Home › Kentucky › Public land › Green River Lake WMA

WMA under KDFWR seasons

How to hunt Green River Lake WMA this season

Wildlife management area in Adair County and Taylor County, about 21,019 acres, Zone 1.

Hunting gear

Photo: Andrea O'Bryan (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District) (CC BY 2.0)

Getting to Green River Lake WMA

Parking, trailheads and gates near Green River Lake WMA

  • Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
  • Boat rampBoat ramp · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
  • Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 1.6 mi from the centreDirections
  • Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
  • Trail HeadTrailhead · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 1.7 mi from the centreDirections
  • Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
  • Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
  • Boat rampBoat ramp · 2.7 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 Green River Lake WMA

Hunting on the Corps land at Green River Lake is handled through Green River Lake WMA.

36 CFR 327.8(a): "Hunting is permitted except in areas and during periods where prohibited by the District Commander."

Sources: eCFR · KDFWR area page; checked November 10, 2026.

Nearby

Places to hunt and shoot around Green River Lake WMA

Shooting Ranges Near Campbellsville

Range · 6 mi from Green River Lake WMA

Directions
Hart County

County · 32 mi from Green River Lake WMA

Directions
Lake Cumberland WMA

Public land · 33 mi from Green River Lake WMA

Directions
Kentucky Cowboy Action Shooting: SASS Match Dates

Shooting · 34 mi from Green River Lake WMA

Directions

The 2026-27 chart row for Green River Lake WMA

Green River Lake WMA is open for 9 charted seasons this year, with 2 closed and 1 by quota.

Hunt2026-27 statusSee
Deer archery, crossbowOpen–
Deer muzzleloaderClosed–
Deer modern gunQuota only–
Deer youth gunOpen–
Fall squirrelOpen–
RabbitOpen1
GrouseClosed–
QuailOpen1
Fall turkeyOpen–
FurbearerOpen–
BearOpen–
OtherOpen2
  1. Open Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, except during the opening weekend of modern gun deer season.
  2. Pheasant quota hunts, either sex, limit two, Nov. 21-23; Open Nov. 24 to drawn pheasant quota hunters, either sex, limit three; Open to the general public on Nov. 25 – Dec. 31, either sex, daily limit three.

From the 2026-27 quick reference charts on the KDFWR Public Land Hunting page; footnotes are KDFWR exceptions as printed. Checked November 10, 2026.

Ground, size and manager of Green River Lake WMA

Close to 21,019 acres of Adair and Taylor counties belong to Green River Lake WMA, a Southeast Region listing. The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources looks after the ground. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the landowner of record. The agency layer lists a high management level.

From the area record for Green River Lake WMA:

  • WMA consists of shoreline surrounding Green River Lake.
  • From Campbellsville take HWY 70 East 4 miles to where WMA begins. You can also take HWY 76 off of HWY 70 to other portions of the WMA. From Columbia take HWY 551 North for 8 miles or HWY 206 North for 12 miles to WMA. Various other county roads or boats can also be used to access the WMA.
  • Gently rolling terrain with flat bottoms and ridge tops. Mixed hardwoods with cleared areas in agricultural crops and wildlife food plots. Boating, fishing at Green River Lake State Park.

The habitat split leans to forest, at roughly 83 percent.

Fiery red sunrise over Green River Lake from a boat ramp

Fiery red sunrise over Green River Lake from a boat ramp

21,019Acres
2Counties
SoutheastKDFWR region
(270) 283-0244Area phone
11%Open land share
83%Forest share
5%Wetland share
1%Open water share

Acres: KDFWR Public Lands Search detail page ("Size: 21019 acres"). Description and habitat from the area record; checked November 10, 2026.

Green River Lake WMA drawn hunts for 2026-27

KDFWR drew hunters for 2 deer quota hunts on Green River Lake WMA this season, 415 slots combined. KDFWR took applications September 1 to September 30, 2026 ($3 per hunt), and the 2026-27 draw is complete. Last year's lowest drawn point total is shown for residents and nonresidents alike.

