$61,810. 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. Hopkins leads the way with a recorded harvest of 2,542 deer during the 2013 season. 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. "In much of western and central Kentucky we have fertile land with a good balance of cover and crops," the biologist says. 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!!!!! 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. The end result is that we only harvest about 49 percent of the available antlered deer each year.". Likely, youll find them with their backs to the water and their vantage points set to access areas or popular walking routes. You must log in or register to reply here. We will be hunting the quota hunt as well but where will depend a lot on where other people are hunting. To the west of this area, farm fields are larger and cover more restricted, making bucks more vulnerable to harvest by gun. They're well equipped to fill buck tags at the time of year when antlered deer are most vulnerable. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. I think I may get drawn this coming season. 8Z on Kodiak Island was second with 4,797. Lots of thick cover. Hunters are willing to pass up younger deer because they know older ones are around.". For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Write, email or call Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources for additional information. Location: west Kentucky Just $1 per month . I have been putting in for the Land Between the Lakes quota hunt. While some places around the lake are limited, there are sizable parcels of land that offer land features that attract deer. 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. Hunting during rifle season, or late muzzleloader, will likely be the easiest path to finding a big buck at Kentucky Ridge Forest. However, I just love the moment to be with my father as we try and tag out. JavaScript is disabled. 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. The changes are necessary to ensure the health and safety of hunters and WMA staff. With over 14,000 acres, it would be impossible to pinpoint a few to share, but my advice in hunting Pennyrile is to be different. The shotgun and muzzleloader deer hunt for up to 140 hunters is scheduled Jan. 16-18, 2021. Hardin County was the number one deer producing county in the entire state of Kentucky last season. July 26, 2022 By Bernie Barringer. Mike Clerkin heads to Buffalo County, Wisconsin to bowhunt whitetails. Begley of Clay County, Ky harvested a 217 2/8-inch buck on Nov. 14, 2020 in Fayette . Cheatham WMA is a popular property that produces quite a bit of success, with a mixture of quota and non-quota hunts. 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. 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. Like another said just head to nearest wma and scout. Find one with a soybean field and go glass late evenings in August. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. Size: 8,600 acres This is just another reason why Kentucky public land deer hunting is among the best. At 195-inches there's good reason why. Good deer, turkey, waterfowl and small game hunting. Do what i did, go through every wma on KDFW website, write down name, # or acres. 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. The fishing is outstanding, and the waterfowling is at least acceptable. Kentucky Hunting Features Forums List Deer Hunting Forum Kentucky Community Forum Waterfowl Hunting Forum Turkey Hunting Forum "First, by capturing images of older and/or larger-antlered bucks in an area, they encourage local hunters to pass up younger/lesser animals. That's where i'd hide if I was a deer! I never saw another person when I was younger and hunted there. This allows them to keep an eye out for any predator or hunter that may enter the bedding area. The strip of woods conects the A area (no hunting) and private land. 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 heard they might be having an open hunt on Nov 22-23. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. The deadline to register by phone is 3:30 p.m. (CST) on Jan. 5. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. 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. October 22, 2021 6:19 PM Timothy Ring, a 55-year-old hunter in rural western Tennessee, told his family on Tuesday morning that he was going to work on his deer stand, according to the sheriff. JavaScript is disabled. Kentucky Ridge Forest WMA was one of the most successful Eastern Kentucky public land areas last year with 42 bucks harvested. Be safe hunting!! I'd hunt Illinois. So how can Kentucky keep cranking out Pope & Young bucks? These 2 areas combined offer more than 46,000 acres giving archery hunters lots of space to roam. The hunter tipped off his local game warden after tracking down the poached deer's gut pile deep in Idaho backcountry. You are using an out of date browser. Since 2010, the hottest counties for P&Y entries (white stars on map) have continued to reflect that broad pattern. Application with up to five hunters allowed. Feb 16, 2015 #2 G grasskiller Member Good wma not much pressure and a lot of places for a big buck to hide. I know the basics. Mostly wooded but has some ag fields on the wma. 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. Divide #acres by # of deer harvested. Check kdfwr website for harvest results over several years. "So it's productive habitat. Hunters in Crittenden took 3,033 bucks during the 2013 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. Most of Kodiak Island is public (Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge) and accessible by plane or boat. Kentucky Guided Hunting Trips Most of the SRO Crew Contact us today! 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. Look forward to hearing how y'all do! Go get em. I am sure a lot has changed. Can anyone tell me when archery season will open in West Ky? The man reportedly shot his wife in the chest then . They have tons of deer as well. 