Just want to try something new this year. During quota hunts, all deer hun ting seasons on this WMA are closed, except to drawn hunters. By the time the rut rolls around in early November, the density of the woods will start to dwindle and youll have clearer paths through the ridges and hollers that will make for easier hunting. You must log in or register to reply here. These are prime locations at Rough River. That's where i'd hide if I was a deer! Salt River Outfitters in Kentucky is located on the " Bourbon Trail ." As an added bonus, as you stay with us, you can tour many of the bourbon distilleries on the "Bourbon Trail" that are located within 30 minutes of us. Whitley's articles have appeared in various print and online magazines, including "GQ," "Details," "Southern Living" and "Cooking Light. 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. Some hunts are mentored hunts for youth and accompanying adults. Missouri's metropolitan areas are a complex mix of municipal and county governments, each with its own jurisdiction and set of laws. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Find one with a soybean field and go glass late evenings in August. ; KY archery and crossbow deer hunting for the 2022-2023 season has ended. Mike Clerkin heads to Buffalo County, Wisconsin to bowhunt whitetails. Kentucky abounds with deer-hunting opportunities, and many would consider it a sleeper state for the DIY hunter. These 2 areas combined offer more than 46,000 acres giving archery hunters lots of space to roam. Four other counties had an impressive season, each with a harvest of more than 1,500 deer. 2022 Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Bluegrass State's production of older bucks quickly began to rise. U are right and it looks good from what I have seen. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Where's the best place to go looking for one of these big guys in bow season? Kentucky Guided Hunting Trips Most of the SRO Crew Contact us today! A hunter can register a party of up to five hunters but must provide the name, fish and wildlife customer ID number and phone number for each member in the party. All Rights Reserved. Like another said just head to nearest wma and scout. Can anyone tell me when archery season will open in West Ky? 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. Off Market. Still, it's worth asking: Does the biologist feel the top areas for bowhunting trophy bucks are likely to change any time soon? Ainsley Whitley is a contributing writer for various branded properties that together attract more than 280 million readers seeking influential content. The deadline to register by phone is 3:30 p.m. (CST) on Jan. 5. First off, the location of this public land area is incredible. . I would scout three spots in three different areas just in case they are useing it. 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. Kind of an eerie place with all the nuclear signs and fall out shelters. In fact, it is a well known wetland in far west Kentucky in Carlisle and Hickman Counties. 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. Question on West Point WMA deer restrictions. West Tennessee Wildlife Management Areas (Region 1) *The numbers for each WMA and on the map correspond to the numbers in the hunting guide. Antler restrictions at the Cumberland Plateau site have limited the harvest for the. 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! Scott Bestul Kleber in Franklin and Owen co. Is good! They stay near the logging roads and hope a deer goes walking by. 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 Id recommend the closest one to your house. Will take first (300) hunters that show-up and sign in. I know they are there. 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. "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. I didnt include Kleber WMA on this list because it is not underrated. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Hunters may only But I had so much property off base it was just easyer to hunt around Clarksville or Oak Grove. Good luck. Others do not. You must log in or register to reply here. "Catoosa is one of the more popular public hunting areas in the state for big deer," according to Ratajczak. These areas range from a few hundred acres to the 22,000-acre Rich Mountain WMA in northwestern Georgia. JavaScript is disabled. You are using an out of date browser. I'd hunt Illinois. One of the better areas for quail hunting in the state. Same as some already said. 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! Check kdfwr website for harvest results over several years. All stands are community so you get to hunt the full 16000 acres. Easy access in most areas. He sold his first story to Field & Stream a few years later and has been contributing to the brand ever since. 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. Any info would be appreciated. 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 do agree.that first time will be more learning than success. You are using an out of date browser. Lace your boots up and put some time in now. My group got picked for the West Kentucky WMA Quota Deer Hunt December 15-18. "We have a lot of veteran hunters who aren't necessarily eager to shoot the first buck they see anyway," Yancy points out. 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. 