These are prime locations at Rough River. Location: Breckinridge, Grayson & Hardin Counties, Total Harvest 2020: 39 Bucks: 24 Does: 15, Terrain: Moderate;; Most hunting areas consists of hills and ridges. Kentucky abounds with deer-hunting opportunities, and many would consider it a sleeper state for the DIY hunter. In Oklahoma, Osage county holds the record for most bucks harvested during the archery season with 681 bucks during the 2019-20 season . 8Z on Kodiak Island was second with 4,797. Feb 16, 2015 #2 G grasskiller Member Good wma not much pressure and a lot of places for a big buck to hide. Photo Gallery See all Photos 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. Most of Kodiak Island is public (Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge) and accessible by plane or boat. We are located in Crofton, Ky, and have several beautiful properties that are the perfect home for big bucks. Used to quail hunt down there years ago. 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. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Look forward to hearing how y'all do! Location: west Kentucky Begley of Clay County, Ky harvested a 217 2/8-inch buck on Nov. 14, 2020 in Fayette . 2 deer a day from October 15 through January 31, but only 3 total bucks. They are strict on their rules, so read up. Heard something about an open hunt. In this edition of "Big Buck Profile," Gordon Whittington talks with young whitetail hunter Reid Crawford about his trophy buck taken in 2017. 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. You can park in a few different spots along Georgetown Rd, or you can drive up and around to Old Columbus and park there. 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! These areas in which deer will travel and you may have some luck with buck movement during the mid-day. It will tell you how many were killed each year and with what weapon. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. 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. 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%. Walnut Road, Lot #WP001 , Boaz, KY 42027 (Graves County) Size: 21.5 acres . 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. State Park Deer. So how can Kentucky keep cranking out Pope & Young bucks? 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. 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. This will be some of the most difficult terrain to hunt in Kentucky. 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!! Try Fort Campbell. 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. Then look up telecheck public land results, tells how many deer checked in on each wma. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Find season dates and bag limits here. Four other counties had an impressive season, each with a harvest of more than 1,500 deer. With a little research and hard work, metro hunters can successfully . And that public land is found throughout the state, in areas big and small. There is a lot of good places to hunt. Several counties in the Green River Region offer excellent deer hunting opportunities. "Be bear aware at all times, and never drag your game," Svoboda said. A hunter may only hunt four grouse per day and eight per season using shotguns. [,
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Originally posted by Valley Station. Size: 8,600 acres NOTE: Some of the below hunts may be by pre-application lottery. Emailed registrations will be accepted through Jan. 8. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The hunter tipped off his local game warden after tracking down the poached deer's gut pile deep in Idaho backcountry. Hunters must have an annual hunting license for hunting grouse in Kentucky. Similar hunts are held on West Kentucky WMA each year. I have hunted down there prbably 7 or 8 times. Like most Kentucky public land deer hunting spots, youll find numerous hollers, fingers, and bowls that are possible locations for bedding bucks. In all, I saw eight different bucks at Rich in 2020, with the biggest being a small 6-pointer. I did see an absolute monster on a quota hunt but did not get a shot at him. Do your own research and scout some of the places you come up with. Give a Gift
JavaScript is disabled. These 2 areas combined offer more than 46,000 acres giving archery hunters lots of space to roam. 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. 1 buck killed in Kentucky in 2006 an incredible 19-pointer that measured 246 3/8. Others do not. While some places around the lake are limited, there are sizable parcels of land that offer land features that attract deer. Lots of thick cover. They only ones I know anything about is in the bluegrass region! Rich WMA is often an overlooked public land hunting area because it is the next-door-neighbor to Kleber WMA, a hotbed for deer. "There's a selective mindset among many hunters and landowners, which results in most small bucks getting a free pass.". 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 . Mostly wooded but has some ag fields on the wma. Christian, Graves, Trigg and Livingston rounded out the top five counties with between 1,737 and 2,910 deer taken in each. Some of these governments allow the use of hunting equipment such as firearms, crossbows, and bows within their boundaries. Same as some already said. But More than likely the result would just be largest wma. 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. 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. Hulah WMA is in the heart of big deer country. You need look no further than the bulletin board in Uncle Lees sporting goods store in Greenville for pictorial proof of Peabodys potential. I'm looking to do a public land hunt traveling from New Jersey, so any help would be appreciated. I would hunt in area 4 right across the road from the A area. Any info would be greatly appreciated. If I had a choice of hunting Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri or IllinoisKentucky would be my last pick. Y outh Seasons and Youth Lottery Hunts. Welcome to 2022-23 Louisiana Hunting What's New for 2022 Licensing changes ( Licenses & Fees ): Change to license fees; see fee tables for details. No permanent stands, etc. We provide our hunters with an exciting Whitetail deer hunting experience in a true wilderness setting. Signups will not be accepted once all slots have been filled. Still, it's worth asking: Does the biologist feel the top areas for bowhunting trophy bucks are likely to change any time soon? Kind of an eerie place with all the nuclear signs and fall out shelters. 