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Credit: KY State Parks
Learn about wildflowers and enjoy the spring season at Red River Gorge with the Kentucky Native Plant Society’s Wildflower Weekend April 13-14 at Natural Bridge State Resort Park.
The annual event includes hikes at the state park and in Red River Gorge on Friday and Saturday. Admission is $10 for adults, $3 for ages 13-17. Ages 12 and under are free. More information is available at www.knps.org.
Natural Bridge State Resort Park at Slade has a lodge, cottages and restaurant.
There are several other wildflower opportunities at Kentucky State Parks during April and May. They include:
- Second Saturday Hike on wildflowers at Lake Barkley State Resort Park near Cadiz on April 14 starting at 10 a.m.
- Spring Wildflowers and Wild Edibles Hike at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park at Calvert City on April 14 at 10:30 a.m.
- Wildflower Extravaganza at John James Audubon State Park in Henderson on April 14. Hikes start at 9 a.m.
- Wildflower Pilgrimage at Carter Caves State Resort Park at Olive Hill on April 21.
- Wildflower Hikes at Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park near Dawson Springs on April 7 and May 3 at 10 a.m.
- Wild Wonderful Wildflower Hikes at Pine Mountain State Resort Park at Pineville on April 21 starting at 9 a.m.
For more information about these wildflower events, visit http://parks.ky.gov/wildflowers.aspx. For more information about Kentucky State Parks, including lodging and camping reservations, visit www.parks.ky.gov.
Managing a deer herd across 120 counties is a science for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
In some areas of the state, deer numbers are above desired levels. Overpopulation hurts herd quality, leading to smaller and less healthy deer. Too many deer also means increased habitat and crop damage. In other parts, particularly in areas of east Kentucky, biologists and hunters want more deer on the landscape.
“Hunting is the most effective way to manage the deer population,” Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Deer Program Coordinator Gabe Jenkins said. “Wildlife managers do so by adjusting seasons, bag limits and methods to achieve goals. We need hunters to take more does in Zone 1 counties.”
Changes to hunting regulations are sometimes necessary to work toward an ideal deer population, he added.
The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission recommended a number of proposals at its March 23 meeting that address both ends of the spectrum.
The proposals accepted by commission members are the culmination of a three-year process of public input and scientific review. During this time, department staff compiled an extensive review of deer data, surveyed hunters, conducted numerous internal advisory group meetings, formed a deer working group of interested hunters to gather input and then discussed the proposals during public meetings of the commission’s wildlife committee and the full commission.
Jenkins will discuss the proposals during a special Facebook Live program moderated by Kentucky Afield television at 8 p.m. (Eastern time) Monday, April 9. Visit the Kentucky Afield Facebook page (www.facebook.com/KentuckyAfieldTV) to watch this program and submit questions.
Following are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the new deer hunting proposals.
Q: Why expand the modern gun deer season from 10 days to 16 days in Zones 3 and 4 counties when populations are low and many of these counties in east Kentucky were hit hard by last year’s epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) outbreak?
Hunters have expressed to the department a strong desire to expand the modern gun season in Zones 3 and 4. Going from a 10- to 16-day season would provide them with more days afield and simplify regulations.
The department understands some are concerned about potential overharvest in these zones, especially after last year’s EHD outbreak. Some other modifications to harvest rules in Zones 3 and 4 were proposed to prevent overharvest and encourage population growth in the deer herd, yet still allow for a 16-day modern gun season.
Q: What else is changing for Zone 3?
In past seasons, hunters could harvest up to four deer (one antlered and three antlerless, or up to four antlerless deer total) in Zone 3. Two of the allowed four deer in Zone 3 could be taken with a gun.
The department wants to reduce the number of antlerless deer harvested with a gun in Zone 3 to prevent overharvest and encourage population growth. Under its proposal, hunters could still harvest up to four deer in Zone 3 but only one antlerless deer could be taken with a gun.
When a county moves from a Zone 4 to a Zone 3, the increase in antlerless harvest jumps. Reducing the number of antlerless deer that can be taken with a gun in Zone 3 will soften the transition when a county moves from a Zone 4 to a Zone 3.
Q: What else is changing for Zone 4?
The department has proposed a reduction in the Zone 4 bag limit, from four deer to two. Of those two, only one could be an antlerless deer. The statewide bag limit of one antlered deer still applies.
Adjusting the bag limit for antlerless deer will reduce the antlerless deer harvest in Zone 4 counties and foster quicker population growth than observed under the current regulations.
While the statewide deer permit would include up to four deer (see below), only two could be taken in Zone 4.
Q: What is changing with the statewide deer permit?
