In rare cases, wild whitetails can live for Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. Most of Kodiak Island is public (Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge) and accessible by plane or boat. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Since 2010, the hottest counties for P&Y entries (white stars on map) have continued to reflect a broad pattern. 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. Find entry trail and be there come opening weekend. One of the reasons Pennyrile sustains a nice deer herd is because hunting access to the park is not easy. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. How are they doing the gun hunt in West Ky this year? I heard they might be having an open hunt on Nov 22-23. My best advice would be to go to the area and scout it before you hunt..after reviewing the maps. It will tell you how many were killed each year and with what weapon. These are prime locations at Rough River. They stay near the logging roads and hope a deer goes walking by. ", Game and Fishing Magazine: Kentucky Deer Hunting Forecast for 2014, Game and Fishing Magazine: Best Counties for Hunting Deer in 2013, Game and Fishing Magazine: Best Places for Trophy Bucks in Kentucky in 2013, Outdoor Life: Best Deer Hunting State: Kentucky Takes Top Spot in New Whitetail Scale. Kentucky Hunting is the leading online community for outdoors enthusiasts to discuss hunting, fishing, archery, and life in Kentucky. State Park Deer. Several years back the population was much better than it is now. If you're going to hunt in November, one of those would be better due to no gun hunters. 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. 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. For one thing, the state doesn't limit buck tags in any way. Parts of Doug Travis are closed from November 1-March 15. 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. However, there's one rule that we've noticed is active in almost every country. The archery areas on Campbell were like hunting in a park. Walnut Road, Lot #WP001 , Boaz, KY 42027 (Graves County) Size: 21.5 acres . Make sure your deer is 15in wide or it will cost you. In Oklahoma, Osage county holds the record for most bucks harvested during the archery season with 681 bucks during the 2019-20 season . A drive through the access points may afford some glassing during early August and give you a good idea of what youre dealing with. Total Harvest 2020: 30 Bucks: 16 Does: 14, Terrain: Diverse; Easy to moderate; Wetlands and open water make up 34% of land. Thanks! Mostly wooded but has some ag fields on the wma. Other than that, put on a good pair of boots, pack light, and give it your best shot. Or you could shoot 216 does and no bucks. Western Kentucky normally produces bigger bucks. Tract 1, Tract 4 and Tract 4A, Tract 5, Other. The report *will be* updated to include results for bear-only and bear/deer hunts at a later date. Can anyone tell me when archery season will open in West Ky? 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. Most areas are open to archery and crossbow hunting for deer except during the Dec. 12-13 quota gun hunt. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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%. They is deer there just not like they used to be. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 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. As the accompanying map illustrates, no single county has them to itself. All Rights Reserved. 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. Hulah WMA is in the heart of big deer country. 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. . Heard something about an open hunt. The Kentucky river wma in Henry co is really good. You should have pretty good luck there. Peabody Wildlife Management Area Deer. 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. 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. Go get em. Yet, anyone younger than 14 can still ride an eBike off-road. Mike Clerkin heads to the legendary Buffalo County, Wisconsin, in search of early season whitetail action. In this edition of "Big Buck Profile," Gordon Whittington talks with young whitetail hunter Reid Crawford about his trophy buck taken in 2017. Be sure to always check regulations before an adventure Kentucky public land deer hunting. They have tons of deer as well. One of the better areas for quail hunting in the state. Take bowhunters advice and scout if you get a chance. The end result is that we only harvest about 49 percent of the available antlered deer each year.". He sold his first story to Field & Stream a few years later and has been contributing to the brand ever since. Speaking from experience. my father and i have been bowhunting for 7 years in Alabama. 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. 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. Gordon Whittington heads north to his personal Missouri farm for some crossbow action. 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. Rich WMA consists of ridge after ridge, with some low bottom areas where deer like to travel. Opportunities are abundant in this state, with a population of around 900,000 deer and about seven hunters per square mile. or one of the WMAs that are open without a draw. Doug Travis WMA is not at the top of peoples lists when Kentucky public land deer hunting. The place almost seems like an international airport for hunting during November. Can you field dress in a WMA and discard the remains in the WMA in Georgia? Regulations Food Preparation, Camp Cooking and Recipes. For me, its just another reason to go. Never hunted there, curious to see if anyone had any information on the place (what tract to hunt, what to setup on, etc.) Deer were trapped and moved all over the state, so "our deer are quite genetically homogenous," Yancy said. So how can Kentucky keep cranking out Pope & Young bucks? You must log in or register to reply here. 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. Written by Mike Collins Kentuckians Cody Likins and Jakob Begley won the 2020 Quest Hunt Company Deer Hunting Competition. My group got picked for the West Kentucky WMA Quota Deer Hunt December 15-18. West Tennessee Wildlife Management Areas (Region 1) *The numbers for each WMA and on the map correspond to the numbers in the hunting guide. You may be able to find areas in which multiple hollers converge into one open bottom, as well. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife owns, leases, or manages more than 85 wildlife management areas (WMAs) for public use. 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. Breckinridge and Grayson Counties are also known as two of the best counties in the state. Will take first (300) hunters that show-up and sign in. Used to quail hunt down there years ago. There were tracks that were open to hunting and others closed to hunting. If you're going to hunt in November, one of those would be better due to no gun hunters. West Kentucky Whitetails, LLC offers free range deer hunts in Western Kentucky. For a long time it's been a consistent producer of quality bucks on both public and private land. good luck, Thanks guys for all your info. 