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. Gordon Whittington heads north to his personal Missouri farm for some crossbow action. You are using an out of date browser. i think you guys would have to best chance there. You must log in or register to reply here. Camp is setup in Kentucky! Take bowhunters advice and scout if you get a chance. Feb 16, 2015 #3 C Chadx1981 Senior Member Sweet what's the name lol Land that once gave up coal to huge strip mine shovels now regularly yields 120- and 130-class bucks. Areas designated as no hunting (pink areas on the maps) are open to year-round visitation. Kentucky Ridge Forest WMA was one of the most successful Eastern Kentucky public land areas last year with 42 bucks harvested. 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. JavaScript is disabled. In some areas, a user permit is required. Whitley's articles have appeared in various print and online magazines, including "GQ," "Details," "Southern Living" and "Cooking Light. Never hunted there, curious to see if anyone had any information on the place (what tract to hunt, what to setup on, etc.) . Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. Deer hunts offered include a shotgun-only, youth-mentor hunt at the West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Dec. 15-18. Terrain: Moderate; Hill country, with steep ridges in places. . JavaScript is disabled. Good luck. Total Harvest 2020: 79 Bucks: 56 Does: 23, Terrain: Moderate to Hard; Most hunting areas consists of hills and ridges. There are some WMA's, like the dam/Peninusula area at Barren River Reservoir that are primitive weapons only. "No, not really," he says. Changing the big game license to individual licenses for deer and turkey. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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. Kentucky Hunting Features Forums List Deer Hunting Forum Kentucky Community Forum Waterfowl Hunting Forum Turkey Hunting Forum I know nothing about this state and being this far away I would be going by your guys help. Therefore, this is perfect for hunters who like taking their kids hunting with them. Missouri's metropolitan areas are a complex mix of municipal and county governments, each with its own jurisdiction and set of laws. Surrounded by private land, there are some pinch points along the fence lines where I have seen deer travel back and forth. Most hunting and fishing opportunities align with Kentucky state seasons and bag limits. they are all hard to hunt blind. 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. That has been several years ago on the youth mentor hunt. Number of Fields: 6+ Crop: 20+ acres, Sunflower. 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. Please see the refuge hunting/fishing permit for details. 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. It's a question a lot of wildlife biologists and trophy hunters in other states probably have asked themselves. Rich WMA made this list because it is filled with deer, but it comes in at No. I will once again be maintaining a report detailing the results for WMA Deer hunts for the 2022/2023 season. ZIP: 42056. Location: west Kentucky Im hoping those bucks made it through the season and they come back bigger and better, but its not likely when hunting public land. Lots of deer, nice bucks. In my experiences, most hunters do not do this at Rich WMA. 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. "In much of western and central Kentucky we have fertile land with a good balance of cover and crops," the biologist says. Find one with a soybean field and go glass late evenings in August. Here's his full story. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Since 2010, the hottest counties for P&Y entries (white stars on map) have continued to reflect a broad pattern. The last time I was down there it was tore up with rubs and I saw probably a 140" buck. All Rights Reserved. Thanks! There are deer in there, but the horse people screwing around with their dogs will likely increase the difficulty of a hunt. The 10-day firearms season in early November is popular with out-of-state hunters, but bowhunters will find pressure light. Be safe hunting!! You are using an out of date browser. 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. The Bluegrass State's production of older bucks quickly began to rise. This allows them to keep an eye out for any predator or hunter that may enter the bedding area. Now Kentucky taxidermists stay plenty busy mounting big bucks. I am sure a lot has changed. In the eastern half of Kentucky deer numbers tend to be much lower, with far less acreage devoted to row crops. 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. They is deer there just not like they used to be. They monitor it closely. Never hunted there, curious to see if anyone had any information on the place (what tract to hunt, what to setup on, etc.) This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. Published Oct 24, 2007 6:19 PM EDT, Ballard Wildlife Management Area If any old whitetail just won't do and you're on the hunt for trophy bucks, Kentucky has you covered. Deer. In rare cases, wild whitetails can live for Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. 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 man reportedly shot his wife in the chest then . 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 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. My group got picked for the West Kentucky WMA Quota Deer Hunt December 15-18. West Kentucky WMA, McCracken County. Question on West Point WMA deer restrictions. JavaScript is disabled. No tags are required for does and only one of your bucks has an antler restriction. 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. 