37 S.

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Pioneer Weapons 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: Hunters may use a crossbow during the archery season but shall use only open or iron sights on any weapon.”

Oct 10–18, Dec 26–27

Follows the statewide seasons, muzzleloader only. Only for youth hunters.

  • Youth: Oct 10–18, Dec 26–27
  • Muzzleloader: Oct 17–18

In the guide: “Deer - Youth Gun: Hunters cannot use a modern gun or in-line muzzleloading gun. Hunters shall use only open or iron sights on any weapon.”

Oct 17–18, Dec 12–20

Follows the statewide seasons, muzzleloader only.

  • Youth: Oct 17–18
  • Muzzleloader: Oct 17–18, Dec 12–20

In the guide: “Deer - Muzzleloader: Hunters cannot use a modern gun or in-line muzzleloading gun. Hunters shall use only open or iron sights on any weapon.”

Nov 14–29

Follows the statewide season (modern firearms Nov 14–29), muzzleloader only.

In the guide: “Deer - Modern Gun: Hunters cannot use a modern gun or in-line muzzleloading gun. Hunters shall use only open or iron sights on any weapon.”

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: Hunters may use a crossbow during the archery season but shall use only open or iron sights on any weapon.”

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 teal

Follows the statewide season (ducks and teal Sep 19–23, Nov 26–29, Dec 7 – Jan 31).

In the guide: “Migratory birds p. 14 · Pioneer Weapons WMA: Hunters may use breech or muzzle-loading shotguns for duck hunting along the Cave Run Lake shoreline bordering the area.”

Geese

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • September canada goose (eastern zone): Sep 16–30
  • Goose (eastern zone): Nov 26 – Feb 15

In the guide: “Migratory birds p. 11 · Areas owned or managed by the KDFWR that are not listed below are open to statewide seasons and limits: geese (September Canada goose Eastern Zone)”

Rabbit and quail

Follows the statewide season (rabbit, eastern zone and quail, eastern zone Nov 1–13, Nov 16 – Jan 31).

In the guide: “Rabbit, Quail: Hunters shall not use any type of breech-loading firearm.”

Squirrel

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

In the guide: “Squirrel: Hunters shall not use any type of breech-loading firearm.”

Grouse

Follows the statewide season (Nov 1–13, Nov 16 – Feb 28).

In the guide: “Grouse: Hunters shall not use any type of breech-loading firearm.”

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: “Furbearer: Hunters shall not use any type of breech-loading firearm.”

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

No modern guns or in-line muzzleloaders for deer, and only open or iron sights on any weapon. No breech-loading firearms for small game or furbearers. Crossbows allowed during archery season. Bear chase and hunting with dogs are not allowed, and night coyote hunting is prohibited (hunting guide pp. 17, 23). Hunters may use breech or muzzle-loading shotguns for duck hunting along the Cave Run Lake shoreline bordering the area, and muzzle-loading shotguns (or archery equipment) elsewhere on the area. No goose hunting on public lands or waters in the Cave Run Lake goose closure area (KY 801, KY 1274, KY 36, KY 211, US 60 and KY 826; migratory birds pp. 9, 12).

Nearby areas

Zilpo Mobility-Impaired around 2 miles away

Sunny Brook WMA around 15 miles away

Ed Mabry-Laurel Gorge WMA around 20 miles away

Horse Mill Branch WMA around 25 miles away

Fleming WMA around 25 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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