Kentucky's wildlife commission has proposed license fee increases beginning in 2014.

Among those are an increase for the non-resident "deer permit" to $160 from the current $60.

An increase of $100 for non-residents, who would be spending money on leases, hotels, gas, food, etc. Seems to be quite a jump.

The resident 'deer permit' fee is proposed to increase only five bucks, to $35.

A quota bull elk non-resident permit would jump to $550.

I just scratched Kentucky off my list of states to consider for a deer or elk hunting trip.

That sucks, but still significantly cheaper than IL or even MS

Clem do you have a web link to this? What about the hunting license itself? Is it going up too? Turkey permits?

It will spread to adjoining states, too, if there are reciprocal agreements.

Thats still dirt cheap to hunt a state that is pounding the boone and crockett record book with bucks every year. Most other midwestern states are much more.

I understand it - may not like it, but it makes sense. If you go to any of the higher end WMA's in November, you will see 9 out of 10 out of state tags. I guess the residents complained a little. The demand is there - they'll raise it until nobody pays it. I'm sure locals that utilize those WMA's love it and want it higher.

It is a heck of a lot better deal than the $300/year I have to pay to hunt my own flippin property in Alabama.

I think I'm just going to drive on up to southern Illinois and hunt Lincoln's place.

Clem, any contact info on who we can call and tell them they lost our business?

Kentucky Fish & Wildlife, I guess.

No skin off my back. I know that's not as much as some other states, and they have good deer. I just can't see spending 300 dollars for one buck and a few does, and then having to buy a separate turkey or elk permit. It's nice in Alabama to pay one fee (if you don't have the Lifetime) and not have seasons or weapons parceled up and requiring more stamps or permits and BS.

Illinois costs more than Kentucky, too:

http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/LPR/Pages/Non-ResidentLicensesPermitsFees.aspx

For that $300 you're getting 3 bucks, 2 does a day, and 5 turkeys. Can you pay $300 and kill all that in KY?

I agree Matt, Kentucky has been pounding out some nice bucks.

I have family land to hunt in Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Kansas and South Carolina, just wish I had the time to go hunt those states. Maybe later on in life I will be able to.

Yep, this is crazy, they're trying real hard to make me hunt illegally.I hunt mainly national forest and its getting harder to justify every year.

Ill be hunting kentucky for the first time this year. I hate to hear it may increase but depending on what happens when I hunt there Ill prob still go back every year.

I kind of expected this to happen. Kentucky has been somewhat of a sleeper state for a while. Just trying to put their hand in the cookie jar I suppose. They do have some exceptional public land though so I won't complain too much

I am with you on that. My poor 42 acres taxes are a lot cheaper than my license.

Still one of the best deals for throphy class whitetails in the midwest. I pay $800 in permits and license to hunt in Illinois. If it wasn't family land and I stay at my mothers. I would be going to kentucky or idiana

Stob, if I was hunting public land or for that fact any land other than my own I would not have a problem with paying out of state fees. Unless they have changed it since 5 years ago the fine for out of state hunters w/o a license was about $1000. If I make it through this year I will be $500 in the black, all of which and much more that will be spent improving the deer and turkey populations of the State of Alabama.

Clem,

If you scratch KY off your list based on fees, I guess you plan on staying in AL then. As Matt said, that's still cheap.

I do, and it is.