Leslie County, Kentucky
Unit info
- Game species
- White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, Elk, Black Bear
- Group
- Eastern Mountains
- Area
- N/A
- Public land
- N/A
Elk — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 30
Draw odds for Elkaren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
Black Bear — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 38
Draw odds for Black Beararen't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 565
Draw odds for White-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
Eastern Wild Turkey — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 121
Draw odds for Eastern Wild Turkeyaren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
Season & harvest data is published for Elk, Black Bear, White-tailed Deer, Eastern Wild Turkey so far. Wild Turkey also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.
About this unit
Sign in to contributeLeslie County is the epicenter of Kentucky's remarkable elk restoration success, hosting some of the largest bull elk east of the Mississippi River in a rugged landscape centered on the Redbird Ranger District of Daniel Boone National Forest. The county's extensive public land, remote terrain, and thriving elk herd make it the most sought-after elk draw destination in the eastern United States, with mature bulls regularly exceeding Boone and Crockett minimums. White-tailed deer, wild turkey, and black bear round out a big-game menu that rivals western states for sheer variety.
Deeply dissected Appalachian plateau with steep, heavily wooded ridges and narrow creek hollows; the Redbird Purchase Unit of Daniel Boone National Forest covers a substantial block of the county providing an extensive contiguous public land base
Redbird Ranger District of Daniel Boone National Forest provides extensive public hunting ground with established trail networks and seasonal forest roads; the county has among the highest ratios of public-to-private land in eastern Kentucky
Low to moderate overall — elk draw winners may encounter some competition near active bulls, but deer and turkey hunting is remarkably uncrowded given the substantial public land base
Over-the-counter archery and firearms tags; premium limited-entry elk licenses by competitive annual draw
Leslie County is the crown jewel of Kentucky elk hunting with mature bulls regularly exceeding Boone and Crockett minimums; black bear hunting quota seasons are open; turkey are excellent throughout the Redbird national forest
Kentucky premier elk county and home of the Redbird Ranger District of Daniel Boone National Forest; black bear hunting alongside trophy elk makes Leslie one of the most complete big-game counties east of the Mississippi River
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about Leslie County— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.
Nothing posted yet about Leslie County.
Be the first — ask a question (“Best public access on the north end?”) or share a tip (“Glass the burn scars off the main ridge at first light”).
Boundaries: KDFWR county-based deer management units. Community info last updated 106d ago.