6200 some odd acres. Haynes Shelton discusses what to look for when choosing the magnification range when it comes to the scope on your deer rifle. The shotgun and muzzleloader deer hunt for up to 140 hunters is scheduled Jan. 16-18, 2021. 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. The area offers waterfowl, turkey, deer and small game hunting along with fishing and hiking. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. . They monitor it closely. Kind of an eerie place with all the nuclear signs and fall out shelters. $61,810. 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. Land that once gave up coal to huge strip mine shovels now regularly yields 120- and 130-class bucks. Oct 20, 2004 #2 G glenmorebuckman 6 pointer Dec 20, 2003 468 Glenmore, Ky, USA. You should have pretty good luck there. With an official net score of 246 0/8 non-typical, Austin Musselman's megabuck is an example of Kentucky quality. Changing the big game license to individual licenses for deer and turkey. 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 grouse season in Kentucky runs from November to February, varying based on zone, with the permission of hunting ruffed grouse. There are some WMA's, like the dam/Peninusula area at Barren River Reservoir that are primitive weapons only. Similar hunts are held on West Kentucky WMA each year. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. There are deer in there, but the horse people screwing around with their dogs will likely increase the difficulty of a hunt. If I had a choice of hunting Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri or IllinoisKentucky would be my last pick. If Kentucky public land deer hunting is on your list this fall, Rough River Lake WMA would not be a bad starting point. 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'm looking to do a public land hunt traveling from New Jersey, so any help would be appreciated. Yes it was. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. Alternating ridges and sloughs, moist soil management units, woodlands, brush, and open crop fields are found here. Size: 60,000 acres Total Harvest 2020: 25 Bucks: 13 Does: 12. Try Fort Campbell. Used to quail hunt down there years ago. For one thing, the state doesn't limit buck tags in any way. They are strict on their rules, so read up. Opportunities are abundant in this state, with a population of around 900,000 deer and about seven hunters per square mile. Good deer, turkey, waterfowl and small game hunting. It's a state with a great reputation for big deer, but in producing them, it appears to violate many of the rules of how to manage deer with that in mind. You must log in or register to reply here. While it's tempting to say the one-buck limit simply forced hunters to become more selective in buck harvest, that might not be the full answer. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Stan Potts doubles down in Montana and Wyoming. i would come sooner if possible. 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. 2 deer a day from October 15 through January 31, but only 3 total bucks. Some hunts are open to mobility-impaired hunters only. Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. 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. when you hunted was the wma divided into tracts? 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. Here's his full story. All rights reserved. Areas designated as no hunting (pink areas on the maps) are open to year-round visitation. No tags are required for does and only one of your bucks has an antler restriction. This allows them to keep an eye out for any predator or hunter that may enter the bedding area. One of the reasons Pennyrile sustains a nice deer herd is because hunting access to the park is not easy. Therefore, it seems only fitting that his pursuit of a particular giant buck actually began during a rabbit hunt in November 2012. 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. Lake Beshear is part of Pennyrile and it has some of the best bass fishing in the area. hope that helps. Or you could shoot 216 does and no bucks. Therefore, this is perfect for hunters who like taking their kids hunting with them. CLOTHING - Get 10% off Legendary Whitetails gear w/code THP18 http://bit. In Oklahoma, Osage county holds the record for most bucks harvested during the archery season with 681 bucks during the 2019-20 season . 5 Underdated Forests and Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) for Deer Hunting In Kentucky. No vehicles/ATV's. Lots of thick cover. 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. Feb 16, 2015 #3 C Chadx1981 Senior Member Sweet what's the name lol It may not display this or other websites correctly. I live near Miller-Welch. Camp is setup in Kentucky! Where's the best place to go looking for one of these big guys in bow season? Mostly wooded but has some ag fields on the wma. i also agree about about your timing. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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. They are strict on their rules, so read up. Be sure to always check regulations before an adventure Kentucky public land deer hunting. This WMA is vast, covering more than 16,000 acres in Osage County. Contact us at 786-205-6593 or 786-457-4128 A 50% deposit is due upon booking of your hunt, with the balance due before AUGUST 1 All hunts are fully guided. They have tons of deer as well. I'd think I'd start there. 