Hunt no.AreaWhenSlots2025 minNonres. minStatusRemarks
11Green River Lake &
Dennis-Gray WMAs
Nov. 7-840000Hunters awarded one preference point for each antleress deer harvested, up to four.
12Green River Lake & Dennis Gray WMAs Mobility-Impaired*Nov. 7-81500Open only to mobility-impaired persons. Hunters awarded one preference point for each antlerless deer harvested, up to four.

Other draws that involve Green River Lake WMA:

  • Pheasant 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 Green River Lake WMA

Think of Green River Lake WMA as statewide rules first, then these area limits. Green River Lake WMA has mobility-impaired access listed by KDFWR.

  • Closed to muzzleloader deer seasons.
  • Closed to modern gun deer season except for the quota hunt.
  • Closed to grouse season.
  • Pheasant quota hunts, either sex, limit two, Nov. 20-22; open Nov. 23 to drawn pheasant quota hunters, either sex, limit three; open to the general public Nov. 24-Dec. 31, either sex, daily limit three.
  • During the pheasant quota hunt period, pheasant quota hunt units are closed to small game hunting for four consecutive days starting the third Friday in November. A person shall not hunt sandhill cranes within 100 yards of the normal summer pool level of 675 feet, east of Hwy. 551 Bridge in the following embayments: Green River to the Snake Creek Boat Ramp; and Casey Creek to the Hwy. 76 bridge.
  • Area: Corbin Bend Unit.
  • ADA Acreage: 830 Acres.
  • A person shall not hunt sandhill cranes within 100 yards of the normal summer pool level of 675 feet, east of the Hwy. 551 Bridge in the following embayments: Green River to the Snake Creek Boat Ramp; and Casey Creek to the Hwy. 76 bridge.

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 Green River Lake WMA

Wildlife hunters look for on Green River Lake WMA.

White-fronted geese and wigeon

White-fronted geese and wigeon

All of Green River Lake WMA lies in Deer Zone 1, so the Zone 1 limit and gun dates apply. KDFWR shifted Adair and Taylor counties one zone lower this year.

CountyZone no.Deer limitZone movedCWD countyBear zoneElkSmall game
Adair CountyDeer Zone 1Unlimited antlerless2 to 1NoBear Zone 2NoEastern
Taylor CountyDeer Zone 1Unlimited antlerless2 to 1NoNoneNoEastern

Deer windows for Zone 1

Deer windowAreaFromThroughOpen?Page
ArcheryStatewideSep 5, 2026Jan 18, 2027Guide p. 12
CrossbowStatewideSep 19, 2026Jan 18, 2027Guide p. 12
Youth, senior crossbowStatewideSep 5, 2026Jan 18, 2027Guide p. 12
Youth gunStatewideOct 10, 2026Oct 18, 2026Guide p. 12
Early MuzzleloaderStatewideOct 17, 2026Oct 18, 2026Guide p. 12
Modern gunZone 1Nov 14, 2026Nov 29, 2026Guide p. 12
Late MuzzleloaderZone 1Dec 12, 2026Dec 20, 2026Guide p. 12
Free youth weekendStatewideDec 26, 2026Dec 27, 2026Guide p. 12

The zone calendar is the outer limit; Green 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 &

; checked November 10, 2026. All four deer zones.

Green River Lake WMA: disease zone, bear and elk

Bear zone status

For bear, Green River Lake WMA counts as Bear Zone 2 ground; no draw is involved.

Bear seasonZoneDatesTodaySource
Chase onlyBear Zones 1, 2, 3
Jun 1–Aug 31
Sep 9–30
Guide p. 18
Archery, crossbowBear Zone 2
Oct 24–28
Guide p. 18
With dogsBear Zone 2
Oct 19–23
Oct 29–Nov 6
Guide p. 18
FirearmBear Zone 2
Dec 12–16
Guide p. 18

Elk permits

Elk are rare this far from the elk zone, but the out-of-zone permit covers Green 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.

