ZONES, RIGHT, AND THAT HAS CHANGED, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD FOUR FOR QUITE SOMETIME.

>> THIS WEEK ON KENTUCKY AFIELD... WE WENT LIVE ON FACEBOOK TO ANSWER ALL OF YOUR FALL HUNTING QUESTIONS AND WE ARE BRINGING YOU THOSE ANSWERS RIGHT NOW.

IT'S ALL NEXT ON KENTUCKY AFIELD... >> THAT'S A PRETTY FISH.

>> BEAUTIFUL.

>> THIS POND IS PLUM FLOATED WITH FROGS.

>> THEY'RE EVERYWHERE IN HERE.

(GUNSHOT) >> THIS IS A GOOD FISH RIGHT HERE.

A REALLY GOOD FISH.

>> COME HERE, GIRL.

>> THAT'S A BIG RABBIT.

>> NICE JOB.

>> YES!

MY FIRST MUSKY.

>> LEO!

♪ WE GOT A KEEPER!

>> THERE GOES.

BOOM!

>> WOW, THAT HAPPENED FAST.

>> HELLO, WELCOME TO KENTUCKY AFIELD.

I'M YOUR HOST CHAD MILES.

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN TO OUR ANNUAL HUNTING AND FISHING SHOW.

I HAVE A PANEL OF EXPERTS TO ANSWER ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

WE ARE SEA SALADO WILDLIFE.

I I HAVE JOHN, WE ALSO HAVE CODY RHODEN, SMALL GAME BIOLOGIST.

CODY RHODEN, RIGHT?

>> NO PROBLEM.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THIS IS YOUR SECOND TIME DOING THIS SHOW.

>> EXCITED TO BE HERE.

>> ANSWERING OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT QUESTIONS, OFFICER ROBIN MARTINEZ WORKING WASHINGTON COUNTY AND OTHER AREAS OF THE 4th DISTRICT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> TODAY IS YOUR FIRST TIME ON THE CALL-IN SHOW.

WE ARE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU.

COMING UP FIRST, WE HAVE, LET'S SEE, QUESTION NUMBER ONE FROM DAVID SIZEMORE, SO MUCH EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO IMPROVE BIG GAME HUNTING, HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT IS BEING DONE TO IMPROVE HABITAT FOR RABBIT AND QUAIL.

CODEY?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THANKS FOR ASKING IT.

IN THE SMALL GAME PROGRAM, WE TAKE CARE OF THE RABBIT, QUAIL AND SQUIRREL IN THE STATE.

MAKING MORE HABITAT FOR THE ANIMALS TO BE ABLE TO EXIST IN MORE USEABLE SPACE ACROSS THE STATE.

ONE EXCITE THING WE HAVE GOING ON, OUR FOCUS AREAS ACROSS THE STATE WHICH WE ARE WORKING WITH PRIVATE WORKING LANDS TO TRY TO GET THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT FARM OR RAISE LIVESTOCK TO DO SOME SMALL CHANGES TO THEIR OPERATIONS TO MAKE SOME OF THEIR LANDSCAPE MORE USEABLE FOR SMALL GAME LIKE RABBITS AND QUAIL.

AND YOU KNOW, SMALL GAME USED TO BE KIND OF A BYPRODUCT OF FARMING.

IF WE THINK ABOUT THE 60s AND 70s, THE TIMES OF GREATEST ABUNDANCE FOR SOME OF THESE ANIMALS.

IT WAS A DIRECT RESULT FROM THE WAY PEOPLE USE THE LAND.

AND SO ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING IN THE SMALL GAME PROGRAM IS TRYING TO GET IN AND TALK TO PRIVATE LAND OWNERS AND TRY TO GET THEM TO DO SOME THINGS A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY TO TRY TO TWEAK SOME OF THEIR OPERATIONS, TO GET QUAIL AND RABBITS BACK TO THE NUMBERS THAT THEY WERE HISTORICALLY.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING.

WE HAVE SMALL GAME BIOLOGISTS ON ALL THE TIME AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY SINGLE TIME WE ARE GOING TO GET A QUESTION ABOUT WHAT CAN I DO TO SEE MORE WILDLIFE ON OUR PROPERTY.

AND ALMOST EVERY SINGLE TIME, THE ANSWER IS DO LESS.

MOW LESS, SPRAY LESS,.

>> 100%.

>> IT'S NOT-- YOUR FARM IS NOT BAD IF IT HAS A LITTLE WEED AS ROUND THE FENCE POST.

LET IT GROW UP, LET IT GROW A LITTLE WIDER, DO A LITTLE LESS WORK ON THE PROPERTY AND WILL YOU SEE MORE BENEFITS OF WILDLIFE.

>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT F. WE THINK BACK TO SMALL BECAME GAME WHEN THEY'RE MOST ABUNDANT, WHEN THE BUSH HOG DIDN'T EXIST, WHEN PEOPLE DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME TORE TECHNOLOGY REALLY TO CLEAR OUT EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THEIR FARM AND IT COMES BACK TO JUST GENERATING MORE USEABLE SPACE.

SO WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, PREMIER QUAIL OR RABBIT HABITAT OUT THERE.

WE JUST NEED MORE MARGINAL HABITAT FOR THE ANIMALS, MORE COVER FOR THEM TO EXIST IN.

AND WE ARE CONFIDENT IF WE CAN GET PEOPLE TO CHANGE HOW THEY USE AND VIEW THE LAND, WE WILL BE IN A MUCH BETTER PLACE AS FAR AS SMALL GAME GOES AND A LOT OF OTHER GROUND NESTING SONG BIRDS AND THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES.

>> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM JOHN MERNER.

HOW LONG DO FAWNS STAY WITH THEIR DOES?

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION BECAUSE THE HUNTING SEASON IS COMING UP SOON.

HOW LONG DO THEY STAY WITH THEM VERSUS HOW LONG THEY'RE DEPENDENT ON THEM IS A MUCH DIFFERENT QUESTION.

LET'S ANSWER BOTH QUESTIONS.

>> I WAS GOING TO START, THE DEPENDENCE QUESTION, WE HAD A GREAT DEER RESEARCH PROJECT A COUPLE YEARS AGO THAT WE DID WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY AND WE CAUGHT DOES IN THE WINTER, WE CAUGHT THE FAWNS THAT THEY HAD IN MAY AND JUNE AND HAD ALL THEM RADIO COLLARED.

WE FEW WHERE MOM AND THE FAWN WERE.

WE HAD MULTIPLE FAWNS-- MOM MIGHT GET HIT ON THE ROAD, A COUPLE DIFFERENT REASONS, WHERE THOSE DOES WERE DYING IN JUNE AND JULY AND THOSE FAWNS LIVED, YOU KNOW, END OF THE SEASON WE TRACKED THEM AS LONG AS WE COULD UNTIL THEIR COLLARS DIED.

SO DEPENDENCY IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT USUALLY THE GENERAL RULE IS THEY GET TO JULY, AUGUST, THEY'RE FINE ON THEIR OWN.

DEFINITELY AS WE GET INTO SEPTEMBER AND ARCHERY SEASON, THOSE FAWNS ARE COMPLETELY ABLE TO LIVE ON THEIR OWN AT THAT POINT.

>> NOW IF A DOE, SOMETHING HAPPENS TO A DOE, DISEASE, PREDAYS, WHATEVER, IT HAS A COUPLE OF FAWNS, ANOTHER FEMALE COULD RAISE THOSE.

DOES THAT HAPPEN WITH DEER AT ALL?

>> IT IS RARE.

AT THAT POINT THEY'RE EATING SOLID FOOD AND NOT NURSING.

IF THEY'RE IN GOOD HABITAT, THEY CAN TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES.

>> THEY CAN JUST TAKE OFF.

>> BUT THAT'S DEPENDENCE.

DEERS RUN IN GROUPS.

IT'S HARD TO TELL WHICH ONE IS THE FAWN AND WHICH IS THE MOTHER WHEN THEY GET OF AN AGE BUT THEY MAY BE TOGETHER OFF AND ON FOR YEARS, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY'LL RUN THE BUTTON BUCKS OFF WHEN YOU GET INTO OCTOBER AND THE RUT KICKS UP IN NOVEMBER.

BUT THEY'RE LIVING IN LOOSE FAMILY GROUPS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

NEXT QUESTION HERE.

GARY DIVINE, JR. IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIAL THAT I NEED TO HUNT ON PART OF NOLIN WMA OWNED BY THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEER BUT MANAGED BY FISH AND WILDLIFE.

>> WHO WANTS TO ANSWER THAT ONE.

>> I CAN ANSWER THAT.

THERE IS NOTHING SPECIAL THAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

JUST YOUR NORMAL STATEWIDE REGULATIONS.

IF YOU ARE DEER HUNTING AT THE MOST LIBERAL ZONE, WILL QUALIFY FOR THAT PART OF THE WMA.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO TRAP IT, YOU NEED TO GET WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE BIOLOGIST THAT WORKS THAT AREA.

>> IF YOU JUST WANT TO DEER HUNT IT OR TURKEY HUNT IT, THERE IS NO SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AT ALL I WANT TO KNOW IF IT IS LEGAL TO TAKE MY DOGS TO PUBLIC LAND AND TRAIN THEM IN THE OFF SEASON.

>> IS THAT LEGAL TO DO THAT.

>> IT IS LEGAL TO GO OUT AND TRAIN THEM.

