JavaScript is disabled. The Kentucky buck Heath Buchanan calls "Joker" is a Bluegrass State phenomenon. Scott Bestul Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. One of the more attractive features at Rough River Lake WMA is the number of oxbows that can be hunted. Same as some already said. 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. But, the most important memoryis being with my father and making memories. West Kentucky WMA, McCracken County. 6200 some odd acres. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. A drive through the access points may afford some glassing during early August and give you a good idea of what youre dealing with. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. I'm looking to do a public land hunt traveling from New Jersey, so any help would be appreciated. Like another said just head to nearest wma and scout. According to the biologist, some biologists in the agency also believe the advent of affordable digital trail cameras has played a big role. I didnt include Kleber WMA on this list because it is not underrated. Western Kentucky normally produces bigger bucks. Thanks! 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. Total Harvest 2020: 30 Bucks: 16 Does: 14, Terrain: Diverse; Easy to moderate; Wetlands and open water make up 34% of land. | 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. There is a lot of good places to hunt. It may not display this or other websites correctly. All Rights Reserved. Jonathan A.,Oct 11, 2018 Jonathan A.,Oct 11, 2018 #1 Oct 12, 2018#2 bowhunter26912 pointer 3,973 Spring squirrel hunting in Kentucky can be one of the most fun times of the year! You are using an out of date browser. 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). Therefore, it seems only fitting that his pursuit of a particular giant buck actually began during a rabbit hunt in November 2012. I know nothing about this state and being this far away I would be going by your guys help. However, there's one rule that we've noticed is active in almost every country. That's where i'd hide if I was a deer! Go get em. Deer were trapped and moved all over the state, so "our deer are quite genetically homogenous," Yancy said. 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. For one thing, the state doesn't limit buck tags in any way. If you want public land, hunt the Shawnee N.F. U are right and it looks good from what I have seen. Sept. 1. . You are using an out of date browser. I'd think the WMA that lists incentives for killing a bunch of does would be the ones with the highest density. They monitor it closely. 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. View all 40 pictures. I would scout three spots in three different areas just in case they are useing it. Will take first (300) hunters that show-up and sign in. Y outh Seasons and Youth Lottery Hunts. Location: Breckinridge, Grayson & Hardin Counties, Total Harvest 2020: 39 Bucks: 24 Does: 15, Terrain: Moderate;; Most hunting areas consists of hills and ridges. 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. I live near Miller-Welch. Where's the best place to go looking for one of these big guys in bow season? 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. These areas in which deer will travel and you may have some luck with buck movement during the mid-day. 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. In all, I saw eight different bucks at Rich in 2020, with the biggest being a small 6-pointer. Easy access in most areas. Give a Gift
Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. Lake Beshear is part of Pennyrile and it has some of the best bass fishing in the area. It will tell you how many were killed each year and with what weapon. 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. Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. You must log in or register to reply here. Hunting during rifle season, or late muzzleloader, will likely be the easiest path to finding a big buck at Kentucky Ridge Forest. With an official net score of 246 0/8 non-typical, Austin Musselman's megabuck is an example of Kentucky quality. Gordon Whittington talks with Steven Sprout about the trophy buck he took back in 1998 while bowhunting public land in Illinois. Kentucky abounds with deer-hunting opportunities, and many would consider it a sleeper state for the DIY hunter. $61,810. View 40 photos, read details, and contact the seller. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Rich WMA consists of ridge after ridge, with some low bottom areas where deer like to travel. Western Kentucky normally produces bigger bucks. Yes it was. Dog-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. Be sure to always check regulations before an adventure Kentucky public land deer hunting. But a clearly defined chunk of Kentucky is a great place to start your search. Refer to the pertinent Hunting Guides for specific rules regarding hunting and trapping. Here's his full story. You are using an out of date browser. Quota and firearm deer hunting for the 2022 season is over. For a long time it's been a consistent producer of quality bucks on both public and private land. Subscriber Services. Camp is setup in Kentucky! With nearly a third of the area covered in water, you can bet that youll find bucks bedded near some swampy, nasty places. Size: 60,000 acres Divide #acres by # of deer harvested. Sept. 30. What would you guys consider the best WMA for deer numbers and best chance to get one with a bow ? Question on West Point WMA deer restrictions. I know they are there. If I remember right, the WMA list on kdfwr has what you can kill, limitations etc. In February, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources bought nearly 1,200 acres along the Pond River to add to the Peabody Begley of Clay County, Ky harvested a 217 2/8-inch buck on Nov. 14, 2020 in Fayette . Speaking from experience. But, I also do not think I was nearly aggressive enough in pursuing a mature buck on the property. The refuge manages native grasslands to benefit white-tailed deer, turkey, quail, migratory songbirds and small mammals. They are strict on their rules, so read up. This allows them to keep an eye out for any predator or hunter that may enter the bedding area. Some of these governments allow the use of hunting equipment such as firearms, crossbows, and bows within their boundaries. "PRIVATE" lodging and family style meals included. They only ones I know anything about is in the bluegrass region! Take bowhunters advice and scout if you get a chance. 5 Underdated Forests and Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) for Deer Hunting In Kentucky. It's that you have to be at least 14 years old in order to ride an eBike on the public road. While some hunting is allowed, some animals are protected, including turtles, crawfish and bullfrogs. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 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. when you hunted was the wma divided into tracts? 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. 