37 S.

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Boatwright WMA

2026-27 season.

Check before you hunt. Confirm these dates in Kentucky Public Lands Hunting 2026-27. Seasons, closures and area rules can change.

Deer

Follows the 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

In the guide: “Boatwright WMA: Olmsted, Peal, 400-acre tract and all other units open under statewide regulations for all hunting and trapping seasons (deer)”

Turkey

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Archery: Sep 5 – Jan 18
  • Crossbow: Oct 1–18, Nov 14 – Dec 31
  • Shotgun: Oct 24–30, Dec 5–11

In the guide: “Boatwright WMA: all other units open under statewide regulations for all hunting and trapping seasons (turkey)”

Dove and woodcock

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Dove: Sep 1 – Oct 26, Nov 26 – Dec 6, Dec 19 – Jan 10
  • Woodcock: Oct 24 – Nov 13, Nov 16 – Dec 9

In the guide: “Migratory birds p. 7 · Wildlife Management Areas not listed here or in the Closed Areas section are open under statewide regulations: dove, woodcock”

Ducks and geese

Closed Dec 24–25, Jan 1.

In the guide: “Migratory birds p. 12 · Boatwright WMA is closed to waterfowl hunting on Mondays, Tuesdays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.”

Ducks and teal

Nov 26 – Jan 31

Follows the statewide season (ducks and teal Nov 26–29, Dec 7–23, Dec 26–31, Jan 2–31), Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only, shooting ends at 2 pm. Quota hunt.

In the guide: “Migratory birds p. 12 · [quota] Boatwright WMA is open for waterfowl hunting, Wednesdays - Sundays, during the regular waterfowl season. All hunters must be assigned a hunt unit each day through a drawing.”

Geese

Nov 26 – Feb 15

Follows the statewide season (goose (western zone) Nov 26 – Dec 23, Dec 26–31, Jan 2 – Feb 15), Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only, shooting ends at 2 pm. Quota hunt.

In the guide: “Migratory birds p. 12 · [quota] Boatwright WMA is open for waterfowl hunting, Wednesdays - Sundays, during the regular waterfowl season (geese).”

Rabbit and quail

Follows the statewide season (rabbit, western zone and quail, western zone Nov 16 – Feb 10).

In the guide: “Boatwright WMA: all other units open under statewide regulations for all hunting and trapping seasons (rabbit, quail, Western Zone)”

Squirrel

Follows the statewide season (Aug 15 – Nov 13, Nov 16 – Feb 28).

In the guide: “Boatwright WMA: all other units open under statewide regulations for all hunting and trapping seasons (squirrel)”

Raccoon, furbearers, and coyote

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Raccoon: Oct 1 – Nov 13, Nov 16 – Feb 28
  • Furbearers, hunting and trapping: Nov 16 – Feb 28
  • Furbearers, water-set trapping: Mar 1–31
  • Coyote: Aug 1 – Nov 13, Nov 16 – Mar 31

In the guide: “Boatwright WMA: all other units open under statewide regulations for all hunting and trapping seasons (furbearers)”

Closed Nov 14–15.

In the guide: “Two-day closure: Hunting for squirrels, rabbits, quail, grouse and furbearers is closed the first two days of modern firearms season for deer on WMAs.”

Area rules

Olmsted, Peal, the 400-acre tract and all units other than Swan Lake. Some portions may be closed to public access as marked by signs; areas identified by signs are closed to all access Oct. 15 - Mar. 15. Waterfowl hunters are assigned a hunt unit each day by drawing (online Wednesday-Sunday the week before, or in person each morning at 362 Broadway Street, Barlow); hunters must be off the area by 2 p.m. Central. Closed to waterfowl hunting Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. From Dec. 1, boating only for those drawn that day, off the water by 2 p.m. Non-toxic shot only for doves and other migratory birds. Whether Boatwright is in the Ballard Zone, where public lands are closed to September Canada goose, isn't stated; check before hunting September geese.

Nearby areas

Boatwright WMA - Swan Lake Unit within this area

Ballard WMA around 7 miles away

Winford WMA around 9 miles away

Coil Estate WMA around 10 miles away

Doug Travis WMA around 15 miles away

West Kentucky WMA around 15 miles away

County zone deer bag limits apply on all WMAs; quota deer hunters may take up to two deer on a quota hunt in Zones 2, 3 and 4, only one antlered, and any buck counts toward the statewide one-buck limit. Hunting for squirrels, rabbits, quail, grouse and furbearers is closed the first two days of modern firearms deer season (Nov. 14-15) on WMAs. Dogs must be leashed on WMAs from March 1 until the third Saturday in August, with exceptions. Camping only where designated; no baiting; no nails or screw-in steps in trees; trail cameras must carry the owner's customer ID. Hunter orange during any firearms season for deer, bear or elk, also on ground blinds, except on WMAs where firearms hunting for those species is prohibited. Public dove fields are closed to all access from Aug. 15 until sunrise Sept. 1; on WMAs and leased fields, dove shooting hours are 11 a.m. to sunset Sept. 1-Oct. 26. Areas manipulated for dove hunting are not legal for waterfowl hunting. Youth-only waterfowl days are Nov. 21 and Feb. 13, and military/veteran-only days Nov. 22 and Feb. 14. A light goose conservation order runs Feb. 16-Mar. 31 with a free permit. Sandhill cranes (Dec. 7-Jan. 31) are by drawn permit only. During WMA deer quota hunts, only drawn hunters and one non-hunting assistant each may be on the area.

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