Elk Hunting D. Boone Nat. Forest.

[tucoblue]

Getting all excited about the possibility of drawing a permit. The odds are pretty steep but it doesn't hurt to anticipate an elk hunt does it?

Would a hunter plan to hike back into the forest and set up a base camp to hunt from or is the D.B Nat. Forest accessible by many roads that would allow hunting by just hiking in from your truck each morning?

[LEO]

The Daniel Boone N.F. is a heavily roaded area and most of the hunters just stay in a motel or set up a roadside camp and walk to the hunting area each day.  Most of the elk hunting occurs in areas that are readily accessable by vehicle.  There really isn't an opportunity for a true pack in hunt here like you would do in some of the more remote western areas. Hope this helps

[Casull]

I haven't actually heard of any elk in the national forest.  The original releases were made much further east (close to a hundred miles east).  I could be wrong, but I have deer hunted Eastern KY several times in the last seven or eight years (between Pikeville and Lexington) and have not heard of any elk that far west.

[KYBOY]

I haven't actually heard of any elk in the national forest.  The original releases were made much further east (close to a hundred miles east).  I could be wrong, but I have deer hunted Eastern KY several times in the last seven or eight years (between Pikeville and Lexington) and have not heard of any elk that far west.

I live pretty close to Pikeville, in Floyd county. The majority of the elk were indeed realeased  farther east than D.Boone forest. You can look at the Ky depts website and see a map of the elk restoration zone.

[GregP42]

They might have been released that far away, but dad and I have spotted a cow down at Cumberland lake area for the last couple of years. So they are wondering all over the place.

Greg

[.308 Win.]

  That's good news that they're traveling that far away from the original core area in Knott and Perry counties, along with some others. I look forward to a day when we are able to hunt them here without a drawing of some kind.  I'm 46 so maybe not in my lifetime but my son and grandchildren could have an opportunity I didn't have.  My wife and I went to her father's home place in Knott County and went up on the Starfire area.  It is a strip mine reclamation area and the place was pretty well loaded with them which was encouraging. As far as the Daniel Boone National Forest is concerned, if you are unfamiliar with the area, be careful.  There are places where you can walk right off a cliff in the dark.  The deer there aren't as thickly populated as they are in the Bluegrass and the knob areas but the ones you find will likely be older age class deer. There are places in there you can go and not see anyone for days.  Glad we still have places like this.   

[darat100]

308

You can hunt them without a drawing.  You only need to be drawn in the counties in the restoration area.  In the surrounding counties you can just purchase an elk permit according to the regulations.  I saw a cow in pulaski county last year visiting my wifes family.  I am sure the elk are few and far between when you get that far away, but if you really want to go after them you can.

[.308 Win.]

darat100

I did not know that.  I know a fellow who lives in Menifee County whose land I can hunt on but it is still a real shot in the dark for them to be there.  I may just do it, though. Appreciate the information.