Kentucky DFWR adding some more TeleCheck data-gathering to the citizenry's hunting requirements this season. Check out the graph third from the bottom - if you don't have the info they want, you don't get a confirmation number until you get the info for them.

:

FRANKFORT, KY— Starting this season, hunters will be asked to provide additional information about their harvested deer and elk during the telecheck process.

All harvested deer and elk must be reported to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources either by phone at 1-800-245-4263 or online telecheck at fw.ky.gov.

Those checking an antlerless male deer will now be asked to distinguish it as a male fawn – also known as a button buck – or as an adult that has shed its antlers. Hunters checking an antlered deer will be asked to enter the total number of antler points measuring 1 inch or longer and indicate if the outside antler spread is greater or less than 11 inches. The outside spread is the widest distance between the outside of the main beam antlers

"In most cases, a yearling buck in this state is going to have an antler spread of less than 11 inches," said Gabe Jenkins, deer program coordinator for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. "We also liked 11 inches because it's an easy guide. A sheet of standard letter-sized paper is 11 inches."

Elk hunters also will be asked to enter the total number of antler points measuring 1 inch or longer.

Callers who do not have the required information will be asked to call back once they have it in order to complete the telecheck process and receive a confirmation number.

Answering these new questions in addition to the existing ones will help Kentucky Fish and Wildlife biologists better estimate the size and age of the state's deer and elk herds.

"Telecheck is a data collection tool," Jenkins said. "This is just one more step that we feel is warranted to better manage the populations."

The last sentence sums it up pretty well......

"This is just one more step that we feel is warranted to better manage the populations."

Or even more narrowly defined: "This is just one more step ..."

and another step and another step.......

Yep. Exactly.

I have no problem with it.

Sounds like in the future it may be a requirement to send a picture of the animal for verification before you pull the trigger......................

Oh lord can't go to Kentucky now. They have Game Check too

J/K

Heard about this but wondered when it would hit the press.

And I will be going to KY this year. Be interesting to see how different the two systems are.

Kentucky's agency is pretty good about sending out press releases to the news media and public in a timely manner before something occurs.

I'm sure the the info about button bucks v. shed antlers and antler point/width probably will be incredibly exciting to agency numbers-crunchers, too. More data, of course. The button v. shed info likely will be good for "post rut" season dates and/or closures, I'd guess. Or to help with adding dates where populations are too high, perhaps?

It seems like hunters would be able to see bloody or scabby knots on a deer's head with open eye or binos, before choosing to shoot. Knotheads, yeah, those little bastages can be tricky but even then using binos and patience helps. Have heard some Arkansas hunters say they don't go in February because they're tired and ready to fish, and if bucks have shed then they don't want to accidentally shoot one even if it's considered antlerless because ... "it could be a good one next year."

From the little I keep up with the guys I know there, the shed buck info will be interesting. I would be guessing on any reasoning though.

I think it will be, too. Y'all should add some questions now to GC before the season opens. Still have time. Might as well load up at the starting line.

No problem with answering these questions whatsoever. The entire process of registering an animal whether it be deer or turkey in Kentucky takes about 60 seconds. If the powers that be up there think this step will improve the management of the herd in general I'll answer what color of underwear I'm wearing while shooting said fawn if requested😂😂

I think we're good for now

It still amazes me that people don't have a problem with this sort of stuff, but will be damned if the government wants to end face to face gun sales, etc. It doesn't seem very consistent philosophically to me. They're both rights.

Hush, Rem270. You're making sense and some folks can't take that.

I know. I need some re-education.

Great song!

If Kentucky would let me have an Elk tag I'll gladly tell them how many points the one I kill has.

I've telechecked every one I've killed there. It isn't a bother at all to do. Plus being that I only hunt public land its nice to be able to see what has been checked for the year to date. There's also a lot of historical info available that gives some insight into how good a place is and what kind of pressure is put on it. All are things that have always seemed useful to me in trying to choose where to hunt in KY. Also I've never spoken to any locals there that are affiliated with their DNR that have not been more than willing to help me and usually their info is very reliable. I'll be sitting in one of their trees opening day and can't wait. Just my 2 cents.