The Deer Tour has begun! Which WV deer-hunting counties can truly be considered 'the best?' To hunt deer with firearms for the 2023-24 season, hunters must apply online during the month of July 2023 and be drawn for a quota deer hunt permit. 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. Five Underrated Areas for Kentucky Public Land Deer Hunting - Eastern Alternating ridges and sloughs, moist soil management units, woodlands, brush, and open crop fields are found here. "Also, deer population density averages about 20 animals per square mile. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. WMA located approximately 10 miles west of Henderson, KY, consists of 6 units. Used to quail hunt down there years ago. Whatever the reason, Kentucky has indeed managed to find the "sweet spot" of hunting opportunity for trophy deer. Can you field dress in a WMA and discard the remains in the WMA in Georgia? 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. Areas designated as no hunting (pink areas on the maps) are open to year-round visitation. they are all hard to hunt blind. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. Try Fort Campbell. Mike Clerkin heads to Buffalo County, Wisconsin to bowhunt whitetails. JavaScript is disabled. You are using an out of date browser. Because of that, I prefer to hunt Rich. Timber Tract With Opportunities For Deer And Turkey Hunting, 21.5 acres in Graves County, Kentucky offered at $61,810. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. While it may be hard to replicate that harvest, there are still big bucks lurking around Pennyrile. While some hunting is allowed, some animals are protected, including turtles, crawfish and bullfrogs. As a side note, as a wma only hunter, I never give up my best spots to hunt,ever. Most hunters will use the roads that lead to parking areas. Speaking from experience. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life 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. Regulations Easy access in most areas. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. There were tracks that were open to hunting and others closed to hunting. Its also home to the No. Still, it's worth asking: Does the biologist feel the top areas for bowhunting trophy bucks are likely to change any time soon? The Kentucky buck Heath Buchanan calls "Joker" is a Bluegrass State phenomenon. The grouse season in Kentucky runs from November to February, varying based on zone, with the permission of hunting ruffed grouse. NOTE: Some of the below hunts may be by pre-application lottery. 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. For another, gun season falls right in the heart of the November rut. This allows them to keep an eye out for any predator or hunter that may enter the bedding area. 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. Shooting In Camden Tn - supremacy-network.de Since 2010, the hottest counties for P&Y entries (white stars on map) have continued to reflect a broad pattern. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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 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. JavaScript is disabled. Therefore, it seems only fitting that his pursuit of a particular giant buck actually began during a rabbit hunt in November 2012. ", Game and Fishing Magazine: Kentucky Deer Hunting Forecast for 2014, Game and Fishing Magazine: Best Counties for Hunting Deer in 2013, Game and Fishing Magazine: Best Places for Trophy Bucks in Kentucky in 2013, Outdoor Life: Best Deer Hunting State: Kentucky Takes Top Spot in New Whitetail Scale. 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. The man reportedly shot his wife in the chest then . Stan Potts heads to Montana with his rifle in search of a Big Sky buck. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife conducts quota hunts for deer, pheasant and migratory birds (waterfowl and mourning doves). Please see the refuge hunting/fishing permit for details. It will tell you how many were killed each year and with what weapon. 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. I know they are there. All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. 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* 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. Good deer hunting can be found in many parts of West Virginia, but the best whitetail-producing counties share a common set of characteristics plenty of deer, enough size to make harvest . It may not display this or other websites correctly. Selected hunters may bring a hunting party totaling no more than 10 members, including the administrator and designated co-administrator. Steep hills of the Appalachian Mountains make for limited access and will push even the most physically fit. For one thing, the state doesn't limit buck tags in any way. good luck, Thanks guys for all your info. Oct 20, 2004 #2 G glenmorebuckman 6 pointer Dec 20, 2003 468 Glenmore, Ky, USA. We hunt all over Alabama (private and public). In some areas, a user permit is required. best wma to hunt for 1st hunt to kentucky (bowhunters) - Kentucky Hunting Tim Young remembers, "Man, he looked big." GEORGIA. Sept. 30. What is the most relax state for hunting? : r/Hunting - reddit Hunting there in early September can be tough until it is mowed before the youth hunting weekend. With an official net score of 246 0/8 non-typical, Austin Musselman's megabuck is an example of Kentucky quality. Missouri's metropolitan areas are a complex mix of municipal and county governments, each with its own jurisdiction and set of laws. Dove Hunt on These Public Land Areas in Kentucky No tags are required for does and only one of your bucks has an antler restriction. Top 5 Kentucky Public Hunting Area - YouTube Hardin County was the number one deer producing county in the entire state of Kentucky last season. Kleber in Franklin and Owen co. Is good! James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. Hunters in Crittenden took 3,033 bucks during the 2013 season. I really can't see anyone coming in blind & having great success. 