Green River Lake WMA pinned beside its neighbours

Green River Lake State Park lies 2 miles northwest, the closest alternative. Within reach: 5 wildlife management areas and 1 state park.

AreaKindAcresCountyMiles offDirection
Green River Lake State
Park
State park1,241Taylor2 milesnorthwest
Dennis-Gray WMAWMA102Adair8 mileseast
R. F. Tarter WMAWMA1,171Adair15 milessoutheast
Marion County WMA and
State Forest
WMA1,341Marion21 milesnortheast
Rolling Fork WMAWMA2,896LaRue22 milesnorthwest
Marrowbone State Forest and
WMA
WMA1,955Cumberland32 milessouthwest

Entrance GPS from the KDFWR area page: 37.2925, -85.2998. Open in maps

Point: KDFWR Public Hunting Areas layer (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside) of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.

Green River Lake WMA and its related listings

Hunters often pair Green River Lake WMA with Dennis-Gray WMA and Green River Lake State Park.

Related

Dennis-Gray WMA

102 acres, Adair County

Related

Green River Lake State
Park

1,241 acres, Taylor County

Deer and turkey checked near Green River Lake WMA

These 2025-26 county harvest counts are context for Green River Lake WMA, not area results. The busiest county here was Adair County: 1,923 deer, rank 19 statewide.

CountyDeer totalStatewide rankSpring birdsBears checkedElk checked
Adair County1,92319th4741–
Taylor County1,48139th280––
Adair County deer checked, 2016-17 to 2025-2607501,5002,2503,0002016-17: 1,0321,0322016-172017-18: 1,1551,1552017-182018-19: 1,4321,4322018-192019-20: 1,5661,5662019-202020-21: 1,4121,4122020-212021-22: 1,3361,3362021-222022-23: 1,5991,5992022-232023-24: 1,5231,5232023-242024-25: 1,9291,9292024-252025-26: 1,9231,9232025-26

KDFWR Harvest Results app (Telecheck, license years); spring turkey by calendar spring; checked November 10, 2026.

Fuel, processing and supplies near Green River Lake WMA

A straight line from Green River Lake WMA to Campbellsville measures about 6 miles, the shortest of any town here. The shortest trip to a KDFWR office is Frankfort, 66 miles. For the Southeast Region, call (606) 344-0585 or write to FW.SoutheastRegion@ky.gov.

TownCountyPeople (2024)DistanceDirection
CampbellsvilleTaylor11,8206 milesnorthwest
GreensburgGreen2,24510 mileswest
ColumbiaAdair4,68511 milessouth
BradfordsvilleMarion27318 milesnortheast
Russell SpringsRussell2,80719 milessoutheast

KDFWR office · Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (headquarters)
Frankfort, Franklin County · about 66 mi away

sporting goods · South Central Ammunition &

Arms

Campbellsville, Taylor County · about 4 mi away

taxidermy · Bardin Taxidermy
Columbia, Adair County · about 5 mi away

deer processing · Wise Floyd Custom Meat

Processing

Campbellsville, Taylor County · about 7 mi away

guide or outfitter · Kentucky Deer Kentucky Hunting

Outfitter

Buffalo, Taylor County · about 19 mi away

sporting goods · Weddle's Gun Shop
Campbellsville, Green County · about 9 mi away

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 Green River Lake WMA hunters

Green River Lake WMA gear here follows the game on this page; nothing loads until you tap a button.

Amazon links are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Climbing stand

Plenty of Kentucky deer hunters would not head to the stand without a climbing stand.

See Amazon listings

Skinning knife

A bear hide takes a sharp blade and an unhurried hour.

See Amazon listings

Box call

A morning on a ridge above a hayfield calls for a box call.

See Amazon listings

Chest waders

From the Thanksgiving opener to late January, chest waders stay in the boat.

See Amazon listings

Clock times for legal light on Green River Lake WMA

Green 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.