WHAT WE USUALLY TELL PEOPLE IF THERE IS A SEASON THAT'S GOING ON IN WHICH YOU CAN CHASE GAME WITH A DOG, YOU ARE OKAY TO GO OUT THERE WITH ANY DOG, A RABBIT DOG, QUAIL POINTING DARING, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

THE MOST WIDE OPEN SEASON WE HAVE IS SQUIRREL SEASON THAT CAME IN AUGUST 21 AND WILL GO OUT IN FEBRUARY.

IF YOU ARE ON THOSE AREAS, AND HAVE YOU A DOG, YOU CAN HAVE THEM UNLEASHED AT THAT POINT IN TIME.

AS FAR AS TRAINING THEM, YOU CAN'T RELEASE ANIMALS ON WMAs, TRANSPORTING LIVE WILDLIFE AND THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES ARE A NO-NO BUT IF YOU JUST WANT TO RUN YOUR DOG OFF LEASH, YOUR WMAS ARE GOOD PLACES TO DO THAT.

>> IS THAT SOMETHING YOU NEED A HUNTING LICENSE TO DO THAT?

>> YES, YOU SHOULD HAVE A HUNTING LICENSE TO DO THAT BECAUSE AGAIN, YOU ARE OPERATING UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT YOU ARE OUT THERE PURSUING GAME IN WHICH YOU COULD PURSUE WITH THE AID OF DOGS.

SQUIRREL IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE GAME ANIMALS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>> THERE IS A GOOD SPOT TO WORK YOUR SQUIRREL, BIRD OR RABBIT DOGS.

NEXT QUESTION IS FROM MATT KING.

WHY DOESN'T RABBIT SEASON COME IN LATER STATEWIDE LIKE IN WEERK?

>> WEERK AND WESTERN KENTUCKY AND EASTERN KENTUCKY HAVE A SPLIT ZONE.

TELL ME WHY THAT IS THE CASE?

THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT ZONES AND THE EASTERN ZONE WHICH COMES IN NOVEMBER 1.

AND SO THE OORN ZONE ENDS JANUARY 31, THE WESTERN ZONE ENDS IN THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY, OR FEBRUARY 10.

AND SO THE REASONS FOR THAT, THE LAW WAS CHANGED WAY BEFORE I GOT TO KENTUCKY FISH AND WILDLIFE.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO HOLD THE LINE AND KEEP THEM MORE CONSERVATIVE, ESPECIALLY IN THE EASTERN ZONE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT REALLY SURE HOW THE RABBIT RESOURCE COULD HANDLE HUNTING LATER IN THE SEASON.

IF YOU ARE HUNTING IN JANUARY IN THE WESTERN OR EASTERN ZONE AND YOU KICK UP TWO RABBITS UNDERNEATH THE SAME BUSH, IT'S LIKELY THOSE ANIMALS WERE THINKING ABOUT MAYBE BREEDING AND SO WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO FROM A RESEARCH STANDPOINT IS HARVEST EITHER ONE OF THOSE ANIMALS BECAUSE THEY'VE MATED.

THEY'VE MADE IT PAST THE WINTER, THEY DIDN'T GET HARVESTED AND THEY CAN MAKE MORE SMALLER RABBITS FOR US TO HUNT IN THE NEXT HUNTING SEASON.

THERE ARE STATES AROUND US, LIKE OHIO FOR, WHO ALLOW THEIR HUNTERS TO TAKE RABBITS UNTIL THE END OF FEBRUARY, FEBRUARY 28.

OUR RABBIT POPULATION IS EXPERIENCING LONG-TERM DECLINES.

SO IS THEIRS BUT THEIR RABBIT POPULATION FOR WHATEVER REASON, APPEARS TO BE DECLINING AT A FASTER RATE AND WE THINK IT MIGHT HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE THEIR SEASON OPEN UNTIL FEBRUARY 28 WHEREAS WE CUT OUR SEASON OFF AT THE LATEST IN THE WESTERN ZONE ON FEBRUARY 10.

AND SO AGAIN, WITH A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS AND THINGS, AS A DIVISION, AS A PROGRAM, WE ARE TRYING TO BE THE MOST CONSERVATIVE WE CAN BUT ALLOW PEOPLE AS MUCH OPPORTUNITY AS POSSIBLE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TRY TO DO WITH THAT IS KIND OF HOLD THE LINE THERE.

ON THOSE SEASONS.

>> A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT RABBIT HUNTING.

YOU ARE GOING TO BE BUSY TODAY.

THE NEXT QUESTION, CHARLES HARP WANTS TO KNOW WHEN RABBIT SEASON STARTS.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE WESTERN ZONE WAS AFTER DEER SEASON.

>> AFTER THE FIRST WEEKEND OF MODERN FIREARMS.

NOVEMBER 13 I BELIEVE.

>> WE'LL GET THE EXACT DATE.

THE EASTERN ZONE, WHEN DOES THAT SEASON START?

>> NOVEMBER 1.

>> THE EASTERN ZONE IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, RABBIT SEASON GOES OUT FOR THE OPEN TWO DAYS OF FIREARM SEASON, CORRECT?

DEER SEASON.

SO THE FIRST TWO DAYS OF OPEN MODERN FIREARM SEASON, RABBIT SEASON IS CLOSED STATEWIDE AND THEN WHEN IT COMES BACK OUT, ALL OF THEM OPEN UP AT THAT POINT IN TIME STATEWIDE?

>> EXACTLY CORRECT.

AND AGAIN THAT GOES BACK TO THE TRYING TO DEVELOP THE MOST OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR SPORTS PEOPLE IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, CODY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT ME I'M A RABBIT HUNTER.

I HAVE BEAGLES AND ALL MY RABBIT HUNTING BUDDIES TELL ME HOW MANY RABBITS THEY'RE SEEING THIS YEAR.

I KNOW PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE CYCLICAL NATURE OF RABBITS, WHAT'S GOING ON THIS YEAR AND WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT?

>> ANOTHER GREAT QUESTION.

AS MUCH AS I'D LIKE TO TAKE ALL THE CREDIT FOR THAT, IT GOES BACK TO THE CYCLICAL NATURE WHICH I'M GLAD YOU TOUCHED ON THAT.

SO SMALL GAME IN KENTUCKY, RABBITS AND SCALE SPECIFICALLY FOR THE MOST PART KIND OF TREND EVENLY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.

THEY WILL GO UP AND DOWN SQUIRREL WILL WITH THE MASS CROP BUT RABBITS AND QUAIL FOR WHATEVER REASON EXPERIENCE A BROAD SEVEN-YEAR CYCLE.

THEY GO FROM A PEAK DOWN TO A TROUGH AND BACK UP TO A PEAK IN SEVEN YEARS AND SO FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE HAVEN'T QUITE PINPOINTED THAT, IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY THAT IS AT THIS POINT.

PROBABLY HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH WEATHER OR MANAGE ALONG THOSE LINES.

BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS RIGHT NOW WE ARE EXPERIENCING KIND OF-- WE SHOULD BE AROUND THE PEAK FOR BOTH RABBITS AND QUAIL AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

WE'VE HAD PRETTY MILD WINTERS MINUS THE HARD FEBRUARY FREEZES THE LAST TWO WINTERS.

EARLIER IN THE SPRING WE HAD SOME WEIRD FREEZING.

I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THAT BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE REBOUNDED PRETTY WELL.

WE'VE HAD A PRETTY GOOD GROWING SEASON.

SOME HEAVY RAIN EVENTS BUT NOTHING THAT SWAMPED OUT ENOUGH NESTS TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

SO TWO THINGS, I GUESS, ONE WE ARE AT THAT CYCLICAL PEAK FOR BOTH ANIMALS AND TWO WE HAVE HAD A REALLY GOOD GROWING SEASON.

WE HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED A LOT OF EXTREME WEATHER THAT MIGHT AFFECT THEIR BREEDING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NEXT QUESTION IS FROM DANNY WHITE.

IF A YOUTH TURNS 16 BEFORE THE SEASON HAS ENDED, DO THEY NEED TO PURCHASE AN ADULT LICENSE?

INTERESTING BECAUSE IT DOESN'T SAY HUNTING OR FISHING.

IT JUST SAYS IF A YOUTH TURNS 16 BEFORE THE SEASON HAS ENDED, DO THEY NEED TO PURCHASE AN ADULT LICENSE?

>> NO, THEY'RE GOOD UNTIL THE FOLLOWING LICENSE YEAR.

12-15 FOR YOUTH LICENSE AND 16-65 YOU GET YOUR RESIDENT OR NON-RESIDENT NORMAL LICENSE.

>> SO FOR FISHING WHEN DO YOU NEED TO HAVE A LICENSE?

>> FISHING IS 16.

>> AND IF IT'S HUNTING.

>> IT'S 12.

>> AND YOU NEED THAT LICENSE AND YOU SAID IF THEY TURN 16, IF THEY'VE ALREADY PURCHASED I YOUTH LICENSE, THEY'RE GOOD ON THAT PARTICULAR LICENSE?

>> YES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THERE YOU GO, DANNY, THERE'S YOUR QUESTION.

NEXT QUESTION, JOEY RANDOLPH, WHY IS THE RABBIT POPULATION SO LOW?

JOEY IS NOT HANGING OUT WITH MY BUDDIES HANGING AND SEEING THOSE.

HE KNOWS ABOUT THE CYCLICAL NATURE.

HE SAID HE HAS BEEN SEEING IT DROP OVER FIVE YEARS.

TELL ME WHERE YOU THINK WE ARE AT IN THE SEVEN-YEAR TREND BEST GUESS?

WE SHOULD BE APPROACHING THE PEAK FOR BOTH.

