Kentucky Elk Zone

Elk seasons and permits in the zone

Bull firearm hunters are assigned one of two five-day weeks, September 26 to September 30, 2026 or October 3 to October 7, 2026; cow firearm hunters get November 28 to December 2, 2026 or January 2 to January 6, 2027. Archery and crossbow permits are good September 12 to September 25, 2026 and December 5 to December 11, 2026, and youth permits are valid in all of those seasons. Each hunter may take one elk per license year, whatever the permit type.

From guide p. 20, guide p. 21, the Season Dates app and the 2026-27 fee table; checked November 10, 2026.

Elk outside the Kentucky elk zone

The other 104 counties are outside the elk zone. There, elk follow deer season dates and methods; a hunter needs an annual hunting license plus the Out-of-Zone Elk Permit ($31.71 resident, $422.80 nonresident) and may take one elk of either sex per license year, which does not count in the deer bag. No deer permit is needed for it.

The Harvest Results app shows elk checked outside the zone in Clinton, Laurel, Lincoln, Monroe, Pulaski, Wayne and Wolfe counties in the ten seasons shown.

Baiting is illegal inside the 16-county elk zone, including where bait was present within 30 days of removal, and on public land; outside the zone the deer baiting rules apply.

From Guide p. 23, Guide p. 10 and the Harvest Results app; checked November 10, 2026.

Elk hunting units and public land

41 public areas touch the elk zone. The unit list shows which areas reach each hunting unit; an area can cross several. Boone's Ridge viewing area closed to all elk hunting.

Hunter orange is required in daylight for all hunters in the elk zone during the firearm elk seasons, and every quota elk hunter files a post-season survey by the last day of February.

• Elk Hunting Unit 2

  Asher Hunting Access Area, Boone Forestlands WMA, Cranks Creek WMA, Cumberland Forest WMA, Daniel Boone National Forest, Daniel Boone National Forest – Redbird Ranger District, Elk Forest WMA, Fortner-Davis WMA, Kentucky Ridge Forest WMA, Kentucky Ridge State Forest, Martins Fork Lake WMA, Martins Fork WMA and State Natural Area, Pocahontas WMA, Shillalah Creek WMA, Stone Mountain WMA and State Natural Area

• Elk Hunting Unit 3

  Asher Hunting Access Area, Betterment Wildlife Hunting Access Area, Boone Forestlands WMA, Buckhorn Lake WMA, Cumberland Forest WMA, Daniel Boone National Forest, Daniel Boone National Forest – Redbird Ranger District, Elk Forest WMA, Hoskins WMA, Kentenia State Forest, Redbird WMA, Wells Hunting Access Area

• Elk Hunting Unit 4

  Betterment Wildlife Hunting Access Area, Boone Forestlands WMA, Buckhorn Lake WMA, Burchell-Beech Creek WMA, Daniel Boone National Forest, Daniel Boone National Forest – Redbird Ranger District, Paul Van Booven WMA, Robinson Forest WMA, Wells Hunting Access Area

• Elk Hunting Unit 5

  Betterment Wildlife Hunting Access Area, Carr Creek Lake WMA, Elk Horn Coal Hunting Access Area, Hensley-Pine Mountain WMA, Jefferson National Forest, RH Group WMA, Wells Hunting Access Area

• Elk Hunting Unit 6

  Betterment Wildlife Hunting Access Area, Dewey Lake WMA, Elk Horn Coal Hunting Access Area, Jenny Wiley State Resort Park, Legacy WMA, Paintsville Lake WMA, Pocahontas WMA, RH Group WMA

• Elk Hunting Unit 7

  Betterment Wildlife Hunting Access Area, Continental Hunting Access Area, Elk Horn Coal Hunting Access Area, Fishtrap Lake WMA, Jefferson National Forest, Legacy WMA, Pocahontas WMA, RH Group WMA

• Elk Management Zone Unit 1 (No Hunting)

  Beaver Creek WMA, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Daniel Boone National Forest, Daniel Boone National Forest – London Ranger District, Daniel Boone National Forest – Stearns Ranger District, Lake Cumberland WMA, RH Group WMA, University of the Cumberlands WMA

Unit boundaries are an incorporated map ("Elk Hunting Units" 2024).

Areas and units from lands.json and the KDFWR Elk Hunting Units layer; orange from Guide p. 10; survey from Guide p. 8; checked November 10, 2026.

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