Currently, a hunter can harvest up to two deer with a statewide deer permit. The department has proposed raising that to four deer without raising the permit price for residents.
Hunters have indicated that buying an additional deer permit is a barrier to them taking additional deer. In the department’s 2015 deer hunter survey, the majority of respondents either supported or did not oppose this change, and said they would harvest more deer under this modification. Changing the statewide deer permit to four deer offers more opportunity and makes it more user friendly.
Hunters would still be limited to one antlered deer statewide.
Q: If the statewide deer permit is changing, how will it affect the additional deer permit?
In previous seasons, a hunter who wanted to harvest more than two deer needed to buy an additional deer permit. Each additional deer permit allowed the hunter to harvest two deer.
Due to the recommended increase with the statewide deer permit, and with less than 1 percent of hunters harvesting more than four deer each year, an overwhelming number will no longer need to buy an additional deer permit.
For those hunters who want to harvest more than four deer, the new additional deer permit proposed by the department would allow them to take up to 15 extra deer.
Zone bag limits apply. Hunters could only take two deer in Zone 4, four deer in Zone 3, four deer in Zone 2 and an unlimited number of antlerless deer in Zone 1. Hunters would still be limited to one antlered deer statewide.
Q: Why propose a Zone 1-only, modern gun season for antlerless deer in late September?
A Zone 1 designation means the deer population exceeds social or biological goals. This proposed season would be open in Zone 1 counties during the last weekend in September. Archery hunters could still hunt and harvest an antlered deer during this new season but would be required to wear hunter orange.
In an effort to reduce deer populations to acceptable levels in Zone 1 counties, more antlerless deer need to be harvested. Removing deer before acorns drop from oak trees will leave more food available for those remaining, resulting in healthier deer entering breeding season and over winter.
As for its possible effect on antlered deer during this weekend, bucks typically move at night and their patterns are unpredictable during daylight hours. An average of only 82 antlered deer are harvested during this timeframe in Zone 1 counties, the lowest of any weekend during the deer season.
Deer processors would be notified about this new season.
Q: Are these proposed changes effective immediately?
No. Legislative review is still required. The proposed administrative regulations will be filed with the Legislative Research Commission (LRC) by April 13. At that time, written comments on the proposed administrative regulation will be accepted through May 31. Written comments may be sent by email to fwpubliccomments@ky.gov or by regular mail to Mark Cramer, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Arnold L. Mitchell Building, 1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, KY 40601.
Submitted comments will be thoroughly reviewed and responses provided in a Statement of Consideration after the public comment period. That document will be filed with the LRC.
Credit: KY State Parks
Tickets are on sale for the annual “Owl Prowl Weekend” at Lake Barkley State Resort Park on April 20-21.
The weekend features nighttime van tours that last about three hours looking for owls and other wildlife. Tickets include programs that start at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. The Saturday night program features live owls from the World Bird Sanctuary The van tours start at 9 p.m.
Tickets are $35 a person. Limited seating is available. For tickets or additional information call the lodge at 270-924-1131 or email nick.edmonds@ky.gov
In addition to a lodge, the park includes cottages, the Windows on the Water Restaurant, a seasonal campground, 18-hole golf course, fitness center with indoor pool, marina, fishing, tennis courts, hiking trails, gift shop, and recreational and nature programming. The park is near Cadiz and the Land Between the Lakes, at 3500 State Park Road just off Interstate 24. Exit at Highway 68. From the exit go west toward Cadiz and the park.
Mayor Greg Fischer unveiled eleven new propane powered mowers that have replaced worn out gasoline mowers. The propane mowers will run cleaner, cheaper and quieter than gasoline mowers.
That will help achieve goals set in the mayor’s Sustain Louisville plan to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. Propane-powered mowers put out approximately 20 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline mowers. They also put out about 45 percent fewer carbon monoxide emissions, as well as fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to summertime ozone.
Five city departments responsible for mowing will receive the new propane mowers. That includes the Louisville Zoo, the Vacant Lots Division of Codes & Regulations, Metro Parks, Public Works, and the Metro Facilities Division. These departments manage grass growth on all city owned property as well as vacant and abandoned private properties.
The propane mowers, at $9,500 each, cost less than 3 percent more than gasoline mowers but will cost about 25 percent less to run based on March 2018 per gallon fuel prices of $2.39 for gasoline and $1.76 for propane. They were purchased and will be maintained by the Metro Fleet Division.
“The new mowers will quickly pay for themselves in terms of reduced fuel cost,” Mayor Fischer said. “And they’re not just better for the bottom line. They’re also better for our environment.”
