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WMA · 2026-27
How to hunt Beaver Creek WMA this season
Wildlife management area in McCreary County and Pulaski County: 17,753 acres, Deer Zone 3.
Hunting gearPhoto: David Wilson (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Beaver Creek WMA
Parking, trailheads and gates near Beaver Creek WMA
- Three Forks of Beaver TrailheadTrailhead · 0.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Swain Ridge TrailheadTrailhead · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Bowman Ridge TrailheadTrailhead · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Middle Ridge TrailheadTrailhead · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 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.
Beaver Creek WMA: acreage, habitat and directions
With roughly 17,753 acres in McCreary and Pulaski counties, Beaver Creek WMA is one of the Southeast Region's public hunting places. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources looks after the ground. Ownership rests with U.S. Forest Service. Management intensity on the KDFWR layer: high.
In the agency's words, Beaver Creek WMA offers this:
- One mile north of Greenwood off US 27 to Bauer RD. Gravel road through center, several ridge and valley dirt trails within area.
- Steep, mountainous terrain in mixed hardwoods, approximately 150 acres of open fields. Opportunities for trout fishing and sightseeing.
- WMA is within Daniel Boone National Forest. Beaver Creek Wilderness Area (4,877 acres) is within WMA,
- no motorized or mechanized equipment is allowed
- within the designated wilderness area. No developed facilities.
- For camping, check with owner.
About 96 percent of Beaver Creek WMA is forest, the largest cover type on record.
Wild turkeys feeding in a grassy field
Acres: KDFWR Public Lands Search detail page ("Size: 17753 acres"). Description and habitat from the area record; checked November 10, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Beaver Creek WMA
Limits posted for Beaver Creek WMA hunters
County statewide regulations apply on Beaver Creek WMA except for the specific items below.
- Closed to modern gun deer season.
- Closed to muzzleloader deer seasons.
- Grouse season is open Oct. 1-Dec. 31.
- The CWD Antle
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.
Beaver Creek WMA season chart for 2026-27
KDFWR's grid for Beaver Creek WMA reads 9 open, 2 closed, 1 quota cells for 2026-27.
| Season type | Open or not | Note no. |
|---|---|---|
| Deer archery, crossbow | Open | – |
| Deer muzzleloader | Closed | – |
| Deer modern gun | Quota only | – |
| Deer youth gun | Open | – |
| Fall squirrel | Open | – |
| Rabbit | Open | 1 |
| Grouse | Open | 2 |
| Quail | Open | 1 |
| Fall turkey | Open | – |
| Furbearer | Open | – |
| Bear | Open | – |
| Elk quota | Closed | – |
- Open Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, except during the opening weekend of modern gun deer season.
- Open Oct. 1 –Dec. 31.
From the 2026-27 quick reference charts on the KDFWR Public Land Hunting page; footnotes are KDFWR exceptions as printed. Checked November 10, 2026.
Deer zones for Beaver Creek WMA
Typical game for this part of Kentucky.
Ruffed grouse in the woods
Beaver Creek WMA straddles Deer Zones 3 and 4, and the rule for a two-zone WMA is to follow the more liberal zone: Zone 3.
| County | Deer zone | Zone limit | Zone change | CWD zone | Bear | Elk zone | Small game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCreary County | Deer Zone 4 | 2 deer, 1 antlerless | No | Check county | Bear Zone 1 | Yes | Eastern |
| Pulaski County | Deer Zone 3 | 4 deer, 1 gun antlerless | No | Check county | Bear Zone 2 | No | Eastern |
Zone 3 statewide deer seasons
| Season | Covers | Begins | Ends | Right now | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| CWD antlerless | CWD counties | Sep 25, 2026 | Sep 28, 2026 | 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 3 | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Late Muzzleloader | Zone 3 | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 20, 2026 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Free youth weekend | Statewide | Dec 26, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | Guide p. 12 |
Dates above are the Zone 3 framework, not a promise that Beaver Creek WMA is open every day of them.
