Scott County and 625 in Scott County Park Lake.

"These hybrid sunfish are chunky and they grow fast," said Gerry Buynak, assistant director of fisheries for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

The 46,429-acre Peabody Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Muhlenberg, Ohio and Hopkins counties holds dozens of small lakes and strip pits that have 77 boat ramps and 121 miles of gravel roads to access them. You'll need a $15 user permit, available wherever fishing licenses are sold, to access Peabody WMA.

"A couple of those really clear pits have nice 11- to 12-inch redear sunfish in them," said Rob Rold, northeastern fisheries district biologist for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "Most of the clear Peabody pits are really good for redear and bluegill. There are lots of snails for them to eat and quality vegetation. Goose Lake, Musky Lake and Bottom Lake all offer quality fishing."

The Ken and Sinclair Units of Peabody WMA both have large concentrations of lakes and pits. The Homestead Unit northeast of the Cool Springs community also holds many of these waters. Consult a printable map ob Peabody WMA at the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife webpage at fw.ky.gov.

Rold also said 81-acre Mauzy Lake in Union County inside Higginson-Henry WMA is an up-and-coming producer of redear sunfish with strong numbers of fish around 10 inches long. Rold said the redear sunfish are holding in 4- to 5-feet of water and just about on their spawning beds. The lake also has an excellent population of 15- to 20-inch largemouth bass.

Overlooked 38-acre Stanford City Reservoir in Lincoln County rivals its close neighbor, Cedar Creek Lake, in the size of the largemouth bass swimming in its waters. "Our recent population sampling revealed a ton of largemouth bass in Stanford Reservoir with several larger bass over 22 inches," said Marcy Anderson, assistant southeastern fisheries biologist for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "We also saw some nice 7- to 8-inch redear sunfish in there as well."

Anderson also recommends 361-acre Lake Linville near Mt. Vernon in Rockcastle County for families. "There are a lot of bluegill in Lake Linville," she said. "Linville has excellent bank access, great for family fishing."

Cedar Creek Lake, 787 acres of water in Lincoln County, is an emerging producer of fat redear sunfish. "We saw many in the 7-to 9-inch class near the KY 1770 bridge that were chunky and large," she said. "They are about to spawn."

Get out with your family during the wonderful early summer weather and fish these overlooked waters. The entire Spring Fishing Frenzy series will be posted at the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at:

fw.ky.gov

for future access to these articles.

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Go fishing this semester:
College students in Kentucky eligible for resident licenses
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

College students, who are always looking for the best deals in food and entertainment, should consider what fishing has to offer. For just $20, the cost of an annual resident fishing license, students can spend their free time this semester having fun on the water while catching some "fast" food in the process.

"Fishing is a direct connection with nature," said Brian Clark, assistant director of the Public Affairs Division for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "It's a social activity that's easily combined with backpacking or camping."

Fishing is also an economical way to obtain local food. "The culmination of the fishing experience is cooking a meal with your fresh catch," said Clark. All full-time students enrolled for at least six months in a college or university in Kentucky are considered Kentucky residents and therefore entitled to purchase a resident fishing license. The statute that defines residency also includes military service personnel on permanent assignment in Kentucky.

For those who are also interested in hunting, there are two other license options: the combination fishing and hunting license for $30 and the sportsman's license. The sportsman's license includes hunting and fishing licenses, plus trout, deer, turkey, dove and Kentucky waterfowl permits. The cost of the sportsman's license is $95 – a savings of $50 over licenses and permits if bought separately.

Good fishing waters are found statewide. To find a place to fish, visit the department's website at fw.ky.gov. Click on Fishing and Boating and follow the links. Kentucky's license year begins March 1 and ends the last day of February.

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Temporary rainbow trout regulations removed on Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

The emergency trout regulations on the Cumberland River below Wolf Creek Dam will be eliminated June 15. The temporary regulations on Cumberland went into effect in September, 2009, in which anglers could keep an additional five rainbow trout daily. The drawdown of Lake Cumberland and its subsequent creation of high water temperatures in the Cumberland River prompted the implementation of the emergency regulations nearly four years ago. Trout stress and lose body condition when water temperatures grow too high.

"With improved water quality from the raising of water levels in Lake Cumberland, we should have better conditions for trout in the Cumberland River," said Dave Dreves, fisheries research biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "We will revert back to the existing regulations before the temporary regulations went into place."

On June 15, 2013 and later, anglers may keep five rainbow trout daily, but those caught between 15 and 20 inches in length must be immediately released. Only one rainbow trout in the five trout daily creel limit may be longer than 20 inches. Anglers may keep one brown trout daily with a 20-inch minimum size limit and they may keep one brook trout daily with a 15-inch minimum size limit. During the drawdown, the lack of water cold enough for trout in the lower stretches of the Cumberland River in Kentucky pushed trout upstream, resulting in high trout densities in the river miles just below Wolf Creek Dam.

"With the return to normal densities, there is no need to harvest 10 trout anymore," said Jeff Ross, assistant director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "A five fish limit is optimal to allow for adequate harvest, but still allow for trophy size potential."

Roughly 10,000 rainbow trout 15 inches and longer will be stocked this fall to bring back the quality rainbow trout fishery in the river in faster fashion. Later in the fall, fisheries crews will stock an additional 10,000 to 12,000 rainbow trout ranging from seven to nine inches in length on top of the normal rainbow trout stockings in the river.

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Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Summer archery checklist
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

June is the halfway point on the calendar and is highlighted by the longest day of the year: the official start of summer on Friday, June 21 this year. For Kentucky's 90,000 plus archery deer hunters, the Summer Solstice seems to trigger another seasonal phenomenon – the need to get ready for the upcoming hunting season.

Kentucky's 136-day archery deer season opens in late summer, this year 15 days before the first day of fall. The season dates are Sept. 7, 2013 through Jan, 20, 2014. The signs are everywhere across rural Kentucky that deer season is not that far off: mast is beginning to grow on trees in the woods, fields are lush with clover and tall grass. Deer fawns are becoming more visible and bucks are growing back their antlers with renewed vigor. When deer season opens, deer will still be in their summer pattern and highly visible while feeding late in the day in fields.

For avid archery hunters, it's never too early to think deer. Late June is a good time to get organized by checking out equipment and adding new accessories. Start practicing, even if it's been months since the last hunt of last season. For archers who don't shoot year-round, here's a checklist to study in preparation for the upcoming season. Take your hunting bow to a trusted technician now and have it checked out, top to bottom, especially the bow string.

"Most people wait until it's too late," said Tommy Downey, owner of 4-D Archery in Henry County. "The string may look okay, but it may be weakened under the center serving (where the arrow nock is attached)."

Downey said bow strings can also stretch over time and hundreds of shots. "That gets the bow out of tune, so that it shoots erratically and inconsistently."

If you plan to change vital equipment, don't wait, do it now.

"For most people it takes about a month to adjust to a new arrow rest or bow sight," said Downey. "It takes longer than you would think to sight in your bow when there's been a change in equipment."

Inspect arrows carefully. Make sure they are straight and free of cracks. Replace damaged fletching or nocks and be certain that the weight of your field points (practice points) are the same weight as your hunting broadheads. Set aside one broadhead for practice. As opening day of archery deer season approaches, sight in your bow with your practice broadhead.

When you start practicing, take it slow. "Don't shoot too many arrows at first," said Downey. "Ease into it."

Older archers might consider turning down the poundage or the draw weight of their compound bows and just shoot a few arrows a day, to build muscles back up. Sloppy practice is bad practice, even in the beginning. Concentrate. Get back into the rhythm of archery.

When the season opens and you draw on that first deer, your mind and body should be on auto-pilot. Archery is part mental, part muscle memory. Be ready.

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Registration for popular Becoming an Outdoors-Woman weekend now underway
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

Registration for the annual Kentucky Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop in September is now open. The weekend program is designed for women 18 and older who want to learn more about the outdoors and develop skills related to the hunting, fishing and boating pastimes. The event is being held Sept. 20-22 at the 4-H Leadership Center on Lake Cumberland in Jabez, Ky. BOW is sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

The workshop introduces women to many activities that are traditionally thought more of as male-oriented. More than 3,000 women have attended workshops since the program began.

"Our goal is simple," said Beth Spivey-Minch, volunteer coordinator of the BOW program. "We encourage women through fun, informative and hands-on education about outdoor skills and increase their comfort level and abilities in shooting, fishing, boating and numerous other wildlife-related activities."

The BOW program motto is "Learn Something New, Make a New Friend, and Have Fun."

Class choices include learning how to use a bow, rifle, pistol or shotgun. Participants can also learn basic fishing, canoeing, kayaking and motor boating skills. Land-based courses cover hunting, survival, hiking, wildlife identification and game processing. There are 30 different opportunities in all.

For more information and to obtain a registration form, contact Kentucky Fish and Wildlife at 1-800-858-1549 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on weekdays. Registration forms and additional information are available online on the BOW page. Due to their nature, many classes are limited in size and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

The workshop runs from noon Friday, Sept. 20, through noon Sunday, Sept. 22 (Central times). Registration includes four sessions, six meals, two nights lodging and evening activities. The cost of early bird registration is approximately $200, based on class selections. Facility capacity is limited.

"Women who have always wanted to know about hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities, but haven't had the chance, or felt intimidated should attend this event," said Spivey-Minch.

"It's a unique chance to experience these activities with other women who come for the same reason," she added. "Women can learn new skills and go home with a new confidence about spending time outdoors by themselves, or with others."

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Kentucky Afield Outdoors:
Operation Dry Water focuses on making Kentucky waterways safer for boaters
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

Conservation Officers with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will team up with federal, state and local law enforcement officers to make Kentucky waterways safer for boaters during Operation Dry Water, June 28-30.

Held just prior to the Fourth of July holiday, the weekend is devoted to boating law enforcement and education. Last summer, Kentucky Conservation Officers contacted 3,893 boaters during Operation Dry Water. Officers made 26 arrests, issued 207 citations and gave 377 boating safety courtesy notices.

Launched in 2009 by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the U.S. Coast Guard, Operation Dry Water focuses on drawing attention to the hazards of Boating under the Influence (BUI).

"Alcohol slows reaction time and impairs the ability to make quick decisions," said Zac Campbell, boating education coordinator for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "As the operator of the vessel you are responsible for the well being of everyone on board. You have to be alert."

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, nearly 40 percent of boating-related fatalities are a result of alcohol use.

When the lake is crowded, boaters need to be especially careful when traveling at full power. "You never know when you have to take evasive action to avoid a collision. Not everyone obeys the rules," said Campbell.

Sun, wind, noise, vibration and movement, which are common to the boating environment, cause fatigue which impacts a boat operator's coordination, judgment and reaction time when combined with alcohol intake. A boater is considered over the legal limit if a breathalyzer test reveals blood alcohol levels of 0.08 percent or higher. A BUI conviction can result in fines or jail time.

During Operation Dry Water, officers will be patrolling Kentucky's lakes and rivers conducting courtesy boat inspections and answering questions about Kentucky's boating laws. Safety messages will be posted at boat ramps.

Emphasis will also be placed on wearing life jackets, obeying boating laws and carrying all the required safety equipment onboard. A review of citations issued to boaters in recent years revealed that the top five violations were: expired boat registration, lack of adequate number of personal flotation devices (life jackets) on board, boating under the influence (BUI), going too fast in an idle speed only zone and the lack of a fire extinguisher on board.

"Wearing a life jacket is the most important step you can take to keep you and your family safe on the water," said Campbell. "Your odds of surviving an unintentional fall overboard with a life jacket on are substantially higher."

About 90 percent of all boating accident victims die as a result of drowning.

For more information on Operation Dry Water, visit their website at: www.operationdrywater.org.

Kentucky's boating laws are detailed in the free brochure Kentucky Fishing and Boating Guide, or can be read online at the department's website: www.fw.ky.gov.

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Kentucky Afield Outdoors:
Plant winter wheat this fall for wildlife
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

The heat of summer is a good time to begin thinking about fall plantings to benefit wildlife. Winter wheat is a top choice for a fall crop because it is readily eaten by deer and wild turkey and is an excellent nurse crop for clover. Winter wheat is typically planted Aug. 15 through Oct. 31. Broadcast wheat seed with a hand-crank spreader and rake or disk it under.

"I recommend planting clover at the same time you plant the wheat," said Joe Lacefield, a private lands wildlife biologist with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "The clover will take root over the winter and come on the next spring as the wheat starts to die back."

In tobacco country, winter wheat has been the cover crop of choice to the benefit of wildlife. High in protein and easily digestible, winter wheat provides high quality green forage which is especially attractive in the late season. Lacefield said one way to prepare a site is to mow, then apply herbicide when the re-growth starts.

"After the weeds have died back, then till the area before planting," said Lacefield. "Ideally, you want to time the planting of your winter wheat and clover seed in anticipation of rain."

Another site preparation option is tilling or mechanical cultivation whenever the plot is dry over a period of time leading up to planting. Tilling uproots grass and weeds and loosens the soil. Plots should be located on a level spot with decent soil fertility and full sun a majority of the day. Winter wheat grows best when the soil has a pH of 5.8 to 6.5. Use a soil test to measure the nutrient levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) as well as the acidity of the soil. Soil test kits are available at most farm stores. Follow directions carefully.

If fertilizer needs to be added to your plot, consider using 10-10-10, a formulation commonly available in 50-pound bags. Both fertilizer and agricultural lime are available in pellet form, for easy application with a hand-crank spreader. Lime improves water penetration and the uptake of nutrients of plants growing in acidic soils. Don't skimp on the amount of lime that is recommended. Low pH is usually an issue with soils in Kentucky.

Two excellent plot locations are the edge of a field or an existing woods opening that deer or turkey are already using. Your tree stand or ground blind should be within easy shooting range and downwind of the plot.

Lacefield suggests planting Ladino or white clover in shaded, woodland openings. Red clover seems to do better in open fields with full sun, growing well on the warm weather days in September and October. Red clover grows taller than white clover and is less impacted by weeds, but all stands of clover need periodic mowing to thrive.

This perennial cool-season legume helps increases soil fertility and provides an almost year-round source of high quality forage for wildlife. An established plot of clover starts growing in the early spring and lasts until it is killed back by the heaviest frosts of late fall.

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Angler surveys on catfish and trout being mailed out this week
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

A randomly selected group of catfish and trout anglers in Kentucky will receive a survey this week to gauge their thoughts on management of these species.

"These surveys are a great way for anglers to provide feedback to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources," said department Fisheries Biologist Dave Dreves. "We really want people to respond - these angler attitude surveys help us gauge public opinion on management issues."

Forms are being sent to 1,800 catfish anglers and 1,800 trout permit holders. Names were selected at random. Ohio River Fisheries Biologist Jason Herrala said the catfish survey seeks angler opinions on topics such as size and creel limits. The department also seeks angler attitudes about pay lakes, Fishing in Neighborhoods (FINs) lakes and regulations concerning the Ohio River.

Dreves said the trout survey seeks opinions on stocking rates, size and creel limits, fishing methods and more. Anglers also will be asked a series of in-depth questions, such as whether they prefer the department to stock fewer but bigger trout in certain bodies of water.

Participants with questions about the surveys may call Dreves or Herrala at 1-800-858-1549 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern).

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Kentucky Afield Outdoors:
Biologists battling invasive plants on wildlife management areas

Imported plants which have established footholds in Kentucky's fields and forests can pose a threat to the state's native plants and animals. Employees of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources are fighting back at wildlife management areas throughout the state.

"A habitat team from the department's Wildlife Diversity Program has completed hundreds of acres of invasive species removal and over 1,000 acres of other habitat work," said Chris Garland, an assistant director in the wildlife division for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "Additionally, our staff on wildlife management areas (WMAs) focuses a portion of their time and annual budgets on invasive species removal."

Recent projects include removal of bush honeysuckle and autumn olive on Clay WMA and Griffith Woods WMA; and aerial spraying on White City and Peabody WMA to take out the European common reed, an invasive, exotic grass.

Reeds, which thrive in wet soils and can grow taller than 10 feet, clog streams and wetlands. Exotic, invasive plants can damage to natural systems. The effects are cumulative. "It's much easier and cost effective to remove and control invasive species before they become established," said Garland. "I urge private landowners to take action if they have invasive species on their property."

In the U.S., it is estimated that the financial and environmental impact, loss of productivity, costs of herbicides and other control measures for invasive species exceeds $120 billion annually. At Clay WMA, there are ongoing efforts to remove invasive bush honeysuckle and autumn olive shrubs. "We had several fields that were completely grown up," said Area Manager Nathan Gregory. "We used a forestry cutter. It grinds up the whole plant until what you've got is bare ground and mulch."

Later, the area is sprayed with herbicide to prevent the stumps from sprouting. "We cleared the fields and forested areas with the densest stands of invasive plants first, including one 10-acre field," said Gregory.

Bush honeysuckle impacts wildlife by shading out everything in the understory, eliminating other plants that wildlife need to thrive. "Once the treated area was opened up, we started getting a lot of native plants that are beneficial to rabbits, quail, songbirds and other wildlife," said Gregory.

Some of the invasive species of most concern in Kentucky include bush honeysuckle, tall fescue, multiflora rose, kudzu, autumn-olive, garlic mustard and about 10 exotics that impact wetlands, such as purple loosetrife. Not all exotic plants are considered invasive and likely to cause environmental or economic harm, or pose a direct health threat to livestock, wildlife or humans. But, in 2008, the Kentucky Exotic Pest Plant Council declared that 92 species in Kentucky were considered exotic invasive plants.

"All of our WMAs are impacted to some degree by exotics," said Ben Robinson, a small game biologist with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "Every area has a different set of challenges. It's a top priority to remove exotic invasive plants and replace them with native plant communities."

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Quota hunts and public land hunting information moves to online only
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

Information about quota hunts and public land hunting has moved out of the printed fall hunting guide and is now available online only at fw.ky.gov. People may apply for quota hunts during the month of September only.

The change follows the migration of quota hunt applications from paper forms to online and telephone several years ago.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is working to increase the use of technology to increase customer service. Placing quota hunt and public lands information online allows the department to update information immediately, instead of making people wait until a new guide is published.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife conducts quota hunts on public lands for deer, pheasant, quail, upland birds and waterfowl. The department's website details hunt dates and other quota hunting information. Hunters may apply for these hunts online at fw.ky.gov or by calling 1-877-598-2401. The non-refundable application fee is $3 for each hunter.