THE LAST FEW YEARS FOR QUAIL HAVE BEEN UP AND SO FOR QUAIL WE SHOULD BE UP THERE AND THEN AGAIN RABBITS FOLLOW A SIMILAR TREND WHICH IS WHY WE THINK IT MIGHT BE WEATHER OR SOMETHING DRIVING A STATEWIDE RESPONSE.

AND AGAIN FROM THE CYCLIC NATURE, BASED ON A RURAL MAIL CARRIER SURVEY ROUTE.

THE LAST WEEK IN JULY WE SEND OUT CARDS TO RURAL MAIL CARRIERS SO PEOPLE THAT GO AROUND AND DELIVER MAIL OFF THE BEATEN PATH AND WE ASK THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO RECORD HOW MANY QUAIL AND RABTSZ THEY SAW IN THEIR DAILY ROUTES THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT DATA.

THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE THE MID 60s.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST ROBUST INDEXES FOR SMALL GAME IN THE SOUTHEAST.

AND SO WE REFER TO THAT AS AN INDEX.

NOT HARD AND FAST NUMBERS ABOUT HERE IS HOW MANY ANIMALS ARE HERE IN THIS PLACE AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

IT'S MORE OF AN APPROXIMATION.

WE ARE KEEPING OUR FINGER ON THE PULSE OF SMALL GAME POPULATION IN THE STATE.

THAT DEFINITELY DOESN'T CAPTURE LOCAL POPULATION LEVELS.

SO THERE COULD BE A MULTITUDE OF FACTORS THAT MIGHT BE AFFECTING THIS INDIVIDUAL'S OBSERVATIONS WHICH, BY ALL MEANS, HE COULD BE SEEING A DECLINE, DEFINITELY DON'T ARGUE AGAINST THAT.

THESE COULD BE THINGS LIKE THE FARMER CUT HIS HAY A LITTLE EARLIER THAN HE DID IN THE LAST FEW YEARS OR MAYBE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PARCELING OUT THEIR FARMLAND AND BUILDING MORE HOUSES AND HAVING MORE YARDS.

IT COULD BE A HABITAT ISSUE REALLY.

I WOULD CHALLENGE THEM TO LOOK AROUND AND SEE IF ANYTHING HAS CHANGED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS AROUND THEM OR ON THEIR BIT OF PROPERTY THAT THEY'RE SEEING THE DECLIEBS ON.

A LOT OF TIMES WHEN I TALK TO LAND OWNERS, THEY SAY THINGS LIKE I HAVE BEEN ON MY FARM FOR THE LAST 60 YEARS.

NOTHING'S CHANGED.

THEY MIGHT OWN 100 ACRES OR SO AND THEY SAY THE SMALL GAME POPULATION, THEY KEEP GOING DOWN NOTHING ANYWAY HAVE CHANGED ON YOUR FARM BUT TAKE AN AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH FROM GOOGLE EARTH FROM THE LATE 90s AND SEE WHAT DID CHANGE.

I WOULD BE WILLING TO GUARANTEE STUFF HAS CHANGED AROUND YOUR FARM AND THAT REALLY DOES MATTER ON THE POPULATION OF ANIMALS, NOT NECESSARILY JUST ANIMALS YOU SEE ON YOUR FARM BUT THE ANIMAL AS ROUND THAT FARM, NEIGHBORING FARM AND IT ALL COMBINES TO CREATE USEABLE SPACE FOR ANIMALS THROUGH TIME.

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

IF YOU HAVE A FARM AND YOU HAVE BEEN MANAGING IT FOR 60 YEARS IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, YOU MAY NOT THINK THINGS HAVE CHANGED BUT PREDATORS, HOW MANY COYOTES DO WE HAVE ON THE LANDSCAPE IN KENTUCKY 60 YEARS AGO AND NOW PREDATION, THE NUMBER OF BIRDS THAT YOU SEE RED TAIL HAWKS, YOU SEE THEM IN JANUARY DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER ON THE POWER LINES, THEY'RE EVERYWHERE, RIGHT?

SO A LOT OF EXTERNAL FACTORS ARE DEFINITELY CHANGING.

THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> THAT'S ANOTHER GOOD POINT.

>> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM MARK WANG.

HE WANTS TO KNOW IF HE NEEDS A DEER AND TURKEY PERMIT TO HARVEST EITHER SPECIES ON THEIR OWN PROPERTY.

>> NO, SO AS LONG AS HE IS THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY, HE IS LICENSED AND PERMIT EXEMPT.

>> HAS TO ABIDE BY THE LAWS OF THE HARVEST.

>> THEY HAVE TO BE TELECHECKED IN AND HARVEST LAW HAS TO BE MADE, BUT AS FAR AS BUYING THE LICENSE AND PERMIT ITSELF, HE DOESN'T NEED TO.

>> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM DONNA, WANTS TO KNOW IF THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO HOW MANY DEER CAN BE HARVESTED IN ZONE 4.

>> NO, THERE IS NO PLANS TO DO THAT PRESENTLY.

I KNOW WE'VE HAD SOME DEER DOWN IN ZONE 4 DUE TO AN EHD OUTBREAK IN 2017 AND WE ARE SEEING POSITIVE GROWTH.

IT WILL TAKE US A FEW MORE YEARS TO GET BACK TO WHERE THEY WERE AT BUT WE DON'T ANTICIPATE MAKING ANY REG CHANGES.

>> I'VE HAD A BIOLOGIST EXPLAIN IT TO ME.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE FOUR ZONES.

WE HAVE HAD FOUR FOR QUITE SOMETIME.

WE DON'T MAKE CHANGES TO THIS EVERY YEAR.

IT IS HARD TO TRACK TRENDS, YOU WANT TO MAKE CHANGES EVERY FEW YEARS BUT THE ZONE 4, YOU GOT FOUR ZONESES.

ZONE 1, TYPICALLY HAS THE MOST DEER, CORRECT?

>> YEP.

TOO MANY.

>> TOO MANY.

THAT'S WHAT I WANTED YOU TO GO THROUGH.

TELL ME THE FOUR ZONES AND WHAT THE ZONES, AS FAR AS WHAT BIOLOGISTS FEEL IS THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT OF DEER ON THE LANDSCAPE AND HOW IT CORRELATES TO ZONES.

THAT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE REALLY, THE WAY I LIKE TO START IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT ZONE 2 AND 3, THOSE ARE ABOUT RIGHT.

THAT'S, YOU KNOW, DEER PER SQUARE MILE FOR THE HABITAT, TWO OR THREE IS SORT OF THE TARGET.

WHEN WE GET ON THE LOWER SIDE OF THAT ZONE 4, THAT'S AREAS PREDOMINANT, IF YOU LOOK AT A MAP OF ZONE 4 COUNTIES, IT'S APPALACHIA, IT'S OUR PREDOMINANTLY FORESTED COUNTIES.

AND THAT JUST DOESN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT AS MANY DEER AS AN AG COUNTY IN CENTRAL OR WEST KENTUCKY.

AND SO THOSE DEER TAKE A LITTLE LONGER TO BOUNCE BACK FROM, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE AN E.H.D.

OUTBREAK.

AND ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, YOU HAVE ZONE 1.

IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE COUNTIES, IT'S PREDOMINANTLY BIG ROW CROP AGRICULTURE, SORT OF NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY, I'M THINKING SCOTT COUNTY, OWEN COUNTY, KIND OF MIXED AG, PLACES KNOWN FOR THE NUMBER OF DEER.

ROAD KILL COLLISIONS ARE THROUGH THE ROOF, THAT KIND OF DEAL.

AND WE ARE ACTIVELY TRYING TO MAKE ZONE 1S GET THEM BACK DOWN TO THE LEVEL OF THE 2.

AND SO IN THAT WE BASICALLY GOT UNLIMITED DOE HARVEST.

YOU CAN KILL FOUR ON YOUR INITIAL LICENSE AND BUY AN ADDITIONAL PERMIT AND HARVEST AS MANY AS YOU WANT.

2 ACTUALLY REDUCE-- WE WANT TO REDUCE THE POPULATION.

A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH ROW CROP AGRICULTURE AND VEHICLE COLLISIONS BUT BASICALLY TOO MANY DEER.

>> INTERESTING THING IS PEOPLE HEAR YOU CAN TAKE AS MANY AS YOU WANT.

HUNTERS JUST DON'T, DO THEY?

MOST HUNTERS THEY TAKE THEIR ONE DEER.

THEY MAY TAKE TWO.

IF YOU START LOOKING AT THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE THAT HUNT, EVEN IF THEY BOW HUNT ALL YEAR, PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY GO OUT AND HUNT JUST TO FILL THE FREEZER WITH MEAT.

THEY GO OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY ENJOY HUNTING, ENJOY BEING OUT THERE AND SEE THE WILDLIFE.

THEY WANT TO TAKE A DEER BUT THE NUMBER WHO TAKE MORE THAN FOUR DEER A YEAR IS PRETTY SLIM ISN'T IT?

>> VERY SLIM.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO TAKE TWO.

OUR AVERAGE SUCCESSFUL HUNTER TAKE 1.4 DEER.

ONE AND A HALF.

I FALL FIRMLY IN THAT CATEGORY.

I DON'T-- ACTUALLY LOWER THAN THAT.

I DON'T THINK I'VE HAD A YEAR THAT I'VE TAKEN TWO.

TAKE ONE, PUT IT IN THE FREEZER.

WE HAVE AVENUES, KENTUCKY HUNTERS FOR THE HUNGRY.

