Kentucky
Largest elk herd east of the Mississippi, top Boone & Crockett whitetails, and rolling bluegrass hardwood ridges.
Native Species in Kentucky
Official Regulatory Authority
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR)
Rocky Mountain Elk
Kentucky is home to the largest free-ranging wild elk herd east of the Rocky Mountains, numbering over 15,000 animals. Reintroduced on reclaimed coal mine lands in 16 southeastern counties, Kentucky produces massive 370+ inch bulls that graze vast mountain grasslands.
Trophy White-Tailed Deer
Ranked among the premier whitetail hunting states in the nation. Highly fertile soils, extensive agricultural crops, and balanced 1-buck limits allow bucks across the western and central counties to reach mature trophy age classes.
American Black Bear
Natural recolonization from neighboring states has established a robust and expanding black bear population along Pine Mountain and the Cumberland Plateau in eastern Kentucky.
Eastern Wild Turkey
Healthy turkey flocks inhabit all 120 Kentucky counties. Flocks feed on mast-producing oaks, dogwood berries, and pasture insects, producing a world-class spring gobbler season.
Eastern Gray & Fox Squirrel
Gray squirrels abound in the dense mountain hardwood forests of the east, while fox squirrels inhabit western river bottoms and agricultural groves.
Bobcat
Plentiful across Kentucky's forested ridges, rock shelters, and brushy hollows, feeding on cottontails and small rodents.
Coyote
Distributed statewide, inhabiting open agricultural ground, reclaimed mine lands, and forest borders.
Eastern Cottontail
Widespread small game species inhabiting overgrown fields, briar patches, and agricultural hedgerows.