Hunters and trappers who want a physical copy of what's online will be able to print out the pages. Customers with additional questions about seasons or regulations can call the department at 1-800-858-1549 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern) on weekdays, or e-mail the Information Center at: [e-mail].

Printed copies of the 2013-14 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide will be available in early August wherever licenses are sold. The annual guide, which is now available on the department's website, details seasons, bag limits and other regulations for deer, elk, bear, turkey, small game and furbearers.

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Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Fall squirrel season opens August 17
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

Kentucky's fall squirrel season is a 196-day split season that kicks off the calendar of fall hunting. The first segment of the fall squirrel season opens Aug. 17 season closes on Nov. 8. The season opens again Nov. 11 and runs through Feb. 28, 2014. The daily bag limit is six squirrels.

"I'm predicting this fall's squirrel season will be as good as last year, maybe better," said Ben Robinson, small game biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "In the limited time I've been afield, it looks like we're going to have a good mast year."

There's a close relationship between a year's nut production and the following year's squirrel population levels. Last fall's mast survey rated white oak and hickory nut production as average, red oak as good and the beech nut crop failed.

"I've heard that beech trees in eastern Kentucky are loaded with nuts this year," said Robinson.

The department's annual mast survey, held since 1953, begins on Aug. 15 and runs through Sept. 1. Biologists survey the foods that are most important to Kentucky's forest wildlife such as squirrels, white-tailed deer, wild turkeys and bear. They walk the same route every year and estimate the year's mast crop based on what they observe.

"After this information is compiled we'll have a clearer picture of the year's mast crop and the likely impact on wildlife populations," said Robinson.

Weather extremes, such as late frosts and heavy rains in spring and summer droughts, can limit the amount and quality of mast. Hickory nuts begin to mature in August and acorns and beechnuts in September and October. Late winter is the time when food availability becomes most critical to squirrels and can impact their body condition heading into the breeding season.

Squirrel hunters can help management efforts by taking part in the Squirrel Hunting Cooperator Survey. The voluntary program, which started in 1995, supplies information that biologists use to monitor squirrel population trends in Kentucky. Hunters record information about their hunts as the season progresses, including the county hunted, hours spent afield along with the number and species of squirrels seen and harvested. Hunters also document how many hunters were in the party and the number of dogs used to find squirrels.

When hunters are finished hunting for the season they simply mail in their survey. Logs are available online at fw.ky.gov by clicking on the Hunting, Trapping & Wildlife tab or by calling 1-800- 858-1549. Logs must be returned to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife no later than May 31, 2014. Each year, after the survey information is compiled and analyzed, a report is mailed out to squirrel hunters who shared the details of their hunting activities from the previous season.

Last season, the survey detailed 1,123 squirrel hunts in 69 Kentucky counties. Hunters reported they saw 5.5 squirrels per hunt and bagged 1.9 squirrels per hour. Hunter effort was greater towards the beginning of squirrel season as 69 percent of the hunts took place in August, September and October. About five percent of the squirrel hunts and harvest occurred during both January and February.

Statewide, 81 percent of the harvest was comprised of gray squirrels, suggesting gray squirrels are more abundant. The data also shows Kentucky squirrel hunters prefer to hunt in forests rather than woodlots and fencerows, the habitat where fox squirrels are most often found.

"Over the years both gray and fox squirrel numbers have remained fairly stable," said Robinson, "with cyclic ups and downs in population based on weather and mast availability."

This fall, hit the woods and enjoy the hunting that started many down the path of the outdoor life.

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Mentor-youth dove hunt sign-ups begin August 12
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

Registration for Kentucky's mentor-youth dove hunts opens on Monday, Aug.12. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources conduct these hunts for adults wishing to introduce dove hunting to youth. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife limits the number of participants to avoid overcrowding and the consequent safety issues.

Hunters interested in reserving a space for these unique hunts must register by calling Kentucky Fish and Wildlife at 1-800-858-1549 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time. Hunting reservations will not be accepted prior to Aug. 12. The 2013-2014 fall Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide had an incorrect date listed for the registration period for these mentor/youth dove hunts.

Limited spaces are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration is open through Aug. 23, or whenever all the slots are filled. Most mentor-youth hunts will be held this year on Sunday, Sept. 1, the opening day of dove season statewide. Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge will conduct mentor/youth hunts on Sept. 1, 7, and 8. These fields open to public hunting Sept. 9.

The mentor-youth dove hunts offer adults an opportunity to initiate youth aged 15 years and under into the enjoyment of an early season dove hunt. Each adult may take one or two youths. Hunter education and licensing requirements apply to those participating in these hunts.

Hunting hours run from 2 to 7 p.m., local time on Sept. 1. Hunters must be out of the field by 7:30 p.m. Hunt groups must check in prior to hunting and check out prior to leaving the field with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife staff members. Mentor-youth fields located on private land are open to public hunting on Sept. 4. These fields then close to all hunting Sept. 5-6; they open again to public hunting Sept. 7 through Oct. 24.

Mentor-youth fields located on wildlife management areas (WMAs) are open to public hunting on Labor Day, Sept. 2, through Oct. 24. For more information on the mentor-youth dove hunts, consult the 2013 Kentucky Hunting Guide for Dove, Wood Duck, Teal, Woodcock, Snipe and Crow. This guide is available on the Internet at fw.ky.gov and also soon available in booklet form wherever hunting licenses are sold. This year's mentor-youth dove fields include:


Leslie County, Redbird WMA:
Directions: From Hyden, take U.S. 421 North/West 80 for roughly six miles to the Redbird WMA entrance. Turn left on Redbird WMA Forestry Rd. 1533 for about 5 miles to field.

Union County, Higginson-Henry WMA:
Directions: KY 56, about 7 miles southeast of Morganfield.

Grant County, Curtis Gates Lloyd WMA:
Directions: Take Crittenden exit off I-75 and follow U.S. 25 south to KY 491, turn left across railroad tracks, then right on Wildlife Road.

Lincoln County, private field:
Directions: From Stanford, travel north on U.S. 27 for 0.16 mile to a left on to KY 590 for about 1.5 miles to a gravel lane that leads to marked parking area and field.

McCracken County, Clark's River National Wildlife Refuge:
Mentor/Youth Hunts on Sept. 1, 7, and 8 and opens to public hunting on Sept. 9.
Directions: From Symsonia, take KY 131 north for a little over 2 miles to fields on left marked by signs.
U.S.F.W.S. approved non-toxic shot required for all dove hunting on this area.

Washington County, private field:
Directions: From U.S. 150 at Fredericktown, take Short Creek Road to Burg Hill Road.

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Salato Wildlife Education Center hosts Wildlife Olympics August 17
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources invites children to take part in the Wildlife Olympics from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Salato Wildlife Education Center in Frankfort.

Participants can test their strengths and abilities at activities set up at select outdoor exhibits while learning about the capabilities of Kentucky's wildlife. Activities are designed for children ages 3 to 16. Participants will be divided into three age categories. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in the grip strength, casting accuracy, long jump, timed race and archery events.

No registration is required. The event is included with general admission into the center.

The Salato Center is operated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The center is located off U.S. 60, approximately 1 1/2 miles west of the U.S. 127 intersection. Look for the bronze deer statue at the entrance of the main Kentucky Fish and Wildlife campus.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Salato is closed on Sunday, Monday and state holidays.

Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for youth 5 to 18. Children under 5 are admitted free. The center also offers annual memberships for individuals and families.

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Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission recommends limited license and permit increases, upcoming waterfowl seasons
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission recommended modest increases in license and permit fees on select non-resident licenses, senior-disabled licenses and resident permits for deer and elk. Rates for basic hunting and fishing licenses for adult Kentucky residents are not affected by the proposal. The new rates are proposed for the upcoming license year which begins March 1, 2014. The commission also proposed the 2013-2014 waterfowl seasons at its quarterly meeting, held Aug. 14.

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 two legislative committees before they become law. Commission members proposed increasing the fee for 13 non-resident licenses and permits, six resident permits and the senior-disabled license. Commission members also voted to create separate fees for cow and bull elk permits for both residents and non-residents.

Proposals include raising the deer permit for residents from $30 to $35; senior/disabled licenses from $5 to $11; deer permit for non-residents from $60 to $160; quota bull elk permit for residents from $30 to $100; and non-resident quota bull elk permit from $365 to $550; among others.

The commission also proposed the creation of two new licenses for Kentucky residents: a senior lifetime sportsman’s license for $82 and a three-year fishing license for $55. A list of all the proposed changes will be available online at fw.ky.gov, the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website. In other action, commission members acted upon waterfowl seasons for 2013-14.

The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission must place waterfowl seasons within the framework mandated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service because all migratory game birds are under federal control. Last year, the 2012-13 duck season was split into two segments. The 2013-14 season will run continuously because of the late Thanksgiving date this year and the early closing of the federal framework. The calendar shift from 2012 to 2013 created this situation.


Duck, Coot and Merganser

• Duck season opens Nov. 28, 2013 and closes Jan. 26, 2014.

• Season dates for mergansers and coots are the same as the duck season dates for the 2013-2014 seasons. The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, only two of which may be hooded mergansers. The daily limit for coots is 15.


Canada Goose

• Western Goose Zone: Nov. 28, 2013 – Jan. 31, 2014.

• Pennyrile-Coalfield Goose Zone (including West-Central Canada Goose subzone): Nov. 28, 2013 – Jan. 31, 2014.

