A drive through the access points may afford some glassing during early August and give you a good idea of what youre dealing with. However, there's one rule that we've noticed is active in almost every country. JavaScript is disabled. "In much of western and central Kentucky we have fertile land with a good balance of cover and crops," the biologist says. The Deer Tour has begun! I would scout three spots in three different areas just in case they are useing it. Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. In my experiences, most hunters do not do this at Rich WMA. "So it's productive habitat. Some hunts are mentored hunts for youth and accompanying adults. Then look up telecheck public land results, tells how many deer checked in on each wma. Written by Mike Collins Kentuckians Cody Likins and Jakob Begley won the 2020 Quest Hunt Company Deer Hunting Competition. 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. 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. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. 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. Number of Fields: 6+ Crop: 20+ acres, Sunflower. Western Kentucky normally produces bigger bucks. Most areas are open to archery and crossbow hunting for deer except during the Dec. 12-13 quota gun hunt. Check kdfwr website for harvest results over several years. Some of these governments allow the use of hunting equipment such as firearms, crossbows, and bows within their boundaries. Welcome to 2022-23 Louisiana Hunting What's New for 2022 Licensing changes ( Licenses & Fees ): Change to license fees; see fee tables for details. Spring squirrel hunting in Kentucky can be one of the most fun times of the year! The shotgun and muzzleloader deer hunt for up to 140 hunters is scheduled Jan. 16-18, 2021. Hiwassee and Yuchi wildlife refuges have growing deer herds the state would. They are categorized into high, moderate and low management levels. 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. Ballard Wildlife Management Area Location: west Kentucky Size: 8,600 acres ZIP: 42056 Ballard has the best buck-to-doe ratio of any By 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. These areas in which deer will travel and you may have some luck with buck movement during the mid-day. Kind of an eerie place with all the nuclear signs and fall out shelters. WMA located approximately 10 miles west of Henderson, KY, consists of 6 units. Quota and firearm deer hunting for the 2022 season is over. I have been putting in for the Land Between the Lakes quota hunt. While I often e-scout a public land area on OnX before Kentucky public land deer hunting, Doug Travis is so diverse, I think a person needs to see it first-hand before walking in with their bow. 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. 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. West Kentucky WMA, McCracken County. 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! Others do not. Where's the best place to go looking for one of these big guys in bow season? I live near Miller-Welch. i would come sooner if possible. I think I have 2 priority points. As the accompanying map illustrates, no single county has them to itself. Because of that, I prefer to hunt Rich. Since 2010, the hottest counties for P&Y entries (white stars on map) have continued to reflect that broad pattern. I'm looking to do a public land hunt traveling from New Jersey, so any help would be appreciated. The deadline to register by phone is 3:30 p.m. (CST) on Jan. 5. Lots of deer, nice bucks. 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. Write, email or call Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources for additional information. Western Kentucky normally produces bigger bucks. With a little research and hard work, metro hunters can successfully . 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. If you really want to be different, you can access more remote parts of Pennyrile if you access it through Lake Beshear. hope that helps. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. This will be some of the most difficult terrain to hunt in Kentucky. I do agree.that first time will be more learning than success. Please see the refuge hunting/fishing permit for details. 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. Itll make you a better deer hunter and itll make you prouder of your accomplishment when you do find the deer your after. If you want public land, hunt the Shawnee N.F. I know they are there. Deer. 5 Underdated Forests and Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) for Deer Hunting In Kentucky. 