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WMA under KDFWR seasons
Barren River Lake WMA: where and when to hunt
Wildlife management area in Allen County and Barren County, about 8,735 acres, Zone 2.
Hunting gearPhoto: Dan Taylor (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District) (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Barren River Lake WMA
Parking, trailheads and gates near Barren River Lake WMA
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Special status of Barren River Lake WMA
Hunting on the Corps land at Barren River Lake is handled through Barren River Lake WMA.
Sources: eCFR · KDFWR area page; checked November 10, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Barren River Lake WMA
The 2026-27 chart row for Barren River Lake WMA
Barren River Lake WMA is open for 9 charted seasons this year, with 0 closed and 0 by quota.
| Hunt | 2026-27 status | See |
|---|---|---|
| Deer archery, crossbow | Open | – |
| Deer muzzleloader | Open | – |
| Deer modern gun | Open | – |
| Deer youth gun | Open | – |
| Fall squirrel | Open | – |
| Rabbit | Open | 1 |
| Quail | Open | 1 |
| Fall turkey | Open | 2 |
| Furbearer | Open | – |
- Rabbit and quail hunting seasons open Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, except during the opening weekend of modern gun deer season. At Yellowbank WMA, no small game hunting is allowed on designated pheasant quota hunt units during the pheasant quota hunt period.
- On the Peninsula Unit, including Narrows, Goose and Grass islands, hunters may use a muzzleloading shotgun or crossbow during the fall firearm season and may use a crossbow during the fall archery season.
From the 2026-27 quick reference charts on the KDFWR Public Land Hunting page; footnotes are KDFWR exceptions as printed. Checked November 10, 2026.
Barren River Lake WMA in brief
Close to 8,735 acres of Allen and Barren counties belong to Barren River Lake WMA, a Green River Region listing. Day-to-day management rests with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the landowner of record. The agency layer lists a high management level.
From the area record for Barren River Lake WMA:
- WMA consists of shoreline surrounding Barren River Lake. Access from US 31E and KY 87, 98, 100 and KY 252, and by lake.
- Hilly to gently sloping terrain, with woodlands and cleared bottomlands maintained for wildlife.
- Peninsula Unit, Grass, Goose, Mason and Narrows islands open to primitive weapons hunting only.
- Tailwater Campground open year-round; no camping on management area. The Goose Island Unit is the mobility impaired designated area. Boating, fishing on Barren Lake. Camping, golf, horseback riding, swimming, and lodge accommodations at nearby Barren River Lake State Resort Park.
The habitat split leans to forest, at roughly 82 percent.
Rainstorm passing over the dam at Barren River Lake
Acres: KDFWR Public Lands Search detail page ("Size: 8735 acres"). Description and habitat from the area record; checked November 10, 2026.
Barren River Lake WMA quota hunts and slots
Other draws that involve Barren River Lake WMA:
- Mentor/youth dove quota hunt; season-long waterfowl blind drawing (Quota Hunts page)
Quota hunts from the KDFWR Quota Hunts page and the Guide p. 34; checked November 10, 2026. Every Kentucky quota hunt · how the draws work.
Posted and printed rules for Barren River Lake WMA
Think of Barren River Lake WMA as statewide rules first, then these area limits. Barren River Lake WMA has mobility-impaired access listed by KDFWR.
- On the Peninsula Unit, including Narrow, Goose and Grass Islands, hunters may use a muzzleloading shotgun or crossbow during the fall turkey firearm season and may use a crossbow during the fall turkey archery season.
- Area: Dry Creek Unit.
- Terrain: Level to rolling.
- ADA Acreage: 300 Acres.
- Barren River Lake WMA: On the Peninsula Unit, including Narrows, Goose and Grass islands, hunters shall not use a modern firearm to take game.
Area regulations as printed on the KDFWR area page; WMA rules in 301 KAR 3:010 and 301 KAR 2:178. Checked November 10, 2026.