• Eastern Goose Zone: Nov. 28, 2013 – Jan. 31, 2014.

• Northeastern Goose Zone: Jan. 1 – 31, 2014.


White-fronted Goose, Brant

• Statewide: Nov. 28, 2013 – Jan. 31, 2014.


Snow Goose

• Regular season: Nov. 28, 2013 – Jan. 31, 2014.


Snow Goose Conservation Order Season

• Eastern Duck Zone: Feb. 1 – March 31, 2014.

• Western Duck Zone: Feb. 3 – March 31, 2014.



Youth Waterfowl Season

Eastern Zone:
• Nov. 2-3, 2013.

Western Zone:
• Feb. 1-2, 2014.

The commission also increased the Canada goose daily bag limit from two to three birds for the 2013-2014 fall waterfowl seasons. Possession limits for all migratory including waterfowl are now three times the daily bag limit. Commission members also increased to two the number of canvasback ducks that may be part of the six bird daily duck bag limit. They lowered the number of scaup that make up the six bird daily duck bag limit from four to three.

In other waterfowl-related business, beginning with the 2014-2015 waterfowl seasons, waterfowl hunters on Yellowbank Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Breckinridge County must cease hunting and be off the area by 2 p.m. In other wildlife-related business, commissioners recommended providing 50 elk to Virginia for that state’s elk restoration efforts. The commission also approved the framework for a regulation allowing the sale of wildlife mounts. If approved, the regulation would go into effect in 2014.

Finally, the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission elected officers to serve one year terms through August 2014. Louisville resident Stuart Ray, who represents the Third Commission District, was elected chairman while Second Commission District Member Frank Williams was elected vice chairman.

Gov. Steve Beshear re-appointed Dr. James Angel of Lebanon to represent the Fourth Commission District for a four-year term that expires in August 2017.

The next Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6. Meetings are held in the Arnold Mitchell Building, located at 1 Sportsman’s Lane in Frankfort.

Persons interested in addressing the commission must notify the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife commissioner’s 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:

Commissioner Jon Gassett
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife
1 Sportsman’s Lane
Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601

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Early waterfowl seasons offer Kentuckians many hunting opportunities
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

Hunters across Kentucky will soon be celebrating the beginning of another waterfowl season and all the traditions that make this shotgunning sport so appealing. Hunters rise well before dawn and experience beautiful sunrises on the water, the whisper of wings through the fog, and share a special bond with hunting buddies and hard-working retrievers. There's the thrill of calling wary birds into gun range, the challenge of placing decoys to play shifting winds and building natural, camouflaged blinds in just the right location.

"Through the years there's been a strong interest in our early seasons," said Rocky Pritchert, migratory bird program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

Kentucky has about 20,000 avid waterfowl hunters, Pritchert said. "More people are hunting wood ducks and teal than geese, about 40 percent, as opposed to the 30 percent that hunt geese in September," he explained. To participate in Kentucky's early waterfowl seasons, hunters must have a valid hunting license and a Kentucky waterfowl hunter permit and federal duck stamp for those over 15 years of age. Only non-toxic shot may be used to hunt waterfowl.

Hunting gets underway Sept. 1, with the opening of goose season, which continues through Sept. 15. The bag limit is three birds per day, an increase of one over last season. Temperate nesting Canada geese raise their young and spend most of their lives here in Kentucky. "We're hunting geese raised mostly in rural areas that generally fly short distances in search of food," said Pritchert. "During the September season there's no severe weather such as ice and snow to push our local birds southward or bring geese to Kentucky from states to the north."

The statewide spring population of Canada geese has doubled from about 15,000 in the mid-1990s, when surveys first began, to about 31,000 today. The count is conducted before nesting so it does not include that year's reproduction. A majority of the birds live in central Kentucky in the area roughly from Winchester westward to Leitchfield. Since the late 1960s, the number of temperate nesting geese in the Mississippi Flyway increased exponentially to more than 1.5 million birds.

"In the years that we had a two-bird bag limit, hunters in Kentucky took between 4,000 and 6,000 Canada geese during the early season," said Pritchert. "I'm anticipating the number of birds taken this year will be higher because of the increased bag limit."

This summer, biologists and volunteers banded 1,503 Canada geese, a record number, on waterways from Cave Run Lake to Paducah. Adults made up about 87 percent of the banded geese. Banding geese involves placing a light metal band around the leg of waterfowl so biologists can garner information important for waterfowl management. Hunters who take banded waterfowl should report their bands by calling 1-800-327-BAND.

Pritchert said nearly all of the September season's band recoveries and about 70 percent of the band recoveries during the traditional November through January regular season harvest are comprised of locally-banded geese. Kentucky's five day early wood duck and teal season opens Sept. 18 and closes Sept. 22. The daily bag limit is four ducks, but no more than two may be wood ducks.

"Participation in the season varies from year to year, based on wood duck population levels and water conditions," said Pritchert. "There's lot of wood ducks this year and wetlands have recovered from last year's drought."

Wood ducks nest statewide, on streams, rivers and the shallow embayments of large reservoirs where there's flooded timber. The best teal hunting is found on the big rivers, wetlands and lakes in the western third of the state. Kentucky and Tennessee are the only states in the Mississippi Flyway to have an early wood duck season for locally-raised birds. Wood ducks born on Kentucky waterways typically leave the nest and learn to fly by late August.

"The justification for the season has always been that only locally-reared birds are harvested without impacting overall annual survival and reproduction," said Pritchert.

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Federal officials confirm gray wolf taken in Kentucky
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

Federal officials recently confirmed that an animal taken by a hunter near Munfordville in Hart County on March 16 is a gray wolf. A DNA analysis performed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Wildlife Research Center in Colorado determined the 73-pound animal was a federally endangered gray wolf with a genetic makeup resembling wolves native to the Great Lakes Region. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Forensics Laboratory in Oregon confirmed the finding.

How the wolf found its way to a Munfordville hay ridge at daybreak in March remains a mystery. Wolves have been gone from the state since the mid-1800s. Great Lakes Region wolf biologists said the animal's dental characteristics - a large amount of plaque on its teeth - suggest it may have spent some time in captivity. A largely carnivorous diet requiring the crushing of bone as they eat produces much less plaque on the teeth of wild wolves.

Hart County resident James Troyer took the animal with a shot from 100 yards away while predator hunting on his family's farm. Troyer, 31, said he had taken a coyote off the property just two weeks earlier.

But when he approached the downed animal he noticed it was much larger. "I was like - wow - that thing was big!" he recalled. "It looked like a wolf, but who is going to believe I shot a wolf?"

Because a free-ranging wolf has not been seen in the state for more than a century, biologists were skeptical at first. However, wildlife officials were aware that a few radio-collared northern wolves have wandered as far south as Missouri in the past decade. Wolves resemble coyotes, except they are much larger. From a distance, the size difference is difficult to determine.

Troyer convinced Kevin Raymond, a wildlife biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, to look at the animal. Once Raymond saw the animal was twice the size of a coyote, he contacted furbearer biologist Laura Patton, who submitted samples to federal officials for DNA testing.

Because state and federal laws prohibit the possession, importation into Kentucky or hunting of gray wolves, federal officials took possession of the pelt. Since this is the first free-ranging gray wolf documented in Kentucky's modern history, federal or state charges are not expected because there were no prior biological expectations for any hunter to encounter a wolf.

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Waterfowl blind drawing dates set for several wildlife management areas
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

Dates are now set for waterfowl blind drawings for Doug Travis, Lake Barkley, Barren River Lake, Green River Lake and Sloughs Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). Hunters interested in participating in the waterfowl blind drawing must be at least 18 years of age and possess a valid 2013-2014 Kentucky hunting license, a Kentucky waterfowl permit and a Federal migratory bird permit at the time of the drawing.

The waterfowl blind drawing for Doug Travis WMA in Carlisle and Hickman counties will be 10 a.m. (Central) Saturday, Aug. 31. The drawing will be held at the WMA office, located one-half mile south of Berkley on KY 123. Registration begins at 9 a.m. (Central)

The waterfowl blind drawing for Lake Barkley WMA in Trigg and Lyon counties will be 8 a.m. (Central) Monday, Sept. 16. The drawing will be held at the shelter on the east side of the Cumberland River at Lake Barkley Dam, located off U.S. 62 near Lake City. Participants should use the Power House entrance then turn right toward the drawing location.

The waterfowl blind drawing for Green River Lake WMA in Taylor and Adair counties will be 10 a.m. (Eastern) Saturday, Sept. 28. The drawing will be held at the Green River Lake Corps of Engineers office, located off KY 55 approximately seven miles south of Campbellsville. Registration begins at 9 a.m. (Eastern)

The waterfowl blind drawing for Barren River Lake WMA in Allen and Barren counties will be from 7 to 9 a.m. (Central) Saturday, Oct. 5. The drawing will be held at the Barren River Lake Corps of Engineers office, located at the Barren River Lake dam off KY 252.

The waterfowl blind drawing for Sloughs WMA in Henderson and Union counties will be 7 p.m. (Central) Tuesday, Sept. 24. The drawing will be held at Union County Middle School located off U.S. 60 west in Morganfield. Registration begins at 6 p.m. (Central)

Hunters drawn for blinds on Doug Travis, Lake Barkley, Green River, Barren River Lake or Sloughs WMAs are responsible for locating, preparing and maintaining the blind site for the duration of the 2013-2014 waterfowl seasons. Each drawn hunter may select a co-owner of the blind site for use in the absence of the hunter drawn and the co-owner must be present at the drawing.