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. Lots of deer, nice bucks. 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 JavaScript is disabled. According to the biologist, some biologists in the agency also believe the advent of affordable digital trail cameras has played a big role. Please see the refuge hunting/fishing permit for details. Thanks! Hiwassee and Yuchi wildlife refuges have growing deer herds the state would. Likely, youll find them with their backs to the water and their vantage points set to access areas or popular walking routes. Never hunted there, curious to see if anyone had any information on the place (what tract to hunt, what to setup on, etc.) Find season dates and bag limits here. What would you guys consider the best WMA for deer numbers and best chance to get one with a bow ? This is a place that is enjoyed by visitors all year round. Most of Kodiak Island is public (Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge) and accessible by plane or boat. Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. Signups will not be accepted once all slots have been filled. I have been putting in for the Land Between the Lakes quota hunt. Access is available in all areas of Rich WMA. The Pennyrile State Forest is the largest public land area on this list and that is why it is at number one. My best advice would be to go to the area and scout it before you hunt..after reviewing the maps. If you really want to be different, you can access more remote parts of Pennyrile if you access it through Lake Beshear. You are using an out of date browser. This will be some of the most difficult terrain to hunt in Kentucky. If you want public land, hunt the Shawnee N.F. It will tell you how many were killed each year and with what weapon. Rich WMA made this list because it is filled with deer, but it comes in at No. Hopkins leads the way with a recorded harvest of 2,542 deer during the 2013 season. Peabody Wildlife Management Area Parts of Doug Travis are closed from November 1-March 15. In some areas, a user permit is required. 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. 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. But a clearly defined chunk of Kentucky is a great place to start your search. Anyone else know anything about this hunt? Whatever the reason, Kentucky has indeed managed to find the "sweet spot" of hunting opportunity for trophy deer. These areas in which deer will travel and you may have some luck with buck movement during the mid-day. 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. There is a lot of good places to hunt. Hopefully by archery season you will have a game plan that will give you the best chance to get one with a bow. You may be able to find areas in which multiple hollers converge into one open bottom, as well. Location: west Kentucky Instead of in-person signups, registration will be by phone and email only. 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!!!!! 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 got drawn for a quota here and have never been there.Does anybody know anything about this place any help is appreciated. I really can't see anyone coming in blind & having great success. 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. New this year, WK WMA will have both Quota Gun Hunt and a "Open" Gun Hunt. Killed the biggest deer I have "ever" killed there on a quota hunt. Hardin County was the number one deer producing county in the entire state of Kentucky last season. Several years back the population was much better than it is now. View all 40 pictures. I'd think the WMA that lists incentives for killing a bunch of does would be the ones with the highest density. Western Kentucky normally produces bigger bucks. Additionally, hunt data for most Redlands WMA hunts . My advice would be to get as close to the river as you can, in some of the more remote areas. There is alot of deer down there. Gordon Whittington talks with Steven Sprout about the trophy buck he took back in 1998 while bowhunting public land in Illinois. The Blue Grass Region is the best area in the state of Kentucky for deer hunting, with Owen county leading the pack. The majority of Ballard WMA is closed to visitation Oct. 15-March 15. 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 . Deer. I would hunt in area 4 right across the road from the A area. JavaScript is disabled. I think I have 2 priority points. Doug Travis WMA is not at the top of peoples lists when Kentucky public land deer hunting. The fishing is outstanding, and the waterfowling is at least acceptable. Selected hunters may not exceed their personal bag limit or a total of 5 bears per hunting party during the hunt. 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. For a $24 license, you may kill 3 antlered deer and 213 does. I never saw another person when I was younger and hunted there. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. In rare cases, wild whitetails can live for Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. For more on record-class bow bucks from Kentucky and across North America, visit Pope and Young Club. The shotgun and muzzleloader deer hunt for up to 140 hunters is scheduled Jan. 16-18, 2021. There is a lot that can be said about the Rough River Lake WMA. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky.