Kentucky Crossbow Changes
Starting in 2019, Kentucky will be liberalizing its Crossbow Season for deer. The changes were adopted last week:
Here are the details:
MAJOR CHANGES TO KENTUCKY CROSSBOW SEASON FOR 2019-2020
The KDFWR Commission met on Friday, June 15, 2019. Kentucky Crossbow
Federation president Perry McClure was present, along with other KCF
members. At that meeting, they approved the following for the 2019-2020
hunting season.
- The crossbow season will begin on the 3^rd Saturday of September and run continuously until the third Monday in January.
- Youth under the age of 16 may hunt with a crossbow starting on the first Saturday in September.
If you ask me, this is big step forward. I’ve had a medical exemption to shoot crossbow for about a decade. I tried it. It was fun, but it wasn’t like shooting deer with a rifle. I started using a crossbow when my shoulder gave out and I had to give up the compound bow back in 2007. I found crossbow hunting to be okay, but clumsy and clunky. I finally gave up and used the extra time in September and October to scout.
I grew up hunting in Ohio, and Buckeye hunters have been able to shoot with crossbow for decades. No, it doesn’t mean all the deer are going to be dead before the Rifle Opener. No, it doesn’t mean the crossbow hunters are going to shoot your wives and children. This is a positive change.
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The changes are very good, and very welcomed by me anyway. I have a lifetime exemption to use a crossbow as well. I just wish they would stop messing around and give KY a full crossbow season. Leaving out the first three weeks of September is just petty.
Petty? Maybe. However, there are darn few deer taken in September, crossbow or not. Also look for a new antlerless firearms weekend beginning 3rd Saturday in September coming soon.
Exactly. There are few deer taken in September, and a full crossbow inclusion in those first 3 weeks in September would make a negligible difference in those numbers.
So yes, not allowing the crossbow season to ride along with the archery season in September is very petty. Brought on by elitist bowhunters that are holding on to their exclusive season dates for dear life.