KRS 150.390: Restrictions on hunting wild elk, deer, wild turkey, or bear -- Depredation

permits -- Administrative regulations -- Methods to reduce deer and elk

populations that threaten agriculture or health and human safety -- Taking of

anterless deer.

(1) No person shall possess, take, pursue, or attempt to take or pursue or otherwise

molest any wild elk, deer, wild turkey, or bear in any manner contrary to any

provisions of this chapter or its regulations.

(2) No person shall use a dog to chase or mole st wild elk or deer in any manner, at any

time, or at any place. Any game warden, peace officer, sheriff, or constable may

take necessary steps to stop, prevent, or bring under control any dog or dogs found

chasing or molesting wild elk or deer at any time.

(3) The department shall establish by administrative regulation the conditions under

which depredation permits may be issued without cost to persons suffering damage

from wild elk to allow the taking of wild elk.

(4) If Kentucky's wild elk population rea ches a level that will sustain limited hunting,

the department may establish by administrative regulations the conditions and

permits that would allow the controlled taking of wild elk.

(5) The department shall identify areas where deer and elk pose a sign ificant threat to

agriculture or to health and human safety from automobile accidents and may take

necessary steps to reduce the deer and elk population in those areas. Methods to

reduce the deer and elk population may include but are not limited to the following:

(a) Special hunts;

(b) Increasing the doe harvest; and

(c) Working with the Transportation Cabinet to make vegetation along highways

unpalatable to deer and elk.

(6) The commission shall promulgate administrative regulations establishing an

additional seven (7) to ten (10) day season allowing the taking of antlerless deer in

overpopulated areas, as designated by the department, until the population density

is sufficiently decreased.

(7) With exception to the taking of any wild elk, the department s hall allow an entry

into the department's special agency fundraising permit drawing process to any

individual who:

(a) Has taken and reported to the department a minimum of four (4) female

antlerless deer from a designated overpopulated area during the previous

hunting season in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the

administrative regulations promulgated by the department;

(b) Provides a time-stamped photograph of each harvested female antlerless deer

through the department's telecheck review system as required by

administrative regulation; and

(c) Submits a request to the department for entry into the spec ial agency

fundraising permit drawing and confirms that the requester matches the name

of the individual carrying out the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of

this subsection.

(8) The department shall promulgate administrative regulations establishing objectives

for circumstances in which the deer density of an overpopulated area meets or falls

below the population objective.