Quota Hunts

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Four dove quota hunts are being offered this season in addition to the traditional mentor/youth quota dove hunts. Sign-ups for all dove quota hunts open at 8 a.m. (Eastern) Aug. 4 ​and conclude at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 15. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will continue offering public dove fields open to any legal hunter. This season, however, the department set aside two fields to conduct quota hunts, limiting ​pressure to only those drawn hunters.

The dove quota hunts are being held at Big Rivers WMA (noon Central to 5 p.m.) in Crittenden County and at the Welch Tract of the Kentucky River WMA (1 p.m. Eastern to 6 p.m.)  and in Henry County. Hunters must be off the field by closing time. A hunt will be held at each location on Sept. 1, the traditional opening day of dove season, and again on Sept. 6. These fields will be closed in between these dates.

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Rules for Drawn Quota Dove ​Hunters

• ​Drawn hunters are allowed one guest. 
  
• The drawn hunter and guest must carry a copy of their selection page. The drawn hunter must be in the field with the guest.
• All hunters must check in before the hunt and check out after the hunt. 
• Each hunter is allowed 50 shotshells (two boxes). 
• There will be 30 slots for each quota hunt on Kentucky River WMA and 25 slots for each quota hunt on Big Rivers WMA. 
• Quota dove hunters on Kentucky River WMA must only use non-toxic shot.
  

For more information, please consult the Kentucky Hunting Guide for Dove and Early Migratory Bird guide, or check out the Migratory Bird Hunting pages.               ​​

 

Extra Permits Are Required​

A Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit is required for hunting Doves and other migratory birds in Kentucky. In addition, hunters must complete the Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey before can legally hunt migratory birds. For more information, please review the Kentucky Migratory Bird Hunting pages.​

Mobility-Impaired Quota Hunts​

Persons with one of the following physical ​conditions are eligible to apply for a mobility-impaired quota hunt. At check-in, drawn hunters must present a WMA Mobility-Impaired Access Permit, which can be obtained in advance of the hunt date from the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.

• Has permanent paralysis of at least one (1) leg;
• Has at least one (1) foot amputated;
  
• Is permanently confined to a wheelchair or must use crutches, or a walker as a means of support to pursue daily activities;
• Is restricted by a lung disease to such an extent that the person’s forced respiratory expiratory volume for one (1) second, when measured by spirometry, is less than one (1) liter, or the arterial oxygen tension is less than sixty (60) mm/hg on room air at rest;
• Requires portable oxygen;
  
• Has a cardiac condition to the extent that the person’s functional limitations are classified in severity as Class 3 or Class 4 according to standards set by the American Heart Association; or
• Has a diagnosed disease that creates a severe mobility impairment.
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Dove Mentor/Youth Hunts​

Kentucky will offer three quota dove hunts Sept. 1 one each at Higginson-Henry-WMA in Union County, Mullins WMA in Kenton County and at a private land cooperator field in Lincoln County. Participants must be drawn for these hunts. The rules for the Mentor/Youth dove hunts remain the same. The online application period for these hunts is Aug. 4 through Aug. 15. These Dove fields will open up to the public on Sept. 7.​

For more information, please consult the Kentucky Hunting Guide for Dove and Early Migratory Bird guide, or check out the Migratory ​Bird Hunting pages. ​

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Waterfowl Quota Hunts are held on Ballard and Sloughs WMA.

Ballard WMA (Ballard County)

Hunters are not required to hunt from blinds maintained by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Hunters will be drawn for one of 14 hunting units. The party that draws that unit can hunt anywhere within the unit.

• Hunts available through quota draw for individual dates only.
• Apply for quota hunts Sept. 1-30.
  

Sloughs WMA - Sauerheber Unit (Union and Henderson counties)

Successfully drawn hunters will be assigned one of 12 hunting units. The hunter who draws that unit can hunt anywhere within the unit, except in specified units where you must hunt from a blind.

• Hunts available through quota draw for individual dates only.
• Apply for quota hunts Sept. 1-30.
  
• Hunters must check in on the Sunday before their assigned hunt. 
  
• Sloughs WMA Waterfowl FAQ Click Here
• Sauerheber Hunt Unit Waterfowl Map Click ​Here

Sloughs WMA - Jenny Hole Unit (Henderson County)

Unit is a quota hunt-only area.

• Hunting spots (10) are assigned by weekly drawings held on Monday evenings at Sloughs WMA office. Only one member of a hunting party needs to be present at the drawing.
• Two spots are available through the quota draw for individual dates only.
• Apply for quota hunts Sept. 1-30 at https://app.fw.ky.gov/QuotaHunt/.
• Access is limited to drawn hunters only, and only on quota hunt days, with no access after 2 p.m. (local time).
  
• Sloughs WMA Waterfowl FAQ Click Here
• Jenny Hole Hunt Unit Waterfowl Map Click Here
  
  

SEASON-LONG BLIND DRAWINGS

Season-long blind drawings are available at Barkley Lake, Barren River Lake, Doug Travis and Green River Lake WMA. Drawings are typically held from August through October. These are separate from general quota hunt drawings held in September. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife announces dates and locations for these waterfowl blind drawings in August.

MENTOR/MOBILITY-IMPAIRED HATCHERY HUNTS​

Minor Clark and Pfeiffer Fish Hatcheries (Rowan and Franklin counties)

• Open to mobility-impaired hunters with an access permit, and youths under the age of 16 accompanied by an adult mentor. A mentor may hunt.
• Hunters must apply online between Nov. 1 and 15.
• Hunt dates available Jan. 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, and Jan. 31 (2026)​.
  
• Mentor/youth hunt groups limited to four hunters, with no more than two hunting adults.
  

​ Apply here for Mentor/Mobility-Impaired Hatchery Hunts

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Doug Travis WMA Mobility-impaired Hunt (Carlisle and Hickman counties)

• Two blinds available.
  
• Applications accepted by mail, Sept. 1-30.

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Extra Permits Are Required​

A Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Permit is required for hunting Waterfowl and other migra​tory birds in Kentucky. Waterfowl also require a Federal Migratory Bird Stamp. For more information, please review the Kentucky Waterfowl Hunting pages to learn what permits you will need for your quota hunt.​

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