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. More than 41,000 acres of deer hunting are open only to bowhunters on 27 of Georgia's WMAs. Dont rely on info strangers on the internet give you. Terrain: Hard; You can experience a big change in elevation when hunting this area. Now Kentucky taxidermists stay plenty busy mounting big bucks. I have hunted down there prbably 7 or 8 times. 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. Whatever the reason, Kentucky has indeed managed to find the "sweet spot" of hunting opportunity for trophy deer. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Early season is the key here. JavaScript is disabled. In the eastern half of Kentucky deer numbers tend to be much lower, with far less acreage devoted to row crops. There are some WMA's, like the dam/Peninusula area at Barren River Reservoir that are primitive weapons only. 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! Dr. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton explain why it's important to know your neighbors when operating a smaller deer property. I didnt include Kleber WMA on this list because it is not underrated. The man reportedly shot his wife in the chest then . 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. And that public land is found throughout the state, in areas big and small. Quota and firearm deer hunting for the 2022 season is over. I harvested a doe at Rich in late September, and had a chance at a few small bucks that I passed one. Several counties in the Green River Region offer excellent deer hunting opportunities. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. We are located in Crofton, Ky, and have several beautiful properties that are the perfect home for big bucks. My group got picked for the West Kentucky WMA Quota Deer Hunt December 15-18. they are all hard to hunt blind. Write, email or call Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources for additional information. I will once again be maintaining a report detailing the results for WMA Deer hunts for the 2022/2023 season. Fee, advance application required of deer, waterfowl hunters. Good wma not much pressure and a lot of places for a big buck to hide. I never saw another person when I was younger and hunted there. While some hunting is allowed, some animals are protected, including turtles, crawfish and bullfrogs. Kind of an eerie place with all the nuclear signs and fall out shelters. 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. Likely, youll find them with their backs to the water and their vantage points set to access areas or popular walking routes. In all, I saw eight different bucks at Rich in 2020, with the biggest being a small 6-pointer. The Blue Grass Region is another hot spot, with Pendleton, Garrard, Boone and Henry counties offering the best chances for bagging a trophy buck. The Cartecay section of this WMA (about 5,062 acres) is reserved for archers only. I remember some of them you get an extra preference point or something for taking does. Just $1 per month . I bowhunted 10 days in a row there last year and saw 4 deer. (Author image) Sportsmen and women have it pretty good in my home state of Kentucky. With nearly a third of the area covered in water, you can bet that youll find bucks bedded near some swampy, nasty places. Look forward to hearing how y'all do! ZIP: 42327. 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. The changes are necessary to ensure the health and safety of hunters and WMA staff. 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. You must log in or register to reply here. Try Fort Campbell. "Camera use facilitates trophy whitetail production in two ways," he points out. Shooting range (for single projectile firearms only; no shotshells or pistols allowed) open Monday-Saturday 9:00 AM-sunset & Sundays noon-sunset. NOTE: Some of the below hunts may be by pre-application lottery. Our deer and turkey hunting are both the best in the nation, far as I'm concerned. Same as some already said. James Kroll and Haynes Shelton talk about being realistic when it comes to managing a smaller deer property in this edition of Dr. Whitley's articles have appeared in various print and online magazines, including "GQ," "Details," "Southern Living" and "Cooking Light. Last season, there were 30 deer harvested at Doug Travis, with 16 of them being bucks. Additionally, hunt data for most Redlands WMA hunts . View all 40 pictures. This is a great time for hunters to get out and enjoy the woods. 2023-2024 archery dates will be announced later in 2023.; 2022-23 Tennessee Deer Season For more on record-class bow bucks from Kentucky and across North America, visit Pope and Young Club. Opportunities are abundant in this state, with a population of around 900,000 deer and about seven hunters per square mile. Ballard Wildlife Management Area Location: west Kentucky Size: 8,600 acres ZIP: 42056 Ballard has the best buck-to-doe ratio of any By Areas designated as no hunting (pink areas on the maps) are open to year-round visitation. Therefore, this is perfect for hunters who like taking their kids hunting with them. If you are strickly interested in a good quality buck, you'll need to hike a good ways or travel by boat into hard to reach areas. $61,810. If you really want to be different, you can access more remote parts of Pennyrile if you access it through Lake Beshear. If I had a choice of hunting Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri or IllinoisKentucky would be my last pick. We hunt all over Alabama (private and public). It gets hit pretty hard! 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. "Open" hunt to be Nov. 22-23, Shotgun or Muzzle loader only. Hunters can hunt squirrel, white-tailed deer, wild turkey and resident Canadian geese during the specified seasons. While it may be hard to replicate that harvest, there are still big bucks lurking around Pennyrile. I live near Miller-Welch. Hunting there in early September can be tough until it is mowed before the youth hunting weekend. 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). Participating hunters must use Telecheck, the departments phone-in or online reporting system, to register their deer harvest. There are some WMA's, like the dam/Peninusula area at Barren River Reservoir that are primitive weapons only. 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 hunted it quite a few times but the last time was about 15 years ago. | You are using an out of date browser. Hunters are willing to pass up younger deer because they know older ones are around.". Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Hunters may only 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. During quota hunts, all deer hun ting seasons on this WMA are closed, except to drawn hunters. [,
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Originally posted by Valley Station. 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. Deer and Small Game Hunting and Trail Cams.