WMA Management Levels Wildlife Management Areas Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are properties owned or managed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources for conservation and public access. All Rights Reserved. If you are strickly interested in a good quality buck, you'll need to hike a good ways or travel by boat into hard to reach areas. No permanent stands, etc. Deer were trapped and moved all over the state, so "our deer are quite genetically homogenous," Yancy said. FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 23, 2020) Hunters interested in the open firearms deer hunt at West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in McCracken County are advised that the sign-up process and some procedures will be different for the three-day opportunity in January. There are deer in there, but the horse people screwing around with their dogs will likely increase the difficulty of a hunt. In rare cases, wild whitetails can live for Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. Kentucky is one of the premier deer hunting states in the country, with many regions experiencing a year-by-year increase in deer population and harvest. NOTE: Some of the below hunts may be by pre-application lottery. Hunter cards and instruction sheets will be provided before Jan. 16 to those registered for the hunt. It will tell you how many were killed each year and with what weapon. JavaScript is disabled. Never hunted there, curious to see if anyone had any information on the place (what tract to hunt, what to setup on, etc.) At most wma's you need to scout a lot & then travel deep to the perfect spot. With a little research and hard work, metro hunters can successfully . Size: 8,600 acres Map reading is probably one of my best qualities in bowhunting.(served 8 years in the army). Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. However, I just love the moment to be with my father as we try and tag out. Good luck. For details, see individual WMA schedules, contact any Field Office, or visit our website at www.wlf.louisiana.gov. It's a state with a great reputation for big deer, but in producing them, it appears to violate many of the rules of how to manage deer with that in mind. Top 5 Kentucky Public Hunting Area 21,688 views Oct 16, 2017 90 Dislike Share LandRater.com 574 subscribers Top 5 Kentucky Public Hunting Areas for Deer and Turkey Explore public land in your. I would hunt in area 4 right across the road from the A area. Whatever the reason, Kentucky has indeed managed to find the "sweet spot" of hunting opportunity for trophy deer. The cards must be visible from the windshield of each hunters vehicle while hunting and returned to a drop box at a designated location on the WMA. Some hunts are mentored hunts for youth and accompanying adults. The Purchase Region was the only area besides Blue Grass where more than 3,000 bucks were bagged in a single county and it had the second largest harvest in the state. 1 buck killed in Kentucky in 2006 an incredible 19-pointer that measured 246 3/8. Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Oct 20, 2004 #2 G glenmorebuckman 6 pointer Dec 20, 2003 468 Glenmore, Ky, USA. "Also, deer population density averages about 20 animals per square mile. "There's a selective mindset among many hunters and landowners, which results in most small bucks getting a free pass.". Good wma not much pressure and a lot of places for a big buck to hide. Hunters can hunt squirrel, white-tailed deer, wild turkey and resident Canadian geese during the specified seasons. Sprawling across Ohio, Muhlenberg and Hopkins counties, this rolling, brushy upland habitat with many wooded creek bottoms has no antler restrictions, and hunters can take up to four deer. . "Catoosa is one of the more popular public hunting areas in the state for big deer," according to Ratajczak. I will once again be maintaining a report detailing the results for WMA Deer hunts for the 2022/2023 season. Lace your boots up and put some time in now. In addition, archery hunters will for the first time have the run of Ballard from September 1 to October 14; after that, all but 400 acres will close to provide refuge to migrating waterfowl. Subscriber Services. Hunters will have their best chance of scoring a nice deer from the opening day of archery season (Sept. 4) through the closing of the restricted areas. You are using an out of date browser. No vehicles/ATV's. JavaScript is disabled. That's probably because in this region moderate deer numbers live among the state's most optimum juxtaposition of row-crop agriculture and oak-hickory woodlands.". Anyone else know anything about this hunt? Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. You must log in or register to reply here. Surrounded by private land, there are some pinch points along the fence lines where I have seen deer travel back and forth. Tract 1, Tract 4 and Tract 4A, Tract 5, Other. Signups will not be accepted once all slots have been filled. We provide our hunters with an exciting Whitetail deer hunting experience in a true wilderness setting. Most hunting and fishing opportunities align with Kentucky state seasons and bag limits. . I harvested a doe at Rich in late September, and had a chance at a few small bucks that I passed one. Only one antlered deer per hunter may be harvested statewide, regardless of zone, method or season. You are using an out of date browser. Iowa Bowhunter Goes Stealth Mode with a Tree Saddle to Bag 194-inch Non-typical, Missouri Hunter Shoots 25-point Ozark Giant with Limited Time to Hunt, Hunters Must Lead the Fight Against Invasive Species, Understanding Non-Verbal Whitetail Communication, A Look Back at No. Good deer, turkey, waterfowl and small game hunting. While some places around the lake are limited, there are sizable parcels of land that offer land features that attract deer. West Kentucky WMA deer hunt spots reduced because of flooding Dave Baker/Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife 800-858-1549 KY FRANKFORT, Ky. (Jan. 14, 2020) High water from the Ohio River continues to impact portions of West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in McCracken County. some buddies of mine and i got drawn there to hunt in 2001 man, the area looked really promising, food plots, creek bottoms, hardwoods.. in two days of hard hunting, we saw 2 deer!!!!! Terrain: Moderate; Hill country, with steep ridges in places. 5 because the lack of quality bucks that I have seen. View all 40 pictures. Entrance GPS coordinates: Latitude N 37.1332, Longitude W -88.8139 Area Habitat: open land 34.74%, forest 46.58%, wetland 18.09%, open water 0.62%. I always hunt about 100 from the road in the small strip of woods. ZIP: 42056. I have been putting in for the Land Between the Lakes quota hunt. As the accompanying map illustrates, no single county has them to itself. Georgia Hunting Leases Available NOW!100 acres prime deer Oct 16 South Texas Dove Hunting/Lease San Antonio $60 Oct 16 South Texas .Louisiana - On July 19, 2022, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) released its 2022-23 hunting regulations pamphlet online. The majority of Ballard WMA is closed to visitation Oct. 15-March 15. 2022 Commonwealth of Kentucky. Do what i did, go through every wma on KDFW website, write down name, # or acres. This allows them to keep an eye out for any predator or hunter that may enter the bedding area. And the first of those reasons is the number of hunters. Of all the counties in this area, Hopkins, Hardin, Hart, Webster and Breckinridge offer the best chances for success at bagging a buck. Search the dept website and check harvest numbers on wmas. Be sure to always check regulations before an adventure Kentucky public land deer hunting. July 26, 2022 By Bernie Barringer. (Author image) Sportsmen and women have it pretty good in my home state of Kentucky. 1 Pope and Young Bucks Before They Were Beat, Two Brothers' Shed Hunting Strategy Yields Non-Typical Match Set in Missouri, Potential Kentucky State Record Crossbow Typical Shot in Hemp Field, Night Hunting for Predators Will Help Your Deer Herd, Michigan Hunter Shoots 200-class Non-typical After Oversleeping That Morning, Saskatchewan Hunter Finds Target Sheds After Looking for Multiple Days, Dr. Terrain: Hard; You can experience a big change in elevation when hunting this area. I also missed 1 of the 2 bucks I have shot at with a bow in that small strip of woods. ZIP: 42327. Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Kleber in Franklin and Owen co. Is good! Rich WMA is often an overlooked public land hunting area because it is the next-door-neighbor to Kleber WMA, a hotbed for deer. Itll make you a better deer hunter and itll make you prouder of your accomplishment when you do find the deer your after. One of the reasons Pennyrile sustains a nice deer herd is because hunting access to the park is not easy. Breckinridge and Grayson Counties are also known as two of the best counties in the state. If you want public land, hunt the Shawnee N.F. Instead of in-person signups, registration will be by phone and email only. $61,810. Land that once gave up coal to huge strip mine shovels now regularly yields 120- and 130-class bucks. Whatever the reason, Kentucky has indeed managed to find the "sweet spot" of hunting opportunity for trophy deer. *Our Gear. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Its also home to the No. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. Or you could shoot 216 does and no bucks. CLOTHING - Get 10% off Legendary Whitetails gear w/code THP18 http://bit. The deer are so abundant in the Blue Grass Region that hunters harvested more deer in this area than in the northeast and southeast regions combined. Camp is setup in Kentucky! I think I may get drawn this coming season. U are right and it looks good from what I have seen. All rights reserved. This is a place that is enjoyed by visitors all year round. I know nothing about this state and being this far away I would be going by your guys help. You are using an out of date browser. Always saw several deer and tons of buck sign. Nevertheless, whenever this resident of western Kentucky has an opportunity to turn loose his pack of beagles in prime swamp rabbit habitat, deer