Zones from 301 KAR 2:172 and the KDFWR deer zone layer; dates from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting &
Beaver Creek WMA drawn hunts for 2026-27
330 drawn slots across 1 quota hunt are scheduled on Beaver Creek WMA. The online window was September 1 to September 30, 2026, with a $3 fee per hunt. Drawing odds track preference points, and the 2025 minimums give a sense of the competition.
| No. | Quota hunt | Days | Hunters | Points (all) | Points (nonres.) | Now | KDFWR notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Beaver Creek WMA | Nov. 7-8 | 330 | 0 | 0 | Antlered deer only. |
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.
Big game zones touching Beaver Creek WMA
Deer disease zone
Beaver Creek WMA lies within the CWD Surveillance Zone through McCreary and Pulaski counties; whole carcasses stay in the zone. In McCreary and Pulaski counties, the opening modern gun days (November 14 to November 16, 2026) carry a mandatory staffed check. Pulaski County has the September 25 to September 28, 2026 CWD antlerless season; confirm Beaver Creek WMA on the chart.
Bear hunting
Bear Zones 1 and 2 dates apply on Beaver Creek WMA, and any licensed hunter can buy a bear permit. No bear dog hunting on Beaver Creek WMA.
| Season | Bear zone | Windows | Status | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase only | Bear Zones 1, 2, 3 | Jun 1–Aug 31 Sep 9–30 | Guide p. 18 | |
| Archery, crossbow | Bear Zone 1 | Oct 24–26 | Guide p. 18 | |
| With dogs | Bear Zone 1 | Oct 19–23 | Guide p. 18 | |
| Firearm | Bear Zone 1 | Dec 12–14 | Guide p. 18 | |
| Archery, crossbow | Bear Zone 2 | Oct 24–28 | Guide p. 18 | |
| With dogs | Bear Zone 2 | Oct 19–23 Oct 29–Nov 6 | Guide p. 18 | |
| Firearm | Bear Zone 2 | Dec 12–16 | Guide p. 18 |
Elk rules
Drawn elk hunters can use Beaver Creek WMA. There were 500 elk permits in the 2026 drawing.
| Hunt | Dates | Right now | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bull, firearms | Sep 26–30 Oct 3–7 | Guide p. 22 | |
| Cow, firearms | Nov 28–Dec 2 Jan 2–6 | Guide p. 22 | |
| Archery, crossbow | Sep 12–25 Dec 5–11 | Guide p. 22 | |
| Youth quota | Sep 12–Jan 6 | Guide p. 22 |
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.
County harvest context for Beaver Creek WMA
KDFWR does not publish harvest by public area, so these are county Telecheck totals for the counties around Beaver Creek WMA (2025-26 license year). Pulaski County checked 2,359 deer in 2025-26, placing 12th in Kentucky.
| County | Telecheck deer | Place | Turkey | Bear | Elk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCreary County | 441 | 109th | 200 | 1 | – |
| Pulaski County | 2,359 | 12th | 659 | 2 | – |
KDFWR Harvest Results app (Telecheck, license years); spring turkey by calendar spring; checked November 10, 2026.
Nearest towns and KDFWR contacts for Beaver Creek WMA
Whitley City, roughly 12 miles out, is the first town you reach from Beaver Creek WMA on this site. Somerset counts 12,389 residents (2024), more than any other town in the table. Williamsburg, 20 miles away, holds the closest KDFWR office. KDFWR's Southeast Region line: (606) 344-0585.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitley City | McCreary | – | 12 miles | south |
| Burnside | Pulaski | 718 | 14 miles | northwest |
| Stearns | McCreary | – | 14 miles | south |
| Somerset | Pulaski | 12,389 | 16 miles | northwest |
| Williamsburg | Whitley | 5,332 | 19 miles | southeast |
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.