Zones, counties and deer dates at Barren River Lake WMA
Wildlife hunters look for on Barren River Lake WMA.
Close portrait of a mourning dove
All of Barren River Lake WMA lies in Deer Zone 2, so the Zone 2 limit and gun dates apply.
| County | Zone no. | Deer limit | Zone moved | CWD county | Bear zone | Elk | Small game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen County | Deer Zone 2 | Up to 4 deer | No | No | None | No | Western |
| Barren County | Deer Zone 2 | Up to 4 deer | No | No | None | No | Eastern |
Deer windows for Zone 2
| Deer window | Area | From | Through | Open? | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Crossbow | Statewide | Sep 19, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Youth, senior crossbow | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Jan 18, 2027 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Youth gun | Statewide | Oct 10, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Early Muzzleloader | Statewide | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Modern gun | Zone 2 | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Late Muzzleloader | Zone 2 | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Free youth weekend | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | Guide p. 12 |
The zone calendar is the outer limit; Barren River Lake WMA may hunt fewer days.
Zones from 301 KAR 2:172 and the KDFWR deer zone layer; dates from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting &
Barren River Lake WMA: disease zone, bear and elk
Elk permits
Elk are rare this far from the elk zone, but the out-of-zone permit covers Barren River Lake WMA during deer seasons.
CWD from the KDFWR CWD Surveillance Zone; bear from 301 KAR 2:300; elk from 301 KAR 2:132; checked November 10, 2026. CWD zone · bear zones · elk zone.
Barren River Lake WMA pinned beside its neighbours
Marrowbone State Forest and WMA lies 28 miles east, the closest alternative. Within reach: 5 wildlife management areas and 1 state park.
| Area | Kind | Acres | County | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marrowbone State Forest and WMA | WMA | 1,955 | Cumberland | 28 miles | east |
| Mud Camp Creek WMA | WMA | 572 | Cumberland | 31 miles | east |
| Gabbard Branch WMA | WMA | 809 | Butler | 42 miles | northwest |
| Nolin River Lake WMA | WMA | 6,456 | Edmonson | 43 miles | north |
| Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park | State park | 3,413 | Clinton | 43 miles | east |
| Dale Hollow Lake WMA | WMA | 5,632 | Clinton | 46 miles | east |
Point: KDFWR Public Hunting Areas layer (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside) of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Deer and turkey checked near Barren River Lake WMA
These 2025-26 county harvest counts are context for Barren River Lake WMA, not area results. The busiest county here was Allen County: 1,670 deer, rank 30 statewide.
| County | Deer total | Statewide rank | Spring birds | Bears checked | Elk checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen County | 1,670 | 30th | 338 | – | – |
| Barren County | 1,610 | 33rd | 438 | – | – |
KDFWR Harvest Results app (Telecheck, license years); spring turkey by calendar spring; checked November 10, 2026.
Fuel, processing and supplies near Barren River Lake WMA
A straight line from Barren River Lake WMA to Scottsville measures about 8 miles, the shortest of any town here. For a wider choice of stores, Bowling Green has 79,076 people (2024). The shortest trip to a KDFWR office is Bowling Green, 27 miles. For the Green River Region, call (270) 875-3586 or write to FW.GreenRiverRegion@ky.gov.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottsville | Allen | 4,574 | 8 miles | west |
| Tompkinsville | Monroe | 2,239 | 21 miles | east |
| Glasgow | Barren | 15,388 | 22 miles | north |
| Franklin | Simpson | 10,524 | 27 miles | west |
| Bowling Green | Warren | 79,076 | 27 miles | northwest |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); KDFWR offices from the KDFWR contact page and the regional biologists map; businesses from services.json listings (call ahead); straight-line miles. Checked November 10, 2026.
Truck bed list for Barren River Lake WMA hunters
Barren River Lake WMA gear here follows the game on this page; nothing loads until you tap a button.