hunting usually becomes a secondary priority. when you hunted was the wma divided into tracts? The Green River Region has long been regarded as a trophy buck host area, with the best counties being Ohio, Logan, Hopkins and Todd, according to Game and Fishing magazine. This will allow you to hunt areas of Pennyrile that are nearly impossible to get to by foot and should open up a good opportunity to hunt a more mature buck on the property. "No, not really," he says. Hardin County was the number one deer producing county in the entire state of Kentucky last season. We take our hunter's comfort seriously and that's why we try to provide each of our guests with their own private, cabin style room. I'll try & drive out there after work today & see if theres any new info at the hunter check station. There are some WMA's, like the dam/Peninusula area at Barren River Reservoir that are primitive weapons only. The best hunting area I have found is Fort Knox military reservation.deer numbers are good (not as good as when I started hunting there in the 1990s though) and the CHANCE for a B&C buck is legitimate (Ft Knox posts lots of pictures of big bucks harvested each year). The Bluegrass State's production of older bucks quickly began to rise. Fee, advance application required of deer, waterfowl hunters. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Walnut Road, Lot #WP001 , Boaz, KY 42027 (Graves County) Size: 21.5 acres . What would you guys consider the best WMA for deer numbers and best chance to get one with a bow ? If any old whitetail just won't do and you're on the hunt for trophy bucks, Kentucky has you covered. For more on record-class bow bucks from Kentucky and across North America, visit Pope and Young Club. Kentucky Guided Hunting Trips Most of the SRO Crew Contact us today! Probably wont be able to get in to scout as im in college and i get out that friday before the start of the hunt. "So it's productive habitat. i also agree about about your timing. Changing the big game license to individual licenses for deer and turkey. Deer: Balancing Expectations for Small Properties, Get to Know Your Neighbors for Better Deer Herd Management, Big Buck Profile: Reid Crawford Kansas Buck, Choosing Correct Magnification for Rifle Scope, Big Buck Profile: Troy Metzger's East Illinois Giant. | If Kentucky public land deer hunting is on your list this fall, Rough River Lake WMA would not be a bad starting point. Description Livingston County Wildlife Management (WMA) and State Natural Area in Livingston County features bluff habitat in three tracts near the confluence of the Cumberland and Ohio rivers. I didnt include Kleber WMA on this list because it is not underrated. Pendleton, Shelby, Grant and Boone round out the top five counties in this region, each with harvests of between 2,324 and 3,484 during the season. That has been several years ago on the youth mentor hunt. In this edition of "Big Buck Profile," Gordon Whittington talks with young whitetail hunter Reid Crawford about his trophy buck taken in 2017. Either way..we'll give it 110% effort and just maybe see a good deer come bythanks again and I wish all of you the best this year! Maps - Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife More Maps Public Lands and Hunting Maps Public Hunting area map* Wildlife Management Area and Public Lands Search Kentucky's Hunting and Fishing Access Sites Game Maps "Know Before You Go" CWD Interactive Map Specific Species Hunting Maps Dove Hunting Field Map Elk Hunting map Elk Hunting map* Sept. 1. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. For another, gun season falls right in the heart of the November rut. You must log in or register to reply here. David Yancy, a wildlife biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), refers back to the white-tailed deer restoration efforts between 1946 and 1999. Just want to try something new this year. But a clearly defined chunk of Kentucky is a great place to start your search. Hunters may register for the hunt starting at 8 a.m. (CST) on Jan. 4 by calling the West Kentucky WMA office at 270-488-3233 or sending an email to weston.mason@ky.gov. West Kentucky WMA, McCracken County. they did close a bunch of areas due to 9-11, so maybe all the deer moved into those areas.. hope you have better luck than we did!! This WMA is vast, covering more than 16,000 acres in Osage County. Hunters in Crittenden took 3,033 bucks during the 2013 season. Find one with a soybean field and go glass late evenings in August. The Deer Tour has begun! Of course, trail cameras now are in wide use in many states and provinces that lack Kentucky's reputation for huge bucks. But, this will keep a lot of hunters away because they do not want to wade through the waise (or chest) high weeds and grasses to get to a prime hunting spot. The archery areas on Campbell were like hunting in a park. [,