Where Beaver Creek WMA sits among nearby areas
Daniel Boone National Forest is the nearest neighbour, 8 miles to the east. The nearest six break down as 3 wildlife management areas, 2 ranger districts and 1 national forest.
| Public land | Kind | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Boone National Forest | National forest | 710,298 | Bath | 8 miles | east |
| Stearns Ranger District | Ranger district | 170,938 | McCreary | 10 miles | southwest |
| London Ranger District | Ranger district | 209,423 | Estill | 11 miles | northeast |
| Cane Creek WMA | WMA | 6,677 | Laurel | 13 miles | northeast |
| Buck Creek WMA | WMA | 850 | Pulaski | 15 miles | north |
| Rockcastle River WMA | WMA | 2,922 | Pulaski | 15 miles | north |
Point: KDFWR Public Hunting Areas layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Earliest and latest legal shots at Beaver Creek WMA
Beaver Creek WMA clocks fall back on November 1, 2026 and spring ahead on March 14, 2027, shifting every time in this table by an hour across those dates.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | General hours | Migratory birds | Clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Deer archery opens | 7:11 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 8:32 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 8:02 p.m. | EDT |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Deer crossbow opens | 7:22 a.m. | 7:41 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 8:11 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 7:41 p.m. | EDT |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Bull elk week | 7:28 a.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. | 6:58 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth gun opens | 7:39 a.m. | 7:10 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Early muzzleloader | 7:46 a.m. | 7:00 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Bear Zone 1 archery | 7:53 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 7:21 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. | EDT |
| Nov 14, 2026 | CWD check begins; Zone 4 gun opener | 7:15 a.m. | 5:30 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:27 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Zone 4 gun closes | 7:30 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Bear Zone 1 firearm; late muzzleloader | 7:41 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 7:11 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:47 a.m. | 5:24 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:54 p.m. | 7:17 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Free youth weekend | 7:49 a.m. | 5:27 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:57 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. | EST |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting &
Bring these along to Beaver Creek WMA
Beaver Creek WMA hunters get four items suited to a Kentucky year, from the September bow opener to February rabbits.
Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Climbing stand
From the September bow opener to the January close, a climbing stand earns its keep.
Light shotgun sling
Grouse hunters in the eastern Grouse Zone counties lean on a light shotgun sling.
Beaver Creek WMA: practice before the trip
7 miles separates Beaver Creek WMA from Keno Shooting Range, the nearest range on file.
From the KDFWR range layer and permit list, club sites and directory listings, checked November 10, 2026.
Eastern cottontail sitting in a clover meadowPhoto: B. Raeburn (National Park Service) (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Fox squirrel on a tree trunkPhoto: Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0)
Hunters ask, the records answer: Beaver Creek WMA
Elk at Beaver Creek WMA?
Drawn permit holders can hunt it (the elk zone).
Is Beaver Creek WMA a big area?
It runs to 17,753 acres by the record.
How far is the drive from town to Beaver Creek WMA?
Whitley City lies about 12 miles away.
Start and stop times for hunting Beaver Creek WMA?
Most game: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset; ducks and geese end at sunset.
How do I contact KDFWR about Beaver Creek WMA?
Try (606) 376-8083 first, then the regional coordinator on (606) 344-0585.
Which of the four deer zones covers Beaver Creek WMA?
Zone 3 rules apply (4 deer, 1 gun antlerless). It touches Deer Zones 3 and 4, and a two-zone area follows the most liberal one.
What does the KDFWR chart say about Beaver Creek WMA?
9 open, 2 closed and 1 quota columns for 2026-27, each with its exceptions.
How do I get into a Beaver Creek WMA quota hunt?
Apply online in the KDFWR deer quota window; 330 slots are drawn. Applications ran September 1 to September 30, 2026 at $3 per hunt.
Does Beaver Creek WMA fall inside the CWD Surveillance Zone?
Yes, through McCreary and Pulaski counties; carcass export limits apply.
Do I need a draw for bear at Beaver Creek WMA?
No draw; buy a bear permit over the counter.
Double-checking plans for Beaver Creek WMA
Report a poaching case on Beaver Creek WMA to KDFWR law enforcement; the KDFWR Information Center is (800) 858-1549.
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: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); GerryT (CC BY 2.0).