Waterfowl Public Land Hunts

KENTUCKY RIVER WMA - Walk-in hunting is available on this area. Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to 2 p.m. Hunters may not enter the area until 4 a.m.

LAKE BARKLEY WMA - At Lake Barkley WMA, waterfowl opportunities include walk-in or boat-in hunting on the lake and season-long hunting blind sites drawn in September (see Blind Drawings and Blind Restrictions page). No person shall hunt within 200 yards of another hunting party. Lake Barkley has two waterfowl refuge areas that are closed to hunting. Each refuge has specific rules for boating and other access. Refuge areas closed to all hunting, fishing, boating and molesting of all species listed are:

1. Within an area west of the main river channel between river mile 51 (Hayes Landing Light) and the TVA power transmission lines at river mile 55.5, closed Nov. 1 - Feb. 15; and
2. the area west of a line from the north point of the mouth of Fulton Bay to the south point of the mouth of Honker Bay, closed Nov. 1 - Mar. 15.

Boating is allowed, but hunting is prohibited within 200 yards of the area surrounded by a levee and located between river miles 68.4 and 70.4 from Oct. 15 to March 15.

Permanent blinds must remain within 10 yards of the assigned numbered 9. Goose season is Jan. 15 - Feb. 15, 2025. blind marker within the two areas described as follows:

1. Beginning at the mouth of Donaldson Creek and proceeding south along the east side of the old Cumberland River channel as marked by buoys, to a point due west of the boat ramp at Linton, then east to the Linton boat ramp, then north along the east shore of Lake Barkley to the mouth of Donaldson Creek;
2. Beginning at Pryor's Creek Light extending south along the western shore of Barkley Lake to the boat ramp at the end of Land Between The Lakes Road 204, then to the west side of the Cumberland River channel, marked with buoys, to river mile 73.5, then north along the west side of the Cumberland River channel, marked with buoys, to Pryor Creek Light.

All other blinds within this described area shall be temporary. See also BLIND RESTRICTIONS.

LAKE CUMBERLAND WMA - Lake Cumberland WMA waterfowl hunting opportunities include walk-in or boat-in hunting from the shoreline or from the lake. The following portions of the lake are closed to the public from October 15 - March 15:

• Wesley Bend: the area bounded to the north, west and south by Fishing Creek and to the east by Beech Grove Road and Fishing Creek Road.
• Yellowhole: the area bounded to the west by Fishing Creek Road and the south by Hickory Nut Road.
  

Land Between the Lakes (LBL) - is a United States National Recreation Area and is managed by the United States Forest Service. To hunt LBL, you must purchase a LBL permit in addition to the applicable hunting licenses and permits. This includes hunti​​ng on land, as well as hunting from a boat on flooded portions of LBL when the lake level is above 359. Waterfowl hunting opportunities at LBL include walk-in or boat-in hunting from the shoreline, or on any inland water bodies that are open to waterfowl hunting. Permanent blinds are prohibited on inland areas of LBL, and along the Kentucky Lake shoreline. All decoys, equipment and temporary hunting blinds must be removed at the end of each hunting day. LBL inland areas are also closed to waterfowl hunting during quota deer hunts. The following areas are closed to waterfowl hunting, and have special regulations that apply:

• Long Creek Pond, the eastern one third of Smith Bay and the eastern two thirds of Duncan Bay on Kentucky Lake are closed to all activity Nov. 1 - March 15, as indicated by a visible marker on the south corner.
• The Environmental Education Center and Energy Lake are closed to all waterfowl hunting.

MILLER WELCH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY WMA - Walk-in hunting is available on this area. Special season dates apply on Miller Welch- Central WMA. Duck, coot and merganser season is Jan. 15-31, 2025 and Goose season is Jan. 15 - Feb. 15, 2025. Certain areas marked by signs are also closed to all hunting.

