Hunting Fashion Show Features Accessories and Apparel

Park City, Kentucky - For many women, finding comfortable and stylish clothing for hunting and shooting can be quite a challenge. Long ago, most of us have settled for wearing men’s hunting apparel — leaving much to be desired in fit and function. Saturday night at the Women’s Outdoor Adventure, ladies were treated to a special fashion show featuring designs from the industry’s top brands.

Prois Hunting Apparel hit the runway first. Modeled by WOA personnel, the gear was a hit thanks to the camp patterns, flattering fit and comfort creating effectiveness. Prois representative Hayden was on hand to provide details on the female-focused garments and gear; each designed to withstand and overcome the rain, cold and snow.

Switching gears, the models appeared next in a beautiful collection of clothing from Good Shot Design. Aimed at providing females with the best in quality and style, the tweed-based outfits from Good Shot Design are made specifically to go straight from the field to the office. Daryl, our man from Good Shot, made sure to highlight the attention put into each piece … from the trim to the satin lining.

Every look was paired with matching jewelry from The Elegant Huntress. Handcrafted by owner/creator Carol Smeltzer, each piece is a one-of-a-kind treasure designed to match the colors of your camouflage. Whether hunting in the woods, on the prairie, in the snow or in the mountains, jewelry from Elegant Huntress ensures you’ll look good no matter what the attire.

So remember, ladies – there are designers out there making hunting and shooting apparel (and accessories) with you in mind. It’s time to stop settling for the also rans and start thinking about the manufacturers who are thinking about you.

To see more of the dazzling items that wowed the crowd, check out the fashion show slideshow after the jump.

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Winners of Kentucky Elk Hunt Lottery Announced Today

Results of the Kentucky elk hunt lottery drawing are now available online at fw.ky.gov.

Final results show that 33,675 people submitted an application for one of the 905 quota hunt permits to be issued by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources this year.

Kentucky’s hunt of a lifetime drew interest from hunters across the country, including three from Hawaii, 25 from Alaska, 24 from Maine and 59 from California. Hunters could apply for up to two permits. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife received 59,672 permit applications, meaning the majority of hunters applied more than once.

The Kentucky Commonwealth Office of Technology conducted the drawing Thursday, May 3, using a random computer program.

Hunters may visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website to check if they were drawn. Hunters must either enter their social security number, or their birth date and the 19-digit number they received while applying. Applicants should enter the information carefully to make sure they do not put in an incorrect number.

Drawn hunters also will receive a notification letter from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Hunters have until July 1 to apply online for an Elk Hunting Unit (EHU). Kentucky’s elk hunting zone is subdivided into units to help spread hunting pressure. A second drawing is conducted to determine an individual’s hunting unit.

Hunters should visit the department website for more information regarding hunting unit selection. The website also contains maps and additional information on public hunting lands within the elk zone.

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Kentucky Elk Hunt Application Deadline Extended Through May 2

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is extending the deadline to apply for a 2012 Kentucky elk hunting opportunity through Wednesday, May 2, because of a Monday night electrical storm that interrupted the state’s ability to process online application payments. Applications will now close at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern time) Wednesday, May 2.

The application period normally runs from Dec. 1 through midnight, April 30. However, state regulation allows for this period to be extended “if technical difficulties with the application system prevent applications from being accepted for one (1) or more days during the application period.”

Hunters may apply only online at the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website –  fw.ky.gov.

E-Pay, the state’s payment processing application, went down at about 8:45 p.m. on Monday, April 30, leaving approximately 700 persons in the process of applying with no way to complete their transaction.

The elk lottery drawing for an elk permit is open to residents and non-residents.

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Deadline to Apply for a Kentucky Elk Hunt is Apr. 30

The deadline to apply for Kentucky’s hunt of a lifetime is fast approaching.

Hunters have until midnight (Eastern time) April 30 to apply for a Kentucky elk hunt. The quota hunt drawing for an elk permit is open to residents and non-residents.

Kentucky will issue 900 general quota hunt permits this year, an increase of 100 permits over the 2011 season. Kentucky’s elk herd is expected to surpass 10,000 animals by fall.

While there’s no sure thing in hunting, Kentucky does offer phenomenal odds for hunters.

“Kentucky’s success rate for hunters is higher than you’ll see for wild elk practically anywhere else,” noted Tina Brunjes, deer and elk program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “If hunters put in a little effort, they will see elk. If they put in a little more effort, they will take an elk.”

Last year, 93 percent of bull elk hunters using a firearm were successful. Even when using more challenging archery equipment, 68 percent of hunters took their bull. Thirty-seven percent of cow elk archery hunters were successful in 2011, but the success rate climbed to 73 percent for cow elk hunters using a firearm.

Brunjes said 2012 will be a superb season for hunters wishing to put the highest quality meat on their family’s table. “We had no real winter and no shortage of groceries for the animals,” she said. “We should be set up for big, healthy animals coming into the hunting season and a lot of them.”

Kentucky has more elk than all the states east of the Mississippi River combined. The state’s 16-county elk restoration zone encompasses more than 4 million acres, nearly twice the size of Yellowstone National Park. More than half a million acres are open to public hunting for elk in Kentucky.

Hunters can select from among four different elk permits: Firearms bull, archery bull, firearms cow elk or archery cow elk. While hunters may apply for two different permits, they can only be drawn for one of those permits. Each application costs $10.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife will issue 135 permits to hunt a bull with a firearm through the general quota hunt this season. The department will issue 90 bull archery permits, 265 cow elk archery permits and 410 cow elk gun permits. A separate youth-only drawing will allow five young hunters to take a bull or a cow.

Demand is highest for the bull firearms hunts. Cow elk archery hunts are in the lowest demand, meaning this permit offers a hunter the best odds of being drawn.

Hunters may only apply online. Visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov for more information and to apply.

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New Wildlife Management Area in Union County Kentucky to Open for Spring Turkey Season

Hunters have a new area in western Kentucky to pursue wild turkeys this spring.

The 2,500-acre Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area and State Forest in Union County opened to the public today. This unique wildlife management area (WMA) and state forest is located at the Tradewater River’s confluence with the Ohio River near Sturgis.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources jointly manages this new area with the Kentucky Division of Forestry.

“Hunters, anglers and people who appreciate unique areas with a diversity of wildlife will make this a destination location,” said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jon Gassett. “People will enjoy visiting Big Rivers for generations to come.”

Kentucky’s youth-only turkey season is April 7-8. The statewide wild turkey season runs from April 14 through May 6.

Hunters and visitors to the area will find upland hardwoods, bottomlands and an uncommon forest type in Kentucky: post oak flatwoods. Big Rivers, which was previously managed as a sustainable forest, is primarily wooded with a good number of mast-producing trees. Approximately 600 acres of the open fields will be planted with corn and soybean crops; several wildlife habitat improvement projects will also begin this year on the property.

Big Rivers is an important area for federally-endangered bats and mussels. Migrating waterfowl use the area when coming through the state. Hunters should note the area includes excellent numbers of deer, squirrels and turkey.

“The turkey numbers are great; the toms are out in the fields strutting now,” said Wildlife Regional Coordinator Scott Harp. “It should be an awesome experience for the kids during youth-only season.”

Deer hunting on the property will include the statewide archery and crossbow seasons, youth firearms seasons and a quota firearms hunt on the weekend of Nov.10-11. Furbearer trapping will be by permit only. Big Rivers will be open under statewide seasons for all other species.

Access to the area is available off KY 1508 in the northern section of the WMA. Locust Lick Road and Lover’s Lane Road branch off of KY 1508 and lead to the interior of the area. Access beyond gated areas on these roads is by foot only.

Visitors also have the option to access southern portions of the WMA via boat on the Tradewater and Ohio rivers. The WMA has a boat ramp located in the northeast corner of the property off Tradewater Road. A second Voluntary Public Access ramp is located approximately 200 yards east of the first ramp.

Visitors can also use another ramp located at the end of KY 1508. This provides access to the Ohio River just upstream of the property.

Some areas of the property are steep. No area on the property is more than a mile away from an access point, either along a road or by the river. A map of the area is available online at fw.ky.gov.

In addition to hunting, Big Rivers will provide public recreational opportunities for fishing, hiking, canoeing and wildlife viewing.

The entire property was purchased in early 2009 by an investment fund managed by The Forestland Group with cooperation from The Conservation Fund and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. The Forestland Group’s investment fund purchase enabled Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and the Kentucky Division of Forestry to acquire the property.

State Forestry and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife assembled nearly $6.7 million to purchase the property. Kentucky’s congressional delegation helped secure $3.25 million in federal money through the U.S. Forest Service’s Forest Legacy Program, the most significant share of the project.

The necessary non-federal matching funds were supplied from a variety of sources. The Nature Conservancy, one of the nation’s largest environmental non-profit organizations, assisted in obtaining funds from Duke Energy and the Crounse Corporation.

Duke Energy, a generator and distributor of electric power and natural gas, provided $1.75 million. Its funds became available as part of a consent decree requiring it to fund supplemental environmental mitigation projects. Crounse Corporation, an industry leader in river transportation, contributed $50,000.

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Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission Proposes Fishing and Bear Season Changes

The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission proposed several modifications to hunting and fishing regulations at its March quarterly meeting.

The commission recommends all hunting, fishing and boating regulations for approval by the General Assembly and approves all expenditures by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. All recommendations must be approved by legislators before they become law.

In wildlife-related business, the commission proposed to the General Assembly to extend black bear gun and archery/crossbow season from two days to three days. The proposed 2012 bear season would run from Dec. 8 through Dec. 10. In addition, Bell County would be added to the Bear Zone for the 2012 season. The harvest quota of 10 bears would remain unchanged.

Commissioners also voted to establish three separate seasons to allow hunters to chase bears with dogs. One of the seasons would allow hunters to take bears using dogs.

Commission members proposed the establishment of three zones in eastern Kentucky totaling nearly 109,000 acres for chasing bears. The East Bear Chase/Take Zone would encompass 19,584 acres in Letcher County while the Central Bear Chase/Take Zone would consist of 45,263 acres in Harlan County. The West Bear Chase/Take Zone would include 43,660 acres of public land within Bell County.

Groups could not exceed five hunters and eight dogs. Chase hours would be from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. The first season proposed by commission members is an early chase-only season for black bears from Aug. 1 to Aug. 31. This season would only be open to residents who purchase an online $30 bear chase permit (youth bear permits are $10).

The commission also recommended a dog season for bear harvest that will only occur if the existing quota of 10 bears per season is not met. If the quota of 10 bears is met, this middle season would be a chase-only season. This proposed chase/take season would be open only to Kentucky residents who purchase an online bear chase permit for that year. The season would open the Monday after gun and archery season for bears concludes and continue for five days. The 2012 season would open Dec. 17 and close Dec. 21. The commission also proposed a 5-day late chase-only season for bears. In 2012, this season would open Dec. 24 and continue through Dec. 28.

In other wildlife-related business, the commission proposed allowing more flexibility to train bird dogs outside the current Dog Training Area Permit System.

Pen-reared bobwhite quail could be harvested for the purpose of dog training on private lands from August 15 through May 15. Individuals must be licensed and fill out an application to participate. They must possess proof of the sale/ownership of the birds or a captive wildlife permit for pen-reared bobwhite quail and make sure that the training area is free of wild quail. The pen-reared bobwhite quail must be banded.

We want to promote quail hunting and dog training and at the same time protect the wild resource, said Karen Waldrop, director of wildlife for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.

The commission also recommended increasing the number of pen-reared birds an individual may possess for personal use without having a non-commercial captive wildlife permit.

In the final wildlife-related business, the commission proposed to hold a pheasant quota hunt on 6,775-acre Yellowbank WMA in Breckinridge County. This hunt is in addition to the quota pheasant hunts on Green River Lake WMA and Clay WMA.

In fisheries-related business, the commission recommended lowering the minimum size limit for striped bass on Lake Cumberland from 24 inches to 22 inches. This regulation could take effect in early summer if approved by legislators.

Commission members also proposed several additional changes to fisheries regulations. If approved by legislators, the changes would take effect on March 1, 2013. These include:

• A protective slot limit for smallmouth and largemouth bass in Meade Countys Otter Creek. Anglers would have to immediately release all smallmouth and largemouth bass measuring between 12 to 16 inches. Anglers could keep six smallmouth or largemouth bass daily, but only one could be longer than 16 inches.
• A 12-inch minimum size limit on channel catfish caught from Reformatory Lake in Oldham County, McNeely Lake in Jefferson County and Lake Reba in Madison County. A 5-year research project will commence on these lakes to determine if the minimum size limit on these lakes results in more and bigger channel catfish.
• Allowing boaters to use gasoline boat motors at idle speed only on Goose, Island and South lakes on the Peabody Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Boaters currently may only use electric trolling motors.

The next regular Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting will be held at 8 a.m. (Eastern time), Friday, June 1, at #1 Sportsmans Lane off U.S. 60 in Frankfort. Persons interested in addressing the commission must notify the Kentucky Fish and Wildlifes commissioners office in writing at least 30 days in advance to be considered for placement on the meeting agenda. People who are hearing impaired and plan to attend the meeting should contact Kentucky Fish and Wildlife at least 10 days in advance and the agency will provide a translator. To request to address the commission, write to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, Commissioner Dr. Jon Gassett, #1 Sportsmans Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky, 40601.

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Bluegrass Quail Hunters Form New Quail Forever Chapter in Somerset, Kentucky

Quail hunters and conservationists in Somerset, Kentucky, have formed the state’s newest Quail Forever chapter. The Cumberland Quail Forever chapter is committed to creating and improving habitat for bobwhite quail and other wildlife, and providing youth an opportunity to experience the outdoors.

Quail Forever is the quail conservation division of the national, 130,000-member strong Pheasants Forever organization. Pheasants Forever launched Quail Forever in 2005 to address the continuing loss of habitat suitable for quail and the subsequent quail population decline.

The chapter was started by lifelong friends, Doug Whitaker and Rob Edwards, who found their way back to Somerset, Kentucky, after living in various parts of the country. From witnessing the declining Kentucky bobwhite quail population, the friends decided to form a Quail Forever chapter to protect their favorite game bird.  Less than a month old, the chapter has already started working with area landowners to promote habitat management. The chapter also participated in managed upland hunts to cultivate awareness for the chapter and gather community support for Quail Forever’s grassroots habitat efforts.

“If we want to see proper quail numbers, we have to have proper quail habitat,” says Doug Whitaker, the Cumberland chapter’s newly elected president and Somerset native, “Quail hunting has always been a part of Kentucky’s culture, but there has been a drop in bird populations in recent years due to habitat loss.  However, the decrease in bird numbers has led to a significant increase in outdoor enthusiasts’ awareness of what is happening to this valuable resource, so we have a strong support base to assist in quail restoration.” Whitaker went on to say that the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources’ (KDFWR) upland efforts have been a large factor of this increased awareness, and that the chapter looks forward to partnering with KDFWR in habitat restoration and youth education projects.

“Quail hunters in and around Somerset have something to look forward to with the Cumberland chapter starting,” says Brian Nentrup, Quail Forever Regional Representative for Kentucky, “Doug and the other chapter officers are some of the most committed conservationist I have met, and I know they will accomplish great things for their community and Kentucky’s outdoor culture.”

