37 S.

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South Shore 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 – Nov 14, Jan 16–18
  • Youth: Oct 10–18
  • Muzzleloader: Oct 17–18
  • Modern firearms: Nov 14

In the guide: “Deer - Archery/Crossbow: Open under statewide regulations”

Oct 10–18, Dec 26–27

Follows the statewide season (youth Oct 10–18), firearms only. Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “Deer - Youth Gun: Centerfire rifles and handguns may not be used to take deer.”

Oct 17–18

Follows the statewide season (youth and muzzleloader Oct 17–18), muzzleloader only.

In the guide: “Deer - Muzzleloader: Open for October muzzleloader season only.”

Nov 14–29

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

In the guide: “Deer - Modern Gun: Centerfire rifles and handguns may not be used to take deer.”

Deer, bear, turkey, squirrel, rabbit, quail, grouse, raccoon, furbearers, coyote, and woodcock

Closed Nov 15 – Jan 15.

In the guide: “South Shore WMA: Closed to all hunting and public access November 15 - January 15, except open for waterfowl and dove hunting when statewide seasons are open.”

Bear

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Zone 2 hunt with dogs: Oct 19–23, Oct 29 – Nov 6
  • Zone 2 archery/crossbow: Oct 24–28

In the guide: “Bear: Open under statewide regulations (Bear Zone 2)”

Turkey

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Archery: Sep 5 – Nov 14, Jan 16–18
  • Crossbow: Oct 1–18, Nov 14
  • Shotgun: Oct 24–30

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

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

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. 11 · Areas owned or managed by the KDFWR that are not listed below are open to statewide seasons and limits: ducks”

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, Jan 16–31).

In the guide: “Rabbit, Quail: Open under statewide regulations (Eastern Zone)”

Squirrel

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

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

Grouse

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

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

Raccoon, furbearers, and coyote

Follows the statewide seasons.

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

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

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

Centerfire rifles and handguns may not be used to take deer. Waterfowl blinds are first-come, first-served.

Nearby areas

Greenbo Lake State Resort Park around 15 miles away

Tygarts State Forest around 25 miles away

Old Trace Creek WMA around 30 miles away

Grayson Lake WMA around 35 miles away

Fleming WMA around 40 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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