IF YOU ARE IN A ZONE 1 COUNTY, A GREAT WAY TO TAKE THE EXTRA DEER AND DO GOOD WITH IT.

>> HUNTERS FOR THE HUNGRY IS A GREAT PROGRAM.

IF YOU HAVE WATCHED KENTUCKY AFIELD, YOU'VE SEEN US DONATE TO HUNTERS FOR THE HUNGRY.

REACH OUT TO THOSE PROCESSORS AND MAKE SURE THEY'RE TAKING DEER, PUT A PLAN TOGETHER AND GET OUT IN THE ZONE 1 COUNTIES.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DEER.

YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND SOME TIME IN THE TREE STAND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT VERY FIRST TIME YOU DRAW THE BOBAK OR YOU PULL THAT GUN AND PUT IT TO YOUR SHOULDER, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE YOUR BUCK TAG FOR THE YEAR.

TAKE A DOE OR TWO AND PUT IT IN THE FREEZER OR PUT IT TO GOOD USE.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT.

NEXT QUESTION IS FROM BRIAN KELLER.

WHEN DO YOU DOVE HUNT AT TAYLORSVILLE WMA?

ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEA WHEN DOVE SEASON AT TAYLORSVILLE WMA OPENS UP.

>> IT HAS A FIELD THAT OPENS TOMORROW.

THE FIRST.

BUT I ALSO THINK THERE IS A YOUTH FIELD SO IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS CHECKING OUT THE DOVE GUIDE IS CRITICAL.

DOVE GUIDE, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.

ALWAYS A GREAT RESOURCE.

JUST R-3 REACHING OUT AND CALLING OUR INFO LINE.

THEY HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION, 1-800-858-1549.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU NEED TO GET ANSWERED, CALL THAT INFO HELP LINE.

THEY'RE REALLY GOOD ABOUT READING THAT GUIDE AND HELPING YOU OUT.

SO 1-800-858-1549.

BUDDY ARNOLD, CAN A DISABLED PERSON USE A CROSS BOW DURING THE ARCHERY SEASON THE ENTIRE TIME FOR DEER?

>> THERE IS A PERMIT THEY CAN GO ONLINE AND GET PRINTED OUT.

THEY TAKE IT TO THEIR DOCTOR AND GET IT FILLED OUT AND SEND IT BACK IN AND THEY CAN HAVE A PERMIT TO DO THAT.

WHICH IF YOU ARE UNDER 15 OR OVER 65, YOU CAN DO THAT ANYWAY.

>> SO IF YOU ARE OVER 65 AND YOU WANT TO USE A CROSS BOW FROM DAY ONE OF ARCHERY SEASON OR UNDER THE AGE OF 15, YOU CAN USE A CROSS BOW FROM DAY ONE OF ARCHERY SEASON, CORRECT?

>> YES.

>> AND SO SHOOTING A CROSS BOW, ANYBODY HUNTING WITH A CROSS BOW RIGHT NOW?

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THAT'S A PRETTY UNIQUE TOOL.

YOU CAN GET THE CROSS BOW OUT AND BECOME PRETTY PROFICIENT WITH IT FAIRLY QUICK, ISN'T YOU?

>> I TOTALLY AGREE.

IF YOU PRACTICE WITH IT.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST SACK RECEIPT WEAPONS I'VE EVER HANDLED IN MY LIFE.

FOR SURE.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE CROSS BOWS AND I HAVE BEEN BATTLING A SHOULDER ISSUE.

PEOPLE GOING TO VERTICAL BOW HUNT THIS YEAR.

WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES FOR NEXT YEAR.

I MAY BE IN A CROSS BOW NEXT YEAR.

RANGE IS PROBABLY NOT ANY FURTHER THAN MINE WITH A LONG BOW.

>> NO DOUBT.

>> HOW FAR DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN SHOOT.

>> ACCURATELY, 40 YARDS.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY CROSS BOW, IT'S LIKE A RIFLE.

YOU ARE STILL SHOOTING AN ARROW THAT'S FALLING PRETTY FAST AND YOU KNOW, YOU GET OUT MUCH ABOUT 40 YARDS, YOU ARE PROBABLY-- YOU ARE AT THE END OF YOUR EFFECTIVE KILL RANGE WITH IT.

>> I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT.

ONE THING I LEARNED, I HAD NOT DONE ANY VERTICAL BOW HUNTING IN THE PAST AND ONE THING I DID LEARN, PAST 40 YEARS, A LOT-- YARDS, A LOT CAN HAPPEN BETWEEN THE TIME YOU SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER ON THE CROSS BOW AND THE TIME IT MAKES IT TO THE TARGET.

THEY'RE NOT AS QUIET AS YOU MIGHT THINK.

THERE ARE KITS YOU CAN BUY TO SILENCE THEM BUT I WILL SAY ERR ON THE SIDE OF SHORTER YARDAGE WITH A CROSS BOW TO MAKE AN ETHICAL KILL WITH THE ANIMAL.

>> CROSS BOWS, I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, THEY'RE HERE TO STAY AND FOR GETTING SOMEONE A LITTLE SMALLER STATURE OR AN OLDER PERSON THAT MAY HAVE SHOULDER ISSUES LIKE ME, I'M GETTING UP IN MY AGE, I HAVE A ROUGH TIME PULLING THE BOW.

I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO GET SOMEBODY OUT IN THE FIELD.

>> THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> NO DOUBT.

>> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM BRANDON WILL WILLIAMS.

IF HE IS DEER HUNTING OVER CORN WITH A BOW AND SEES A TURKEY AND HAS TURKEY TAGS CAN HE TAKE THE TURKEY SINCE HE WASN'T INTENTIONALLY TRYING TO BAIT FOR THEM, HE WAS TRYING TO GET DEER.

>> NO, HE CANNOT.

>> THAT'S A HARD NO.

>> YOU CANNOT HUNT OVER BAIT FOR TURKEYS EVEN IF IT WAS MEANT FOR THE DEER THE TURKEYS ARE PRESENT OVER THE BAIT OR THE BAIT IS HAVING THEM IN THE AREA, IT'S CONSIDERED HUNTING OVER BAIT.

>> I THINK THE WAY IT IS WORDED SOMETHING ABOUT INTENTIONALLY OR UNINTENTIONALLY MANIPULATING TURKEYS SO EVEN IF YOU KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR IS BAIT THEM AND IT'S MANIPULATING THE BIRD, YOU CAN'T HUNT THERE EITHER, RIGHT?

>> CORRECT.

>> YOU HAVE TO BE VERY, VERY CAUTIOUS.

IF YOU ARE A PERSON WHO WANTS TO FALL TURKEY HUNT, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS ON BAITING USING CORN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT TO BRING IN DEER BECAUSE IT MAY AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO TURKEY HUNT THAT PIECE OF PROPERTY.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING YOU GOT TO BE CAUTIOUS WITH.

>> DONNY CAROL.

WHAT ARE QUICK TIPS FOR SOMEONE WANTING TO HARVEST AN ELK IN KENTUCKY IF THEY'VE NEVER HUNTED THEM BEFORE.

ARE THERE ANY CERTAIN PREPARATIONS?

>> MAN, THIS IS RIGHT IN YOUR WHEELHOUSE.

YOU WANT TO ELK HUNT IN KENTUCKY, THERE IS A PROCESS OF GETTING DRAWN, SO AT THIS POINT, IF YOU HAVE BEEN DRAWN AND YOU ARE PLANNING ON HUNTING, WHAT IS THE FIRST COUPLE OF THINGS THAT A POTENTIAL ELK HUNTERS NEEDS TO DO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE'VE GOT THE ELK PROGRAM DID A WEBINAR SERIES THIS YEAR SO IF YOU ARE A DRAWN HUNTER, IT WILL BE ON MY PROFILE AND IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO GO BACK AND WE BASICALLY WALK YOU THROUGH THE WHOLE SUMMER AND THROW IN SOME TIPS, SOME HUNTING TIPS, DEER TIPS.

WE'VE GOT A SHOW ON BULLET SELECTION FOR RIFLES AND ARCHERY GEAR FOR ARCHERY HUNTING ELK.

BUT I WOULD SAY, I MEAN, OUR ELK ARCHERY SEASON STARTS SEPTEMBER 11.

LET'S EFFECTIVELY A WEAK-- A WEEK AND A HALF FROM NOW.

IF YOU HAVE AN ELK TAG, I WOULD GET OUT ON LABOR DAY AND DO SOME SCOUTING.

NUMBER ONE SUGGESTION IS GET OUT THERE BEFORE THE SEASON; IF ONLY TO LEARN THE ROADS AND YOU KNOW, SEE THE COUNTRY IN THE DAYTIME BEFORE YOU GET OUT THERE THE MORNING OF YOUR HUNT.

IT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

I GREW NEWSPAPER WEST KENTUCKY, HAD NO IDEA WHAT EAST KENTUCKY LOOKS LIKE.

IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT THERE, GET OUT THERE A FEW DAYS BEFORE YOUR HUNT, GET OUT THERE THIS WEEKEND, WHATEVER YOU CAN DO TO LOOK AT THE COUNTRY AND SOAK IT IN A LITTLE BIT.

IT CAN BE PRETTY DAUNTING.

IT'S ROUGH, IT'S STEEP.

YOU KNOW, THE ELK HAVE FOUR FOOT LONG LEGS, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT GOING UP AND DOWN ANY OF THAT.

IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO GET OUT THERE.