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. Louisiana Hunting Seasons & Rules | eRegulations The Bluegrass State's production of older bucks quickly began to rise. "You can take a boy out of ol' dixieland but you'll never take ol' dixie from a boy" -Lynyrd Skynyrd. Some of these governments allow the use of hunting equipment such as firearms, crossbows, and bows within their boundaries. 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. 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. The shotgun and muzzleloader deer hunt for up to 140 hunters is scheduled Jan. 16-18, 2021. Some hunts are mentored hunts for youth and accompanying adults. "Catoosa is one of the more popular public hunting areas in the state for big deer," according to Ratajczak. 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. Our deer and turkey hunting are both the best in the nation, far as I'm concerned. Write, email or call Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources for additional information. The changes are necessary to ensure the health and safety of hunters and WMA staff. Good luck. Public Lands Hunting - Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife http://fw.ky.gov/pdf/1112huntingguideentire.pdf, Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. This is a place that is enjoyed by visitors all year round. Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Like another said just head to nearest wma and scout. 2022 Commonwealth of Kentucky. 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. 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. Kentucky wma | GON Forum Off Market. At most wma's you need to scout a lot & then travel deep to the perfect spot. I will once again be maintaining a report detailing the results for WMA Deer hunts for the 2022/2023 season. West Kentucky WMA offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including horseback riding trails, a skeet range, a mobility impaired archery range and hiking trails. "I woke up this morning and I thanked God that I did" Rush Limbaugh RIP Tethered Life Feb 4, 2020 #4 Thunder Head Begley of Clay County, Ky harvested a 217 2/8-inch buck on Nov. 14, 2020 in Fayette . 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!!!!! There are some WMA's, like the dam/Peninusula area at Barren River Reservoir that are primitive weapons only. If any old whitetail just won't do and you're on the hunt for trophy bucks, Kentucky has you covered. As the accompanying map illustrates, no single county has them to itself. They monitor it closely. There are deer in there, but the horse people screwing around with their dogs will likely increase the difficulty of a hunt. 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. Hunting In Kentucky Offers Plenty To DIY Archers Here's his full story. Mostly wooded but has some ag fields on the wma. Feb 16, 2015 #2 G grasskiller Member Good wma not much pressure and a lot of places for a big buck to hide. Deer hunts offered include a shotgun-only, youth-mentor hunt at the West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Dec. 15-18. Deer Hunting Regulations - Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Additionally, hunt data for most Redlands WMA hunts . 100 Best Public-Land Hunts: Tennessee | Field & Stream Be safe hunting!! This WMA is vast, covering more than 16,000 acres in Osage County. Ballard has the best buck-to-doe ratio of any public hunting area in the state at one buck for every two does, Yancy says, and it also has an excellent age-class structure that features a lot of older bucks. Starting this year, more sportsmen will be able to take advantage of these numbers. The place almost seems like an international airport for hunting during November. You must log in or register to reply here. JavaScript is disabled. But, I also do not think I was nearly aggressive enough in pursuing a mature buck on the property. Instead of in-person signups, registration will be by phone and email only. Most of Kodiak Island is public (Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge) and accessible by plane or boat. WMA Management Levels - Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife 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. West Tennessee Wildlife Management Areas (Region 1) *The numbers for each WMA and on the map correspond to the numbers in the hunting guide. It may not display this or other websites correctly. | 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. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. Whatever the reason, Kentucky has indeed managed to find the "sweet spot" of hunting opportunity for trophy deer. But, Pennyrile is home to a nice deer population, as well. No vehicles/ATV's. No permanent stands, etc. Refer to the pertinent Hunting Guides for specific rules regarding hunting and trapping. All rights reserved. Will take first (300) hunters that show-up and sign in. Best Spots for Bowhunting Kentucky Trophy Bucks Subscriber Services. 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. Deer. I always hunt about 100 from the road in the small strip of woods. Find season dates and bag limits here. . Hunter cards and instruction sheets will be provided before Jan. 16 to those registered for the hunt. Always saw several deer and tons of buck sign. 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. 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. The Cartecay section of this WMA (about 5,062 acres) is reserved for archers only. Other than that, put on a good pair of boots, pack light, and give it your best shot. That has been several years ago on the youth mentor hunt. We provide our hunters with an exciting Whitetail deer hunting experience in a true wilderness setting. "Open" hunt to be Nov. 22-23, Shotgun or Muzzle loader only. Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. If you want public land, hunt the Shawnee N.F. They have tons of deer as well. Hunting during rifle season, or late muzzleloader, will likely be the easiest path to finding a big buck at Kentucky Ridge Forest. Divide #acres by # of deer harvested. Hunters may only Opportunities are abundant in this state, with a population of around 900,000 deer and about seven hunters per square mile. Kentucky abounds with deer-hunting opportunities, and many would consider it a sleeper state for the DIY hunter. 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. As a reminder, results are missing for several 2017/2018 & 2018/2019 seasons hunts. The Kentucky river wma in Henry co is really good. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. The majority of Ballard WMA is closed to visitation Oct. 15-March 15. He sold his first story to Field & Stream a few years later and has been contributing to the brand ever since. A drive through the access points may afford some glassing during early August and give you a good idea of what youre dealing with. Question on West Point WMA deer restrictions. I do agree.that first time will be more learning than success. You should have pretty good luck there. The fishing is outstanding, and the waterfowling is at least acceptable. 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. I'd hunt Illinois. The Blue Grass Region is another hot spot, with Pendleton, Garrard, Boone and Henry counties offering the best chances for bagging a trophy buck. I would hunt in area 4 right across the road from the A area. Dec 2, 2022 Late fall shotgun turkey season starts Saturday December Peabody wma is 46k + acres in west central Ky, good deer and turkey population I carry a gun cause a cop is too heavy Feb 3, 2020 #3 bfriendly Senior Member That sounds like a great time! However, there's one rule that we've noticed is active in almost every country. 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. Size: 60,000 acres The deadline to register by phone is 3:30 p.m. (CST) on Jan. 5. These areas in which deer will travel and you may have some luck with buck movement during the mid-day. 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. Y outh Seasons and Youth Lottery Hunts. I know nothing about this state and being this far away I would be going by your guys help. Kind of an eerie place with all the nuclear signs and fall out shelters. hope that helps. These are prime locations at Rough River. Shane. And get this: Nearly all of the hunters heading afield then are carrying scoped centerfire rifles. looking to do a public land hunt. | Kentucky Hunting State Park Deer. Kind of an eerie place with all the nuclear signs and fall out shelters. Participating hunters must use Telecheck, the departments phone-in or online reporting system, to register their deer harvest. Four other counties had an impressive season, each with a harvest of more than 1,500 deer. Lots of thick cover. Thanks! No permanent stands, etc. 6200 some odd acres. The last time I was down there it was tore up with rubs and I saw probably a 140" buck. According to Benton County Sheriff Kenny Christopher, 55-year-old. Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. Any resident or nonresident may apply for quota hunts. The area offers waterfowl, turkey, deer and small game hunting along with fishing and hiking. Sept. 1. 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. In February, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources bought nearly 1,200 acres along the Pond River to add to the Peabody You are using an out of date browser. One of the reasons Pennyrile sustains a nice deer herd is because hunting access to the park is not easy. If you're going to hunt in November, one of those would be better due to no gun hunters. "We have a lot of veteran hunters who aren't necessarily eager to shoot the first buck they see anyway," Yancy points out. Hunting, Research, and Management. White-tailed deer are an abundant In fact, it is a well known wetland in far west Kentucky in Carlisle and Hickman Counties. Best WMA for deer numbers! | Kentucky Hunting But More than likely the result would just be largest wma. Opportunities are abundant in this state, with a population of around 900,000 deer and about seven hunters per square mile. Some hunts are open to mobility-impaired hunters only. 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. You are using an out of date browser. Once you make your way to a good logging road, the walking is pretty easy. Ballard Wildlife Management Area Location: west Kentucky Size: 8,600 acres ZIP: 42056 Ballard has the best buck-to-doe ratio of any By I got drawn for a quota here and have never been there.Does anybody know anything about this place any help is appreciated. Gordon Whittington talks with 13-year-old Troy Metzger about the 2016 hunt that landed the young man a monster non-typical buck on this edition of Big Buck Profile. Killed the biggest deer I have "ever" killed there on a quota hunt. 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. Check kdfwr website for harvest results over several years. In this edition of "Big Buck Profile," Gordon Whittington talks with young whitetail hunter Reid Crawford about his trophy buck taken in 2017. For a long time it's been a consistent producer of quality bucks on both public and private land. Good deer, turkey, waterfowl and small game hunting. In the eastern half of Kentucky deer numbers tend to be much lower, with far less acreage devoted to row crops. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. There are some WMA's, like the dam/Peninusula area at Barren River Reservoir that are primitive weapons only. At 195-inches there's good reason why. "First, by capturing images of older and/or larger-antlered bucks in an area, they encourage local hunters to pass up younger/lesser animals. But a clearly defined chunk of Kentucky is a great place to start your search. U are right and it looks good from what I have seen. You must log in or register to reply here. Like most Kentucky public land deer hunting spots, youll find numerous hollers, fingers, and bowls that are possible locations for bedding bucks. Dont rely on info strangers on the internet give you. Rich WMA made this list because it is filled with deer, but it comes in at No.