Hunters may construct a permanent blind or use a boat or portable blind, but each blind site must be permanently pinned with a permanent marker identifying permit holders for the site. Those hunters selected hold first rights for use of the blind site, but these blinds sites open to public use if the selected hunters are not in the blinds by 30 minutes before shooting time.

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Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Dove season promising despite the weather
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

Few Kentuckians can remember a weirder summer, weather wise. Early mornings in mid-August so cool you could almost see your breath. Grass as lush and green as it is in late April lasting all summer long. Flooding conditions in July coupled with just a few days of actual Kentucky summer heat. This weather puzzles humans, but the doves don't mind. They are plentiful statewide and will provide plenty of opportunity for the opening of dove season on Sept. 1.

"I think it is going to be a good season, despite all the wet weather," said Rocky Pritchert, migratory bird coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "Doves are abundant this year. I am seeing a lot of them."

The first segment of dove season closes Oct. 24. The season opens again Nov. 28 and closes Dec. 6. The third segment of dove season opens Dec. 28, 2013 and closes Jan. 3, 2014. The daily bag limit remains 15 doves.

"Our public dove hunting fields on our wildlife management areas are overall in good shape," Pritchert said. "Some of our fields came in a little late and we had to switch our grains from sunflowers to millet. Millet has a shorter growing period than sunflowers. There is a lot of variance across Kentucky this year."

The first two weeks of dove season see the highest participation from hunters, but not necessarily the best hunting.

"Traditionally, dove season was the first thing to come in," Pritchert said. "Hunters will hunt hard for the first couple of weeks; then other seasons come in such as deer or early wood duck."

Dove hunters who want the fields for themselves should continue to hunt after the initial rush, especially this year. Those who can gain permission to hunt silage fields just after their harvest may see more doves than on opening day.

"The silage is going to be late," Pritchert said. "It is not browning at all from what I've seen. I saw some browning silage in west Kentucky, but overall it is still green and healthy."

When farmers cut those silage fields to fill their silos, they leave waste grains on the fields. Doves flock to them. Dove hunting is a social tradition in Kentucky. That aspect makes it a perfect venue to introduce a child, family member or friend to hunting.

"Dove hunting offers great opportunity for social hunting with friends and family and that aspect makes it great for new hunters," said Jamie Cook, mentor hunting coordinator for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "It is always good for new hunters to go with more people."

The nature of dove hunting also makes it great for kids. "Kids don't have to sit still all of the time like in a tree stand for deer hunting," Cook said. "There is a lot of action and kids can get up and move around. It is hard for a youngster to sit around and remain quiet for long periods of time."

Cook also recommended a single shot 20-gauge shotgun for a kid learning dove hunting. "The single shot teaches more about hitting that first bird than just quick, repetitive shooting," he said. "It instills shot discipline and a single shot is much more affordable."

Dove hunters must have a valid Kentucky hunting license along with either a Kentucky Migratory Bird Permit or a Kentucky Waterfowl Permit before taking the field.

"Buy lots of shotshells and go have fun," Pritchert said.

Author Lee McClellan is an award-winning associate editor for Kentucky Afield magazine, the official publication of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. He is a life-long hunter and angler, with a passion for smallmouth bass fishing.

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Archery hunting for deer begins September 7
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

Kentucky's 2013-14 deer season opens on Saturday, Sept. 7, the first day of the 136-day archery season. The season continues through Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. For the past three seasons, record harvests have been posted for the month of September: 5,577 deer in 2012, 4,945 in 2011 and 4,407 in 2010.

"Even though weather conditions aren't always ideal in September, there are some advantages to early season hunting,” said Tina Brunjes, deer program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

Most deer, even mature bucks, are still in their summer pattern when bow season opens. They are more visible during daylight hours than later in the season and their daily movements are more predictable. Deer frequent crop fields and weedy pastures in the late afternoons, especially when the rising moon is high in the sky at dusk. In September, these quarter moon periods fall on the 12th and 26th of the month.

The current statewide population estimate for Kentucky's deer herd is about 750,000, before fawning, with a stable to slightly decreasing trend. "Hunters who are monitoring trail cameras or spending time observing deer in the afternoons realize it has been a good year for deer reproduction and survival,” said Brunjes. Heavy rains in the spring and early summer created lots of food and escape cover for deer.

The outlook for deer season is excellent, but ultimately the weather during modern gun season in November has the biggest impact on overall harvest.

Last season's deer harvest was the highest on record. Deer hunters reported taking 131,395 deer, a 9.8 percent increase from the 2011-2012 season. "A higher percentage of our hunters were successful,” said Brunjes. "The record harvest was opportunity driven. They saw deer and they took them.”

The 2012-13 harvest included 42 reported entries, 31 typical and 11 non-typical, into the Boone & Crockett Club record book. These record deer came from 35 of Kentucky's 120 counties.

After each season, deer managers calculate a population estimate for every county by in-putting harvest and age structure data into a computer population model.

Counties are assigned a zone status which affects season lengths and bag limits. Kentucky is divided into four deer management zones.

The management strategy for Zone 1 is herd reduction. For Zone 2 and 3 counties, herd maintenance is the goal. Increasing the herd is the aim for Zone 4 counties. This season there were no changes in the zone status for any of Kentucky's 120 counties.

"We're where we want to be in most counties,” said Brunjes. "There were no changes in the regulations this season because we're happy with having a high percentage of older bucks and about 50 percent of does in the harvest.”

Overall age structure of the harvest indicates that the majority of hunters are recognizing and passing up male fawns. Most antlered bucks taken in the 2012-2013 season were 2 ½ years old or older. The female harvest was also primarily comprised of adults, rather than fawns or yearlings.

In the past decade, the Zone 1 counties in northern Kentucky have experienced the most herd growth. "Populations took off in the late 1990s and have remained high,” said Brunjes.

Hunters who would like to donate venison should visit the Kentucky Hunters For the Hungry website at www.huntersforhungry.org for the list 57 processors who are accepting deer.

"This is our 13th season of providing nutritious venison to needy Kentucky families,” said Ivan Schell, KHFH Executive Director. "The 70,000 pounds of venison processed annually provides about 500,000 meals.”

KHFH pays for the processing and hunters who donate a deer receive a car sticker confirming their "doe-nation.”

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Salato Wildlife Center to host free National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration September 14
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources invites folks of all ages to participate in a celebration of hunting, fishing and the great outdoors at the Salato Wildlife Education Center in Frankfort on Saturday, Sept. 14. Activities and demonstrations will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern time). Admission into the center is free during this event.

Activities will include 3-D archery, archery trap shooting, air rifles, laser shot , fishing and casting. Poles and bait will be provided to participants. Presentations on falconry and high school bass fishing will also be featured, as well as a fish fillet tutorial and K-9 demonstration.

The upper lake on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife campus will receive a special stocking of 1,000 channel catfish weighing up to 3 pounds for this event. The upper lake, which is located near the Salato Center entrance, will close to all fishing from noon Friday, Sept. 13 until 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14. The lower lake will remain open during daylight hours. Fishing licenses are required for anglers 16 and older at both lakes.

Groups including the Kentucky Hunter Education Association, Kentucky Outdoor Sportsmen Alliance and the Student Angler Federation will be present for this event. Participants will have the opportunity to enter a raffle for a free wildlife print that will be given away at 4 p.m. For a detailed list of activities and times, contact the center at [phone].

The Salato Center is operated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The center is located off U.S. 60, approximately 1 1/2 miles west of the U.S. 127 intersection. Look for the bronze deer statue at the entrance of the main Kentucky Fish and Wildlife campus.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Salato is closed on Sunday, Monday and state holidays. Except for select events, admission is $4 for adults and $2 for youth 5 to 18. Children under 5 are admitted free. The center also offers annual memberships for individuals and families.

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Kentucky Afield Outdoors:
Stream smallmouth bass love early fall
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

If you are a river or stream angler, this past spring and summer has filled your belly with enough frustration to pull your hair out by the handful. Mother Nature greeted every stream fishing trip you planned for the upcoming weekend by rudely parking a heavy thunderstorm in the headwaters of the intended stream two days before the trip. A torrent of glutinous, rust colored water followed the monsoon, looking like the stream flowed from the bottom of a hog pen. Instead of fun fishing, it became time to mow the yard instead. The recent dry spell means streams are finally low and clear. The smallmouth bass that live in them are hungry.

"It is the ideal situation right now on our Kentucky streams," said David Baker, stream biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "Streams are at their prime now. On lakes, the water is hot and the fish lethargic. Stream smallmouths are feeding like crazy."

The low and clear water puts smallmouth bass at an advantage over their prey, which they exploit with abandon. "There are more stable flows now in our streams," said Jeff Ross, assistant director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "The baitfish and smallmouth bass are in closer proximity. They are feeding up now with the shorter days to prepare for winter."

During a recent trip to a central Kentucky stream, Baker caught over 20 smallmouth bass longer than 12 inches. It takes about five years for a stream smallmouth bass to reach a foot in length.

"This time of year, smallmouths are schooled up," Baker said. "If you catch one, spend some time in that spot. The low water concentrates the smallmouths and you can catch several from the same pool."

