Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife owns, leases, or manages more than 85 wildlife management areas (WMAs) for public use. . Any info would be greatly appreciated. We provide our hunters with an exciting Whitetail deer hunting experience in a true wilderness setting. If any old whitetail just won't do and you're on the hunt for trophy bucks, Kentucky has you covered. Hunters can hunt squirrel, white-tailed deer, wild turkey and resident Canadian geese during the specified seasons. Signups will not be accepted once all slots have been filled. They monitor it closely. If I had a choice of hunting Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri or IllinoisKentucky would be my last pick. No permanent stands, etc. Last season, there were 30 deer harvested at Doug Travis, with 16 of them being bucks. 2023-2024 archery dates will be announced later in 2023.; 2022-23 Tennessee Deer Season 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. 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. Hunters are willing to pass up younger deer because they know older ones are around.". These are prime locations at Rough River. Several years back the population was much better than it is now. They is deer there just not like they used to be. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. The strip of woods conects the A area (no hunting) and private land. As the accompanying map illustrates, no single county has them to itself. Rich WMA made this list because it is filled with deer, but it comes in at No. Bring your knee boots to reach secluded areas: Fertile bottomlands dotted with the oak trees and row-crop agriculture that keep deer in top nutritional shape are broken up by many bald cypress sloughs. Rich WMA consists of ridge after ridge, with some low bottom areas where deer like to travel. Deer and Small Game Hunting and Trail Cams. *Our Gear. 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.". If you really want to be different, you can access more remote parts of Pennyrile if you access it through Lake Beshear. If it's like last year, Archery will open under statewide regulations, As far as gun hunts they'll do the youth hunt and a quoata, Shotgun or ML only. The archery areas on Campbell were like hunting in a park. During the 2013 deer season, hunters bagged a record 4,069 deer, which was more than in any other county. Change to senior hunt/fish licenses. JavaScript is disabled. He sold his first story to Field & Stream a few years later and has been contributing to the brand ever since. Where's the best place to go looking for one of these big guys in bow season? More than a quarter-century ago, Kentucky followed neighboring Ohio's lead and implemented a single-buck-per-year bag limit. I always hunt about 100 from the road in the small strip of woods. "At 5-8 per square mile, Kentucky's deer hunter density doesn't place it among the top 12 densest states in whitetail range," Yancy notes. Total Harvest 2020: 30 Bucks: 16 Does: 14, Terrain: Diverse; Easy to moderate; Wetlands and open water make up 34% of land. . Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. Scott Bestul "While continued slow growth in deer numbers in Appalachian Kentucky should lead to even more trophy entries being taken from the poor deer habitat in the eastern third of the state, our west-central counties should continue to be tried-and-true producers of trophy bucks into the foreseeable future.". The Kentucky buck Heath Buchanan calls "Joker" is a Bluegrass State phenomenon. These areas range from a few hundred acres to the 22,000-acre Rich Mountain WMA in northwestern Georgia. Im hoping those bucks made it through the season and they come back bigger and better, but its not likely when hunting public land. And that public land is found throughout the state, in areas big and small. Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. 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. Others do not. Hunting during rifle season, or late muzzleloader, will likely be the easiest path to finding a big buck at Kentucky Ridge Forest. JavaScript is disabled. Being a Zone 4 county, does are not allowed to be taken during rifle season, which is one of the main reasons the doe count is so low. One of the reasons Pennyrile sustains a nice deer herd is because hunting access to the park is not easy. "We have a lot of veteran hunters who aren't necessarily eager to shoot the first buck they see anyway," Yancy points out. Most hunters will use the roads that lead to parking areas. Tim Young remembers, "Man, he looked big." When Kentucky public land deer hunting, using a hunting app like OnX, try to find low gap areas, or saddles, that create natural pinch points and traveling corridors for deer. It gets hit pretty hard! For more on record-class bow bucks from Kentucky and across North America, visit Pope and Young Club. You are using an out of date browser. Grant WMA Morgan, Putnam 3C Balls Ferry SP Wilkinson 3D Bartram Forest WMA Baldwin, Wilkinson 3E Camp Thunder VPA Upson 3F Cedar Creek WMA Jasper, Jones, Putnam 3G Clarks Hill WMA Lincoln, McDuffie, Warren, Wilkes 3H Clybel WMA Jasper, Newton 3I Collins Road VPA Burke 3J Di-Lane Plantation WMA Location: west Kentucky Within Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge, there are four designated hunt areas. 