OBION CREEK WMA - Walk-in hunting is available on this area. Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to 2 p.m. Hunters may not enter the area until 4 a.m.

OHIO RIVER ISLANDS WMA - Waterfowl hunting can be found on the Ohio River Islands WMA. The following special regulations apply on this area. The portion of the Ohio River from Smithland Lock and Dam upstream to the powerline crossing at river mile 911.5 is closed to hunting.

Stewart (Birdsville) Island is closed to public access Oct. 15 - March 15, except for October muzzleloader season. Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to 2 p.m. Hunters may not enter the area until 4 a.m.

OHIO RIVER - - In the vicinity of Ballard WMA from 50 yards upstream of the northern border to 50 yards downstream of from the southern border of Ballard WMA. Closed to all waterfowl hunting Oct. 15 - March 15.

PEABODY WMA - Peabody WMA waterfowl hunting opportunities include walk-in or boat-in hunting from the shoreline or from the many lakes, ponds and waterways. Persons entering the area for any purpose must obtain a Peabody WMA user permit ($15). Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to 2 p.m. each day on those portions open to hunting. Hunters may not enter the area until 4 a.m.

Peabody WMA has two waterfowl refuge areas that are closed to public access. They are as follows:

• Sinclair Unit Refuge: That portion as bounded by Hwy. 176, S1 road and Goose Lake Rd., (including Goose Lake) and as posted by signs, is closed Oct. 15 - March 15.
• Ken Unit Refuge: That portion as bounded by Wysox Rd., H2 road, H1 road and H6 road (including Island and South lakes) and as posted by signs, is closed Oct. 15 - March 15.

PIONEER WEAPONS WMA - ​​This WMA is a place for hunters who practice traditional methods of hunting, to pursue waterfowl in Kentucky. Modern firearms are not allowed on this area. Hunters may use breech or muzzle-loading shotguns for duck hunting along the Cave Run Lake shoreline bordering the area, but hunters must use muzzle-loading shotguns or archery equipment elsewhere on the WMA. Crossbows, though allowed on the WMA, are not a legal means to take waterfowl in Kentucky.

ROBINSON FOREST WMA - Waterfowl hunting is allowed on the outer tracts of this WMA; however, the main block of Robinson Forest WMA is closed to all hunting.

Waterfowl hunting can be found on the Sauerheber, Jenny Hole, Highland Creek and Grassy Pond/Powel's Lake units of Sloughs WMA. Waterfowl hunting opportunities at Sloughs WMA include online quota hunt draws and weekly on-site drawings. There is also walk-in hunting available on large portions of the WMA. Please check out the Waterfowl Quota Hunts page for more information.

SOUTH SHORE WMA - Closed to all hunting and trespassing Nov. 15, 2024 - Jan. 15, 2025, except for dove and waterfowl hunting. Open to waterfowl and dove hunting during other times of the year according to statewide regulations. Use of waterfowl blinds at South Shore WMA is on a first-come, first-served basis. 

TAYLORSVILLE LAKE WMA - Waterfowl hunting opportunities include walk-in or boat-in hunting from the shoreline or from the lake. Hunters may hunt waterfowl from temporary blinds only on a first-come basis. Hunters may not set up to hunt within 200 yards from another hunter. Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to 2 p.m. Hunters may not enter area until 4 a.m.

YATESVILLE LAKE WMA - Waterfowl hunting opportunities include walk-in or boat-in hunting from the shoreline or from the lake. The Greenbriar Creek Branch, and Yatesville Lake, including all islands, north of the mouth of Greenbriar Creek Branch are closed to waterfowl hunting, except for Yatesville Lake State Park. (See the State Park hunting for more details)

YELLOWBANK WMA - is open to waterfowl hunting, according to state-wide seasons and bag limits. Areas designated by signs and markers on Tract 1 are closed to the public Oct. 15 - March 15. Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to 2 p.m. Hunters may not enter area until 4 a.m.