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. And that public land is found throughout the state, in areas big and small. You may be able to find areas in which multiple hollers converge into one open bottom, as well. Hopefully by archery season you will have a game plan that will give you the best chance to get one with a bow. Similar hunts are held on West Kentucky WMA each year. 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. New this year, WK WMA will have both Quota Gun Hunt and a "Open" Gun Hunt. 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. For more on record-class bow bucks from Kentucky and across North America, visit Pope and Young Club. Photo Gallery See all Photos 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. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Most hunters will use the roads that lead to parking areas. The majority of Ballard WMA is closed to visitation Oct. 15-March 15. We are located in Crofton, Ky, and have several beautiful properties that are the perfect home for big bucks. Participating hunters must use Telecheck, the departments phone-in or online reporting system, to register their deer harvest. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. Deer. Do your own research and scout some of the places you come up with. The Bluegrass State's production of older bucks quickly began to rise. Do what i did, go through every wma on KDFW website, write down name, # or acres. July 26, 2022 By Bernie Barringer. "You can take a boy out of ol' dixieland but you'll never take ol' dixie from a boy" -Lynyrd Skynyrd. Fall 2020-'21 harvest: 24,809 mule deer, 24,849 whitetails Overall outlook: Rick Ward, deer and elk coordinator for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, says the statewide mule deer outlook is fair to good and improving depending on the area. Kansas. ; KY archery and crossbow deer hunting for the 2022-2023 season has ended. Opportunities are abundant in this state, with a population of around 900,000 deer and about seven hunters per square mile. . They stay near the logging roads and hope a deer goes walking by. Kind of an eerie place with all the nuclear signs and fall out shelters. No vehicles/ATV's. No permanent stands, etc. If any old whitetail just won't do and you're on the hunt for trophy bucks, Kentucky has you covered. In this edition of "Big Buck Profile," Gordon Whittington talks with young whitetail hunter Reid Crawford about his trophy buck taken in 2017. He lives near there & knows the area pretty well. 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. 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. Some hunts are mentored hunts for youth and accompanying adults. 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. We will be hunting the quota hunt as well but where will depend a lot on where other people are hunting. *Our Gear. Deer. Some hunts are open to mobility-impaired hunters only. [,
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Originally posted by Valley Station. 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. 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. It's a question a lot of wildlife biologists and trophy hunters in other states probably have asked themselves. 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. Our deer and turkey hunting are both the best in the nation, far as I'm concerned. Stan Potts heads to Montana with his rifle in search of a Big Sky buck. My group got picked for the West Kentucky WMA Quota Deer Hunt December 15-18. Application with up to five hunters allowed. Good wma not much pressure and a lot of places for a big buck to hide. The shotgun and muzzleloader deer hunt for up to 140 hunters is scheduled Jan. 16-18, 2021. Good deer, turkey, waterfowl and small game hunting. 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. If Kentucky public land deer hunting is on your list this fall, Rough River Lake WMA would not be a bad starting point. The Deer Tour has begun! Published Oct 24, 2007 6:19 PM EDT, Ballard Wildlife Management Area JavaScript is disabled. I do agree.that first time will be more learning than success. 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. No permanent stands, etc. Within Cross Creeks National Wildlife Refuge, there are four designated hunt areas. I got drawn for a quota here and have never been there.Does anybody know anything about this place any help is appreciated. "So it's productive habitat. Change to senior hunt/fish licenses. Now Kentucky taxidermists stay plenty busy mounting big bucks. 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. 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. While some places around the lake are limited, there are sizable parcels of land that offer land features that attract deer. i think you guys would have to best chance there. http://fw.ky.gov/pdf/1112huntingguideentire.pdf, Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. Alternating ridges and sloughs, moist soil management units, woodlands, brush, and open crop fields are found here. 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* I'd hunt Illinois. 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. West Kentucky Whitetails, LLC offers free range deer hunts in Western Kentucky. Find one with a soybean field and go glass late evenings in August. West Tennessee Wildlife Management Areas (Region 1) *The numbers for each WMA and on the map correspond to the numbers in the hunting guide. "No, not really," he says. At 195-inches there's good reason why. Whitley's articles have appeared in various print and online magazines, including "GQ," "Details," "Southern Living" and "Cooking Light. He sold his first story to Field & Stream a few years later and has been contributing to the brand ever since. Whatever the reason, Kentucky has indeed managed to find the "sweet spot" of hunting opportunity for trophy deer. I am sure a lot has changed. I'll try & drive out there after work today & see if theres any new info at the hunter check station. Hunters must have an annual hunting license for hunting grouse in Kentucky. Rich WMA made this list because it is filled with deer, but it comes in at No. We hunt all over Alabama (private and public). My advice would be to get as close to the river as you can, in some of the more remote areas. Whatever the reason, Kentucky has indeed managed to find the "sweet spot" of hunting opportunity for trophy deer. 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. Good luck. Total Harvest 2020: 79 Bucks: 56 Does: 23, Terrain: Moderate to Hard; Most hunting areas consists of hills and ridges. Others do not. Last season, there were 30 deer harvested at Doug Travis, with 16 of them being bucks. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I always hunt about 100 from the road in the small strip of woods. I hunted it quite a few times but the last time was about 15 years ago. I did see an absolute monster on a quota hunt but did not get a shot at him. Hunter cards and instruction sheets will be provided before Jan. 16 to those registered for the hunt. 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. Hunters in Crittenden took 3,033 bucks during the 2013 season. 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. I never saw another person when I was younger and hunted there. 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. Access is available in all areas of Rich WMA. Hulah WMA is in the heart of big deer country.