Quota Hunts

OVERVIEW​

INTRODUCTION

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife conducts quota hunts for deer, pheasant and migratory birds (waterfowl and mourning doves).​

Some hunts are mentored hunts for youth and accompanying adults. Some hunts are open to mobility-impaired hunters only.

Any resident or nonresident may apply for quota hunts. Only the person(s) successfully drawn for quota hunts may hunt. Substitutions are not allowed.

Applicants drawn for quota hunts must purchase applicable licenses and permits to legally hunt during the quota hunts.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for quota hunts: Go online to https://app.fw.ky.gov​/Quota. The non-refundable fee is $3 per hunter to apply.

The application period is September 1-30 only. Hunters may apply for multiple quota hunts for different species at the same time.

Applicants will receive a confirmation number. When the drawing is completed, results will be posted online at My Profile.

Applicants may also call Kentucky Fish and Wildlife weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern time) at 1-800-858-1549 and provide either their confirmation number or order number to find out if they were selected.

QUOTA DEER HUNTS

Deer quota hunts are held on 16 WMAs, five state parks (Dale Hollow Lake, Greenbo Lake, Green River Lake, Kenlake, Kincaid Lake), and Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area. Additionally there are quota deer hunts for mobility-impaired hunters on Green River Lake WMA, Taylorsville Lake WMA and Zilpo-Twin Knobs Campgrounds (on Cave Run Lake).

If applying for a deer quota hunt as a group, each applicant’s preference points will be used to calculate an average point total for the group. A group with a higher preference point average will be randomly selected before a group with a lower preference point average.

A maximum of 10 percent nonresidents can be drawn in each deer quota hunt pool.

Drawn quota hunters may bring one non-hunting person along on their hunt. The non-hunting person is not required to have applied for the quota hunt but must check in and check out with the drawn quota hunter. Participants must abide by hunter orange requirements.

Ground blinds used during gun quota hunts for deer must have a hat or vest made of solid, unbroken hunter orange material attached to the blind so that it is visible from all sides. Hunter orange clothing requirements still apply for any persons inside the blind.

PHEASANT QUOTA HUNTS

Pheasant quota hunts are held on Yellowbank WMA, Green River Lake WMA and Clay WMA. See the “Public Hunting Areas Quick Reference”​ charts for dates. All drawn pheasant hunters must buy (regardless of attendance) and carry while hunting a pheasant quota hunt permit, which is $25 and may be purchased online or from license vendors anytime before the hunt. Permits are not transferrable.

• Pheasant Quota Instructions
• Pheasant Quota Hunt Application
• Pheasant Quota Hunt Drawing Results
  
  

DOVE QUOTA HUNTS

Four new dove quota hunts are being offered this season in addition to the traditional mentor/youth quota dove hunts. Sign-ups for all dove quota hunts open at 8 a.m. (Eastern) Aug. 7 and conclude at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 18. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will continue offering public dove fields open to any legal hunter. This season, however, the department set aside two fields to conduct quota hunts to limit pressure to only those drawn hunters.

The new dove quota hunts are being held at Big Rivers WMA (noon Central to 5 p.m.) in Crittenden County and at the Welch Tract of Kentucky River WMA (1 p.m. Eastern to 6 p.m.) in Henry County. Hunters must be off the field by closing time. A hunt will be held at each location on Sept. 1, the traditional opening day of dove season, and again on Sept. 9. These fields will be closed in between these dates.

Drawn hunters are allowed one guest. The drawn hunter and guest must carry a copy of their selection page. The drawn hunter must be in the field with the guest. All hunters must check in before the hunt and check out after the hunt. Each hunter is allowed 50 shotshells (two boxes). There will be 30 slots for each quota hunt on Kentucky River WMA and 25 slots for each quota hunt on Big Rivers WMA. Quota dove hunters on Kentucky River WMA must only use non-toxic shot.

For more information, please consult the Kentucky Hunting Guide for Dove and Early Migratory Bird guide, or check out the Migratory Bird Hunting pages.

​ ​CHECK RESULTS

DOVE MENTORED HUNTS

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife will hold three Mentor/Youth dove hunts​ this season on Sept. 2: one at Higginson-Henry WMA in Union County, another at the Gilbert Tract of Kentucky River WMA​ in Owen County and a third hunt at a cooperator field in Green County. The rules for the Mentor/Youth dove hunts remain the same. The online application period for these hunts is Aug. 7 through Aug. 18.

For more information, please consult the Kentucky Hunting Guide for Dove and Early Migratory Bird guide, or check out the Migratory Bird Hunting pages. 

​ CHECK RESULTS​​

MOBILITY-IMPAIRED QUOTA HUNTS

Persons with one of the following physical conditions are eligible to apply for a mobility-impaired quota hunt. At check in, drawn hunters must show a WMA Mobility-Impaired Access Permit, available in advance of the hunt date from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.

• Has permanent paralysis of at least one (1) leg;
• Has at least one (1) foot amputated;
• Is permanently confined to a wheelchair or must use crutches, or a walker as a means of support to pursue daily activities;
• Is restricted by a lung disease to such an extent that the person’s forced respiratory expiratory volume for one (1) second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one (1) liter, or the arterial oxygen tension is less than sixty (60) mm/hg on room air at rest;
• Requires portable oxygen;
• Has a cardiac condition to the extent that the person’s functional limitations are classified in severity as Class 3 or Class 4 according to standards set by the American Heart Association; or
• Has a diagnosed disease which creates a severe mobility impairment.
  
  

WATERFOWL QUOTA HUNTS