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. 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. West Kentucky WMA offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including horseback riding trails, a skeet range, a mobility impaired archery range and hiking trails. There were tracks that were open to hunting and others closed to hunting. Whatever the reason, Kentucky has indeed managed to find the "sweet spot" of hunting opportunity for trophy deer. 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. Spring squirrel hunting in Kentucky can be one of the most fun times of the year! 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. For details, see individual WMA schedules, contact any Field Office, or visit our website at www.wlf.louisiana.gov. You must log in or register to reply here. It may not display this or other websites correctly. With nearly a third of the area covered in water, you can bet that youll find bucks bedded near some swampy, nasty places. I do agree.that first time will be more learning than success. Other than that, put on a good pair of boots, pack light, and give it your best shot. I didnt include Kleber WMA on this list because it is not underrated. Opportunities are abundant in this state, with a population of around 900,000 deer and about seven hunters per square mile. Tim Young remembers, "Man, he looked big." It may not display this or other websites correctly. Therefore, it seems only fitting that his pursuit of a particular giant buck actually began during a rabbit hunt in November 2012. This is a great time for hunters to get out and enjoy the woods. "First, by capturing images of older and/or larger-antlered bucks in an area, they encourage local hunters to pass up younger/lesser animals. 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. However, there's one rule that we've noticed is active in almost every country. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Youll find several smaller areas that fall between the water and private land, but a quick paddle can get you there quickly and away from other hunters. If you really want to be different, you can access more remote parts of Pennyrile if you access it through Lake Beshear. Like another said just head to nearest wma and scout. As a reminder, results are missing for several 2017/2018 & 2018/2019 seasons hunts. 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!!!!! Kentucky Guided Hunting Trips Most of the SRO Crew Contact us today! "Open" hunt to be Nov. 22-23, Shotgun or Muzzle loader only. 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. 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. In February, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources bought nearly 1,200 acres along the Pond River to add to the Peabody 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. "Also, deer population density averages about 20 animals per square mile. 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. You are using an out of date browser. I know the basics. These areas range from a few hundred acres to the 22,000-acre Rich Mountain WMA in northwestern Georgia. GEORGIA. |
Any info would be appreciated. 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. Likely, youll find them with their backs to the water and their vantage points set to access areas or popular walking routes. You are using an out of date browser. Application with up to five hunters allowed. Once you make your way to a good logging road, the walking is pretty easy. Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. You must log in or register to reply here. The Kentucky river wma in Henry co is really good. I'd think the WMA that lists incentives for killing a bunch of does would be the ones with the highest density. July 26, 2022 By Bernie Barringer. Be sure to always check regulations before an adventure Kentucky public land deer hunting. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Shane. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. You must log in or register to reply here. I bowhunted 10 days in a row there last year and saw 4 deer. Since 2010, the hottest counties for P&Y entries (white stars on map) have continued to reflect that broad pattern. For one thing, the state doesn't limit buck tags in any way. Hunting during rifle season, or late muzzleloader, will likely be the easiest path to finding a big buck at Kentucky Ridge Forest. Terrain: Hard; You can experience a big change in elevation when hunting this area. Most hunters will use the roads that lead to parking areas. Go get em. For a $24 license, you may kill 3 antlered deer and 213 does. For another, gun season falls right in the heart of the November rut. Hopkins leads the way with a recorded harvest of 2,542 deer during the 2013 season. Hiwassee and Yuchi wildlife refuges have growing deer herds the state would. They are strict on their rules, so read up. 2022 Commonwealth of Kentucky. There will not be a staffed check station for the hunt because of crowding concerns and the potential for spreading COVID-19. Killed the biggest deer I have "ever" killed there on a quota hunt. There are some WMA's, like the dam/Peninusula area at Barren River Reservoir that are primitive weapons only. 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. Oct 20, 2004 #2 G glenmorebuckman 6 pointer Dec 20, 2003 468 Glenmore, Ky, USA. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. 5 Underdated Forests and Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) for Deer Hunting In Kentucky. For me, its just another reason to go. Hunters can hunt squirrel, white-tailed deer, wild turkey and resident Canadian geese during the specified seasons. I never saw another person when I was younger and hunted there. This is just another reason why Kentucky public land deer hunting is among the best. Kind of an eerie place with all the nuclear signs and fall out shelters. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. Hunter cards and instruction sheets will be provided before Jan. 16 to those registered for the hunt. 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. Hunters in Crittenden took 3,033 bucks during the 2013 season.