With all the fuss of deer numbers being down across the country due to disease, roadkill, and over-
hunting, it is refreshing to read that Kentucky deer hunters have already surpassed a previous harvest record for the state.
An excerpt from Gary Garth’s recent article in the Courrier-Journal tells the story…
Kentucky deer hunters will establish a new single season deer kill when the 2015-16 campaign ends with the close of archery season Jan. 18.
All that’s left to be determined is the final number.
Through Wednesday, hunters had checked 150,569 deer, surpassing the previous all-time season kill of 144,409 set in 2013.
Hunters typically tag around 1,500 deer in January.
“It’s our highest harvest on record which is great,” said state deer program director Gabe Jenkins. “The herd is healthy and deer are reproducing.”
Hunters set monthly harvest records in September, October and November. The November modern gun hunt netted 105,440 deer, including 44,314 taken the first two days of the season.
Kentucky is home to about 300,000 deer hunters. The herd is estimated at around 1 million animals.
“A big harvest leaves hunters happy and is good for the economy,” Jenkins said. “We also have to realize there are a lot of deer on the landscape and we need to continue to manage the resource properly.”
For more information, including detailed deer telecheck results, go to www.fw.ky.gov.
Deer dates: Kentucky’s crossbow deer and crossbow turkey seasons close Thursday. Archery deer and archery turkey seasons close Jan. 18.
