Contact: John Culclasure, Southeastern States Director
Why It Matters: Public engagement on proposed rule amendments is critical to the rulemaking process. Fish and wildlife are public trust resources, and the KDFWR stewards these resources on behalf of the citizens of the Commonwealth through science-based decision making.
Among others, the proposed amendments include:
Last year CWD was detected near the Kentucky border in Tennessee, and the KDFWR consequently activated its CWD Response Plan. Additional information about CWD preventative measures in Kentucky can be accessed here.
Tackling CWD has been a priority for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) at the state and federal levels for many years. CSF has supported state regulations that strengthened cervid import rules to try to prevent CWD from moving into another state, and CSF has also advocated for increased state funding to support state wildlife managers in their implementation of CWD response plans. Additionally, CSF has been a staunch advocate for the passage of the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act.
Moreover, the Kentucky Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and CSF played a leading role in the expansion of crossbow allowances in Kentucky that significantly expanded access and opportunity for youth and adult hunters. Youth crossbow season is fully concurrent with the vertical archery season, and adult crossbow season comprises all but the first two weeks of vertical archery season.
A public hearing will be held on August 24 at the KDFWR Administration Building in Frankfort. The deadline to submit comments is August 31. Comments can be emailed to fwpubliccomments@ky.gov.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
