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Miller Welch-Central Kentucky 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 only.

  • 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: “Deer - Archery/Crossbow: Open under statewide regulations”

Bear

Oct 24–28

Follows the statewide season (zone 2 archery/crossbow Oct 24–28), archery only.

In the guide: “Bear: Open under statewide regulations (Bear Zone 2); bear hunting with dogs is not allowed”

Dec 12–16

Follows the statewide season (zone 2 firearm Dec 12–16), firearms only.

In the guide: “Bear: Open under statewide regulations (Bear Zone 2); bear hunting with dogs is not allowed”

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: “Turkey: Open under statewide regulations”

Dove

Sep 1 – Oct 13

Any legal weapon.

In the guide: “Migratory birds p. 7 · Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA: Dove: Sept. 1 - Oct. 13, 2026. No woodcock hunting permitted.”

Ducks and teal

Jan 15–31

Any legal weapon.

In the guide: “Migratory birds p. 14 · Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA: Duck, coot and merganser season is Jan. 15-31.”

Geese

Jan 15 – Feb 15

Any legal weapon.

In the guide: “Migratory birds p. 14 · Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA: Goose season is Jan. 15 – Feb. 15.”

Quail

Closed this season.

In the guide: “Quail: Closed”

Rabbit

Closed this season.

In the guide: “Rabbit: Closed”

Squirrel

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

In the guide: “Squirrel: Open under statewide regulations”

Grouse

Closed this season.

In the guide: “Grouse: Closed”

Woodcock

Closed this season.

In the guide: “Migratory birds p. 7 · Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA: No woodcock hunting permitted.”

Raccoon, furbearers, and coyote

Closed this season.

In the guide: “Furbearer: Open for furbearer trapping with permit, water sets only; Closed for furbearer hunting.”

Area rules

Closed to deer muzzleloader, modern gun and youth gun seasons. Coyote hunting is prohibited (hunting guide p. 23). Bear chase and hunting with dogs are not allowed (p. 17). Unleashed dogs are prohibited April 1 until the third Saturday in August, except during department-authorized field trials or spring squirrel season; from then until March 31 unleashed dogs are permitted on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays except during field trials. Waterfowl: areas marked by signs are closed to all hunting.

Nearby areas

Mill Creek WMA around 20 miles away

Ross Creek WMA around 20 miles away

Dix River WMA around 20 miles away

Hidden Valley Training Area around 20 miles away

Cedar Creek Lake WMA around 20 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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