"Our commission tries to insure that younger hunters have quality experiences in the field. This special firearm season also serves to help us manage our herd effectively, in that a number of antlerless deer are usually taken by youth hunters."
Adults accompanying a junior hunter are prohibited from carrying a firearm, must remain close enough to the junior hunter at all times to take control of the firearm if necessary, and must comply as well with the hunter orange clothing law.
All deer hunters are required to record and report harvested deer as explained in the 2003-04 Kentucky Fall Hunting Guide book, available from license vendors statewide, on-line at fw.ky.gov, or by calling 800-858-1549 weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The first segment of the Kentucky muzzle-loading deer season is Oct. 18-19. Hunters may take either sex whitetails except in Zone 4 counties during this season. Zone 4 hunting is restricted to antlered deer only during the October muzzle-loading deer season.
Hunters are reminded that anyone hunting any species during an open firearms deer season must comply with the hunter orange clothing law. It is illegal to hunt on private land without consent of the landowner. Hunters may take one antlered deer per season (license year) on private land.
The newly established October shotgun turkey season will run for five days Oct. 25-29 statewide. During this season, a licensed turkey hunter may take one wild turkey of either sex. Hunters who have purchased a Sportsman's License are reminded that this year, the fall shotgun turkey hunting permit is included with the Sportsman's License, and no additional permit is needed.
Harvested turkeys must be recorded and reported in the same manner as deer.
The toll-free phone number to call after taking a deer or turkey is 800-245-4263. Hunters must supply their social-security number and the code number for the county where the animal was taken.