Because the propane mowers run so much cleaner, city crews will be able to mow even on Air Quality Alert days, when people are asked not to use their gasoline mowers. Since city crews follow the same restriction, they have had to stop mowing multiple times per season during the air alerts. Now they’ll be able to keep cutting without unduly adding to the pollution problem.
Metro Fleet bought 11 propane mowers this year. That still leaves 68 gasoline-powered mowers in the city fleet. Plans call for buying more propane mowers in the future to replace gasoline mowers as they wear out.
“That will allow us to continue to make improvements in sustainability while also keeping our city looking good,” Mayor Fischer said.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
President David James (D-6) is looking for a few volunteers with time on their hands this Saturday who are willing to take part in two different cleanups and show their community pride.
“I want to invite everyone to come out and join us this Saturday. Anytime we make any part of District 6 a better place for the people who live here, it benefits everyone in the district,” says President James. “We are fortunate to always have a great turn out of volunteers for these events and I am hopeful everyone will help us out.”
Volunteers need to show up at 12:00pm for the cleanup which is scheduled to last through 3:00pm.
There are two areas set for a cleanup this Saturday. One is Dumesnil between 17th and 18th Streets and then the second is at West Ormsby between the 1500 and 1800 blocks. Volunteers should meet at the corner of 18th and Dumesnil and then the cleanups will begin.
There will be a limited number of shovels, rakes and brooms, gloves and bags. If any volunteers have their own yard equipment please bring it them with you.
“So if you have the time, come join us and have some fun and help us make a different in our community,” says President James.
In the event of inclement weather, the cleanups will be moved forward to Saturday, April 14th.
For more information about the cleanups, contact President James Office at 502-574-1106.
The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission has recommended expanding modern gun season for deer to 16 days statewide, increasing the number of deer allowed on a statewide permit from two to four, and increasing some license and permit fees for non-residents.
The proposals were among multiple recommendations to deer, waterfowl and migratory bird seasons made by commission members at their March 23 meeting in Frankfort.
The commission recommends hunting, fishing and boating regulations for approval by the Kentucky General Assembly. Legislators must approve all recommendations before they become law.
The changes recommended by commission members are designed to help thin the state’s deer herd in more densely populated areas while boosting numbers where deer populations are lower than desired. Changes also will boost many opportunities for hunters.
All deer-related regulations will go into effect for the 2018-2019 seasons, if approved by legislators. Click the “details” link for more information on each change.
Deer-related recommendations approved by the commission include:
- Creating an antlerless-only modern gun hunt during the last weekend of September in Zone 1 counties. (details)
- Expanding the modern gun deer season to 16 days statewide. (details)
- Modifying the statewide deer permit from a two-deer limit to four deer (details), and the youth deer permit from a one-deer limit to four deer. (details) Hunters would still be limited to one antlered deer statewide, regardless of zone or method.
- Changing the following counties from Zone 2 to Zone 1: Union, Henderson, McLean, Muhlenberg, Todd, Mercer, Mason and Hart. (details)
- Changing the following counties from Zone 3 to Zone 2: Warren, Allen, Monroe, Barren, Metcalfe, Adair, Edmonson, Butler, Breckinridge, Meade, Hancock, Daviess, Taylor, Casey, Lincoln, Boyle, Madison, Clark, Montgomery and Bath. (details)
- Changing the following counties from Zone 4 to Zone 3: Garrard, Pulaski, Wayne and Laurel. (details)
- Allowing hunters to take only one antlerless deer with a firearm in Zone 3. (details)
- Setting a Zone 4 season bag limit of two deer, consisting of one antlered and one antlerless deer. Antlerless deer could only be taken during youth gun seasons, during archery and crossbow seasons, or the last three days of the December muzzleloader season. (details)
- Allowing hunters to take a bag limit of deer in each zone, independent of the other zone’s bag limits. (details)
- Modifying the additional deer permit from a two-deer limit to 15 deer. Hunters would still be limited to one antlered deer statewide, regardless of zone or method. (details)
- Prohibiting devices designed to entangle and trap the antlers of a deer. (details)
- Creating a special deer hunt program that would allow modern gun hunts for deer outside of the normal season. This would only apply to nonprofit conservation organizations working under Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s recruitment, retention and re-activation guidelines. (details)
- Allowing a person to use an unlimited number of deer control tags. The current limit is five tags. (details)
- Removing the requirement to sign a deer control tag at the time of transfer from landowner to hunter. (details)
- Requiring the hunter to sign a deer control tag at the time of harvest. (details)
Commission members also took several steps at their meeting to simplify some waterfowl regulations and to increase opportunities for hunters. Waterfowl regulations will go into effect for the 2018-2019 seasons, if approved by legislators. Recommendations include:
- Increasing the northern pintail daily bag limit from one bird to two for the 2018-2019 duck seasons. (details)
- Changing Northeast Goose Zone season dates to correspond to the statewide goose seasons. (details)
- Removing the September closure for goose hunting in the Northeast Goose Zone and the West-Central Goose Zone. (details)
Commissioners also made several recommendations affecting Sloughs Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Henderson and Union counties. These include:
- Allowing expanded waterfowl quota hunts on the Sauerheber Unit. (details)
- Removing blind site hunting restrictions on the Sauerheber Unit. (details)
- Developing a check-in system for quota hunt participants on the Sauerheber Unit. (details)
- Creating a lottery for unclaimed blinds or hunt sites on the Sauerheber Unit (details) and removing the ability to occupy unclaimed blinds. (details)
- Creating a quota hunt for the Jenny Hole Unit, with spots allocated by a weekly drawing. (details)
- Closing the Jenny Hole Unit to waterfowl hunting, except for quota hunt participants. (details)
- Prohibiting boat use on the Jenny Hole Unit from Thanksgiving Day to the last Sunday in January, except for quota hunt participants during limited hours. (details)
Recommendations affecting Ballard WMA in western Kentucky include:
- Removing the requirement to hunt from a blind in the Ballard Zone. (details)
- Mandating that hunters accurately report waterfowl harvest on their harvest cards. (details)
Commission members proposed several changes to the existing regulations governing sandhill crane hunting. These would expand hunting opportunities and establish a second refugee area on public property. Proposals include:
- Changing the sandhill crane quota hunt application period from late November to the month of September to align it with quota hunt application periods of other game species. (details)
- Increasing the number of sandhill crane permits and tags issued. (details)
- Lengthening the sandhill crane season and increasing the statewide bag limit. (details)
- Allowing hunters to take more than two birds in a season, if they have the required number of tags. (details)
- Requiring participants to buy a hunting license by Sept. 30 to be eligible for a permit. (details)
- Establishing a new refuge for roosting birds by closing portions of Green River Lake to sandhill crane hunting. (details)
In fisheries-related business, the commission proposed new fishing regulations for Rockcastle River WMA in Pulaski County. These include a daily creel limit of 10 bluegill or other sunfish, four catfish, 15 crappie and one largemouth bass that must be greater than 15 inches long.
Commissioners also recommended adding mooneye and goldeye to the restricted movement list of fish species to help blunt the spread of Asian carp into new waterbodies.
The commission also proposed changing some non-resident license and permit fees. (details)
The next regularly scheduled Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting will be 8:30 a.m. (Eastern time), Friday, June 8, 2018. Meetings are held at Kentucky Fish and Wildlife headquarters, located at 1 Sportsman’s Lane off U.S. 60 in Frankfort.
Photo: Louisville Metro Council
President David James (D-6) is moving forward with developing a new neighborhood plan for the California/Victory Park community and is asking the people of area to participate in a process that will maintain the area’s culture, history and community goals.
“The California neighborhood was first created back in the mid 1800’s and as you can imagine there have been significant changes over the years. The last time the neighborhood saw a finalized plan of action was more than 30 years ago. Now, I am asking the residents and businesses in the area to have a say as to where we go from here,” said James.
The current plan was finalized in 1982. It covers an area consisting of Broadway to the north, Oak Street to the south, 9th Street to the east and 26th Street to the west.
This new planning process will be managed by Louisville Forward’s Office of Advanced Planning and a team of local planning and neighborhood advocacy consultants with a history of working in the neighborhood. But before any plan can be fashioned, there must be comments from those the plan will serve.
“If you have lived here all your life or just moved into the neighborhood, we want to hear from you. I want to hear from everyone, both homeowners and businesses leaders, young and old,” said President James.
The process, which is anticipated to take 9-12 months to complete, will begin with an inclusive, community engagement process. During this initial phase, the team of consultants will spend two to three months actively canvasing the neighborhood, encouraging community participation in the planning process.
The finished plan will focus on maintain the community’s strengths of culture and heritage and how can neighborhood health, economic opportunity and environmental resilience be improved.
Neighborhood plans provide a means to identify, preserve and build on the positive qualities of the neighborhood and set goals and priorities that will shape the future of the area in the years to come. Other benefits of a neighborhood plan include adoption into metro government; a plan can guide future development, encourage public-private partnerships, and provide the opportunity to leverage dedicated funding.
“So I want to encourage everyone to get involved. The goal is to help the California/Victory Park maintain its uniqueness while look towards the needs of the future,” says James. “We need your thoughts and ideas and together we can continue to make this area one of the best in Metro Louisville.”
