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Public land hunting changes
8/24/07
Frankfort, Kentucky - Fall hunting seasons are upon us, with squirrel season underway and archery seasons for deer and turkey opening Sept. 1. Many hunters look to public land for their hunting opportunities.
During the month of September only, hunters can apply for deer, pheasant and waterfowl quota hunts offered by the state by calling 1-877-598-2401. A complete list of hunts offered is available in the 2007-08 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, available wherever hunting licenses are sold.
Regulations have changed since last year on several public hunting areas, and hunters should familiarize themselves with these changes.
There are four new public areas to hunt this year, with more than 16,500 total acres of land. Doug Travis Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Carlisle and Hickman counties, formerly MeadWestvaco WMA, is open under statewide regulations for all hunting and trapping seasons, except some areas may be closed by signage Nov. 1 - March 15 for the waterfowl refuge. Martins Fork WMA & State Natural Area in Harlan County is open under statewide regulations, as is Howard WMA in Breathitt County. Knobs State Forest & WMA in Bullitt County is open under statewide regulations, except no firearms are permitted for deer hunting. w
In addition to these new areas, several regulation changes are in effect this year for other public land:
·
The Main Unit of Ballard WMA in Ballard County is now open under statewide regulations for archery and crossbow deer hunting through Oct. 14. The area closes Oct. 15 for the waterfowl refuge. There is no longer a youth quota deer hunt at Ballard, but the area is now open for the October youth firearms deer season, which runs Oct. 13-14 this year. Hunters drawn for the regular Ballard quota hunt may choose whether to take a buck or a doe. Finally, a 15-inch minimum outside antler spread restriction is now in place for deer hunting on the entire WMA, including the 400-acre tract formerly known as the Ballard Hunt Unit.
·
Begley WMA in Bell, Harlan and Leslie counties is now open under statewide regulations for all hunting and trapping seasons. However, Begley is still closed to elk hunters who hold Zone At-Large elk tags. Only elk hunters drawn for a Begley Limited Entry Area tag may hunt elk on this WMA.
·
Deer hunters at Dewey Lake WMA in Floyd County, which is open for deer hunting during archery and youth firearms seasons, may now choose whether to take a buck or a doe.
·
There are two new mobility-impaired quota deer hunts this year. The first is Nov. 3-4 at Green River Lake WMA in Taylor and Adair counties. Fifteen mobility-impaired hunters will be drawn for the hunt. A second hunt for 10 mobility-impaired hunters will take place Jan. 5-6 at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park. Both hunts have a 15-inch minimum outside antler spread restriction for bucks, and firearms hunters at the Jenny Wiley hunt may use muzzleloaders only.
·
There is no longer a quota deer hunt at Higginson-Henry WMA, but the area is now open to both the October youth firearms deer season and the December free youth deer hunting weekend.
·
Deer hunters on West Kentucky WMA must now observe a 15-inch minimum outside antler spread restriction on bucks.
·
There is no longer a mentor/youth quota hunt at Yellowbank WMA, but the area is now open to both the October and December youth deer hunting seasons, as well as crossbow deer season.
·
There are no longer open hunts at Lake Cumberland State Resort Park or Taylorsville Lake State Park.
Hunters in the 16-county elk restoration zone in southeastern Kentucky are reminded that during firearms elk seasons, all hunters must wear hunter orange clothing. Firearms elk seasons run Oct. 6-12 and Dec. 8-14 on Limited Entry Areas, and Oct. 6-12 and Dec. 8-21 in the elk restoration zone at-large.
Hunter education is required for all hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1975, except kids under 12 and hunters who are license exempt. However, a one-time temporary hunter education exemption permit is available for $5 online, which allows hunting for one year from the date of purchase without a hunter education card while accompanied by a legal adult hunter. Log on to fw.ky.gov on the Internet to find a hunter education course near you, or to purchase an exemption permit.
-30-
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources manages, regulates, enforces and promotes responsible use of all fish and wildlife species, their habitats, public wildlife areas and waterways for the benefit of those resources and for public enjoyment. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, has an economic impact to the state of $4.8 billion annually. For more information about the department, visit our web site at fw.ky.gov.
