GOLDEN POND, KY—The 2008-2009 Land Between The Lakes (LBL) deer archery season opens Saturday, Sept. 27. Several changes have been made to improve the deer herd as well as deer hunting at LBL. Changes include an LBL-wide one buck per hunter limit, all either-sex permits for quota hunts, split-season archery dates, and a new crossbow season for the Kentucky portion.

The one buck limit and all either-sex permits for quota hunts will help to improve the herd’s sex ratio and allow more bucks to reach older age classes.

The split-season archery dates will allow a longer break between archery hunts and quota hunts to allow for a rest period for the deer. The archery season in the Kentucky portion is Sept. 27-Oct. 19, Nov. 3-23 and Dec. 1-Jan. 19. The new crossbow season in the Kentucky portion is Oct. 1-19, Nov. 8-23, and Dec. 1-31. The combined archery and crossbow season in Tennessee is Sept. 27-Oct. 12, Oct. 20-Nov 2, Nov. 10-23 and Dec. 1-Jan. 19. Hunters may harvest two white-tailed deer during LBL's 2008-09 archery season, including one antlered buck, unless a buck has already been harvested on LBL. Appropriately licensed archers can also harvest one turkey (of either sex), squirrels, woodchucks, feral hogs, and coyotes.

Deer harvested on both the Kentucky portion and the Tennessee portion of LBL do not count toward the statewide deer bag limit—they are bonus deer.

Hunters are not required to check in for deer archery hunting at LBL, but must have a valid state hunting license, big game tag, and hunters age 16 and over need to have an LBL Hunter Use Permit ($20). A Hunter Safety Card is also required as specified by state law. LBL permits are available at LBL Welcome Stations, the Golden Pond Visitor Center, and wherever Kentucky and Tennessee state hunting licenses are sold.

All hunters must abide by regulations in the 2008-09 Deer Hunting Information sheet. Information sheets are available at all LBL visitor facilities and on the Internet at www.lbl.org. For more information visit LBL on the internet or call 270-924-2065 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Land Between The Lakes is managed by the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with “Friends of LBL,” to provide public lands outdoor recreation and environmental education. We encourage visitors to review our website at www.lbl.org each season, and throughout the season, for our Calendar of Events, updates on programs and policies, and temporary trail and road closures. Additional LBL information is also available on our website or by calling 1-800-LBL-7077 or 270-924-2000. You can find out more about “Friends of LBL” at www.friendsoflbl.org.