WE HAVE IN OUR POST SEASON SURVEY OF OUR ELK HUNTERS EVERY YEAR, THOSE FOLKS THAT SCOUT DO END UP, IF THEY HAVE MADE AT LEAST ONE SCOUTING TRIP, END UP WITH A HIGHER SUCCESS RATE.

AND THAT'S PROBABLY MY NUMBER ONE TIP IS GET OUT THERE AND LOOK AROUND.

>> YOU KNOW THAT'S INTERESTING.

OF COURSE I'VE NEVER BEEN DRAWN TO HUNTING ELK IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT UNDER YOUR MY PROFILE, IT KNOWS IF YOU HAVE BEEN DRAWN FOR ELK TAG.

IT ACTUALLY WALKS YOU THROUGH YOUR PREPARATION AND GIVES YOU TIPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND THAT IS GREAT.

THAT'S GOOD STUFF.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT FOR PEOPLE WHO DEER HUNT AS WELL ONE OF THESE DAYS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE WANT EVERY ELK HUNTER, WE WANT 100% FROM OUR ELK HUNTERS.

EVERYTHING WE CAN DO-- WE TRY TO TAKE A LOT OF THE QUESTIONS WE GOT ON THE PHONE INTO OUR INFO CENTER THAT CAME TO AN ELK BIOLOGIST AND PUT THEM IN A WEBINAR FORMAT OR WRITTEN FORMAT WHERE IT'S ALWAYS THERE.

>> THAT'S FANTASTIC BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE I GET A LOT OF THE SAME QUESTIONS.

AS SOON AS THAT ELK DRAW TAKES PLACE, I'M GOING TO GET PHONE CALLS SAYING YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS.

I GOT ELK HUNT, WHAT ZONE DO I PUT IN OR WHAT DO I NEED TO DO NEXT?

WHAT IS A GOOD GUN CALIBER AND WHEN DO I START GETTING IN SHAPE AND WHAT FINE TYPE OF BOOTS DO I WEAR.

>> WE COVER ALL OF THAT.

>> THAT'S GREAT.

I NEED TO CHECK THAT OUT MYSELF.

NEXT QUESTION IS FROM DOUG RAUSH, WHAT AGE CLASS OF DOES ARE BEST TO HARVEST?

>> THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENT TRENDS OF THOUGHT ON THAT UP WITH.

BASICALLY ANY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE THINKING PURELY ABOUT MAKING BOON AND CROCKETT BUCKS, ANY DOE COULD MAKE THAT.

IT COULD BE THE YOUNGEST ONE, A BIG COMPONENT.

SO FOR EVERY BOON AND CROCKETT BUCK HERE ON THE WALL, HALF OF THE DNA CAME FROM THE DOE AND THAT'S AN OFTEN OVERLOOKED IDEA.

SO SHE'S GOT TO HAVE GREAT GENETICS.

SHE'S GOT TO BE ABLE TO RAISE THAT FAWN AND TO KICK START THAT FAWN FOR IT TO RUE THEIR EXPRESS ALL OF ITS, YOU KNOW, THAT BUCK FAWN FOR IT TO EXPRESS ITS GENETIC POTENTIAL.

SO THERE IS REALLY NO GOOD ANSWER, YOU KNOW, TO THAT, IN TERMS OF SELECTED FOR TRYING TO SELECT FOR MORE TROPHY BUCKS OR SOMETHING.

MY RULE OF THUMB AS A PERSON TO LIKES TO EAT DEER IS THAT YEARLING DOE IS A GREAT ONE.

BIGGER THAN A FAWN BUT NOT, YOU KNOW, STILL TENDER.

THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN WHAT I CONSIDER A TROPHY DOE.

THAT 80 TO 90-POUND DRESSED DOESN'T GET MUCH BETTER.

ENOUGH TO POOL WITH BUT VERY, VERY TENDER.

NEXT QUESTION IS FROM IS BOON SMITH.

IS IT CORRECT THAT PEOPLE UNDER 15 CAN USE A CROSS BOW DURING ALL OF ARCHERY SEASON?

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

ONE MORE TIME OFFICER, GIVE US THAT ANSWER SOME.

>> IT'S LEGAL FOR A 15-YEAR-OLD TO USE A CROSS BOW DURING ARCHERY.

>> MICHAEL MORRISON HAS A QUESTION ABOUT MIGRATORY BIRDS.

WILL HIS SPORTSMAN LICENSE COVER A MIGRATORY BIRD PERMIT SPECIFICALLY DOVES.

>> ALL THE LICENSE AND PERMITS THAT YOU NEED TO HUNT ALMOST ANYTHING IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY EXCEPT THE SPECIAL PERMITTED BIGGER GAME.

THE MIGRATORY BIRD PERMIT IS PART OF THAT.

>> WITH DOVE SEASON RIGHT AROUND THE CORN, MIGRATORY BIRD PERMIT, YOU NEED THAT AND OVERLOOKED ASPECT IS HIP SURVEY.

WHICH TAKES A FEW SECONDS TO FILL OUT.

IF YOU DIDN'T HUNT MIGRATORY DOVES OR BIRDS IT'S ONE QUESTION.

BUT A PERSON THAT SAYS MAN, I'VE TURNED OUT MY LICENSE AND I'M READY TO GO, WHAT ELSE CAN THEY DO IF THEY GO ONLINE AND TAKE THE SURVEY.

>> THEY CAN GO ONLINE AND TAKE THE SURVEY AND ONCE THEY GET THE CONFIRMATION NUMBER, THEY CAN WRITE IT ON THEIR LICENSE OR THERE IS THE OPTION TO REPRINT THE LICENSE AND THAT HIP SURVEY WILL BE ON THE LICENSE THEN.

>> THAT'S ONE THE FIRST THINGS YOU ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR OUT IN THE FIELD IS CHECKING HEY, DOVE SEASON COMES IN, SO GET THE SHOTGUN OUT AND MAKE SURE THE PLUG IS IN THERE, RIGHT?

YOU WANT TO CHECK THAT OUT.

MAKE SURE YOU GOT YOUR LICENSE, YOUR MIGRATORY BIRD AND FILL OUT THE HIP SURVEY BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT CAN ACCIDENTALLY GET NEW TROUBLE.

YOU MADE A COMMENT A WHILE AGO, IF A PERSON IS GOING TO DUCK HUNT, THEY NEED A WATER FOWL STAMP.

BUT AS FAR AS HUNTING DOVES IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, MIGRATORY BIRD PERMIT, HUNTING LICENSE AND HIP SURVEY.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THERE ARE PUBLIC LAND AREAS WE HAVE IN THE STATE IN WHICH YOU HAVE TO HAVE STEEL SHOT SO MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE DOVE GUIDE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE NOT PACKING IN LEAD WHEN YOU NEED STEEL.

>> VERY GOOD POINT.

MAKE SURE IF YOU ARE GOING ON A WMA, YOU HUNT AN AREA THEY MAY HAVE WATER FOWL HUNTING.

YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY REQUIRE STEEL SHOT.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE CHECKING THAT OUT.

IF YOU GOT PLANS TO DOVE HUNT, CHECK OUT THAT WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS LEGAL TO USE LEAD SHOT THERE.

>> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM JOE JONES.

WANTS TO KNOW IF HE CAN HUNT A CORN FIELD FOR TURKEY.

WANTS TO KNOW IF THAT'S BAIT IN THE SPRING TIME IT'S NOT A BIG ISSUE BECAUSE THERE IS NO CORN OUT BUT THERE IS AN OVERLOOKED WINTER TIME IN DECEMBER WHEN TURKEY SEASON COMES IN, FOR WHATEVER REASON WHAT IS THE QUESTION THERE.

>> IT IS NOT CONSIDERED BAIT IF IT IS A BONA FIDE AGRICULTURE NEXT QUESTION FROM RONNIE BROCK, HOW IS THE QUAIL AND GROUSE POPULATION THIS YEAR?

ANY UPDATES FROM OUR QUAIL OUR GROUSE?

>> AGAIN WITH OUR QUAIL POPULATION, WE ARE SEEING OUR CYCLICAL PEAK IN THE STATE SO WE CAN EXPECT IT TO BE, IF YOU HUNTED LAST YEAR, IT'S PROBABLY AS GOOD OR MAYBE A LITTLE BIT BETTER OUT THERE ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH FOR QUAIL.

FOR GROUSE, WE ARE STILL KIND OF AT A PRETTY LOW SPOT FOR GROUSE.

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO-- WE ACTUALLY HAD A GROUSE PLAN GENERATED ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO TO TRY TO GET AT, AGAIN, HABITAT, WE TALK SO MUCH ABOUT HABITAT AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR GROUSE.

GROUSE REQUIRE EARLY FOREST HABITAT SO A BUNCH OF LITTLE TREES ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR ARM ALL OVER THE PLACE, RIGHT?

AND SO AGAIN, HISTORICALLY WE HAVE LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES LIKE MINING AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT THAT PRODUCED A LOT OF THIS EARLY SPECIAL HABITAT.

NOW WE DON'T HAVE MUCH OF THAT.

WE HAVE A LOT OF OLDER FOREST OUT THERE THAT'S NOT AS SUITABLE FOR GROUSE SO UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE VERY FEW GROUSE IN THE STATE AND THEY'RE ALL PRETTY MUCH IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE THE GROUSE OR WHERE PEOPLE HUNT GROUSE, IT'S THE MOUNTAINS, EASTERN KENTUCKY, DANIEL BOONE NATIONAL FOREST.

