west kentucky wma deer hunting

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. More than a quarter-century ago, Kentucky followed neighboring Ohio's lead and implemented a single-buck-per-year bag limit. The changes are necessary to ensure the health and safety of hunters and WMA staff. At any time, you can drop off down a ridge and go looking for more deer sign. Doug Travis WMA is not at the top of peoples lists when Kentucky public land deer hunting. In all, I saw eight different bucks at Rich in 2020, with the biggest being a small 6-pointer. Since 2010, the hottest counties for P&Y entries (white stars on map) have continued to reflect that broad pattern. To the west of this area, farm fields are larger and cover more restricted, making bucks more vulnerable to harvest by gun. Four other counties had an impressive season, each with a harvest of more than 1,500 deer. Participating hunters must use Telecheck, the departments phone-in or online reporting system, to register their deer harvest. According to Benton County Sheriff Kenny Christopher, 55-year-old. Never hunted there, curious to see if anyone had any information on the place (what tract to hunt, what to setup on, etc.) 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. New this year, WK WMA will have both Quota Gun Hunt and a "Open" Gun Hunt. Search the dept website and check harvest numbers on wmas. These areas in which deer will travel and you may have some luck with buck movement during the mid-day. Surrounded by private land, there are some pinch points along the fence lines where I have seen deer travel back and forth. This WMA is vast, covering more than 16,000 acres in Osage County. Once you make your way to a good logging road, the walking is pretty easy. Written by Mike Collins Kentuckians Cody Likins and Jakob Begley won the 2020 Quest Hunt Company Deer Hunting Competition. Selected hunters may not exceed their personal bag limit or a total of 5 bears per hunting party during the hunt. Most hunting and fishing opportunities align with Kentucky state seasons and bag limits. Location: west Kentucky July 26, 2022 By Bernie Barringer. I got drawn for a quota here and have never been there.Does anybody know anything about this place any help is appreciated. "Open" hunt to be Nov. 22-23, Shotgun or Muzzle loader only. These areas range from a few hundred acres to the 22,000-acre Rich Mountain WMA in northwestern Georgia. 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. 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!!!!! Check kdfwr website for harvest results over several years. Dr. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton explain why it's important to know your neighbors when operating a smaller deer property. If any old whitetail just won't do and you're on the hunt for trophy bucks, Kentucky has you covered. "PRIVATE" lodging and family style meals included. Total Harvest 2020: 79 Bucks: 56 Does: 23, Terrain: Moderate to Hard; Most hunting areas consists of hills and ridges. The majority of Ballard WMA is closed to visitation Oct. 15-March 15. If you really want to be different, you can access more remote parts of Pennyrile if you access it through Lake Beshear. 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. Hardin County was the number one deer producing county in the entire state of Kentucky last season. Most areas are open to archery and crossbow hunting for deer except during the Dec. 12-13 quota gun hunt. So how can Kentucky keep cranking out Pope & Young bucks? 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. To hear many serious trophy bowhunters tell it, Kentucky must be a figment of someone's fertile imagination. I think I may get drawn this coming season. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. Welcome to 2022-23 Louisiana Hunting What's New for 2022 Licensing changes ( Licenses & Fees ): Change to license fees; see fee tables for details. Opportunities are abundant in this state, with a population of around 900,000 deer and about seven hunters per square mile. Deer. First off, the location of this public land area is incredible. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. "There's a selective mindset among many hunters and landowners, which results in most small bucks getting a free pass.". And get this: Nearly all of the hunters heading afield then are carrying scoped centerfire rifles. One of the more attractive features at Rough River Lake WMA is the number of oxbows that can be hunted. If you're going to hunt in November, one of those would be better due to no gun hunters. Quota and firearm deer hunting for the 2022 season is over. A hunter may only hunt four grouse per day and eight per season using shotguns. Total Harvest 2020: 30 Bucks: 16 Does: 14, Terrain: Diverse; Easy to moderate; Wetlands and open water make up 34% of land. Hunting there in early September can be tough until it is mowed before the youth hunting weekend. "No, not really," he says. 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. Location: Breckinridge, Grayson & Hardin Counties, Total Harvest 2020: 39 Bucks: 24 Does: 15, Terrain: Moderate;; Most hunting areas consists of hills and ridges. This will be some of the most difficult terrain to hunt in Kentucky. If Kentucky public land deer hunting is on your list this fall, Rough River Lake WMA would not be a bad starting point. That's where i'd hide if I was a deer! West Kentucky WMA, McCracken County. But, Pennyrile is home to a nice deer population, as well. State Park Deer. I'm looking to do a public land hunt traveling from New Jersey, so any help would be appreciated. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. 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 Speaking from experience. 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. My group got picked for the West Kentucky WMA Quota Deer Hunt December 15-18. Published Oct 24, 2007 6:19 PM EDT, Ballard Wildlife Management Area when you hunted was the wma divided into tracts? For a long time it's been a consistent producer of quality bucks on both public and private land. I'd think I'd start there. With nearly a third of the area covered in water, you can bet that youll find bucks bedded near some swampy, nasty places. Be safe hunting!! I do agree.that first time will be more learning than success. This allows them to keep an eye out for any predator or hunter that may enter the bedding area. 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. Whitley's articles have appeared in various print and online magazines, including "GQ," "Details," "Southern Living" and "Cooking Light. GEORGIA. Killed the biggest deer I have "ever" killed there on a quota hunt. Hopkins leads the way with a recorded harvest of 2,542 deer during the 2013 season. The shotgun and muzzleloader deer hunt for up to 140 hunters is scheduled Jan. 16-18, 2021. | In rare cases, wild whitetails can live for Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. We hunt all over Alabama (private and public). The man reportedly shot his wife in the chest then . Selected hunters may bring a hunting party totaling no more than 10 members, including the administrator and designated co-administrator. 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. 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. Map reading is probably one of my best qualities in bowhunting.(served 8 years in the army). Rabbit and quail hunting seasons open Nov. 14 - Dec. 31. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Hopefully by archery season you will have a game plan that will give you the best chance to get one with a bow. JavaScript is disabled. In some areas, a user permit is required. 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! Application with up to five hunters allowed. The Kentucky buck Heath Buchanan calls "Joker" is a Bluegrass State phenomenon. Some hunts are open to mobility-impaired hunters only. Hunters are willing to pass up younger deer because they know older ones are around.". Begley of Clay County, Ky harvested a 217 2/8-inch buck on Nov. 14, 2020 in Fayette . Rough River Lake WMA was not a top producing county for Kentucky public land deer hunting in 2020, but it is still a place where a hunter can get away from pressure and find nice deer. Western Kentucky normally produces bigger bucks. 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. However, there's one rule that we've noticed is active in almost every country. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. The 10-day firearms season in early November is popular with out-of-state hunters, but bowhunters will find pressure light. 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. Its also home to the No. Give a Gift Where's the best place to go looking for one of these big guys in bow season? No tags are required for does and only one of your bucks has an antler restriction. I live near Miller-Welch. Easy access in most areas. Then look up telecheck public land results, tells how many deer checked in on each wma. No vehicles/ATV's. No permanent stands, etc. Shooting range (for single projectile firearms only; no shotshells or pistols allowed) open Monday-Saturday 9:00 AM-sunset & Sundays noon-sunset. Hunters can hunt squirrel, white-tailed deer, wild turkey and resident Canadian geese during the specified seasons. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. 5 Underdated Forests and Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) for Deer Hunting In Kentucky. The Deer Tour has begun! Kentucky Fish and Wildlife owns, leases, or manages more than 85 wildlife management areas (WMAs) for public use. 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. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife conducts quota hunts for deer, pheasant and migratory birds (waterfowl and mourning doves). 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. "You can take a boy out of ol' dixieland but you'll never take ol' dixie from a boy" -Lynyrd Skynyrd. ZIP: 42327. Whatever the reason, Kentucky has indeed managed to find the "sweet spot" of hunting opportunity for trophy deer. I am sure a lot has changed. my father and i have been bowhunting for 7 years in Alabama. And just remember to check the dates for the youth and Quota hunts at Kleber, followed by, thats right, a MG hunters a week later swarming the boundary. Kansas. If you're going to hunt in November, one of those would be better due to no gun hunters. One of the reasons Pennyrile sustains a nice deer herd is because hunting access to the park is not easy. But More than likely the result would just be largest wma. I know they are there. Size: 60,000 acres