Topwater lures draw incredibly savage strikes from stream smallmouths in September. The banana or cigar-shaped 3- to 4-inch long topwater lures worked with the "walk the dog" retrieve are deadly right now. Fish these lures across flowing shoals, beside undercut banks and in the tailout water above and below riffles.

"Don't spend too much time fishing soft-plastic lures really slow right now," Baker said. He prefers searching for smallmouth schools by throwing lures that cover water such as 1/8-ounce white and silver spinnerbaits, floating/diving minnow-shaped jerkbaits in shad colors and smaller minnow-shaped crankbaits.

"The flat bedrock areas are holding fish," Baker said. "I don't usually fish flat, boring bedrock, but crayfish and minnows are holding on them right now."

He said the minnows he's witnessed in streams are roughly three to four inches long. Lures should match that size. Stealth is important since streams are flowing at their lowest level since last winter. "The fish can see you coming," Baker said. "Make long casts and stay off the areas you plan to fish."

Under-utilized smallmouth streams course all across Kentucky. If a local flow has water at least waist deep and a rocky bottom along with pools and riffles, it likely holds smallmouth bass. The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov has two excellent resources for Kentucky anglers to locate and learn more about the smallmouth fishing streams in their area. Click on the "Fishing and Boating" tab, then on the "Where to Fish" tab and then on the printable "Kentucky Smallmouth Streams" brochure.

You may also click on the Blue Water Trails tab on the same screen and locate two dozen streams profiled that provide public access points, floating mileages, printable maps and fishing information. Many of the streams featured in the series contain good smallmouth bass populations. he great stream smallmouth fishing continues well into fall. Once water temperatures fall below 50 degrees, usually by mid-November, the fishing slows drastically. There is long way to go before now and then. Get out in the next few weeks and enjoy the best stream smallmouth fishing of the year.

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Kentucky Afield Outdoors:
The 2013-14 elk season opens with archery hunting for bulls
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

Kentucky's elk seasons open Sept. 21 with bull elk archery season. Biologists with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources hold a positive outlook for the upcoming elk seasons.

"We think it will be a productive elk hunting season," said Tina Brunjes, deer and elk coordinator for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "Our elk hunters have excellent success rates."

Last season, elk hunters in Kentucky took 595 elk comprised of 39.5 percent male and 60.5 percent female. There were 900 permits awarded for the elk quota hunts in 2012. The number of elk hunting permits increased to 1,000 for the 2013-2014 elk season. The first Kentucky elk hunts began in 2001 when Kentucky Fish and Wildlife issued 12 permits. The herd goal is 10,000 elk.

"We have the new system in place that we think hunters will find better distributes hunting pressure and maximizes hunter opportunity," Brunjes said. "A hunter with an At-Large tag now has eight counties to search for a place to hunt. Although we have a lot of public access where our elk herds are most numerous, we are excited to see the number of elk harvested from private lands continues to increase."

Hunters may now choose between the At-Large North and At-Large South hunting areas or three limited entry areas (LEAs). Kentucky's elk restoration area encompasses 16 counties and roughly 4.2 million acres. The key to a healthy herd is the harvest of cow elk, the reason Kentucky Fish and Wildlife issues 750 cow elk tags and 250 bull elk tags. Bull elk, however, are the draw for most hunters.

"Kentucky bull elk hunters have a success rate of about 90 percent for harvesting bull elk with a firearm," Brunjes said. "Most of our hunters are taking mature bulls."

The typical bulls taken are 3 1/2 years to 5 1/2 years old. A 3 ½ year-old bull has already grown a 4 x 4 antler rack and a 5 1/2 year-old bull usually has 6 x 6 antler rack that scores about 280 inches in the Boone and Crockett scoring system. Minimum entry into the Boone and Crockett record for an elk with typical antlers is 360 inches. So far, three bull elk with typical antlers harvested in Kentucky qualified for entry into the Boone and Crockett record books.

Terrell Royalty set the record with a typical bull elk taken in Knott County in 2007 with a modern gun that scored 371 inches on the Boone and Crockett system. The bull elk archery season debuted in 2011. Hunters enjoy an extraordinarily high success rate for these hunts since, averaging about 60 percent. Brunjes explained the reason bull elk archery hunters are so successful is partly based on the timing of the season. "The bull elk archery season opens at the beginning of the bull elk rut and runs throughout the rut," she said. She also said the limited number of bull archery tags makes for a well balanced hunt.

"Also, the bull elk archery hunters put in a lot of sweat equity," she said. "They do their homework."

The bull elk archery season closes for the first time Oct. 4. The second segment of this season opens Oct. 19 and runs until Dec. 13. The third segment begins Dec. 28 and ends Jan. 20, 2014. The cow elk archery season mirrors the final two segments of the bull elk archery season.

The first week of bull elk firearms season opens Oct. 5 closes Oct. 11. The second week of this season runs from Oct. 12 through Oct. 18. The first week of cow elk firearms season opens Dec. 14 and closes Dec. 20 with second week of opening Dec. 21 and ending Dec. 27.

The crossbow season for either sex bull runs Oct. 19 and Oct. 20 from Nov. 9 through Dec. 13 and Dec. 28 through Dec. 3.

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Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Muskellunge bite peaking soon
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

In early November several years ago, a then 14-year-old Montgomery County High School freshman named Sarah Terry fished for muskellunge on Cave Run Lake with her Dad on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon. They fished hard without a single bite to show for their efforts. Late in the afternoon, Terry's stepdad, Scott Salchli, said they needed to get home soon. She negotiated for 15 more casts before they would call it quits for the day.

She worked a purple and silver Double Cowgirl in-line spinner along a weedline near the Claylick Boat Ramp about half way through her allotted casts. Four and one-half feet of muskellunge followed the bait to the boat. Employing the old figure 8 move with her inline spinner, the muskellunge came from under the boat and struck on the second pass. After a short, but fierce, struggle, the 47-pound state record came to hand with her lure bent into an "L" shape and missing a hook.

The next six weeks are one of the best times of year to catch muskellunge from Cave Run, Green River and Buckhorn lakes. Another state record could succumb to a well placed in-line spinner, jerkbait or crankbait. This past week, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources stocked Cave Run Lake, Green River Lake and Buckhorn Lake with 13-inch long muskellunge at the rate of about one fish per three acres of water. Stocking maintains these highly productive muskie fisheries.

Muskellunge are in the back of creeks right now at Cave Run Lake. Mike Hardin, assistant director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, witnessed several nice fish caught around him on a recent trip and had several follows.

"Smaller lures, such as a #5 Mepps in-line spinner or a 00 A.C. Shiner, are working better right now," Hardin said. He explained that as the water cools into the low 70s, jerkbaits such as Suicks and larger, slower spinnerbaits and in-line spinners work better.

"They will soon move out onto the main lake weedbeds," Hardin explained. "You can catch them in 8 feet of water or less on those lures."

Buckhorn Lake in Perry and Leslie counties has one of the highest catch rates for muskellunge in the upper South. Fall is one of the best times of the year to fish the lake. As of this week, some water is flowing through Buckhorn Lake Dam, but the lake remains almost at summer pool.

Weedbeds on flats next to submerged channels are high percentage spots to throw in-line spinners such as the Grim Reaper Model 600 in the sucker color or the Double Cowgirl in the Purple Cisco color. The orange-hued sucker-colored lures work best in the creeks while lures with shades of silver, purple or chartreuse work best on the main lake.

Leatherwood Creek is a top fall creek for muskellunge on Buckhorn Lake. The heavy drawdown in fall on Buckhorn Lake keeps the tailwater area just below the dam full of muskellunge, providing outstanding fishing. Bank fishing is available, but there is no boat ramp. Anglers may carry down a fishing kayak, canoe or small johnboat and take out at the KY 28 Bridge downstream on the Middle Fork of Kentucky River.

Green River Lake boasts some of the fattest, healthiest muskellunge found anywhere in the country. Fisheries biologists with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife routinely find muskellunge in excess of 40 inches long during population sampling on Green River Lake.

Finding the shad is the key to success for Green River Lake muskies. In fall, shad congregate on flats that extend well out into the lake. The Robinson Creek arm of the lake boasts many of these flats. Work these areas with a Swim Whizz crankbait in the golden shad color. Windy days improve fall fishing on Green River Lake. Fishing slides on main lake bluffs with crankbaits such the 00 A.C. Shiner in the shad color is an effective presentation on gusty fall days.

The good fishing on Green River Lake lasts past Thanksgiving after the drawdown to winter pool. In early December, large muskellunge strike crankbaits and jerkbaits fished slowly by periodically allowing these lures to float all the way to the surface on the retrieve. Muskies often hit as the lure breaks the surface.

Get out this fall and enjoy some of the best muskellunge fishing in the United States. These three lakes hold national reputations for high strike and catch rates on one of the most difficult fish to catch in nature.

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Division of Forestry acquire 4,200 acres for conservation, hunting, fishing and public use
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

More than 4,200 acres of environmentally significant property in western Kentucky will be preserved and conserved for future generations under a deal finalized Sept. 25. The Nature Conservancy of Kentucky has sold 4,241 acres of property along the Tradewater and Ohio rivers in Crittenden County to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the Kentucky Division of Forestry. Coupled with 2,488 acres acquired across the Tradewater River in Union County in 2011, the Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and State Forest will now encompass more than 6,700 acres along the only free-flowing tributary to the Ohio River in Kentucky.

