Home › Kentucky › Elk and quota hunt draws
2026-27 drawings
Kentucky Elk and Quota Hunt Draws
How Kentucky draws its 500 elk permits and its 38 deer quota hunts with 3,773 slots, how preference points work, and when to apply for the waterfowl, dove, pheasant, sandhill crane and hatchery mentor hunts.
Photo: ShenandoahNPS (Public domain)
How the Kentucky elk draw works
| Elk permit | Permits 2026 | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bull, firearm | 140 | $105.70 | $581.35 |
| Cow, firearm | 164 | $63.42 | $422.80 |
| Archery or crossbow | 170 | $105.70 | $581.35 |
| Youth only | 26 | $31.71 | $211.40 |
| Elk season | Dates |
|---|---|
| Bull, firearms | Sep 26–30, 2026; Oct 3–7, 2026 |
| Cow, firearms | Nov 28–Dec 2, 2026; Jan 2–6, 2027 |
| Archery, crossbow | Sep 12–25, 2026; Dec 5–11, 2026 |
| Youth quota | Sep 12, 2026–Jan 6, 2027 |
| Step | KDFWR rule |
|---|---|
| Apply | August 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026 for 2026 hunts ($10 per permit type; up to 3 types; drawn for only one) |
| Drawing | Random computer drawing in May; buy permit by June 15; loyalty redraw; unit drawing (apply by June 30). |
| Rules | Nonresidents max 10% of each pool; drawn hunters wait 3 years; youth-only draw once per lifetime; 6 hunting units in the 4.1 million-acre zone; Boone's Ridge closed. |
Drawn permits are good only inside the 16-county elk zone (Bell, Breathitt, Clay, Floyd, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, McCreary, Perry, Pike and Whitley), roughly 4.1 million acres split into six elk hunting units. Boone's Ridge viewing area closed to all elk hunting. Outside the zone no drawing is needed: follows deer season dates and methods; needs annual hunting license plus Out-of-Zone Elk Permit; no deer permit required.
Landowners with 100+ acres in the elk zone who allow quota hunters access earn an either-sex elk permit after 10 elk are taken on their land. Up to 10 elk permits a year to conservation non-profits to sell or auction.
Sources: 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Guide, page 32; KDFWR elk page; 301 KAR 2:132; 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Guide, page 21. Checked: compared line by line with the source on November 10, 2026.
Kentucky deer quota hunts and preference points
The 38 hunts run on wildlife management areas, state parks and the Zilpo area of the Daniel Boone National Forest; the largest is Green River Lake & Dennis-Gray WMAs with 400 slots.
| Step | KDFWR rule |
|---|---|
| Apply | September 1 to 30, 2026 online only, $3 per hunt. |
| Points and pools | Preference points for unsuccessful applicants; group points averaged; max 10% nonresidents per pool; one non-hunting guest. |
| Break the rules | Hunters who break quota hunt rules cannot apply for any quota hunt the next year and lose preference points. |
| No. | Area | Dates | Slots | Min points 2025 | Nonresident min | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ballard WMA | Nov 7–8 | 65 | 2 | 3 | Hunters awarded one preference point for each antlerless deer harvested, up to four. Scouting permitted through October 14. |
| 2 | Beaver Creek WMA | Nov 7–8 | 330 | 0 | 0 | Antlered deer only. |
| 3 | Big Rivers WMA & State Forest #1 | Oct 25–Nov 30 | 130 | 1 | 4 | Archery and crossbow only. Closed during (and day before) the two-day quota hunt that starts the first Saturday in November. Department issued hang tags required. Must telecheck harvested deer. |
| 4 | Big Rivers WMA & State Forest #2 | Nov 7–8 | 100 | 1 | 3 | |
| 5 | Cane Creek WMA #1 | Oct 25–Nov 30 | 30 | – | – | Archery and crossbow only. Closed during (and day before) the two-day quota hunt that starts the first Saturday in November. Department issued hang tags required. Telecheck harvested deer. |
| 6 | Cane Creek WMA #2 | Nov 7–8 | 22 | – | – | Department issued hang tags required. Telecheck harvested deer. |
| 7 | Clay WMA | Nov 7–8 | 225 | 1 | 1 | Limit four, only one of which may be antlered, during quota hunt. Hunters awarded one preference point for each antlerless deer harvested, up to four. |
| 8 | Curtis Gates Lloyd WMA | Nov 14–21 | 20 | – | – | Department issued hang tags required. Telecheck harvested deer. |
| 9 | Dewey Lake WMA | Nov 7–8 | 150 | 0 | 0 | Limit two, only one of which may be antleress, during quota hunt. |