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. For a long time it's been a consistent producer of quality bucks on both public and private land. If you travel down the road between the A area and area 4 there will be a creek that you cross, right after you cross the creek there is a field that has a small strip of woods on the south side and big hardwoods on the north side. Land that once gave up coal to huge strip mine shovels now regularly yields 120- and 130-class bucks. You must log in or register to reply here. A drive through the access points may afford some glassing during early August and give you a good idea of what youre dealing with. Lace your boots up and put some time in now. Hunter cards and instruction sheets will be provided before Jan. 16 to those registered for the hunt. I did see a lot of deer when I hunted it though. They have tons of deer as well. But while there are approximately 1.8 hunters for each antlered buck, only around 35 percent of our hunters take a deer each year and nearly 50 percent of those are antlerless. Horseback riding allowed on maintained roads. July 26, 2022 By Bernie Barringer. i would come sooner if possible. Late fall shotgun turkey season starts Saturday December 2, 2022 Derek Aaron WJRS News Local hunters have one final opportunity to harvest wild turkeys with a shotgun this year during the late fall shotgun season, which opens tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 3rd and runs through Friday, Dec. 9th. 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. The report *will be* updated to include results for bear-only and bear/deer hunts at a later date. I also missed 1 of the 2 bucks I have shot at with a bow in that small strip of woods. There is a lot of good places to hunt. If you're going to hunt in November, one of those would be better due to no gun hunters. As a reminder, results are missing for several 2017/2018 & 2018/2019 seasons hunts. This will be some of the most difficult terrain to hunt in Kentucky. It will tell you how many were killed each year and with what weapon. If you're going to hunt in November, one of those would be better due to no gun hunters. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Kentucky Ridge Forest WMA was one of the most successful Eastern Kentucky public land areas last year with 42 bucks harvested. Please see the refuge hunting/fishing permit for details. You must log in or register to reply here. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. 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. Now Kentucky taxidermists stay plenty busy mounting big 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. 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. Photo Gallery See all Photos The Kentucky river wma in Henry co is really good. Thanks! Feb 16, 2015 #3 C Chadx1981 Senior Member Sweet what's the name lol So perhaps it really is the combination of scouting technology and having just one buck tag that results in a far more selective hunting public. He lives near there & knows the area pretty well. You may be able to find areas in which multiple hollers converge into one open bottom, as well. U are right and it looks good from what I have seen. Fall 2020-'21 harvest: 24,809 mule deer, 24,849 whitetails Overall outlook: Rick Ward, deer and elk coordinator for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, says the statewide mule deer outlook is fair to good and improving depending on the area. Question on West Point WMA deer restrictions. I heard they might be having an open hunt on Nov 22-23. 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. At most wma's you need to scout a lot & then travel deep to the perfect spot. 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. Always saw several deer and tons of buck sign. Selected hunters may bring a hunting party totaling no more than 10 members, including the administrator and designated co-administrator. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I have hunted down there prbably 7 or 8 times. If you want public land, hunt the Shawnee N.F. Selected hunters may not exceed their personal bag limit or a total of 5 bears per hunting party during the hunt. 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. What a question for a public forum, laziest approach I've seen yet. Of all the counties in this area, Hopkins, Hardin, Hart, Webster and Breckinridge offer the best chances for success at bagging a buck. Hardin County was the number one deer producing county in the entire state of Kentucky last season. "Open" hunt to be Nov. 22-23, Shotgun or Muzzle loader only. JavaScript is disabled. Of course, trail cameras now are in wide use in many states and provinces that lack Kentucky's reputation for huge bucks. i also agree about about your timing. 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!! Stalk Em Spring squirrel hunting in Kentucky can be [], Squirrel Hunting in Kentucky Opens May 15, Deer Hunting On Public Land Kentucky Outdoors Media, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFP-jOHTsc0&t=8s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6ETHU_ypZY&t=5s, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYOoABQMAEI&t=4s. Good wma not much pressure and a lot of places for a big buck to hide. I've been there a few times on quota hunts and there are alot of deer there, but it seems like there are always twice as many people as deer. It may not display this or other websites correctly. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Kentucky Guided Hunting Trips Most of the SRO Crew Contact us today! At any time, you can drop off down a ridge and go looking for more deer sign. Yet, anyone younger than 14 can still ride an eBike off-road. In this edition of "Big Buck Profile," Gordon Whittington talks with young whitetail hunter Reid Crawford about his trophy buck taken in 2017. With over 14,000 acres, it would be impossible to pinpoint a few to share, but my advice in hunting Pennyrile is to be different. Welcome to 2022-23 Louisiana Hunting What's New for 2022 Licensing changes ( Licenses & Fees ): Change to license fees; see fee tables for details. i would go to lbl if u were u.its closest to bama and the biggest by far.over 100,000 acres..big bucks and less crowded simply due to its size. While some hunting is allowed, some animals are protected, including turtles, crawfish and bullfrogs. 