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Originally posted by Valley Station. Ask Perry (PBeyer). Location: west Kentucky "Open" hunt to be Nov. 22-23, Shotgun or Muzzle loader only. The Blue Grass Region is the best area in the state of Kentucky for deer hunting, with Owen county leading the pack. I'd hunt Illinois. First, I would look for pull-offs on these roads that dont lead to easy-to-walk trails, but may give you an access down a ridge to where you can get into thicker woods. Divide #acres by # of deer harvested. These areas in which deer will travel and you may have some luck with buck movement during the mid-day. At 195-inches there's good reason why. Participating hunters must use Telecheck, the departments phone-in or online reporting system, to register their deer harvest. Where's the best place to go looking for one of these big guys in bow season? By the time the rut rolls around in early November, the density of the woods will start to dwindle and youll have clearer paths through the ridges and hollers that will make for easier hunting. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Id recommend the closest one to your house. Hunting during rifle season, or late muzzleloader, will likely be the easiest path to finding a big buck at Kentucky Ridge Forest. Still, it's worth asking: Does the biologist feel the top areas for bowhunting trophy bucks are likely to change any time soon? Number of Fields: 6+ Crop: 20+ acres, Sunflower. The report *will be* updated to include results for bear-only and bear/deer hunts at a later date. While it may be hard to replicate that harvest, there are still big bucks lurking around Pennyrile. The Kentucky river wma in Henry co is really good. Eastern Kentucky is not known as the best part of the state to deer hunt, but there are some giants in that part of the state. Peabody Wildlife Management Area Deer. Lots of deer, nice bucks. Yes it was. JavaScript is disabled. This year, we visited the National Wild Turkey Federation Convention in Nashville, and we were able to get a close-up, hands-on look at [], Photo by Ron Foltz Kentuckys spring squirrel season will be open May 15 June 18. You must log in or register to reply here. Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. In February, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources bought nearly 1,200 acres along the Pond River to add to the Peabody It's that you have to be at least 14 years old in order to ride an eBike on the public road. To hear many serious trophy bowhunters tell it, Kentucky must be a figment of someone's fertile imagination. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. The deadline to register by phone is 3:30 p.m. (CST) on Jan. 5. All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Please see the refuge hunting/fishing permit for details. Some of these governments allow the use of hunting equipment such as firearms, crossbows, and bows within their boundaries. There is a lot that can be said about the Rough River Lake WMA. Within Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge, there are four designated hunt areas. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. Missouri's metropolitan areas are a complex mix of municipal and county governments, each with its own jurisdiction and set of laws. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. JavaScript is disabled. FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 20, 2018) Apply for deer, waterfowl, pheasant and sandhill crane quota hunts offered by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources at state wildlife management areas and other public lands now through the end of September. Because of that, I prefer to hunt Rich. For a $24 license, you may kill 3 antlered deer and 213 does. Same as some already said. Do your own research and scout some of the places you come up with. Cheatham WMA is a popular property that produces quite a bit of success, with a mixture of quota and non-quota hunts. Ainsley Whitley is a contributing writer for various branded properties that together attract more than 280 million readers seeking influential content. Tim Young remembers, "Man, he looked big." Western Kentucky normally produces bigger bucks. they are all hard to hunt blind. However, some counties in Kentucky have a very low deer population, so it's crucial to know where your best chances of bagging a buck in Kentucky are. Kind of an eerie place with all the nuclear signs and fall out shelters. Kentucky Ridge Forest WMA was one of the most successful Eastern Kentucky public land areas last year with 42 bucks harvested. But More than likely the result would just be largest wma. Gordon Whittington heads north to his personal Missouri farm for some crossbow action. Whitley's articles have appeared in various print and online magazines, including "GQ," "Details," "Southern Living" and "Cooking Light. Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. Can anyone tell me when archery season will open in West Ky? We will be hunting the quota hunt as well but where will depend a lot on where other people are hunting. Published Oct 24, 2007 6:19 PM EDT, Ballard Wildlife Management Area I do agree.that first time will be more learning than success. The area offers waterfowl, turkey, deer and small game hunting along with fishing and hiking.Wellfleet Police Scanner, What Happens If You Get Blocked On Badoo, Articles W