| 10 | Fishtrap Lake WMA | Nov 21–22 | 200 | 0 | 0 | Limit one during quota hunt. |
| 11 | Green River Lake & Dennis-Gray WMAs | Nov 7–8 | 400 | 0 | 0 | Hunters awarded one preference point for each antleress deer harvested, up to four. |
| 12 | Green River Lake & Dennis Gray WMAs Mobility-Impaired* | Nov 7–8 | 15 | 0 | 0 | Open only to mobility-impaired persons. Hunters awarded one preference point for each antlerless deer harvested, up to four. |
| 13 | Higginson – Henry WMA #1 | Oct 25–Nov 30 | 60 | 2 | 4.5 | Archery and crossbow only. Closed during (and day before) the two-day quota hunt that starts the first Saturday in November. Department issued hang tags required. Must telecheck harvested deer. |
| 14 | Higginson – Henry WMA #2 | Nov 7–8 | 45 | 1.66 | 2 | |
| 15 | Kentucky River WMA | Nov 7–8 | 65 | 0.66 | 0.5 | |
| 16 | Kleber and Rich WMAs #1 | Nov 7–8 | 200 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | Kleber and Rich WMAs #2 | Dec 5–6 | 200 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | Paintsville Lake WMA | Nov 7–8 | 125 | 0 | 0.4 | |
| 19 | Pennyrile State Forest/Tradewater WMA | Nov 7–8 | 300 | 0 | 1 | Hunters awarded one preference point for each antlerless deer harvested, up to four. |
| 20 | Taylorsville Lake WMA #1 | Nov 7–8 | 268 | 0.8 | 1 | Hunters awarded one preference point for each antlerless deer harvested, up to four. |
| 21 | Taylorsville Lake WMA Mobility-Impaired* #1 | Nov 7–8 | 7 | 0.2 | 0 | Open only to mobility-impaired persons. Hunters awarded one preference point for each antlerless deer harvested, up to four. |
| 22 | Taylorsville Lake WMA #2 | Dec 5–6 | 268 | 0 | 0 | Hunters awarded one preference point for each antlerless deer harvested, up to four. |
| 23 | Taylorsville Lake WMA Mobility-Impaired* #2 | Dec 5–6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | Open only to mobility-impaired persons. Hunters awarded one preference point for each antlerless deer harvested, up to four. |
| 24 | Veterans Memorial WMA | Nov 7–8 | 50 | 0.8 | 0 | |
| 25 | West Kentucky WMA | Nov 21–24 | 135 | 0 | 0 | Shotgun and muzzleloader only. Tract 1 is closed to public access. |
| 26 | West Kentucky WMA youth mentor | Nov 21–24 | 4 | 0 | 0 | Shotgun only, youth mentor hunt on portions of "A" tracts. Only youth hunters apply. No more than two youth hunters may accompany an adult mentor. No more than one adult can mentor a youth hunter. An adult mentor may take a deer during the hunt. |
| 27 | Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park #1 | Nov 20–22 | 50 | 0 | 0 | Must telecheck harvested deer. |
| 28 | Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park #2 | Dec 4–6 | 40 | 0 | 0 | Youth only. Must telecheck harvested deer. |
| 29 | Greenbo Lake State Resort Park | Dec 17–20 | 25 | 0 | 0 | Hunters must check in and out daily at lodge and submit hunt reports. Must telecheck harvested deer. |
| 30 | Green River Lake State Park #1 | Dec 10–13 | 55 | 0.4 | 1 | Archery and crossbow only. Must telecheck harvested deer. |
| 31 | Green River Lake State Park #2 | Dec 17–20 | 55 | 0 | 0 | Archery and crossbow only. Must telecheck harvested deer. |
| 32 | Kenlake State Resort Park #1 | Nov 19–22 | 25 | 0 | 2 | Archery only. Must telecheck harvested deer. |
| 33 | Kenlake State Resort Park #2 | Dec 3–6 | 25 | 0 | 0 | Must telecheck harvested deer. |
| 34 | Kincaid Lake State Park #1 | Dec 3–6 | 10 | 2 | 0 | Must telecheck harvested deer. |
| 35 | Kincaid Lake State Park #2 | Dec 11–14 | 10 | 1.5 | 0 | Must telecheck harvested deer. |
| 36 | Lake Barkley State Resort Park #1 | Nov 2–6 | 25 | – | – | Archery and crossbow only. Drawn hunters will be randomly assigned specific hunt unit within park. Hunters must check in and out daily and submit hunt reports. |
| 37 | Lake Barkley State Resort Park #2 | Jan 5–6 | 20 | – | – | Drawn hunters will be randomly assigned specific hunt unit within park. Hunters must check in and out daily and submit hunt reports. |
| 38 | Zilpo Mobility-Impaired* | Dec 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | Open only to mobility-impaired persons. |
LBL requires its own LBL hunt permit ($25) with a Kentucky license; LBL deer quota hunts are drawn by computer (301 KAR 2:050); LBL migratory bird hunting closed last Saturday in September – November 30.
