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. There will be pressure any where you go. Of course, trail cameras now are in wide use in many states and provinces that lack Kentucky's reputation for huge bucks. For another, gun season falls right in the heart of the November rut. Can anyone tell me when archery season will open in West Ky? Kansas. Top 5 Kentucky Public Hunting Area - YouTube Quota Hunts | eRegulations It may not display this or other websites correctly. West Kentucky WMA offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including horseback riding trails, a skeet range, a mobility impaired archery range and hiking trails. Application with up to five hunters allowed. 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. 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. For details, see individual WMA schedules, contact any Field Office, or visit our website at www.wlf.louisiana.gov. July 26, 2022 By Bernie Barringer. I did see a lot of deer when I hunted it though. 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. Terrain: Hard; You can experience a big change in elevation when hunting this area. Deer Hunting Season 2021 Forecast: A State-By-State Guide I have been putting in for the Land Between the Lakes quota hunt. 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. Only one antlered deer per hunter may be harvested statewide, regardless of zone, method or season. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. 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. You should have pretty good luck there. Never hunted there, curious to see if anyone had any information on the place (what tract to hunt, what to setup on, etc.) This is just another reason why Kentucky public land deer hunting is among the best. Trained as a high school English teacher and coach, Scott Bestul left that lucrative field to pursue anotheras a full-time freelance writer in 1990. I'm looking to do a public land hunt traveling from New Jersey, so any help would be appreciated. Deer Hunting West Kentucky WMA gung Oct 20, 2004 Oct 20, 2004 #1 gung 8 pointer Jan 29, 2004 690 Graves County I got drawn for a quota here and have never been there.Does anybody know anything about this place any help is appreciated. Where's the best place to go looking for one of these big guys in bow season? Opportunities are abundant in this state, with a population of around 900,000 deer and about seven hunters per square mile. Destinations - West Kentucky WMA This is a great time for hunters to get out and enjoy the woods. With nearly a third of the area covered in water, you can bet that youll find bucks bedded near some swampy, nasty places. If I remember right, the WMA list on kdfwr has what you can kill, limitations etc. (Author image) Sportsmen and women have it pretty good in my home state of Kentucky. Kentucky Afield Outdoors: September is Quota Hunt Application Month Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. The other four counties in the top five were close behind, with hunters bagging between 2,222 and 2,470 bucks per county. Do your own research and scout some of the places you come up with. 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.". Hunting In Kentucky Offers Plenty To DIY Archers Scott Bestul 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Under strict harvest restrictions since 1993 that allowed only 10 percent of hunters to harvest a buck, Ballard this year is one of two Kentucky public lands to newly adopt an outside spread minimum of 15 inches. Since 2010, the hottest counties for P&Y entries (white stars on map) have continued to reflect that broad pattern. 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. I harvested a doe at Rich in late September, and had a chance at a few small bucks that I passed one. If you're going to hunt in November, one of those would be better due to no gun hunters. Will take first (300) hunters that show-up and sign in. Most areas are open to archery and crossbow hunting for deer except during the Dec. 12-13 quota gun hunt. Good wma not much pressure and a lot of places for a big buck to hide. Yes it was. "In much of western and central Kentucky we have fertile land with a good balance of cover and crops," the biologist says. Breckinridge and Grayson Counties are also known as two of the best counties in the state. I'd think the WMA that lists incentives for killing a bunch of does would be the ones with the highest density. Any info would be greatly appreciated. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Our deer and turkey hunting are both the best in the nation, far as I'm concerned. Total Harvest 2020: 25 Bucks: 13 Does: 12. Quota and firearm deer hunting for the 2022 season is over. Then, once it's known a big buck frequents an area, cameras can assist hunters in patterning the deer.With only one buck tag per season, and the knowledge big bucks are out there, it's possibly led to even more selective harvest. Since 2010, the hottest counties for P&Y entries (white stars on map) have continued to reflect a broad pattern. WMA Land Taken for Nuclear Enrichment Project | Realtree Camo JavaScript is disabled. Albert King Buck: 198-Inch Kentucky Giant - North American Whitetail It may not display this or other websites correctly. I did see an absolute monster on a quota hunt but did not get a shot at him. No vehicles/ATV's. Because of that, I prefer to hunt Rich. Fee, advance application required of deer, waterfowl hunters. In the eastern half of Kentucky deer numbers tend to be much lower, with far less acreage devoted to row crops. Good deer, turkey, waterfowl and small game hunting. 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! Kentucky's Public Hunting Areas - ArcGIS StoryMaps Where's the best place to go looking for one of these big guys in bow season? My best advice would be to go to the area and scout it before you hunt..after reviewing the maps. What would you guys consider the best WMA for deer numbers and best chance to get one with a bow ? Hunting - Land Between the Lakes They stay near the logging roads and hope a deer goes walking by. Ballard Wildlife Management Area Location: west Kentucky Size: 8,600 acres ZIP: 42056 "Ballard has the best buck-to-doe ratio of any public hunting area in the state at one buck for every. I live near Miller-Welch. During the 2013 deer season, hunters bagged a record 4,069 deer, which was more than in any other county. Land that once gave up coal to huge strip mine shovels now regularly yields 120- and 130-class bucks. 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. 100 Best Public-Land Hunts: Tennessee | Field & Stream In Oklahoma, Osage county holds the record for most bucks harvested during the archery season with 681 bucks during the 2019-20 season . Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife conducts quota hunts for deer, pheasant and migratory birds (waterfowl and mourning doves). This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Find season dates and bag limits here. Within Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge, there are four designated hunt areas. Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. 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. I'll try & drive out there after work today & see if theres any new info at the hunter check station. You must log in or register to reply here. Photo Gallery See all Photos The archery areas on Campbell were like hunting in a park. Itll make you a better deer hunter and itll make you prouder of your accomplishment when you do find the deer your after. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. You must log in or register to reply here. As the accompanying map illustrates, no single county has them to itself. Size: 60,000 acres Timber Tract With Opportunities For Deer And Turkey Hunting, 21.5 acres in Graves County, Kentucky offered at $61,810. Honestly man and I dont mean this in a bad way but Ive been very fortunate and taken nice deer on public land in a couple different states so I feel like my advice might help you. For a $24 license, you may kill 3 antlered deer and 213 does. Parts of Doug Travis are closed from November 1-March 15. Change to license validity period from June 1-30 to 365 days from the date of purchase. West Kentucky WMA Get Directions Return to Search WMA Overview Size: 6425 acres Location: McCracken Contact: (270) 488-3233 Elevation: minimum 297 feet, maximum 451 feet. The Pennyrile State Forest is the largest public land area on this list and that is why it is at number one. Changing the big game license to individual licenses for deer and turkey. Welcome to 2022-23 Louisiana Hunting What's New for 2022 Licensing changes ( Licenses & Fees ): Change to license fees; see fee tables for details. 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. Dec 2, 2022 Late fall shotgun turkey season starts Saturday December Location: Breckinridge, Grayson & Hardin Counties, Total Harvest 2020: 39 Bucks: 24 Does: 15, Terrain: Moderate;; Most hunting areas consists of hills and ridges. I also missed 1 of the 2 bucks I have shot at with a bow in that small strip of woods. Rich WMA is often an overlooked public land hunting area because it is the next-door-neighbor to Kleber WMA, a hotbed for deer. 6200 some odd acres. Regulations Quota Hunts - Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife With an official net score of 246 0/8 non-typical, Austin Musselman's megabuck is an example of Kentucky quality. Yet, anyone younger than 14 can still ride an eBike off-road. Salt River Outfitters in Kentucky is located on the " Bourbon Trail ." As an added bonus, as you stay with us, you can tour many of the bourbon distilleries on the "Bourbon Trail" that are located within 30 minutes of us. (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. The grouse season in Kentucky runs from November to February, varying based on zone, with the permission of hunting ruffed grouse. Thanks! Alternating ridges and sloughs, moist soil management units, woodlands, brush, and open crop fields are found here. 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. 8Z on Kodiak Island was second with 4,797. Same as some already said. Therefore, this is perfect for hunters who like taking their kids hunting with them. 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!! 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. Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service These areas in which deer will travel and you may have some luck with buck movement during the mid-day. But a clearly defined chunk of Kentucky is a great place to start your search. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. West Kentucky WMA, McCracken County. My father is 66 years old and his days are numbered for: climbing trees, bow hunting, etc. Dog-Deer good luck, Thanks guys for all your info. Sept. 30. Total Harvest 2020: 30 Bucks: 16 Does: 14, Terrain: Diverse; Easy to moderate; Wetlands and open water make up 34% of land. You may be able to find areas in which multiple hollers converge into one open bottom, as well. The Cartecay section of this WMA (about 5,062 acres) is reserved for archers only. You must log in or register to reply here. 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* That's where i'd hide if I was a deer! The Blue Grass Region is the best area in the state of Kentucky for deer hunting, with Owen county leading the pack. Any info would be appreciated. He lives near there & knows the area pretty well. Hunters can hunt squirrel, white-tailed deer, wild turkey and resident Canadian geese during the specified seasons. There is alot of deer down there. Hopkins leads the way with a recorded harvest of 2,542 deer during the 2013 season. We will be hunting the quota hunt as well but where will depend a lot on where other people are hunting. Number of Fields: 6+ Crop: 20+ acres, Sunflower. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. This WMA is vast, covering more than 16,000 acres in Osage County. 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. We hunt all over Alabama (private and public). Hunting eBike Laws in the USA by State | Electric Hunting Bike Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. Kentucky wma | GON Forum Kind of an eerie place with all the nuclear signs and fall out shelters. Which WV deer-hunting counties can truly be considered 'the best?' Lake Beshear is part of Pennyrile and it has some of the best bass fishing in the area. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. If you really want to be different, you can access more remote parts of Pennyrile if you access it through Lake Beshear. Rabbit and quail hunting seasons open Nov. 14 - Dec. 31. 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. It's a question a lot of wildlife biologists and trophy hunters in other states probably have asked themselves. You must log in or register to reply here. Be safe hunting!! While over the last 20 years we've seen our trophy whitetail production become more evenly distributed across the state, the west-central portion east of Land Between The Lakes and west of I-65 remains our most consistent yielder of trophy contenders. 2 deer a day from October 15 through January 31, but only 3 total bucks. Some hunts are open to mobility-impaired hunters only. I haven't hunted the rest of the states in your list but I can tell you that most of the WMA's in Kentucky are going to be full of gun hunters during your chosen time period. Five Underrated Areas for Kentucky Public Land Deer Hunting - Eastern What Animals Can You Hunt in Kentucky? 8 Common Game Species Some hunts are mentored hunts for youth and accompanying adults. Maps - Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife But, I also do not think I was nearly aggressive enough in pursuing a mature buck on the property. "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. 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. Contact us at 786-205-6593 or 786-457-4128 A 50% deposit is due upon booking of your hunt, with the balance due before AUGUST 1 All hunts are fully guided. Asking that question in an open forum is problematic for two reasons: (1) any answer is likely to draw otherwise unwanted attention to a public WMA hunter's spots (even accidentally), and (2) there is likely no one on this forum who has hunted every WMA and can give an honest answer (I know which WMAs that I have hunted and prefer--I have taken deer on six different WMAs, Ft Knox and DBNF--but it is a far cry from every WMA) How do you ask such a question and not check in lol, posted at 10:32 am not seen since 10:32 am. 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. Kentucky Public Land Scouting - DEER TOUR E1 - YouTube "So it's productive habitat. We provide our hunters with an exciting Whitetail deer hunting experience in a true wilderness setting. Hunter cards and instruction sheets will be provided before Jan. 16 to those registered for the hunt. Off Market. "PRIVATE" lodging and family style meals included. ; KY archery and crossbow deer hunting for the 2022-2023 season has ended. Hunting | West KY Whitetails | United States Every year hunters from around the state enter their names into a draw to waterfowl hunt at Doug Travis, but based on conversations Ive had, I believe its an underrated spot for some early season deer hunting. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife owns, leases, or manages more than 85 wildlife management areas (WMAs) for public use. Likely, youll find them with their backs to the water and their vantage points set to access areas or popular walking routes. 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. I think I may get drawn this coming season. 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. Hunters in Crittenden took 3,033 bucks during the 2013 season. JavaScript is disabled. The shotgun and muzzleloader deer hunt for up to 140 hunters is scheduled Jan. 16-18, 2021. U are right and it looks good from what I have seen. Stan Potts heads to Montana with his rifle in search of a Big Sky buck. Subscriber Services. 2022 Commonwealth of Kentucky. Its one of the more difficult tracts of public land to trek in the western part of the state because of its large ridges and thick forests. Then look up telecheck public land results, tells how many deer checked in on each wma. One of the reasons Pennyrile sustains a nice deer herd is because hunting access to the park is not easy. In some areas, a user permit is required. But, the most important memoryis being with my father and making memories. 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. Dr. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton explain why it's important to know your neighbors when operating a smaller deer property. The Kentucky buck Heath Buchanan calls "Joker" is a Bluegrass State phenomenon. Western Kentucky normally produces bigger bucks. You can park in a few different spots along Georgetown Rd, or you can drive up and around to Old Columbus and park there. You are using an out of date browser. Terrain: Moderate; Hill country, with steep ridges in places. Y outh Seasons and Youth Lottery Hunts. These areas range from a few hundred acres to the 22,000-acre Rich Mountain WMA in northwestern Georgia. Instead of in-person signups, registration will be by phone and email only. Whatever the reason, Kentucky has indeed managed to find the "sweet spot" of hunting opportunity for trophy deer. And that public land is found throughout the state, in areas big and small. Areas designated as no hunting (pink areas on the maps) are open to year-round visitation. Divide #acres by # of deer harvested. All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. 100 Best Public-Land Hunts: Kentucky | Field & Stream At 195-inches there's good reason why. "There's a selective mindset among many hunters and landowners, which results in most small bucks getting a free pass.". In all, I saw eight different bucks at Rich in 2020, with the biggest being a small 6-pointer. If you want public land, hunt the Shawnee N.F. The changes are necessary to ensure the health and safety of hunters and WMA staff. JavaScript is disabled. Most hunting and fishing opportunities align with Kentucky state seasons and bag limits. Ballard Wildlife Management Area Location: west Kentucky Size: 8,600 acres ZIP: 42056 Ballard has the best buck-to-doe ratio of any By Lots of thick cover. Kentucky abounds with deer-hunting opportunities, and many would consider it a sleeper state for the DIY hunter. Best WMA for deer numbers! | Kentucky Hunting It gets hit pretty hard! The report *will be* updated to include results for bear-only and bear/deer hunts at a later date. But More than likely the result would just be largest wma. Hunting during rifle season, or late muzzleloader, will likely be the easiest path to finding a big buck at Kentucky Ridge Forest. Make sure your deer is 15in wide or it will cost you. Id recommend the closest one to your house. That makes the hunting tougher for with bow or gun. I think I have 2 priority points. 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. Hunters must have an annual hunting license for hunting grouse in Kentucky. best wma to hunt for 1st hunt to kentucky (bowhunters) - Kentucky Hunting Guided Hunts In KY | Salt River Outfitters Homepage Antler restrictions at the Cumberland Plateau site have limited the harvest for the. Horseback riding allowed on maintained roads. It may not display this or other websites correctly. One of the more attractive features at Rough River Lake WMA is the number of oxbows that can be hunted. With a little research and hard work, metro hunters can successfully . For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. In my experiences, most hunters do not do this at Rich WMA. Public Hunting Opportunities Locator Map | eRegulations They monitor it closely. Walnut Road, Lot #WP001 , Boaz, KY 42027 (Graves County) Size: 21.5 acres . "Catoosa is one of the more popular public hunting areas in the state for big deer," according to Ratajczak. These are prime locations at Rough River. While it's tempting to say the one-buck limit simply forced hunters to become more selective in buck harvest, that might not be the full answer. Best Places To Bowhunt Bow-only zones offer archers the highest odds at For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Kentucky Lake Area Hunting Feb 16, 2015 #3 C Chadx1981 Senior Member Sweet what's the name lol