Media Contact:
Haley Lynch (800) 852-0943 ext. 424
8/24/07
Frankfort, Kentucky - Fall hunting seasons are upon us, with squirrel season underway and archery seasons for deer and turkey opening Sept. 1. Many hunters look to public land for their hunting opportunities.
During the month of September only, hunters can apply for deer, pheasant and waterfowl quota hunts offered by the state by calling 1-877-598-2401. A complete list of hunts offered is available in the 2007-08 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, available wherever hunting licenses are sold.
Regulations have changed since last year on several public hunting areas, and hunters should familiarize themselves with these changes.
There are four new public areas to hunt this year, with more than 16,500 total acres of land. Doug Travis Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Carlisle and Hickman counties, formerly MeadWestvaco WMA, is open under statewide regulations for all hunting and trapping seasons, except some areas may be closed by signage Nov. 1 - March 15 for the waterfowl refuge. Martins Fork WMA & State Natural Area in Harlan County is open under statewide regulations, as is Howard WMA in Breathitt County. Knobs State Forest & WMA in Bullitt County is open under statewide regulations, except no firearms are permitted for deer hunting. w
In addition to these new areas, several regulation changes are in effect this year for other public land:
·
The Main Unit of Ballard WMA in Ballard County is now open under statewide regulations for archery and crossbow deer hunting through Oct. 14. The area closes Oct. 15 for the waterfowl refuge. There is no longer a youth quota deer hunt at Ballard, but the area is now open for the October youth firearms deer season, which runs Oct. 13-14 this year. Hunters drawn for the regular Ballard quota hunt may choose whether to take a buck or a doe. Finally, a 15-inch minimum outside antler spread restriction is now in place for deer hunting on the entire WMA, including the 400-acre tract formerly known as the Ballard Hunt Unit.
·
Begley WMA in Bell, Harlan and Leslie counties is now open under statewide regulations for all hunting and trapping seasons. However, Begley is still closed to elk hunters who hold Zone At-Large elk tags. Only elk hunters drawn for a Begley Limited Entry Area tag may hunt elk on this WMA.
·
Deer hunters at Dewey Lake WMA in Floyd County, which is open for deer hunting during archery and youth firearms seasons, may now choose whether to take a buck or a doe.
·
There are two new mobility-impaired quota deer hunts this year. The first is Nov. 3-4 at Green River Lake WMA in Taylor and Adair counties. Fifteen mobility-impaired hunters will be drawn for the hunt. A second hunt for 10 mobility-impaired hunters will take place Jan. 5-6 at Jenny Wiley State Resort Park. Both hunts have a 15-inch minimum outside antler spread restriction for bucks, and firearms hunters at the Jenny Wiley hunt may use muzzleloaders only.
·
There is no longer a quota deer hunt at Higginson-Henry WMA, but the area is now open to both the October youth firearms deer season and the December free youth deer hunting weekend.
·
Deer hunters on West Kentucky WMA must now observe a 15-inch minimum outside antler spread restriction on bucks.
·
There is no longer a mentor/youth quota hunt at Yellowbank WMA, but the area is now open to both the October and December youth deer hunting seasons, as well as crossbow deer season.
·
There are no longer open hunts at Lake Cumberland State Resort Park or Taylorsville Lake State Park.
Hunters in the 16-county elk restoration zone in southeastern Kentucky are reminded that during firearms elk seasons, all hunters must wear hunter orange clothing. Firearms elk seasons run Oct. 6-12 and Dec. 8-14 on Limited Entry Areas, and Oct. 6-12 and Dec. 8-21 in the elk restoration zone at-large.
Hunter education is required for all hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1975, except kids under 12 and hunters who are license exempt. However, a one-time temporary hunter education exemption permit is available for $5 online, which allows hunting for one year from the date of purchase without a hunter education card while accompanied by a legal adult hunter. Log on to fw.ky.gov on the Internet to find a hunter education course near you, or to purchase an exemption permit.
-30-
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources manages, regulates, enforces and promotes responsible use of all fish and wildlife species, their habitats, public wildlife areas and waterways for the benefit of those resources and for public enjoyment. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, has an economic impact to the state of $4.8 billion annually. For more information about the department, visit our web site at fw.ky.gov.
Media Contact:
Haley Lynch (800) 852-0943 ext. 424