Minimum points are the lowest preference point totals drawn for each hunt in 2025; a dash means none were printed. Sources: 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Guide, page 32; KDFWR quota hunts page; 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Guide, page 20; 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Guide, page 33; 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Guide, page 34. Checked: compared line by line with the source on November 10, 2026.
Kentucky quota drawings beyond deer and elk
| Drawing | When and where |
|---|---|
| Waterfowl quota hunts | September 1 to 30 (Ballard and Sloughs WMAs); Boatwright weekly online draws; standby drawings; season-long blind drawings August-October at Barkley Lake, Barren River Lake, Doug Travis and Green River Lake WMAs. |
| Dove quota hunts | August 3 to 21, 2026; General quota hunts September 1 and September 5; youth/mentor hunts in September. |
| Pheasant quota hunts | September 1 to 30; Green River Lake WMA, Clay WMA, Yellowbank WMA. |
| Sandhill crane permits | September online ($3); 1-3 permits; ID test. |
| Hatchery mentor hunts | November 1 to 15; Minor Clark and Pfeiffer Fish Hatcheries (Rowan, Franklin): mobility-impaired and youth mentor waterfowl hunts on January weekends. |
Ballard WMA (quota-only October 15 to March 15, $15.86 1-day permit), Sloughs WMA (Sauerheber and Jenny Hole units), Boatwright WMA. The pheasant quota permit costs $26.43 once drawn, and the sandhill crane drawing $3.
Sources: 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Guide, page 32; Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Guide, page 11; 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Guide, page 5; 2026-27 Hunting & Trapping Guide, page 33. Checked: compared line by line with the source on November 10, 2026.
Kentucky draw questions
When do I apply for a Kentucky deer quota hunt?
September 1 to 30, 2026 online only, $3 per hunt.
Do nonresidents get a share of the Kentucky elk permits?
Yes, but nonresidents may fill no more than 10 percent of each permit pool.
Do I need extra points to hunt Ballard WMA deer?
The 2025 drawing for Ballard WMA hunt number 1 took at least 2 points, or 3 for nonresidents.
How are preference points earned and spent in Kentucky quota draws?
Preference points for unsuccessful applicants; group points averaged; max 10% nonresidents per pool; one non-hunting guest.
Is there a drawing for Kentucky bear?
No bear quota; bear permits are over the counter.
Does Land Between the Lakes use the same drawing?
LBL requires its own LBL hunt permit ($25) with a Kentucky license; LBL deer quota hunts are drawn by computer (301 KAR 2:050); LBL migratory bird hunting closed last Saturday in September – November 30.
How many elk permits does Kentucky give out?
500 for 2026: 140 bull firearm, 164 cow firearm, 170 archery or crossbow and 26 youth-only.
When is the Kentucky elk application period?
For the 2026 hunts it ran August 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026, at $10 per permit type.
The KDFWR guides behind these numbers
Saving the two guide PDFs on a phone before leaving home keeps the area listings and the Telecheck number at hand on a ridge or river bottom with no signal.
Other photos on this page: yrjö jyske (CC BY 2.0); GerryT (CC BY 2.0); Intermountain Region US Forest Service (Public domain); cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0).