The $12.6 million purchase was made without tapping into the license and permit fees paid by hunters and anglers, noted Deputy Commissioner Benjy Kinman of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

"This is an example of state and private organizations working together to leverage funds for a significant and historic land acquisition," he said.

For The Nature Conservancy of Kentucky, the property represented its largest land acquisition to date, said Terry Cook, organization's state director in Kentucky.

"The Big Rivers project will forever be a destination for those who cherish and enjoy Kentucky's landscapes," he noted.

"The Big Rivers project required extraordinary efforts between private, public and non-profit businesses, agencies and non-profit organizations," Cook added. "Current and future generations will forever benefit from the combined vision that has allowed for this significant conservation win."

The area is public property acquired to conserve and enhance this unique property and provide outdoor recreation for activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, canoeing, wildlife viewing and other wildlife-related activities. The new section will open for small game, turkey and deer archery hunting in early November under the same regulations as the Union County portion. The entire property will be open for modern gun deer hunting only through an existing quota hunt on Nov. 9-10.

Initial road access may be limited until it can be developed further.

Kinman noted the property is a mosaic of hardwoods, crops, grassland and wetlands. The area provides habitat for 16 plants and 25 animal species listed as rare as well as 50 species listed as having the greatest conservation need in Kentucky. The area is also home to the federally endangered Indiana bat.

The property will be managed jointly by the Kentucky Division of Forestry and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife to provide watershed and water quality protection; to protect and recover endangered, threatened and rare species; and to preserve existing cultural and geological treasures. The property will be managed as a sustainable timber operation under guidelines set by the Forest Stewardship Council.

"The Division of Forestry is excited to add this property to its network of state forests," said State Forestry Director Leah MacSwords. "Partnering with the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources not only allowed the state to obtain the property but it will continue to benefit the Commonwealth by pooling our resources in the management of the Big Rivers property."

The entire property was purchased in early 2009 by an investment fund managed by The Forestland Group with cooperation from The Conservation Fund and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Resources. This acquisition kept the property intact until public agencies could line up funding for their own purchase.

The Conservation Fund, a national non-profit land conservation organization, was also instrumental in helping the state acquire lands that later became Peabody, Obion Creek and Sloughs WMAs. The Nature Conservancy of Kentucky used money from its land conservation fund and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Indiana Bat Conservation Fund to purchase the 4,200-acre tract from The Forestland Group earlier this month.

For the public acquisition, nearly $5.8 million came from the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Board, including the board's funds allocated through the Kentucky Division of Forestry and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. These funds are derived from nature license plate sales, environmental fines and a portion of the unmined minerals tax. Fees-in-lieu-of mitigation money added $650,000 to the funding. A majority of the funding came from a matching $5.1 million grant from the U.S. Forest Service's Forest Legacy Program. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife paid $1.1 million from its federal funding to complete the sale and pay administrative fees.

"We're proud to open a property of this size to the public," Kinman said. "It shows that when public, private and non-profit agencies work together, everybody wins."

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Night hunting for coyotes now allowed
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

Hunters may now pursue coyotes at night. New regulations allow hunters to use a shotgun to take coyotes at night year round. Lights or night vision equipment can only be used from February 1 through May 31.

"This new opportunity offers landowners another tool to assist in the removal of coyotes associated with livestock depredation," said Steven Dobey, furbearer program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "Coyotes are generally less wary at night and hunting at this time can result in increased harvest success."

While Kentucky’s General Assembly enacted a law allowing night hunting of coyotes earlier this year, lawmakers left it to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife to create regulations for the seasons. The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the new regulations in the spring; the proposed regulations recently won all the necessary approvals from legislative committees to open a season.

A shotgun loaded with shells up to size T is the only legal firearm for night coyote hunting. Hunters will not be able to use slugs. Decoys and electronic calls will be allowed.

Hunters on private property must have permission from landowners to be there. "In developing these new regulations, Kentucky Fish and Wildlife has taken special precautions to prevent the illegal harvest of antlered deer and minimize human safety concerns," Dobey said. "No hunter should jeopardize those precautions by trespassing just because they are hunting at night."

The night light season will correspond with the time of year when deer have shed their antlers. This should lessen the motivation to poach deer. Late winter is also when vegetation is at its lowest, food is most scarce and when coyotes are actively breeding, making them easier to call into a set up. Lights cannot be connected to or cast from a vehicle. Any color of light can be used.

Daytime hunting for coyotes is open year round. Hunters may use shotguns, centerfire rifles, bows, crossbow, air guns with a minimum size of .22-caliber and rimfire rifles during daylight hours.

There is no limit on the number of coyotes which hunters may take at night or during the day.

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Kentucky Afield Outdoors:
Blue Water Trails Kentucky River

Herds of buffalo roaming across Kentucky carved rudimentary roads into the Earth later used by the pioneers during the settlement period of our state's history. Many modern roads still roughly follow the paths carved by the huge bison as they made their way from stamping grounds to salt springs.

One of these buffalo trails ran from McConnell Springs in Fayette County and forded the Kentucky River at a shallow bar near the now extinct community of Leestown. This trail is now roughly U.S. 421 or Leestown Road. The distillery located there is called Buffalo Trace in recognition of this historic crossing.

After crossing the river, the buffalo climbed the river hills to the northwest, making their way toward the Ohio River. The movement and their wallowing scraped the vegetation from a prominent knob in the area, making it appear "bald." This moniker is still used to describe the northwestern part of Franklin County.

Paddlers may float over this famous buffalo crossing in the first stretch of Pool 3 of the Kentucky River. With peak autumn colors approaching, the next few weeks make fantastic times to paddle Pool 3. Canoeists and kayakers have several floats to view the last of the Kentucky River Palisades on this pool.

The first float of roughly 10 miles begins just downstream of Lock and Dam 4 in Frankfort at the Buffalo Trace Ramp on Leestown Bar. This ramp requires a membership fee to use. For more information on use of this ramp, call 1-800-654-8471. Those who plan to float this section should plan on a long day of paddling, so put in early in the morning.

The tailwater just below Lock and Dam 4 provides fishing for white bass, hybrid striped bass and black bass. Just downstream in the bend where the ramp is located, smallmouth bass hang on the rocks of Leestown Bar and Jolly Roger bar, especially when the river has good current.

The Palisades are still evident in the upper section of Pool 3 and this makes for spectacular scenery in October. The bluffs are not as intimate as in the upriver section of the Palisades, but they still provide a sense of awe, especially when framed by leaves at their peak of color.

Just downstream on the left is a rock shelf known as Pettys Ripple Bar that holds largemouth bass. Working a medium-running crawfish-colored crankbait across this bar should draw strikes. The river then bends to the right and straightens for a time before bending left. Just past the left bend, Stony Creek enters on the left. Sunken trees, root wads and other woody cover in the mouth of Stony Creek provide good fishing for crappie and bluegill.

The river then turns hard to the right around Steamboat Hollow Bend. Steamboat Hollow Creek meets the Kentucky on the left. The rocky bar at the mouth of the creek provides an excellent spot to fish for largemouth and smallmouth bass by swimming a 3/16-ounce brown and orange jig and trailer combination just over the bottom. Steamboat Hollow was the site of an early 1800s boatyard, producing paddle boats such as the all locust wood Locust Lexington and the side-wheeler Plowboy that plied the Kentucky and other rivers.

The take-out lies around another bend on the right at the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources' Steele Branch Boat Ramp at the end of Steele Branch Road off U.S. 127. There is ample parking at this ramp. Some maps show the Kentucky River Campgrounds Ramp just upstream, but you must stay in that campground to use it.

The float of a little over three miles begins at the Steele Branch Boat Ramp and concludes at the Stillwaters Campground Ramp in the last mile of Elkhorn Creek. This makes an excellent half-day float with good fishing. Anglers should paddle the 3/4-mile back upstream and fish Hawkins Bar at the mouth of Steele's Branch with 4-inch green pumpkin-colored curly-tailed grubs rigged on 3/16-ounce leadheads for smallmouth bass.

The river presents fewer exposed bluffs in this stretch, but the scenery is still exemplary. After a long gentle bend to the right that consumes most of this paddle, the river than takes a hard left around Elkhorn Bend. This sharp bend presented a challenge to riverboat pilots pushing barges at high water.

The rock and sandbar on the inside (left) of Elkhorn bend is a good place to fish for smallmouth bass. As the paddler makes their way into Lower Elkhorn Bend, Elkhorn Creek meets the river on the right. The take-out is a short way upstream on Elkhorn Creek at the Stillwaters Campground Ramp on the right. There is a $3 fee to use this ramp.

The Stillwaters Campground has a nearly 100-year history of providing access, camping, swimming, paddling and fishing on the Kentucky River. The Quire family built the Mayflower Hotel and Fishing Camp in 1921 at the mouth of the Elkhorn and it operated until extensively damaged by the infamous 1937 flood. It was later bought and converted to a campground that remains today.

A nice fishing side trip for paddlers is to continue upstream of the boat ramp on Elkhorn Creek and stop at the first riffle. Tie up the boats and wade upstream for excellent smallmouth bass fishing. The lower section of Elkhorn downstream of this riffle holds largemouth bass, catfish and muskellunge.