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Climbing stand
Plenty of Kentucky deer hunters would not head to the stand without a climbing stand.
Chest waders
From the Thanksgiving opener to late January, chest waders stay in the boat.
Clock times for legal light on Barren River Lake WMA
Barren River Lake WMA duck, goose and dove hunters stop at sunset rather than half an hour after it, which is why the bird column closes earlier.
| Day | Note | Sunup | Sundown | Game hours | Duck hours | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Deer archery opens | 6:18 a.m. | 7:09 p.m. | 5:48 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. | 5:48 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. | CDT |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Deer crossbow opens | 6:29 a.m. | 6:48 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 7:18 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. | CDT |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth gun opens | 6:46 a.m. | 6:16 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 6:16 p.m. | CDT |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Early muzzleloader | 6:52 a.m. | 6:07 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 6:07 p.m. | CDT |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 2 gun opener | 6:21 a.m. | 4:37 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | 5:51 a.m. to 4:37 p.m. | CST |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:33 a.m. | 4:31 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 4:31 p.m. | CST |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Zone 2 gun closes | 6:36 a.m. | 4:30 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | CST |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Late muzzleloader | 6:47 a.m. | 4:29 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 4:29 p.m. | CST |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:53 a.m. | 4:32 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 4:32 p.m. | CST |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Free youth weekend | 6:55 a.m. | 4:34 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 4:34 p.m. | CST |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting &
Barren River Lake WMA: three nearby ranges
Three ranges ring Barren River Lake WMA; Barnyard Trap is closest at 11 miles.
From the KDFWR range layer and permit list, club sites and directory listings, checked November 10, 2026.
Classes and trials close to Barren River Lake WMA
Close by: NWTF chapter banquet, 1 date ahead in all.
| Starts | Event | Miles | Held at | Link | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 18, 2027 | Southern Kentucky Spurs Banquet (NWTF chapter banquet) | 8 | Tickets | Source |
Listings and results from the KDFWR calendar, the DU and NWTF feeds, UKC and American Field, read November 9, 2026.
Orange sunrise over Barren River Lake with boats on the waterPhoto: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District (CC BY 2.0)
Sunset over a fenced pasture in Allen CountyPhoto: Gaurav Vaidya (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Questions people ask before hunting Barren River Lake WMA
Are there deer quota hunts on Barren River Lake WMA?
None are listed for it in the 2026-27 KDFWR deer quota table.
Is Barren River Lake WMA open for every season?
Not all: the chart lists 0 closed columns and 0 quota-only ones next to 9 open.
Is black bear hunting possible on Barren River Lake WMA?
No; its counties are outside Kentucky's three bear zones.
Does the 23-county CWD zone cover Barren River Lake WMA?
No; none of its counties is among the 23 zone counties.
What acreage does the record give Barren River Lake WMA?
Roughly 8,735 acres.
Does the elk draw cover Barren River Lake WMA?
No; it is out-of-zone ground.
How late can I hunt deer on Barren River Lake WMA?
Until thirty minutes after sunset, local clock time.
Nearest town to Barren River Lake WMA?
Scottsville (8 miles).
Beyond a license, what does Barren River Lake WMA need?
No extra permit is listed, but Corps project rules (36 CFR 327.8) apply on the Corps land.
Is there a phone line for Barren River Lake WMA questions?
(270) 646-5167 reaches the area; KDFWR's Green River Region desk is (270) 875-3586.
Zone number for deer at Barren River Lake WMA?
Barren River Lake WMA hunts as Zone 2 ground this season.
The night before a hunt on Barren River Lake WMA
Recheck your quota hunt dates, zone limits and season windows for Barren River Lake WMA before packing up.
Sources: KDFWR area page · KDFWR page · KDFWR map layer · KDFWR PDF · KDFWR page; seasons from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting &
Other photos on this page: Lucas Byrd (posted by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District) (CC BY 2.0); Judy Gallagher (CC BY 2.0).