Kentucky's 2026 elk application overview

If you're looking to expand your potential scope of huntable elk states, then Kentucky should be a great random shot to consider adding to your application plan. Home to the largest elk herd east of Kansas City, the Bluegrass State has seen incredible success from its elk restoration program, which began over 25 years ago. Thanks to dedicated conservation efforts, the elk population has grown to more than 10,000 animals. Since hosting its first modern elk hunt in 2001, Kentucky has continued to carefully manage the herd, allowing the tradition to thrive. Each year, the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) offers between 500 and 1,000 elk permits through a randomized state draw. For the 2026 season, 500 permits will be available. The draw is completely random—no preference points—so every applicant has a shot. All it takes is an application fee for a chance at hunting a bull that could score 350 inches or more. More information on how to apply is outlined below.

Note: The application deadline for elk in Kentucky is April 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. You can apply online here.

State information

Be sure to view important information in regards to Kentucky’s state rules and regs by going here. There you will find details on rules/regulations, the draw system, tag and license fees, and an interactive map of the Elk Hunting Units (EHU).

Important dates and information

2026 Kentucky License Fees

The only upfront cost is the nonrefundable elk drawing application fee, which is only $10 per application. Hunting licenses and elk permits do not need to be purchased beforehand — only if you are successful in the draw. Costs are as follows:

Note: Hunting and elk permits only need to be purchased if successful.

Harvest reports

All elk hunters must report their hunt either by phone or online and report their harvest by midnight of the day of recovery. All elk hunters must also complete a post-season survey and submit it no later than the end of February. 

The Kentucky elk draw

Kentucky’s elk draw operates as a true random lottery. All applicants—resident and nonresident alike—are thrown into the same pool and assigned a random number. The state then works its way down the list until all available permits are awarded. While there is a cap of up to 10% for nonresident permits, it’s not always guaranteed to be filled. That said, last year the full 10% was awarded, so out-of-state hunters do stand a solid chance. There are four elk permit types available: Bull (firearm), Cow (firearm), Either-sex (archery), and Youth (firearm/archery). You can submit one application for each type. Just keep in mind, if you’re 16 or older, you’re not eligible for the youth permit—so that leaves three categories for adult hunters. Each permit type has its own separate random draw, so applying to multiple categories increases your odds of drawing something. At this stage, you're applying for the permit only—not a specific hunting area. If you're drawn, your hunt zone will be determined afterward.

Hunt area drawing

Upon successfully drawing an elk permit, you get the opportunity to participate in a second drawing for a hunting unit within the Elk Restoration Zone. In the 2026 season, there are six out of seven elk hunting units available. If you opt to enter the unit drawing, you can choose up to five hunt units of your preference. The state will conduct another random draw to allocate hunters to specific units. Your unit application is considered in its entirety before moving on; if all units on your application are filled, the state will randomly assign you to an available unit. If you choose not to enter the unit drawing or forget, the state will still randomly assign you to an open unit.

Kentucky elk draw odds

For the 2025 season, 500 elk permits were up for grabs through the general lottery draw, which is a decrease from the previous season. This, of course, made these tags just a little bit harder to draw. With quotas staying the same going into the 2026 season, I would not expect much to change. Here are the odds from the 2025 elk draw.

Party applications

Youth opportunities

Regardless of residency status, youth applicants have the opportunity to apply for all four types of elk permits. To be eligible, you must be 15 years old or younger, granting you an extra chance compared to adults. This doesn't imply that you can draw multiple permits, but it does provide a slight edge in securing one. If a youth draws a youth elk permit, they benefit from reduced prices on both the hunting license ($6 for residents, $10 for nonresidents) and the elk permit ($30 for residents, $200 for nonresidents). However, if a youth draws a regular elk permit, standard permit prices apply (listed in the price table above).

2026 Kentucky elk draw and seasons

For the 2026 elk permit drawing, there is no change in tag quotas, with a total of 500 available through the state’s random lottery. With the tag quota staying the same, you can probably expect the odds to be just as bad going into this season. One thing to remember is that even though the odds don’t seem to be very friendly, there’s always a chance to have your name pulled. So, for $10, why not take a shot?

Below are the 2026 tag quotas and season dates:

Elk hunt loyalty redraw​​​​​​

Typically, once the permit drawing is conducted, there are always a few permits that never get claimed, or people don’t pay for. Those unclaimed permits will be redrawn at random, and people who have applied for the most consecutive years in a row will have the first shot at those unclaimed permits. In 2024, there were 46 people who have successfully applied since 2001, and they will be first up to bat for the unclaimed permits.

Elk Hunting Units (EHU)

The Kentucky elk restoration zone is made up of 16 different counties and is divided into seven EHUs — six of which are open for elk hunting. Kentucky is approximately 95% privately owned and much of the public land available for elk hunting receives significant hunting pressure. EHUs were developed in 2019 to reduce the risk of overharvesting elk in any one area. Once a person is successful in drawing an elk permit, they then have the ability to apply for a specific EHU.

The regulated areas within the Elk Restoration Zone are privately owned properties that are, in agreement with the state, to allow limited public access for hunting.

Other elk hunting opportunities

Aside from participating in the elk permit draw, Kentucky offers a couple of alternatives if you want to hunt elk. The first option is available to both residents and nonresidents, while the remaining options are exclusive to landowners within Kentucky.

Everyone has the chance to hunt elk outside the Elk Restoration Zone with tags available over-the-counter. Hunters opting for this must adhere to deer season regulations and utilize the specified elk hunting equipment outlined in the regulations. While this opportunity may seem enticing, in reality, only a few elk are typically harvested outside of the zone. Nonetheless, for those with access and insider knowledge, it's worth a try.

The other opportunities come in the form of landowner-type permits. They offer landowner-cooperator permits, voucher cooperator permits, and restoration permits. 

For more information regarding these programs, go to the Kentucky elk state regulations here.

Kentucky's trophy bull elk

* Nontypical