AREAS WHERE YOU WALK THROUGH THE WOODS, IT'S ALL BIG HIGH CAB CANOPY OLD FOR GLEFT THAT'S NOT AS SUITABLE AS IT WAS IN THE PAST WHEN THE FOREST SERVICE WAS CUTTING TIMBER ON THOSE FEDERALLY OWNED PROPERTIES.

SO THEY PRETTY MUCH STOPPED CUTTING FROM A GROUSE STANDPOINT AND SUITE OF OTHER WILDLIFE SPECIES, CUTTING IS GOOD, IT MIMICS HISTORIC DISTURBANCE FACTORS LIKE TORNADOES OR BISON TRACES OR STUFF LIKE THAT.

NATIVE AMERICANS BURNING THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT OVER THE COURSE OF HISTORY, AT LEAST THE LAST 40 OR 50 YEARS, WE THOUGHT OF CUTTING TREES AS BAD BUT IN REALITY IT WAS THE THING THAT PERPETUATED SOME OF THE ANIMALS THAT NEEDED THAT KIND OF STUFF.

UNFORTUNATELY GROUSE ARE GOING DOWN AND DOWN AND THEY'RE VERY LIMITED.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND POCKETS OF SUITABLE HABITAT.

>> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM SPENCE ARE TAYLOR.

HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE TO TELECHECK YOUR DEER AFTER YOUR HARVEST?

>> SO YOU HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT THE NIGHT IT WAS HARVESTED UNLESS YOU ARE GOING TO START PROCESSING IT.

ONCE YOU START PROCESSING THAT DEER, IT INTO EDS TO BE TELECHECKED IN PRIOR TO.

>> SO YOU GOT UNTIL MIDNIGHT DAY OF THE HARVEST AND IF YOU START PROCESSING, YOU HAVE TO DO IT PRIOR TO PROCESSING.

>> YES.

>> DO WE HAVE A NEW APP OUT FOR CHECKING-- THERE IS AN APP FOR TELECHECKING ANIMALS?

>> I DON'T THINK SO BUT YOU CAN DO IT ONLINE WITH YOUR PHONE.

MOST PEOPLE WITH AN IPHONE, YOU CAN GO THROUGH MY PROFILE THERE OR USE OUR CALL-IN SYSTEM.

>> OKAY.

SO CALL IN, YOU CALL IN.

IT'S AUTOMATED OR YOU CAN DO IT THROUGH YOUR IPHONE, RIGHT?

>> YEP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THE LAST FEW SEASONS I'VE BEEN DOING IT ON MY PHONE, IT POPS UP, LIKE I A MOBILE READY WEBSITE SO WHEN IT COMES UP, IT LOOKS LIKE AN APP.

IT REALLY DOES.

AND I'VE DONE THAT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE WOODS.

I MEAN WHERE YOU HAVE SERVICE, IT IS REALLY NICE.

>> GENERATE A NUMBER AND YOU JUST SCREEN SHOT IT AND YOU HAVE IT RIGHT THERE.

>> YES.

>> VERY NICE.

IF YOU ARE NOT PLANNING ON DOING THAT, YOU STILL NEED TO PLAN ON TAKING A PEN INTO THE WOODS FOR TELECHECKING.

OR FILL OUT A HARVEST LOG.

CORRECT.

>> CORRECT.

>> TELL ME WHAT IS ON THE PAPER.

>> HARVEST LOG INCLUDES THE GAME ITSELF, THE GENDER, THE COUNTY IT WAS TAKEN AND THE DATE.

>> YOU NEED DO THAT RIGHT THERE BEFORE YOU START MOVING THE ANIMAL.

THAT'S SOMETHING YOU NEED TO FILL THAT PIECE OF PAPER OUT AND IT'S ON THE BACK OF YOUR LICENSE.

>> YOU PRINT YOUR LICENSE OUT, IT'S ON THERE OR IF YOU DON'T PRINT IT OUT, A LOT OF PEOPLE SCREEN SHOT THEIR LICENSES, YOU CAN TAKE AN INDEX CARD OR PIECE OF PAPER.

EVERY TIME YOU GO IN THE FIELD YOU NEED THE PAPER WITH YOU.

>> NATHAN PENINGTON, WHY DO DOES STAND UP ON THEIR FEET TO TRY TO KICK AT EACH OTHER.

HE HAS SEEN IT HAPPEN QUITE A FEW TIMES.

I'VE SEEN IT.

IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE A DEER DO THAT.

>> AND WHEN VIDEO TRAIL CAMERAS CAME ALONG, YOU SEE A LOT MORE OF IT IT SEALS LIKE.

EVERYBODY THINKS OF BUCKS FIGHTING BUT THERE IS A LOT OF COMPETITION AND IT GOES BACK TO THEY ARE COMPETITION FOR THE RESOURCE.

IF YOU HAVE YOUR TRAIL CAMERA OVER THE CORN, IT'S NOT ALWAYS FRIENDLY.

THEY WANT IT TORE THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAWN TO ALLOW THEM TO GROW BETTER AND MAKE IT THROUGH THE WINTER.

THERE IS COMPETITION THERE.

>> IT CAN GET FIERCE, TOO.

YOU SEE THE DOE SWING THEIR FRONT HOOVES, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE BACK END OF THAT.

>> THEIR SYSTEM IS DIFFERENT.

WHERE THEY'RE IN THESE LARGER MORE CONNECTED FAMILY GROUPS.

THERE IS SOME COMPETITION BUT NOT LIKE TWO DOES.

A LEAD COW KEEPS EVERYBODY STRAIGHT.

LIKE GRANDMA SWIPING YOU WITH THE RULER OR SOMETHING.

SHE IS GOING TO KEEP EVERYBODY IN LINE BUT YET THEY'RE IN IT TOGETHER MORE SO THAN, YOU KNOW, TWO RANDOM DOES FROM EITHER SIDE OF THE FARM MEETING AT A CORN PILE.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NEXT QUESTION IT'S FROM CODY ANGEL.

WANTS TO KNOW HOW THE DEER HARVEST NUMBERED LAST YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR SINCE COVID CAUSED MORE HUNTING PRESSURE.

>> COVID DID CAUSE MORE HUNTING PRESSURE.

WHAT WERE THE NUMBERS LIKE?

>> IT GOT PEOPLE OUT THERE FOR SURE AND REALLY COMING OFF, WE HAD A REALLY GOOD SEASON IN 2015.

WE COME DOWN FROM THAT BUT BEEN STABLE.

NUMBERS ARE ON PAR WITH EVERYTHING FROM 2016 ON.

NOT REALLY MUCH DISCERNIBLE DIFFERENCE IN THAT.

SO I WAS EXPECTING TO, WHEN THE NUMBERS FINALLY CAME IN FOR THEM TO BE MUCH HIGHER.

BUT THEY WERE ABOUT ON PAR.

>> OKAY.

>> I THINK BY THE TIME DEER SEASON CAME IN, WE SORT OF ROLLED INTO COVID, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE THAT HAD INDUSTRIAL JOBS AND WERE OFF ALL OF TURKEY SEASON BUT I KNOW THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY BACK TO WORK BEFORE DEER SEASON ROLLED IN.

>> A LOT OF IT COMES BACK TO THE CONVERSATION WE HAD EARLIER.

HUNTERS STILL, GIVEN THE THE X AMOUNT OF TIME OFF, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO KILL 5, 6, IT-- MOST HUNTERS.

SOME PEOPLE MAY SAY I'M TRYING TO LIVE MORE LEAN.

I WANT MORE ORGANIC MEAT AND SAY I'M GOING TO TAKE THREE OR FOUR BUT MOST PEOPLE, GIVEN, INSTEAD OF FIVE DAYS TO HUNT THIS YEAR, YOU GIVE THEM 30, THEY PROBABLY STILL GOING TO TAKE TWO DEER OR ONE DEER, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OUR NUMBER OF DEER PER SUCCESSFUL HUNTER DIDN'T GO UP AT ALL THIS YEAR.

>> NEXT QUESTION FROM KALEB HALL.

WANTS TO HEADACHE HIS WIFE HUNTING BUT SHE DOESN'T HAVE AN ORANGE CARD.

HOW CAN HE GO ABOUT THAT AND SEE IF SHE CAN HUNT THIS FALL.

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE HUNTER ORANGE CARD?

>> I'M PRETTY SURE THEY'RE STILL DOING THE COURSES ONLINE BECAUSE OF COVID.

SHE DOESN'T NEED ONE AS LONG AS SHE IS JUST SITTING THERE OBSERVING.

SHE DOESN'T NEED A LICENSE PERMIT, HUNTING EDUCATION AS LONG AS SHE IS STRICTLY THERE TO OBSERVE AND TAKE IN WHAT HUNTING IS.

>> SO THERE IS-- IF SHE HAS NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE, THERE IS A ONE-TIME ONE-YEAR HUNTER EXEMPTION SHE CAN ALSO TAKE, RIGHT?

IF SHE WANTS TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE AND BUY A HUNTING LICENSE AND HUNT, SHE CAN DO A ONE-YEAR EXEMPTION.

OUTSIDE OF THAT, SHE PROBABLY NEEDS TO TAKE THE HUNTER SAFETY COURSE, RIGHT?

>> IT IS A TOUGH QUESTION.

YOU MA I HAVE TO ASK YOUR WIFE HOW OLD SHE IS BECAUSE THERE IS A PARTICULAR DATE THAT IF YOU ARE BORN BEFORE, YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO TAKE IT.

I HAPPEN TO KNOW THAT THAT IS, I THINK IT'S DECEMBER 31, 1974.

IF YOU ARE 46, 47 YEARS OLD OR OLDER, YOU ARE PROBABLY IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU DON'T NEED THAT.

