Public Service Announcement: Portion of West Kentucky WMA “A Tracts” closed to public access

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 09, 2025) — Public access to a portion of the “A Tracts” at West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in McCracken County will close permanently following a recent land use decision involving property owned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Recently, the DOE identified the areas of Tract A south of Hwy 358/Ogden Landing Road, located in the central portion of the WMA, for transfer for other use. In response to this change, 698 acres have been removed from Kentucky Fish and Wildlife’s Recreational Use License Agreement with DOE, effective Dec. 1, 2025, although hunters will continue to be allowed access through Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026. Hunters will be required to remove all tree stands, blinds and other hunting-related equipment by Feb. 1.

Public access remains available on 509.86 acres still under license with the DOE and 1,481 acres under agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Additionally, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources owns 2,503 acres at West Kentucky WMA, most of which were acquired through donations from the U.S. government.

West Kentucky WMA continues to offer 4,494.48 acres of diverse habitats and 12 ponds, providing a wide range of outdoor recreational opportunities.

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife and the DOE originally entered into a license agreement in the 1950s, granting public recreational use — including hunting, fishing and wildlife observation — on the DOE-owned portions of West Kentucky WMA. This decades-long partnership has provided valuable outdoor opportunities for the public and supported conservation efforts in the region.

Visitors are encouraged to review the updated boundaries of the West Kentucky WMA. These areas will be closed to public access beginning Dec. 1, 2025. Updated maps are available on the West Kentucky WMA webpage at fw.ky.gov.

Under WMA partnership agreements, landowners retain property ownership while allowing public use for outdoor recreation. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife manages these properties by providing conservation guidance, enforcing regulations through patrols by game wardens, and implementing habitat and wildlife management practices in coordination with landowners. These partnerships expand public access and help conserve Kentucky’s native wildlife and habitats.

To locate other public lands available nearby, visit the Wildlife Management Area & Public Lands Search webpage on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website (fw.ky.gov).

Did You Know?  The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources owns, leases or manages nearly 1.7 million acres across more than 130 public land areas to conserve fish and wildlife resources and provide public access. Most of the WMA and public hunting area acreage in Kentucky is made possible through partnerships with other governmental or private landowners. Managed by biologists, they are categorized into high, moderate and low management levels depending on their infrastructure and ongoing management activities, including wildlife monitoring and research, removal of nonnative invasive species, and prescribed burns.​