37 S.

Where can I hunt in Kentucky?

Every WMA, state park and public access area, with dates from the 2026-27 hunting regulations.

I want to hunt on with

Statewide seasons:

  • Archery and crossbow: Sep 5 – Jan 18
  • Youth: Oct 10–18, Dec 26–27
  • Muzzleloader: Oct 17–18, Dec 12–20
  • Modern firearms: Nov 14–29

Legal weapons: Centerfire rifles and handguns, shotguns with slugs, muzzleloaders, bows and crossbows, depending on the season. Some WMAs limit weapons; check the area chart.

Open for deer on Nov 5

A

Asher Hunting Access Area

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

B

Barren River Lake WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Beaver Creek WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Beechy Creek WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Betterment Wildlife Hunting Access Area

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Big South Fork NRRA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Blackford Oaks WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Boatwright WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Boone Forestlands WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Buck Creek WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Buckhorn Lake WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Burchell-Beech Creek WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

C

Carr Creek Lake WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Cedar Creek Lake WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Clay WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Clear Creek WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Coil Estate WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Continental Hunting Access Area

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Cranks Creek WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Cumberland Forest WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Curtis Gates Lloyd WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

D

Dale Hollow Lake WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Daniel Boone National Forest

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Decker WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Dennis-Gray WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Dewey Lake WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Dix River WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Doug Travis WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Dr. James R. Rich WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Dr. Norman & Martha Adair WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

E

Ed Mabry-Laurel Gorge WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Elk Forest WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Elk Horn Coal Hunting Access Area

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

F

Ferguson Creek WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Fishtrap Lake WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Fleming WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Fortner-Davis WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

G

Gabbard Branch WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Grayson Lake WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Nov 6), archery only.

Green River Lake WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Green River State Forest

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Griffith Woods WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

H

Harris-Dickerson WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Hensley-Pine Mountain WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Hidden Valley Training Area

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Horse Mill Branch WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Hoskins WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

J

Jefferson National Forest

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

John A. Kleber WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

John C. Williams WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Jones-Keeney WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

K

Kaler Bottoms WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Kentenia State Forest

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Kentucky Lake WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Kentucky Ridge Forest WMA/Kentucky Ridge State Forest

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Kentucky River WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Knobs State Forest & WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

L

L.B. Davison WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Lake Barkley WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Lake Cumberland WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Lee K. Nelson WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Legacy-LLC WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Livingston County WMA & SNA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

M

Marion County WMA & State Forest

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Marrowbone State Forest & WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Martins Fork Lake WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Martins Fork WMA & State Natural Area

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Meadow Creek WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Mill Creek WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Mud Camp Creek WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Mullins WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

N

Nolin River Lake WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

O

Obion Creek WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Ohio River Islands WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Old Trace Creek WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

P

Paintsville Lake WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Paul Van Booven WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Peabody WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Pennyrile State Forest

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Nov 6), archery only.

Ping-Sinking Valley WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Pioneer Weapons WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Pocahontas WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

R

R. F. Tarter WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

RH Group Hunting Access Area

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Redbird WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Robinson Forest WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Rockcastle River WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Rolling Fork WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Ross Creek WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Rough River Lake WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

S

Shillalah Creek WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Simon Kenton WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Sloughs WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

South Shore WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Nov 14), archery only.

Stephens Creek WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Stone Mountain WMA & State Natural Area

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Sunny Brook WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

T

T. N. Sullivan WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Taylorsville Lake WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Tradewater WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Nov 6), archery only.

Twin Eagle WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Tygarts State Forest

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

U

University of the Cumberlands WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

V

Veterans Memorial WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

W

Wells Hunting Access Area

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

West Kentucky WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Nov 20), archery only.

Winford WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18).

Y

Yatesville Lake WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Yellowbank WMA

Follows the statewide season (archery and crossbow through Jan 18), archery only.

Quota and special hunts

You need to be drawn or eligible for these.

Big Rivers WMA & State Forest

Archery, either sex, through Nov 5. Quota hunt, 130 hunters drawn.

Cane Creek WMA

Archery, either sex, through Nov 5. Quota hunt, 30 hunters drawn.

Higginson-Henry WMA

Archery, either sex, through Nov 5. Quota hunt, 60 hunters drawn.

Lake Barkley State Resort Park

Archery, either sex, through Nov 6. Quota hunt, 25 hunters drawn.

Trigg County, on Lake Barkley near Cadiz.

Closed to deer: Lake Barkley WMA - Duck Island Refuge and Ohio River Islands WMA - Stewart Island Unit.

Nothing listed for deer on Nov 5

No areas match “”.

Statewide seasons

Public areas may set their own dates, listed above. Areas that follow the statewide season are open on these dates.

Deer
Archery and crossbow: Sep 5 – Jan 18
Youth: Oct 10–18, Dec 26–27
Muzzleloader: Oct 17–18, Dec 12–20
Modern firearms: Nov 14–29
Bear
Zone 1 hunt with dogs: Oct 19–23
Zone 1 archery/crossbow: Oct 24–26
Zone 1 firearm: Dec 12–14
Zone 2 hunt with dogs: Oct 19–23, Oct 29 – Nov 6
Zone 2 archery/crossbow: Oct 24–28
Zone 2 firearm: Dec 12–16
Zone 3 hunt with dogs: Oct 19–23, Oct 29 – Nov 6
Zone 3 archery/crossbow: Sep 19 – Oct 2, Oct 24–28
Zone 3 firearm: Dec 12–16
Elk
Bull firearms: Sep 26–30, Oct 3–7
Cow firearms: Nov 28 – Dec 2, Jan 2–6
Archery/crossbow: Sep 12–25, Dec 5–11
Turkey
Archery: Sep 5 – Jan 18
Crossbow: Oct 1–18, Nov 14 – Dec 31
Shotgun: Oct 24–30, Dec 5–11
Dove
Sep 1 – Oct 26, Nov 26 – Dec 6, Dec 19 – Jan 10
Ducks
Sep 19–23, Nov 26–29, Dec 7 – Jan 31
Geese
September Canada goose (Western Zone): Sep 1–15
Goose (Western Zone): Nov 26 – Feb 15
September Canada goose (Eastern Zone): Sep 16–30
Goose (Eastern Zone): Nov 26 – Feb 15
Teal
Sep 19–23, Nov 26–29, Dec 7 – Jan 31
Quail
Eastern Zone: Nov 1–13, Nov 16 – Jan 31
Western Zone: Nov 16 – Feb 10
Rabbit
Eastern Zone: Nov 1–13, Nov 16 – Jan 31
Western Zone: Nov 16 – Feb 10
Squirrel
Aug 15 – Nov 13, Nov 16 – Feb 28
Grouse
Nov 1–13, Nov 16 – Feb 28
Woodcock
Oct 24 – Nov 13, Nov 16 – Dec 9
Furbearers
Hunting and trapping: Nov 16 – Feb 28
Water-set trapping: Mar 1–31
Raccoon
Oct 1 – Feb 28
Coyote
Aug 1 – Mar 31

Dates are copied from the Kentucky hunting regulations. Seasons, closures and area rules change during the year, so confirm in the guide before you hunt.

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