IF YOUR WIFE IS YOUNGER THAN THAT, THERE IS A ONE-YEAR EXEMPTION OR SHE NEEDS TO PURSUE THE HUNTER ORANGE CARD WHICH STARTS OUT ONLINE.

SHOEY CAN START RIGHT THERE.

>> THAT PERMIT IS FREE AGAIN THIS YEAR.

>> THE PERMIT IS FREE.

>> THE 12 MONTH EXEMPTION.

>> THERE YOU GO.

NEXT QUESTION IS FROM LEE CAMPBELL.

IF YOU HARVEST A BEAR, DO YOU TAKE IT TO THE CHECK STATION OR CAN YOU JUST CALL THAT IN?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

SO YES TO BOTH OF THOSE.

SO IT WILL BE THE EXACT SAME AS THE DEER WHEN YOU WALK UP TO THE YOU HAVE TO FILL IT OUT AND TELECHECK IT IF YOU CAN BUT EVERY BEAR HAS TO BE PHYSICALLY CHECKED BY OUR BIOLOGIST SO YOU CAN CALL OUR INFO CENTER LINE 800-858-1549 ANY TIME DURING THE BEAR SEASON, THERE IS A RECORDING.

USUALLY MY VOICE AND WE'LL GIVE YOU SOME PHONE NUMBERS FOR A COUPLE OF BIOLOGISTS ACROSS THE BEAR ZONE, PICK THE ONE CLOSEST TO THEM.

CALL THEM AND ARRANGE TO HAVE IT CHECKED.

WE DON'T-- WE HAVE SOME CHECK STATIONS THAT ARE IN PLACE DURING BEAR SEASON BUT WE'LL ALSO HAPPENLY MEET YOU-- HAPPILY MEET YOU ON THE WAY TO YOUR HOUSE OR INTERSECTION AFTER THE INTERSTATE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT, TRY TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS WE CAN ON THE HUNTERS BUT THEY BOTH HAVE TO BE TELECHECKED AND PHYSICALLY CHECKED BY OUR BIOLOGISTS AND WE WILL MAKE SURE THAT YOU TELECHECKED IT PRIOR TO LEAVING US.

>> OKAY.

WHAT ARE BIOLOGISTS LOOKING FOR ON BEARS RIGHT NOW?

WHEN YOU WANT TO PUTS HANDS ON AN ANIMAL IT'S BECAUSE WE ARE TAKING SOME DNA SAMPLES OR DOING SOMETHING.

I'M SURE THERE IS SOMETHING, SOME BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL WE ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S A NUMBER OF THINGS.

WE HAVE A BIG BEAR RESEARCH PROJECT GOING O.

WE ARE ACTIVELY TAGGING CUBS WITH PET MICROCHIPS.

WE ARE GOING TO SCAN YOUR BEAR WITH A WEIRD WAND LOOKING FOR THE MICROCHIP.

A LOT OF OUR DOE BEARS WE'VE CAUGHT ARE GOING TO BE TAGGED AND/OR RADIO COLLARED.

WE'LL GET THE EQUIPMENT BACK AND TAKE THE NUMBERS DOWN.

ANY TIME WE CATCH A BEAR, WE ALSO TATTOO ITS INNER LIP SO WE ARE GOING TO BE STRANGING LOOKING AT ITS CHEEK TO SEE IF WE CAN SEE A TATTOO AND OF COURSE BO BODY METRICS, WEIGHT, LENGTH AND THE NUMBER ONE MOST IMPORTANT REASONS WE ARE PULLING A TOOTH FOR AGE AT HARVEST.

A BIG COMPONENT TO OUR BEAR MODEL, POPULATION MODELS ARE AT WHAT AGE ARE THEY REMOVED FROM THE POPULATION.

>> SO A LOT OF POTENTIAL GOOD USEFUL INFORMATION THAT'S BEING PULLED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> COREY WANTS TO KNOW IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY FOR ME TO INTRODUCE HIS DAUGHTER TO HUNTING.

SHE IS 11.

THIS IS A NEW HUNTER.

YOUNG FEMALE 11 YEARS OLD.

INTERESTED IN GETTING INTO HUNTING.

WHAT WOULD YOU GUYS RECOMMEND?

>> I'M GOING TO ALWAYS SUGGEST SMALL GAME.

THAT'S HOW I CAME UP.

YOU KNOW, SQUIRREL WAS FIRST AND THEN MAYBE RABBIT WAS SECOND.

THEN DOVE SHOOT.

MON AND MORE, I SEE YOUNG KIDS GOING STRAIGHT TO DEER AND I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE MISSING OUT ON A LOT OF FUN AND SQUIRREL HUNTING IS LOW PRESSURE HUNT.

GOING TO GO OUT AND TAKE A STROLL AND SEE WHAT I CAN GET AND I THINK IT REALLY TEACHES YOU HOW, YOU KNOW.

>> ROBIN, WHAT DO YOU SEE OUT THERE IN THE FIELD?

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS FAR AS PEOPLE INTRODUCING KIDS TO THE OUTDOORS?

>> I PAINLY SEE PEOPLE TAKING THEIR CHILDREN DEER HUNTING.

BIGGER GAME, DEER, TURKEY.

IT WOULD BE NICE TO CHECK SOME OF THE SMALLER YOUTH DOING SMALL GAME HUNTING.

I THINK IT OPENS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM A LOT MORE EXPERIENCES.

I JUST SAY GET OUT THERE AND DO IT WITH THEM.

>> JUST MAKE TIME AND GET OUT THERE, GET OUT THERE AND SPEND SOME TIME.

YOU KNOW WHAT GET THEM TO THE RANGE OR THE BACKYARD AND LET THEM SHOOT SOME BEFOREHAND.

THAT'S THE THING ABOUT DEER HUNTING.

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU JOHN, GETTING A KID OUT THERE AND PUTTING THEM IN A DEER STAND AND, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY HUNT TWO, THREE, FOUR DAYS BEFORE THEY GET A SHOT, IT'S PROBABLY NOT THE MOST ENGAGING WAY TO GET A YOUTH INVOLVED IN THE OUTDOSSER.

YOU TAKE A PERSON OUT-- I CAN TELL YOU THIS.

WHEN MY DAD TOOK ME SQUIRREL HUNTING, I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THE COST OF AMMUNITION.

IF WE WALKED TWO OR THREE HOURS AND NEVER GOT A SQUIRREL, WE WERE GOING TO PICK SOMETHING UP AND PULL A TRIGGER.

HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU SEE SOMEBODY IN THE WOODS WITH A HIGH POWERED RIFLE AND THEY SHOOT AT NOTHING.

IF YOU GET A SQUIRREL OR TWO, THAT'S GREAT.

IF YOU DON'T, IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD.

TAKE THEM OUT THERE AND GET THEM STARTED INTO ANY TYPE OF SMALL GAME AND MAN, TAKE THEM OUT THERE WHEN THERE IS A DOG PRESENT BECAUSE KIDS LOVE-- ADULTS LOVE WATCHING DOGS WORK.

THAT'S ADD GREAT WAY TO GET KIDS INVOLVED.

>> I AGREE.

AND SQUIRREL SEASON IS ONE OF THE LONGEST GAME SEASONS WE HAVE.

IT STARTS IN AUGUST AND ENDS IN FEBRUARY.

YOU KNOW, SO AGAIN, VERY LOW PRESSURE.

IF YOU CAN'T GET TO IT, YOU KNOW IN THE EARLY SEASON, MAYBE SHOOT OUT IN THE FALL.

IT'S NICE TO GET OUT, AGAIN, HONE IN THOSE WOODSMAN SKILLS AND ONE THING THAT I THINK ABOUT SMILS SOMETIMES AND I'VE INTRODUCED A FEW PEOPLE TO HUNTING AND ONE THING IS, YOU KNOW, HARVESTING GAPE, YOU KNOW, IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY AND THAT'S TRUE SO PEOPLE ENJOY DOING THAT AND SOMETIMES THEY ENJOY IT FOR PART OF THEIR LIFE AND NOT THE REST OF THEIR LIFE BUT YOU KNOW, HARVESTING A SQUIRREL IS DIFFERENT THAN HARVESTING A RABBIT WHICH IS DIFFERENT THAN HARVESTING A LARGER ANIMAL SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, TO TRY NOT TO PUT PEOPLE OFF THAT OR TO TEST HOW THEY MIGHT ENJOY SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, HAVE THEM HARVEST A SMALL GAME ANIMAL, A DOVE OR SQUIRREL OR SOMETHING.

SMART SMALL AND BUILD UP TO THAT LARGER TURKEY OR DEER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO WALK THROUGH THE WOODS AND WOODSMANSHIP, MOST-- 90% OF THE KIDS THAT GO ON THEIR FIRST DEER HUNT ARE GOING TO GO RIGHT TO A STAND OR A BLIND THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAS PICKED OUT FOR THEM OVER A SPOT THEY THINK IS GOING TO BE GOOD.

THE KID IS GOING TO SIT THERE FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, THERE IS REALLY NO DECISIONS BEING MADE BY THAT YOUTH HUNTER.

YOU GO INTO THE WOODS AND YOU ARE WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS REAL SLOW AND YOU ARE LOOKING FOR WHAT ARE THESE SQUIRREL EATING, WHAT ARE THEY FEEDING ON.

WHAT OTHER FOOD SOURCES MIGHT BE THERE, YOU ARE LOOKING LONG RANGES OUT, HOW AM I GOING TO GET TO THE SQUIRREL.