6200 some odd acres. Surrounded by private land, there are some pinch points along the fence lines where I have seen deer travel back and forth. Make sure your deer is 15in wide or it will cost you. Itll make you a better deer hunter and itll make you prouder of your accomplishment when you do find the deer your after. Other than that, put on a good pair of boots, pack light, and give it your best shot. Ballard Wildlife Management Area Location: west Kentucky Size: 8,600 acres ZIP: 42056 Ballard has the best buck-to-doe ratio of any By 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. Published Oct 24, 2007 6:19 PM EDT, Ballard Wildlife Management Area The shotgun and muzzleloader deer hunt for up to 140 hunters is scheduled Jan. 16-18, 2021. West Kentucky Whitetails, LLC offers free range deer hunts in Western Kentucky. 2 deer a day from October 15 through January 31, but only 3 total bucks. The Blue Grass Region is another hot spot, with Pendleton, Garrard, Boone and Henry counties offering the best chances for bagging a trophy buck. Kentucky Hunting Features Forums List Deer Hunting Forum Kentucky Community Forum Waterfowl Hunting Forum Turkey Hunting Forum NOTE: Some of the below hunts may be by pre-application lottery. Whatever the reason, Kentucky has indeed managed to find the "sweet spot" of hunting opportunity for trophy deer. Kentucky public land deer hunting can be rewarding and Rich WMA is where I spent a lot of time last year, and I saw a lot of deer. Rich WMA is often an overlooked public land hunting area because it is the next-door-neighbor to Kleber WMA, a hotbed for deer. Check kdfwr website for harvest results over several years. Size: 8,600 acres The place almost seems like an international airport for hunting during November. All Rights Reserved. "Camera use facilitates trophy whitetail production in two ways," he points out. It's a question a lot of wildlife biologists and trophy hunters in other states probably have asked themselves. You are using an out of date browser. Gordon Whittington talks with Steven Sprout about the trophy buck he took back in 1998 while bowhunting public land in Illinois. Stan Potts heads to Montana with his rifle in search of a Big Sky buck. It's that you have to be at least 14 years old in order to ride an eBike on the public road. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. 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. GEORGIA. Western Kentucky normally produces bigger bucks. Map reading is probably one of my best qualities in bowhunting.(served 8 years in the army). Still, it's worth asking: Does the biologist feel the top areas for bowhunting trophy bucks are likely to change any time soon? Id recommend the closest one to your house. Some hunts are mentored hunts for youth and accompanying adults. There will be pressure any where you go. This is a great time for hunters to get out and enjoy the woods. 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!!!!! These areas in which deer will travel and you may have some luck with buck movement during the mid-day. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Emailed registrations will be accepted through Jan. 8. I do agree.that first time will be more learning than success. You are using an out of date browser. 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. Location: west Kentucky A hunter may only hunt four grouse per day and eight per season using shotguns. Fee, advance application required of deer, waterfowl hunters. Lots of thick cover. Whitley's articles have appeared in various print and online magazines, including "GQ," "Details," "Southern Living" and "Cooking Light. Just $1 per month . This is just another reason why Kentucky public land deer hunting is among the best. they are all hard to hunt blind. Doug Travis WMA Size: 4,132 acres Location: Carlisle & Hickman Counties Total Harvest 2020: 30 Bucks: 16 Does: 14 Terrain: Diverse; Easy to moderate; Wetlands and open water make up 34% of land If you head out to Rich WMA this season, dont sit back and wait. WMA located approximately 10 miles west of Henderson, KY, consists of 6 units. There were tracks that were open to hunting and others closed to hunting. All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Used to quail hunt down there years ago. (10) If a hunter has purchased the appropriate permits, a hunter may take unlimited antler-less deer in: (a) The West Kentucky WMA gun hunt; (b) WMA quota hunts in Zone 1; and (c) State Park quota hunts in Zone 1, except as established in Section 8 of this administrative regulation. | How are they doing the gun hunt in West Ky this year? Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. Begley of Clay County, Ky harvested a 217 2/8-inch buck on Nov. 14, 2020 in Fayette . In the eastern half of Kentucky deer numbers tend to be much lower, with far less acreage devoted to row crops. Change to license validity period from June 1-30 to 365 days from the date of purchase. ZIP: 42056. Opportunities are abundant in this state, with a population of around 900,000 deer and about seven hunters per square mile. This is a place that is enjoyed by visitors all year round. In this edition of "From The Stand," Pat Hogan explains the importance of being aware of proper clearance when using your bow or crossbow out in the field. I live near Miller-Welch. For me, its just another reason to go. Camp is setup in Kentucky! "There's a selective mindset among many hunters and landowners, which results in most small bucks getting a free pass.".
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