I'll try & drive out there after work today & see if theres any new info at the hunter check station. According to veteran biologist David Yancy, deer project leader for the Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, there are reasons for the state's continued productivity on trophy bucks. Therefore, it seems only fitting that his pursuit of a particular giant buck actually began during a rabbit hunt in November 2012. Find one with a soybean field and go glass late evenings in August. Similar hunts are held on West Kentucky WMA each year. Ask Perry (PBeyer). As well as Clay wma in nicholus co. Yah, just send everyone to Owen County the second week of Novemberplenty of land, deer, and hardly any hunters! I know nothing about this state and being this far away I would be going by your guys help. Other than that, put on a good pair of boots, pack light, and give it your best shot. Heard something about an open hunt. CARRY PROOF Hunters who buy their license or permit by phone or internet must carry while hunting: picture ID and proof of purchase (an authorization number, a paper license or a computer printout). You are using an out of date browser. 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 heard they might be having an open hunt on Nov 22-23. Antler restrictions at the Cumberland Plateau site have limited the harvest for the. Land that once gave up coal to huge strip mine shovels now regularly yields 120- and 130-class bucks. lol did not realize i didn't put the name of the wma but yes the one I was talking about is west kentucky wma. Whatever the reason, Kentucky has indeed managed to find the "sweet spot" of hunting opportunity for trophy deer. Oct 20, 2004 #2 G glenmorebuckman 6 pointer Dec 20, 2003 468 Glenmore, Ky, USA. Feb 16, 2015 #2 G grasskiller Member Good wma not much pressure and a lot of places for a big buck to hide. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. Kentucky Hunting Features Forums List Deer Hunting Forum Kentucky Community Forum Waterfowl Hunting Forum Turkey Hunting Forum Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. Never hunted there, curious to see if anyone had any information on the place (what tract to hunt, what to setup on, etc.) No vehicles/ATV's. Regulations While some hunting is allowed, some animals are protected, including turtles, crawfish and bullfrogs. Horseback riding allowed on maintained roads. Make sure your deer is 15in wide or it will cost you. Peabody WMA Nearby 1,200 acres of public land added in western Kentucky One of western Kentucky's largest wildlife management areas is growing again. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. If you head out to Rich WMA this season, dont sit back and wait. "Catoosa is one of the more popular public hunting areas in the state for big deer," according to Ratajczak. Last season, there were 30 deer harvested at Doug Travis, with 16 of them being bucks. You need look no further than the bulletin board in Uncle Lees sporting goods store in Greenville for pictorial proof of Peabodys potential. I didnt include Kleber WMA on this list because it is not underrated. In Oklahoma, Osage county holds the record for most bucks harvested during the archery season with 681 bucks during the 2019-20 season . The Kentucky river wma in Henry co is really good. But a clearly defined chunk of Kentucky is a great place to start your search. "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. Find entry trail and be there come opening weekend. (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. You are using an out of date browser. However, I just love the moment to be with my father as we try and tag out. With an official net score of 246 0/8 non-typical, Austin Musselman's megabuck is an example of Kentucky quality. Instead of in-person signups, registration will be by phone and email only. 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. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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 The deadline to register by phone is 3:30 p.m. (CST) on Jan. 5. | I think I have 2 priority points. Lake Beshear is part of Pennyrile and it has some of the best bass fishing in the area. Take bowhunters advice and scout if you get a chance. JavaScript is disabled. Some of these governments allow the use of hunting equipment such as firearms, crossbows, and bows within their boundaries. Breckinridge and Grayson Counties are also known as two of the best counties in the state. Lots of thick cover. $61,810. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. Kentucky Elk Guides Ask for Changes for 2022 Season, Curtis Gates Lloyd WMA Offers Great Hunting in Northern Kentucky, The only thing I find more fun than killing a gobbler each spring is getting my hands on all of the new products that I can take with me into the woods. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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. I have been putting in for the Land Between the Lakes quota hunt. During quota hunts, all deer hun ting seasons on this WMA are closed, except to drawn hunters. Lots of deer, nice bucks. . Or you could shoot 216 does and no bucks. You must log in or register to reply here. Additionally, hunt data for most Redlands WMA hunts . 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.