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. He sold his first story to Field & Stream a few years later and has been contributing to the brand ever since. You are using an out of date browser. In fact, it is a well known wetland in far west Kentucky in Carlisle and Hickman Counties. Photo Gallery See all Photos For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. We will be hunting the quota hunt as well but where will depend a lot on where other people are hunting. | JavaScript is disabled. Steep hills of the Appalachian Mountains make for limited access and will push even the most physically fit. With nearly a third of the area covered in water, you can bet that youll find bucks bedded near some swampy, nasty places. Fee, advance application required of deer, waterfowl hunters. Rich WMA made this list because it is filled with deer, but it comes in at No. Opportunities are abundant in this state, with a population of around 900,000 deer and about seven hunters per square mile. Whatever the reason, Kentucky has indeed managed to find the "sweet spot" of hunting opportunity for trophy deer. But a clearly defined chunk of Kentucky is a great place to start your search. The changes are necessary to ensure the health and safety of hunters and WMA staff. Deer. But, the most important memoryis being with my father and making memories. Dog-Deer Where to Hunt Deer in Alaska Unit 4Z saw the highest blacktail harvest in 2021, with 6,579 animals. Any info would be appreciated. While it may be hard to replicate that harvest, there are still big bucks lurking around Pennyrile. We provide our hunters with an exciting Whitetail deer hunting experience in a true wilderness setting. At any time, you can drop off down a ridge and go looking for more deer sign. 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* Anyone else know anything about this hunt? A hunter may only hunt four grouse per day and eight per season using shotguns. Lace your boots up and put some time in now. Missouri's metropolitan areas are a complex mix of municipal and county governments, each with its own jurisdiction and set of laws. (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. Signups will not be accepted once all slots have been filled. 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. These are prime locations at Rough River. I remember some of them you get an extra preference point or something for taking does. During the 2013 deer season, hunters bagged a record 4,069 deer, which was more than in any other county. | There will be pressure any where you go. Location: Breckinridge, Grayson & Hardin Counties, Total Harvest 2020: 39 Bucks: 24 Does: 15, Terrain: Moderate;; Most hunting areas consists of hills and ridges. You need look no further than the bulletin board in Uncle Lees sporting goods store in Greenville for pictorial proof of Peabodys potential. Hardin County was the number one deer producing county in the entire state of Kentucky last season. 8Z on Kodiak Island was second with 4,797. But, I also do not think I was nearly aggressive enough in pursuing a mature buck on the property. Do your own research and scout some of the places you come up with. 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. "First, by capturing images of older and/or larger-antlered bucks in an area, they encourage local hunters to pass up younger/lesser animals. I will once again be maintaining a report detailing the results for WMA Deer hunts for the 2022/2023 season. Mike Clerkin heads to Buffalo County, Wisconsin to bowhunt whitetails. [,
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Originally posted by Valley Station. Additionally, hunt data for most Redlands WMA hunts . 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. Since 2010, the hottest counties for P&Y entries (white stars on map) have continued to reflect a broad pattern. The Blue Grass Region is the best area in the state of Kentucky for deer hunting, with Owen county leading the pack. Several years back the population was much better than it is now. Total Harvest 2020: 25 Bucks: 13 Does: 12. You are using an out of date browser. Changing the big game license to individual licenses for deer and turkey. No tags are required for does and only one of your bucks has an antler restriction. Map reading is probably one of my best qualities in bowhunting.(served 8 years in the army). Make sure your deer is 15in wide or it will cost you. I think I may get drawn this coming season. I know nothing about this state and being this far away I would be going by your guys help. 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!! GEORGIA. Hunters must have an annual hunting license for hunting grouse in Kentucky. To the west of this area, farm fields are larger and cover more restricted, making bucks more vulnerable to harvest by gun. Rich WMA consists of ridge after ridge, with some low bottom areas where deer like to travel. View all 40 pictures. One of the better areas for quail hunting in the state. Oct 20, 2004 #2 G glenmorebuckman 6 pointer Dec 20, 2003 468 Glenmore, Ky, USA. My group got picked for the West Kentucky WMA Quota Deer Hunt December 15-18. Search the dept website and check harvest numbers on wmas. What would you guys consider the best WMA for deer numbers and best chance to get one with a bow ? If any old whitetail just won't do and you're on the hunt for trophy bucks, Kentucky has you covered. Lots of thick cover. Early season is the key here. I always hunt about 100 from the road in the small strip of woods. Can you field dress in a WMA and discard the remains in the WMA in Georgia? Parts of Doug Travis are closed from November 1-March 15. These areas range from a few hundred acres to the 22,000-acre Rich Mountain WMA in northwestern Georgia. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. "Camera use facilitates trophy whitetail production in two ways," he points out. Anyone been up to kentucky in search of a wma Buck? Tract 1, Tract 4 and Tract 4A, Tract 5, Other. 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. To hear many serious trophy bowhunters tell it, Kentucky must be a figment of someone's fertile imagination. The Cartecay section of this WMA (about 5,062 acres) is reserved for archers 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. 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. Go get em. Still, it's worth asking: Does the biologist feel the top areas for bowhunting trophy bucks are likely to change any time soon? Any info would be greatly appreciated. "You can take a boy out of ol' dixieland but you'll never take ol' dixie from a boy" -Lynyrd Skynyrd. 5 because the lack of quality bucks that I have seen. 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. 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. All stands are community so you get to hunt the full 16000 acres. Christian, Graves, Trigg and Livingston rounded out the top five counties with between 1,737 and 2,910 deer taken in each. Gordon Whittington talks with Steven Sprout about the trophy buck he took back in 1998 while bowhunting public land in Illinois. Kentucky Ridge Forest WMA was one of the most successful Eastern Kentucky public land areas last year with 42 bucks harvested. Heard something about an open hunt. You must log in or register to reply here. CARRY PROOF Hunters who buy their license or permit by phone or internet must carry while hunting: picture ID and proof of purchase (an authorization number, a paper license or a computer printout). 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. Terrain: Moderate; Hill country, with steep ridges in places. I'd hunt Illinois. 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 other four counties in the top five were close behind, with hunters bagging between 2,222 and 2,470 bucks per county. However, I just love the moment to be with my father as we try and tag out. I'd think the WMA that lists incentives for killing a bunch of does would be the ones with the highest density. Y outh Seasons and Youth Lottery Hunts. I'll try & drive out there after work today & see if theres any new info at the hunter check station. 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. 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. Never hunted there, curious to see if anyone had any information on the place (what tract to hunt, what to setup on, etc.) There are some WMA's, like the dam/Peninusula area at Barren River Reservoir that are primitive weapons only. Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. In rare cases, wild whitetails can live for Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. West Tennessee Wildlife Management Areas (Region 1) *The numbers for each WMA and on the map correspond to the numbers in the hunting guide. Selected hunters may bring a hunting party totaling no more than 10 members, including the administrator and designated co-administrator. I hunted it quite a few times but the last time was about 15 years ago. 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!!!!! With an official net score of 246 0/8 non-typical, Austin Musselman's megabuck is an example of Kentucky quality. 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. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife owns, leases, or manages more than 85 wildlife management areas (WMAs) for public use. I really can't see anyone coming in blind & having great success. They have tons of deer as well. And the first of those reasons is the number of hunters. Feb 16, 2015 #3 C Chadx1981 Senior Member Sweet what's the name lol That's where i'd hide if I was a deer! The grouse season in Kentucky runs from November to February, varying based on zone, with the permission of hunting ruffed grouse. Emailed registrations will be accepted through Jan. 8. They is deer there just not like they used to be. 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. At most wma's you need to scout a lot & then travel deep to the perfect spot. This is a place that is enjoyed by visitors all year round. West Kentucky WMA offers a variety of recreational opportunities, including horseback riding trails, a skeet range, a mobility impaired archery range and hiking trails. Kansas. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Kentucky abounds with deer-hunting opportunities, and many would consider it a sleeper state for the DIY hunter. They are strict on their rules, so read up. Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Maps This map is intended as a guide only, and its content is subject to change without notice. Published Oct 24, 2007 6:19 PM EDT, Ballard Wildlife Management Area Take bowhunters advice and scout if you get a chance. JavaScript is disabled. View 40 photos, read details, and contact the seller. Yes it was. If I remember right, the WMA list on kdfwr has what you can kill, limitations etc. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Divide #acres by # of deer harvested. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action.