“Traditionally, upland hunting has come second to other outdoor activities in Kentucky,” says Whitaker, “But now we are seeing that people are specifically becoming bird hunters. People are realizing the draw of this sport, and we look forward to passing this tradition along to another generation of Kentucky outdoorsmen and women.”

The Cumberland Quail Forever chapter

• The Cumberland chapter has also elected Rob Edwards of Lexington as Vice President/Banquet Chair, Josh Edwards of Somerset as Treasurer, Billy Dick of Eubank as Habitat Chair, and Larry Mounce of Somerset as Youth Education Chair.
• The chapter’s annual banquet has been set for October 6, 2012. Location and time TBA.
• For more information about the chapter, including upcoming meetings and events, please contact Doug Whitaker at (606) 425-7761 / Email Doug.

For more information on “The Habitat Organization” in Kentucky, contact Brian Nentrup at (317) 835-9705 / Email Brian. For all other information, contact Rehan Nana, Public Relations Specialist for Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, at (651) 209-4973 / Email Rehan.

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2011-2012 Kentucky Deer Season Ends With Fourth Largest Overall Harvest

Kentucky’s 2011-12 white-tailed deer season ended Jan. 16 with hunters posting the fourth largest overall harvest ever recorded.

“The 119,656 deer taken was the highest total since the 2008-2009 season,” said Tina Brunjes, deer program coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “Good hunting weather may have been a contributing factor to the excellent harvest during the last two months of the season.”

Hunters bagged a record harvest of 12,989 in December, which surpassed the previous record by 4,261 set in December 2004. “Muzzleloader hunters were responsible for that big jump, checking in 10,536 deer during their nine-day late season that ran Dec. 10-18,” said Brunjes.

January’s harvest was excellent, too with hunters telechecking 2,628 deer – just 73 short of last year’s record harvest for the month.

Overall, hunters reported taking 55 percent male deer and 45 percent female deer. Modern firearms hunters bagged 83,357 deer, muzzleloader hunters 15,161 deer and archers 18,169 deer.

“For the last 10 years our harvest has gone up and down a bit, but overall the trend is stable,” said Brunjes. “That’s a good sign.”

This past season, Kentucky had 90,247 successful deer hunters, but 77 percent (69,776 hunters) took just one deer. “Seventeen percent of our successful deer hunters (15,118 hunters) took two deer, and six percent of our successful deer hunters (5,353 hunters) took three or more deer,” said Brunjes.

By zone, hunters harvested 52,664 deer in the 35 Zone 1 counties; 30,160 deer in the 27 Zone 2 counties; 25,324 deer in the 33 Zone 3 counties and 11,505 in the 25 Zone 4 counties.

The bulk of Kentucky counties are in deer management Zones 2 and 3. Brunjes said there’s still work to be done in the Zone 1 counties, where deer densities are too high, and in the Zone 4 counties, where deer densities are below target levels.

Archers and muzzleloader hunters took 61 percent antlerless deer. Modern gun hunters bagged the lowest percent of antlerless deer 38 percent.

Crossbow hunters posted the highest percent of antlerless deer in the harvest, 63 percent. They also established a new harvest record in the process. Crossbow hunters bagged 1,969 deer, which represents about 1.6 percent of the overall harvest.

For the third consecutive season, archers posted a harvest record by taking 18,169 deer, about 15 percent of the total harvest.

“Overall, the hunters we have are being more successful,” said Brunjes. “We hope that all this success will help them in mentoring new hunters

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Cooperative Dove Field Program Enrollment Underway in Kentucky

Kentucky farmers can help carry on the hunting tradition and earn much-needed extra cash by enrolling in the Cooperative Dove Field Program. Enrollment is currently underway and will continue until mid-March.

“Under the new Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, increased payments are available for 2012,” said Rocky Pritchert, migratory bird biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

The Cooperative Dove Field Program, which began in 1998, can generate up to $10,000 for a landowner who leases a field on their land for public dove hunting.

“We will accept fields ranging from 6 to 30 acres with additional payments for buffers around fields. Fields generally run from 15 to 30 acres in size,” Pritchert said. “But, we encourage anyone interested to apply.”