THERE IS A LOT MORE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WILDLIFE AND MAKING THOSE DECISIONS, GAINING THAT CONFIDENCE IN THE WOODS, THAT'S WHERE YOU LEARN TO HUNT, IN MY OPINION TAKING A KID OUT AND GOING THIS IS A GOOD SPOT SON, I PROMISE THIS IS WHERE YOU WANT TO BE OR DAUGHTER.

SIT RIGHT HERE, THE DEER ARE GOING TO COME FROM THIS WAY.

STAY UNTIL THEY COME HERE.

MAY WORK OUT.

BUT YOU MAY BURN A KID OUT THAT WAY, TOO.

>> I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH THE SMALL GAME.

>> NEXT QUESTION IS FROM TIMMY STANDARD.

HE WANTS TO KNOW WHAT THE BEER POPULATION IS DOING?

IS IT GROWING, STAYING THE SAME OR ARE THEY EXPANDING THEIR RANGE?

>> A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH.

SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT OUR COUNTY ZONES, WE WERE TRYING TO MANAGE FOR ABOUT ZERO GROWTH AND SAY HAR LIN COUNTY THAT'S IDEAL.

ZONE 1 COUNTIES.

OUTSIDE OF THAT, WE ARE DEFINITE WILL I SEEING GROWTH AND DEFINITELY SEEING EXPANSION.

SO AND WE ARING,-- WE WILL HAVE SOME FRESH BEAR REGS FOR 222 IDEALLY THAT WILL INCREASE THE HUNTER OPPORTUNITY FOR SURE.

>> HOW MANY COUNTIES ARE OPEN TO BEAR HUNTING RIGHT NOW.

>> 47 RIGHT NOW.

>> 47 COUNTIES AND DO YOU THIS I WE HAVE RESIDENT BEARS THAT ARE LIVING YEAR LONG OUTSIDE OF THAT 47 COUNTIES?

>> DEFINITELY NOT OUTSIDE AND SOME KIND OF THE WESTERN AND NORTHERN BORDER OF THAT.

SOME OF THOSE COUNTIES PROBABLY NOT.

BUT DEFINITELY BEARS IN THOSE COUNTIES DURING THE FALL.

>> OKAY.

NEXT QUESTION FROM ROBBIE BROCK, WITH TECHNOLOGY CONSISTENTLY ADVANCING, DO YOU SEE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PHOTOS TO BE USED FOR CHECK IN GAME STATIONS?

>> IT'S AN INTERESTING THING.

>> WOO WE HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT AND WE'LL TEST IT ON SOME FOLKS THIS FALL WITH OUR ONLINE TELECHECK GETTING THEM TO LOOK AND HELP US AGE THAT DEER.

ONE COMPONENT IS DOE AGE.

ANYBODY WHO HAS KILLED A BUCK IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE ASK FOR THAT ANTLER SPREAD METRIC.

SO WE THANK YOU ABOVE OR BELOW 11.

IT HELPS US AGE THE BUCK.

WE NEED THE SAME THING FOR DOES.

THEY DON'T GROW ANT LESSER.

WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A GOOD WAY FOR HUNTERS TO HELP US COLLECT THAT DATA RIGHT NOW OUR BIOLOGISTS ARE SAMPLING WHILE THEY ARE SAMPLING, THEY ARE COLLECTING THAT.

YOU MAY SEE SOMETHING IN THE FUTURE WHERE YOU COULD SUBMIT A PHOTO AND HELP US GET THE AGE ON THAT DEER.

>> THAT'S VERY COOL.

WHO KNOWS WHERE TECHNOLOGY IS GOING TO TAKE US.

>> EXACTLY.

>> SPEAKING OF TECHNOLOGY, THE NEXT QUESTION FROM RONNIE BROCK WANTS TO KNOW DURING THE NIGHT SEASON FOR COYOTES IS USING A THERMAL SCOPE LEGAL TO USE?

NIGHT TIME COYOTE HUNTING IS SOMETHING THAT IS GROWING.

I MYSELF HAVE NEVER USED A THERMAL SCOPE.

I'M SURE WITH SOME OF THE ELK SCOPE YOU'VE LOOKED THROUGH THERMAL SCOPES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND THEY ARE.

WE'VE GOT REG PASSED BEFORE THE HUNTING GUIDE WAS PRINTED.

THERMAL NIGHT VISION SPOTLIGHT IS LEGAL AND AT THAT TIME WILL OPEN UP ON DECEMBER 1 THIS FALL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

MARK WANG.

HAS THERE BEEN ANY TALK OF SHORTENING THE FIREARMS SEASON TO PROMOTE THE SIZE CLASS OF BUCKS IN KENTUCKY ALMOST TO ILLINOIS, OHIO AND IOWA?

>> THEY DEFINITELY HAVE A LITTLE SHORTER SEASON UP THERE.

OURS COINCIDES WITH THE RUT.

WE ARE NOT IN TALKS ABOUT THAT RIGHT NOW.

BUT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING WE COULD CONSIDER WITH INPUT FROM THE FOLKS OUT THERE HUNTING.

THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY THE END ALL TO INCREASING SIZE.

I MEAN TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, LIMITING HUNT HUNTER OPPORTUNITY SHOULD INCREASE THAT SIZE BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY WAY.

>> THE STATES HE IS REFERENCING HERE, ILLINOIS, OHIO AND IOWA, HAVE THEY BEEN ON THE ONE BUCK SYSTEM FOR QUITE SOMETIME AS WELL?

>> I THINK THEY'RE ON ONE BUCK BUT THEY'VE ALSO GOT A SHORTER SEASON AND I KNOW ILLINOIS AND OHIO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT CHUNKS OF THEIR SEASON INSTEAD OF WHERE WE'VE GOT 16 DAYS IN A ROW FOR OUR GUN SEASON, THEY MIGHT HAVE A FIVE DAY EARLY AND FIVE DAY LATER.

JUST A DIFFERENT WAS I TO DO THINGS.

>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, ARCHERY SEASON IS SO LONG AND WE TALK ABOUT CROSS BOWS, A GREAT WAY TO GET IN AND GET INVOLVED INTO DEER HUNTING AND ALSO NOW WE'VE GOT TWO MUZZLE LOADER SEASONS, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> TWO DAY MUZZLE LOADING WEEKEND AND A WEEK FOR MUZZLE LOADER.

THAT'S ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY THAT IF THAT PERIOD OF TIME THAT 16-DAY STRETCH IN NOVEMBER DOESN'T FIT YOUR CALENDAR, THERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING, THIS TIME OF YEAR FOR ME, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU GUYS, BUT JULY AND AUGUST ARE PROBABLY HERE IN KENTUCKY MY LEAST FAVORITE TWO MONTHS.

FISHING IS THE TOUGHEST, THE HUNTING IS TOO HOT BUT THE TEMPERATURES SLOWLY STARTING TO CREEP DOWN, GETTING A LITTLE COOLER AT NIGHTS, I'M LIKE CHOMPING AT THE BIT.

I'M READY FOR FALL TO GET HERE.

IT'S MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR NEW HUNTING OPPORTUNITY SEEMS LIKE IT OPENS UP EVERY WEEK.

IF YOU LIKE THE OUTDOORS HERE IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, THE BEST TIME OF YEAR, IN MY OPINION, IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.

LAST QUESTION HERE WE HAVE FROM JOE JONES WHO WANTS TO KNOW IF HE CAN BUY A BEAR PERMIT OR IF HE HAS TO OR CAN HE GO OUT AND HUNT BEAR ON THAT OR THERE IS A SPECIAL PROCESS TO GET DRAWN TO HUNT BEAR.

>> NO DRAWING.

OVER THE COUNT COUNTER.

HE JUST NEEDS HIS REGULAR HUNTING PER HUNTING LICENSE AND BEAR PERMIT.

>> LIKE I SAID, THE TIME OF YEAR, IF YOU ARE AN OUTDOORS PERSON IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY, THE FALL IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

THERE IS HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES COMING AROUND, FISHING IS GOING TO START GETTING BETTER.

I ENCOURAGE TO YOU GET OUT THERE AND PARTICIPATE.

IT'S GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL FALL AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

WE ARE GOING TO BE OUT FILLING OUT KINDS OF NEW HUNTING AND FISHING OPPORTUNITIES AND OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU TUNE IN AND WATCH WHAT WE ARE DOING AND GET OUT THERE AND ENJOY YOURSELF.

HOPEFULLY WE GOT TO YOUR QUESTION AND YOU GOT YOUR ANSWER.

IF NOT, MAKE SURE YOU REACH OUT TO OUR INFO CENTER AT 1-800-858-1549.

NEXT WEEK KENTUCKY AFIELD WILL BE PREEMPTED.

MAKE TIME TO GET OUT IN THE WOODS.

SQUIRREL SEASON IS NOW IN.

DOVE SEASON IS NOW IN AND THE DEER ARCHERY SEASON OPENS SEPTEMBER 4.

IF YOU HOLD A KENTUCKY HUNTING OR FISHING LICENSE, THEN YOU HAVE HELPED MAKE POSSIBLE KENTUCKY'S WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS, PLACES TO HUNT, FISH, BIRD WATCH OR JUST LET YOUR MIND WANDER WITH NEARLY 100 DOTTING THE COMMONWEALTH, PUT WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS IN YOUR SIGHTS FOR FALL HUNTING AND SEE MORE OF WHAT MAKES KENTUCKY OUTDOORS OUTSTANDING.

GET ALL THE INFORMATION ONLINE AT FW.KY.GOV.