The next float of nearly 7-miles begins at the Stillwaters Campground Ramp and concludes at Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's Sand Ripple Creek Voluntary Public Access Area (VPA). A towering rock bluff greets paddlers on the left at the beginning of this float. The river then flows straight past the extinct community of Polsgrove and the mouth of Flat Creek. The lower stretch of Flat Creek offers productive fishing for largemouth bass and bluegill.

The Kentucky then takes a nearly 90 degree turn to the right into Payton Bend, another treacherous spot for riverboat pilots. The river bends back on itself as it flows into Owen County and around Webbs Bend before bending right again into the mouth of Sand Ripple Creek.

The take-out is just downstream of the mouth of Sand Ripple Creek. The lower section of this creek and the bar opposite its mouth offer good fishing for largemouth and Kentucky bass.

Canoe Kentucky offers canoe and kayak rentals on Pool 3 of the Kentucky River. Stillwaters Campground also offers canoe rentals and camping facilities. Kentucky River Campground also has camping and river access to Pool 3 for campers.

Canoe Kentucky:
1-888-CANOEKY
www.canoeky.com

Stillwaters Campground and Canoe Trails:
1-502-223-8896
www.stillwaterscampground.com

Kentucky River Campground:
1-502-227-2465
www.kyrivercampground.com

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Salato Center hosts Halloween Walk with the Animals event October 26
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

Ghosts and goblins of all ages can join the fun at the Salato Wildlife Education Center’s Halloween Walk with the Animals in Frankfort from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. Admission to this kid-safe, trick-or-treat event is $5 a person. Members get in free. The event is most appropriate for kids under the age of 11 and their parents. Little trick-or-treaters are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes. Doors open at noon instead of the usual 10 a.m. during this event.

The Salato Center staff will treat visitors with lots of exciting activities. The fun begins at the door when kids get their animal passports. Kids can then collect candy and get their passports stamped at animal exhibits throughout the grounds. Little goblins can explore the Haunted Hay Maze and dare to view the Creatures of the Night exhibit. Kids also can fish for a prize at the fishing booth. Visitors can skip the lines by buying their tickets in advance. Call [phone] for more information. Halloween Walk with the Animals helps raise funds for future exhibits and programs.

The Salato Center has a variety of native animals for the public to see, including a black bear, an eagle, bobcats, elk, deer, bison, snakes and fish. The center has numerous indoor exhibits and miles of hiking trails open to the public. Fishing is available at two lakes. The center is operated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The Salato Center is located off U.S. 60 in Frankfort, approximately 1½ miles west of the U.S. 127 intersection. Look for the bronze deer statue at the entrance of the main Kentucky Fish and Wildlife campus.

Normal hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Salato is closed on Sunday, Monday and state holidays. The center will close for the winter beginning Nov. 28. Except for select events such as Walk with the Animals, admission is $4 for adults and $2 for youth 5 to 18. Children under 5 are admitted free. The center also offers annual memberships for individuals and families.

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Expanded bear hunting regulations receive final legislative approval
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

Hunters in Kentucky now have an expanded area and seasons in which they may attempt to harvest a black bear. Regulations passed by the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission in June recently received final legislative approval. The new season structure expands the bear zone and the bear chase areas, establishes an archery/crossbow season and increases opportunities for hunting with dogs.

The changes are not reflected in the current print version of the Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide due to the publication's deadline in late spring. Bear permits are available to residents only; a drawing for the 2013 quota hunt with dogs was held earlier this month.

"The department has intensively studied and monitored our bear population for over a decade," said Steven Dobey, bear program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "Data clearly indicate that bears can sustain an increased harvest and we are excited to offer these opportunities to our sportsmen and sportswomen."

The change that will affect most hunters is the expansion of the bear zone - the area in which a person may hunt bears - from four to 16 counties. Kentucky's Bear Zone now includes Bell, Clay, Floyd, Harlan, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Leslie, Letcher, Martin, McCreary, Perry, Pike, Pulaski, Wayne and Whitley counties.

Another change for this year is the creation of a separate archery/crossbow season. This season will take place from Nov. 23 through Dec. 1. The quota for this hunt is 10 bears or five female bears, whichever limit hunters reach first. The season will close if the limit is reached.

Successful archery and crossbow hunters must telecheck their bears by 8 p.m. on the day of harvest. Hunters also must call the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources within 24 hours to arrange for an employee to check the bear.

"A physical check of all harvested bears is required so that we may provide a harvest tag and collect valuable biological information from each animal taken," Dobey said. "These data allow us to document sex, weight, age, and reproductive condition. We also can determine if we have handled a bear before by the presence of tags."

Dates for the existing modern gun season remain unchanged. Hunters during this season may use modern firearms, muzzleloaders, bows or crossbows. This year's hunt will take place Dec. 14–16 and remain open until a quota of 10 bears or 5 female bears is reached, whichever limit hunters reach first. All bear seasons are closed the day after a quota is met.

Hunters in the gun season must bring bears to a department-operated check station upon retrieval to be issued a harvest tag. Unless license exempt, any person participating in the archery/crossbow or modern gun season for bears must be in possession of a hunting license and bear permit.

Hunting permits for the modern gun and archery/crossbow seasons are available over the counter or online. These are not quota hunts. A hunter may use one permit for either season; a hunter may not take more than one bear a year. During July and August, residents may obtain a permit that allows them to only chase bears with dogs. A person wishing to hunt bears with dogs must have this bear chase permit and then apply for the bear quota hunt with dogs in September.

Houndsmen will also have increased opportunities this year as the bear chase areas are expanded to three units encompassing more than 340,000 acres. Chase areas include a new 73,000-acre chase area located east of Fishtrap Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Pike County, located in Kentucky along the tri-state border with Virginia and West Virginia. The largest chase area includes 222,000 acres spanning portions of Bell, Harlan and Letcher counties. The third chase area is comprised entirely of public land and encompasses approximately 45,000 acres in Bell County.

From Aug. 1-31, bear chase areas are open as a chase-only season in which houndsmen may pursue bears with dogs without the intent to kill. Unless license exempt, a person must be in possession of a valid hunting license and bear chase permit to participate in the chase-only season. This winter will also mark Kentucky's first separate bear quota hunt with dogs. Previously, this season was only open if the state's bear quota was not met during the modern gun season. Changes approved this year establish a season that will be held regardless of whether the quota for modern gun season is met.

The bear quota hunt with dogs will take place from Dec. 23-27, or until the annual quota of five bears is reached. Participants must apply in September for this hunt. The application is open only to Kentucky residents with a valid bear chase permit; up to five people can apply as a hunting party.

All members of a party drawn for a quota hunt with dogs must buy a bear permit before participating. Two additional youths can join the hunting party for a total of up to seven people; youths do not need a bear chase permit, but are required to obtain a bear permit if they are 12 years of age or older. The chase-only season and bear quota hunt with dogs are each restricted to bear chase areas; individual parties may not have more than eight dogs.

Hunters are not allowed to take female bears with young or bears weighing less than 75 pounds during any season. Bears may not be hunted over bait or in area where bait has been present for at least 30 days. All bear hunting activities are prohibited on Hensley-Pine Mountain WMA, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.

"Bear hunting is a relatively new pursuit in Kentucky," Dobey said. "Support from the League of Kentucky Sportsmen, United Bowhunters of Kentucky, Kentucky Bear Hunters Association and the Kentucky Houndsmen Association provided valuable insight into the development of our growing season structure."

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Kentucky River receives stockings of largemouth bass
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife News Release

Excess largemouth bass production at the Minor Clark Fish Hatchery in Morehead will benefit stream anglers in central and north-central Kentucky.

"We had some leftover fish from the largemouth bass stocking initiative," explained David Baker, stream biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. "We wanted to do something to try to help some streams. So we stocked roughly 31,000 excess 5-inch advanced fingerling largemouth bass."

The statewide size limit on largemouth bass is 12 inches.

Stoner Creek in Bourbon County, the South Fork of Licking River in Harrison County and the main Licking River in Harrison, Nicholas and Robertson counties all received largemouth bass stockings in early October. Eagle Creek in Scott, Grant and Owen counties also received largemouth bass, in addition to Pool 4 and Pool 9 on the Kentucky River.

Baker and crew stocked 500 largemouth bass each at two locations along Stoner Creek in Bourbon County. They placed 500 largemouth bass each at four places on the South Fork of Licking River: the Lair Ramp, the Terry Dam Ramp, also known as Airport Road Ramp, the Cynthiana Ramp and the Robinson Dam Ramp. All these locations are in Harrison County.

The main Licking River received 5,000 largemouth bass apiece at the Clay Wildlife Management Area Ramp in Nicholas County, the Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park Ramp and the Claysville Ramp in Robertson County.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife stocked 500 largemouth bass on Eagle Creek at the Sadieville Ramp in Scott County, at the Petitt Pike Ford in Grant County and at the Sparta City Park carry down access in Owen County. Pool 4 of the Kentucky River got 5,500 largemouth bass at the Benson Creek Boat Ramp in Frankfort while Pool 9 received the same amount of largemouth bass at the Boonesborough State Park Boat Ramp.

Baker said the stockings targeted the impounded areas and slower moving sections of these streams and rivers. "Those areas make the best stream largemouth bass habitat," he said. "These stockings should help offset what looks like a poor reproduction year from the wet spring and summer. With hope, these stockings will result better largemouth bass fishing in these areas in the future."

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