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. Therefore, it seems only fitting that his pursuit of a particular giant buck actually began during a rabbit hunt in November 2012. Dont rely on info strangers on the internet give you. The report *will be* updated to include results for bear-only and bear/deer hunts at a later date. You should have pretty good luck there. To hear many serious trophy bowhunters tell it, Kentucky must be a figment of someone's fertile imagination. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. The Pennyrile State Forest is the largest public land area on this list and that is why it is at number one. What a question for a public forum, laziest approach I've seen yet. You are using an out of date browser. Sept. 30. *Our Gear. Within Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge, there are four designated hunt areas. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Terrain: Hard; You can experience a big change in elevation when hunting this area. That makes the hunting tougher for with bow or gun. He sold his first story to Field & Stream a few years later and has been contributing to the brand ever since. I remember some of them you get an extra preference point or something for taking does. West Kentucky WMA, McCracken County. 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. There are some WMA's, like the dam/Peninusula area at Barren River Reservoir that are primitive weapons only. I've been there a few times on quota hunts and there are alot of deer there, but it seems like there are always twice as many people as deer. "Camera use facilitates trophy whitetail production in two ways," he points out. Archery/crossbow quota hunt from the third Monday in October through Nov. 30, except when closed during the quota hunt that starts the first Saturday in November. "No, not really," he says. Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Kentucky abounds with deer-hunting opportunities, and many would consider it a sleeper state for the DIY hunter. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife conducts quota hunts for deer, pheasant and migratory birds (waterfowl and mourning doves). JavaScript is disabled. Published Oct 24, 2007 6:19 PM EDT, Ballard Wildlife Management Area 2022 Commonwealth of Kentucky. Hunters must have an annual hunting license for hunting grouse in Kentucky. . Find season dates and bag limits here. The 10-day firearms season in early November is popular with out-of-state hunters, but bowhunters will find pressure light. Change to senior hunt/fish licenses. As a reminder, results are missing for several 2017/2018 & 2018/2019 seasons hunts. Any resident or nonresident may apply for quota hunts. Selected hunters may bring a hunting party totaling no more than 10 members, including the administrator and designated co-administrator. There are some WMA's, like the dam/Peninusula area at Barren River Reservoir that are primitive weapons only. "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. 2023-2024 archery dates will be announced later in 2023.; 2022-23 Tennessee Deer Season Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. Gordon Whittington heads north to his personal Missouri farm for some crossbow action. I live near Miller-Welch. Try Fort Campbell. | All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Deer. good luck, Thanks guys for all your info. Parts of Doug Travis are closed from November 1-March 15. I hunted it quite a few times but the last time was about 15 years ago. Ainsley Whitley is a contributing writer for various branded properties that together attract more than 280 million readers seeking influential content. Ballard Wildlife Management Area Location: west Kentucky Size: 8,600 acres ZIP: 42056 Ballard has the best buck-to-doe ratio of any By It's that you have to be at least 14 years old in order to ride an eBike on the public road. In the eastern half of Kentucky deer numbers tend to be much lower, with far less acreage devoted to row crops. The best hunting area I have found is Fort Knox military reservation.deer numbers are good (not as good as when I started hunting there in the 1990s though) and the CHANCE for a B&C buck is legitimate (Ft Knox posts lots of pictures of big bucks harvested each year). Make sure your deer is 15in wide or it will cost you. For one thing, the state doesn't limit buck tags in any way. Size: 60,000 acres CLOTHING - Get 10% off Legendary Whitetails gear w/code THP18 http://bit. Camp is setup in Kentucky! Welcome to 2022-23 Louisiana Hunting What's New for 2022 Licensing changes ( Licenses & Fees ): Change to license fees; see fee tables for details. Off Market. http://fw.ky.gov/pdf/1112huntingguideentire.pdf, Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. I'd think I'd start there. For details, see individual WMA schedules, contact any Field Office, or visit our website at www.wlf.louisiana.gov. I did see a lot of deer when I hunted it though. View 40 photos, read details, and contact the seller. [, quote:
Originally posted by Valley Station. 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. Scott Bestul Lake Beshear is part of Pennyrile and it has some of the best bass fishing in the area. Anyone else know anything about this hunt? But, I also do not think I was nearly aggressive enough in pursuing a mature buck on the property. JavaScript is disabled. Itll make you a better deer hunter and itll make you prouder of your accomplishment when you do find the deer your after. Hulah WMA is in the heart of big deer country. Shooting range (for single projectile firearms only; no shotshells or pistols allowed) open Monday-Saturday 9:00 AM-sunset & Sundays noon-sunset. I didnt include Kleber WMA on this list because it is not underrated. If you want to set yourself apart from other hunters, using a kayak or boat to get to more remote locations will give you a better chance at bagging a mature buck. Signups will not be accepted once all slots have been filled. my father and i have been bowhunting for 7 years in Alabama. 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. That has been several years ago on the youth mentor hunt. 