Beaglegun
Lil-Rokslider
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2020
- Messages
- 160
Getting a good regulated area is everything
It's hard for someone out west to believe but, these strip mines are massive and if properly reclaimed, are awesome for elk and very similar to western hunting. Problem is, after a mountain is completely scalped, there is very little existing soil. Mostly rock and poor subsoil. It becomes totally vulnerable to evasive trees and plants that can thrive where natives cannot. Autumn olive and sericia lespedeza dominate and grow very rapidly and drop gazillions of seeds with no way to control it. Great elk habitat soon turns into a growed up hog mess that is impenetrable and wont carry a flame and if they do burn, people freak out cause they are scared they will loose timber money.The words Kentucky Elk Draw just sound like a scam
Seriously awesome how opportunities are opening up in the south!
It's hard for someone out west to believe but, these strip mines are massive and if properly reclaimed, are awesome for elk and very similar to western hunting. Problem is, after a mountain is completely scalped, there is very little existing soil. Mostly rock and poor subsoil. It becomes totally vulnerable to evasive trees and plants that can thrive where natives cannot. Autumn olive and sericia lespedeza dominate and grow very rapidly and drop gazillions of seeds with no way to control it. Great elk habitat soon turns into a growed up hog mess that is impenetrable and wont carry a flame and if they do burn, people freak out cause they are scared they will loose timber money.
I hunted KY elk last year. The outfitters hunt 95% public ground with the same access that you or I could.Is there even anywhere legit to hunt in Kentucky now, outside of using outfitters? I didnt apply this year as it seemed like it would be tough to access any decent ground with any real chance of success as DIY>
I hunted KY elk last year. All i can say is that you should reset your expectations from 7 years ago. The KY elk herd has drastically changed. The guides and outfitters are beyond frustrated with the management of the herd and decreasing opportunities. The harvest statistics from the last 5 years reflect this tremendously. Opportunities are few and far between. Everyone just walks around and mumbles about how good it 'used to be'The draw was yesterday was anyone else successful?
I’m very excited my son drew a youth elk tag. He’s 15 so this is his last year of youth eligibility and there are only 25 youth tags given out.
I drew a cow archery tag here when he was 8 years old and he was by my side for that entire hunt. We had a blast back then and now I can’t wait for him to get a shot at a big bull.
The outfitter you hunted with may have hunted accessible ground, However, MOST do not. They hunt leased property mostly. Typically they hunt the areas where the coal mines were. I have hunted KY for whitetail since 2001. There is not a lot of good public elk ground in Eastern KY. Nearly all is leased. How did your hunt go? What outfitter?I hunted KY elk last year. The outfitters hunt 95% public ground with the same access that you or I could.
The only "private land" that will hold elk, is just other strip mines not open to public hunting. You are only gonna find elk on strip mines from my experiance. I believe mining companies hold on to some of these reclaimed mines to allow "voucher tag" hunts for employees or people of higher importance and $$$I hunted KY elk last year. The outfitters hunt 95% public ground with the same access that you or I could.