Saturday marks the first day for deer hunting season in the Commonwealth. Kentuckians can participate in archery through January, with the season opening up to crossbows Sept. 16, muzzleloaders Oct. 21 - 22 and Dec. 9 - 17 and modern guns Nov. 11 - 26.
Around 300,000 Kentuckians, and thousands more out-of-staters, take part in deer hunting. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources says it brings in $550 million dollars in revenue each year.
Joe McDermott is the department’s acting deer program coordinator. He says deer hunting is important to the state because of the lack of natural predators that help control the population.
“You won't have regeneration of new plants that come up after the canopy has been removed, there will be non-desirable species that are left,” McDermott said. “So they can really overpopulate themselves.”
McDermott says one tip for new hunters is scouting deer around edge habitats.
“An edge habitat is like where one type (of habitat) meets another,” McDermott said. “So say, where row crops meet timber, provides a little variety for them, and they like that a lot better.”
Those born in 1975 or later should also make sure to have valid proof of hunter education certification alongside their annual hunting license and statewide deer permit, though another free temporary permit for new hunters without the certification is also available.
McDermott says information about licensing and preparations for this hunting season is available on the department’s website and their call-in info center at 1-800-858-1549.