Farmers may plant an idle field to sunflowers, millet or another acceptable crop for a public dove field by working with a Kentucky Fish and Wildlife private lands biologist and following some simple guidelines.

Payment amounts depend on the number of acres enrolled, crop type and fulfillment of the plot management agreement with Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.

To get the process started, landowners must contact their Kentucky Fish and Wildlife private lands biologist or Natural Resources Conservation Service liaison. For a listing of biologists, log onto Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s homepage at fw.ky.gov. Click on the “Hunting, Trapping and Wildlife” tab and then on “Contact Us.” Property owners may also call 1-800-858-1549 for more information.

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Trapping is the Most Effective Way to Control Wild Pigs in Kentucky

In Kentucky, wild pigs may be hunted with firearms year-round with no daily bag limit, but wildlife biologists believe trapping is the most effective way to control the feral pests.

“In established populations, hunting often educates more pigs than it removes,” said Chad Soard, a wildlife biologist with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “Research has shown that relying too heavily on hunting will not control pigs and may hasten their spread.”

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife is working with landowners to help them deal with the destructive, unwanted swine which pose serious ecological, economic and disease threats.

“We’ve had verified sightings of wild pigs in 37 counties,” said Soard. “For many of these sightings there’s no evidence of established populations. They’re just isolated occurrences of free-ranging pigs living independent of humans.”

Soard said he gets regular reports from landowners about their ongoing efforts to remove pigs from areas of Kentucky with established populations. “You have to adapt your strategy to completely eradicate wild pigs,” said Soard. “You have to understand the species. Shooting them on sight isn’t always best.”

Wild pigs live in maternal groups called sounders, usually made up of several related sows with their offspring. Several maternal groups may come together to forage so there could be as many as 20 to 30 pigs on a food source.

Mature boars tend to be solitary and don’t tolerate the presence of other males.

Hunting in general, and sport hunting in particular, is ineffective for controlling or eradicating wild pigs because boars are targeted.

“The removal of all age classes concurrently is critical to any successful control or eradication plan,” said Soard. “Reproduction often outpaces the most intensive hunting efforts. Juveniles can breed at six months so you have to concentrate your efforts on maternal groups, continually trapping over a long period of time.”

Shooting into a group of pigs forces them to search for sanctuary. “You’re going to spread out the population and push them onto neighboring properties,” said Soard.

“Wild pigs are not prone to wandering. They’re not overly territorial, except when boars are fighting over breeding rights,” said Soard. “Populations tend to stay in a small area unless they are pressured.”

Wild pigs make their presence known by the sign they leave such as rooted up areas in woods and fields and wallows around small ponds or wet areas.

Trail cameras are a good way to assess wild pig numbers and find suitable trap sites. “You can’t just trap anywhere; you have to locate the trap on fresh sign, where the pigs are actively feeding or traveling,” said Soard.

Large box traps can be used to catch wild pigs, but corral traps are better. “They allow non-targeted species to escape and are capable of catching entire maternal groups of pigs at one time,” said Soard.

Corral traps are made from wire and typically have a swinging, saloon-style gate which lets the pigs enter, but blocks them from leaving the trap. A good strategy is to establish the trap site at an area where pigs can feed unmolested. Then, monitor the site with trail cameras and set the trap when the largest numbers of pigs are feeding at the site.

In Kentucky, it is illegal to possess wild pigs. Any captured pig must be killed at the trap site. They may not be removed from traps alive.

Corral traps are commercially available or can be homemade. “We have a cost share program to help landowners offset the cost of the traps,” said Soard.

Winter is the best time to trap. Food is in short supply and pigs readily come to bait piles. The best trap sites for pigs are located along travel routes between bedding and feeding sites.

Trapping works. “The staff at Bernheim Forest corral trapped steadily for three years and reduced the population to the point where damage and observations have ceased,” said Soard. “You can’t trap for a while and quit. You’ve got to stick with it.”

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