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. They are strict on their rules, so read up. One of the better areas for quail hunting in the state. Never hunted there, curious to see if anyone had any information on the place (what tract to hunt, what to setup on, etc.) The Bluegrass State's production of older bucks quickly began to rise. Sprawling across Ohio, Muhlenberg and Hopkins counties, this rolling, brushy upland habitat with many wooded creek bottoms has no antler restrictions, and hunters can take up to four deer. No vehicles/ATV's. No permanent stands, etc. . I will once again be maintaining a report detailing the results for WMA Deer hunts for the 2022/2023 season. Will take first (300) hunters that show-up and sign in. There will be pressure any where you go. No vehicles/ATV's. For another, gun season falls right in the heart of the November rut. Total Harvest 2020: 25 Bucks: 13 Does: 12. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Terrain: Moderate; Hill country, with steep ridges in places. You must log in or register to reply here. No tags are required for does and only one of your bucks has an antler restriction. Used to quail hunt down there years ago. Now Kentucky taxidermists stay plenty busy mounting big 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. State Park Deer. You may be able to find areas in which multiple hollers converge into one open bottom, as well. Instead of in-person signups, registration will be by phone and email only. hope that helps. 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. 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. I know nothing about this state and being this far away I would be going by your guys help. All Rights Reserved. Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Maps This map is intended as a guide only, and its content is subject to change without notice. Tract 1, Tract 4 and Tract 4A, Tract 5, Other. The Cartecay section of this WMA (about 5,062 acres) is reserved for archers only. 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. This is a great time for hunters to get out and enjoy the woods. Where's the best place to go looking for one of these big guys in bow season? And that public land is found throughout the state, in areas big and small. "Open" hunt to be Nov. 22-23, Shotgun or Muzzle loader only. Location: Breckinridge, Grayson & Hardin Counties, Total Harvest 2020: 39 Bucks: 24 Does: 15, Terrain: Moderate;; Most hunting areas consists of hills and ridges. We hunt all over Alabama (private and public). 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. Here's his full story. This will be some of the most difficult terrain to hunt in Kentucky. Take bowhunters advice and scout if you get a chance. JavaScript is disabled. WMA located approximately 10 miles west of Henderson, KY, consists of 6 units. 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. 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. Heard something about an open hunt. 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. 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. In all, I saw eight different bucks at Rich in 2020, with the biggest being a small 6-pointer. Deer. 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. Rich WMA made this list because it is filled with deer, but it comes in at No. Map reading is probably one of my best qualities in bowhunting.(served 8 years in the army). There were tracks that were open to hunting and others closed to hunting. It gets hit pretty hard! You must log in or register to reply here. You can park in a few different spots along Georgetown Rd, or you can drive up and around to Old Columbus and park there. 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 a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. "Be bear aware at all times, and never drag your game," Svoboda said. Participating hunters must use Telecheck, the departments phone-in or online reporting system, to register their deer harvest. The area offers waterfowl, turkey, deer and small game hunting along with fishing and hiking. 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. Always saw several deer and tons of buck sign. You need look no further than the bulletin board in Uncle Lees sporting goods store in Greenville for pictorial proof of Peabodys potential. There will not be a staffed check station for the hunt because of crowding concerns and the potential for spreading COVID-19. Oct 20, 2004 #2 G glenmorebuckman 6 pointer Dec 20, 2003 468 Glenmore, Ky, USA. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. 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. I did see an absolute monster on a quota hunt but did not get a shot at him. Last season, there were 30 deer harvested at Doug Travis, with 16 of them being bucks. Do your own research and scout some of the places you come up with. View all 40 pictures. Others do not. "Also, deer population density averages about 20 animals per square mile. Several years back the population was much better than it is now. A drive through the access points may afford some glassing during early August and give you a good idea of what youre dealing with. 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. Peabody Wildlife Management Area Therefore, this is perfect for hunters who like taking their kids hunting with them. 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. Lots of deer, nice bucks. You are using an out of date browser. 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. Of all the counties in this area, Hopkins, Hardin, Hart, Webster and Breckinridge offer the best chances for success at bagging a buck. Some of these governments allow the use of hunting equipment such as firearms, crossbows, and bows within their boundaries. The Blue Grass Region is another hot spot, with Pendleton, Garrard, Boone and Henry counties offering the best chances for bagging a trophy buck. Yet, anyone younger than 14 can still ride an eBike off-road. Never hunted there, curious to see if anyone had any information on the place (what tract to hunt, what to setup on, etc.) (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. Im hoping those bucks made it through the season and they come back bigger and better, but its not likely when hunting public land. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. These areas in which deer will travel and you may have some luck with buck movement during the mid-day.