DayNoteSunupSundownGame hoursDuck hoursTime
Sep 5, 2026Deer archery opens7:14 a.m.8:06 p.m.6:44 a.m. to 8:36 p.m.6:44 a.m. to 8:06 p.m.EDT
Sep 19, 2026Deer crossbow opens7:25 a.m.7:45 p.m.6:55 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.6:55 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.EDT
Oct 10, 2026Youth gun opens7:43 a.m.7:13 p.m.7:13 a.m. to 7:43 p.m.7:13 a.m. to 7:13 p.m.EDT
Oct 17, 2026Early muzzleloader7:50 a.m.7:03 p.m.7:20 a.m. to 7:33 p.m.7:20 a.m. to 7:03 p.m.EDT
Nov 14, 2026Zone 1 gun opener7:19 a.m.5:33 p.m.6:49 a.m. to 6:03 p.m.6:49 a.m. to 5:33 p.m.EST
Nov 26, 2026Duck season opens7:31 a.m.5:26 p.m.7:01 a.m. to 5:56 p.m.7:01 a.m. to 5:26 p.m.EST
Nov 29, 2026Zone 1 gun closes7:34 a.m.5:25 p.m.7:04 a.m. to 5:55 p.m.7:04 a.m. to 5:25 p.m.EST
Dec 12, 2026Late muzzleloader7:46 a.m.5:24 p.m.7:16 a.m. to 5:54 p.m.7:16 a.m. to 5:24 p.m.EST
Dec 21, 2026Shortest day7:51 a.m.5:27 p.m.7:21 a.m. to 5:57 p.m.7:21 a.m. to 5:27 p.m.EST
Dec 26, 2026Free youth weekend7:53 a.m.5:29 p.m.7:23 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.7:23 a.m. to 5:29 p.m.EST

Rounded to the minute. Times are on local clock time: Central Time in the western 41 counties, Eastern Time elsewhere.

Hours rules from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting &

; sunrise and sunset from the NOAA solar formula at this point on Eastern Time; checked November 10, 2026. Legal hours across Kentucky.

Green River Lake WMA: three nearby ranges

Three ranges ring Green River Lake WMA; Marion County Sportsmans Club is closest at 18 miles.

Marion County Sportsmans Club
sportsman club

Lebanon, Marion County · 18 mi

Shoots: archery, 3D archery, rifle, handgun, trap

Members only · KDFWR range map, checked Nov 9, 2026

Adair County Sportsmen's Club
sportsman club

Columbia, Adair County · 19 mi

Shoots: archery, rifle, handgun, trap, shotgun

Members only · KDFWR range map, checked Nov 9, 2026

Russell County Sportsman's Club
sportsman club

Russell Springs, Russell County · 20 mi

Shoots: archery, rifle, handgun, trap, skeet

Members only · KDFWR range map, checked Nov 9, 2026

From the KDFWR range layer and permit list, club sites and directory listings, checked November 10, 2026.

Sunrise colors across the sky over Green River Lake near Campbellsville

Sunrise colors across the sky over Green River Lake near CampbellsvillePhoto: Lori Bell (posted by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District) (CC BY 2.0)

Male wood duck

Male wood duckPhoto: Frank.Vassen (CC BY 2.0)

Questions people ask before hunting Green River Lake WMA

Does the elk draw cover Green River Lake WMA?

No; it is out-of-zone ground.

Do I need a draw for bear at Green River Lake WMA?

No draw; buy a bear permit over the counter.

How far is the drive from town to Green River Lake WMA?

Campbellsville lies about 6 miles away.

What acreage does the record give Green River Lake WMA?

Roughly 21,019 acres.

Is there a phone line for Green River Lake WMA questions?

(270) 283-0244 reaches the area; KDFWR's Southeast Region desk is (606) 344-0585.

How late can I hunt deer on Green River Lake WMA?

Until thirty minutes after sunset, local clock time.

Zone number for deer at Green River Lake WMA?

Green River Lake WMA hunts as Zone 1 ground this season.

Beyond a license, what does Green River Lake WMA need?

No extra permit is listed, but Corps project rules (36 CFR 327.8) apply on the Corps land.

When are the Green River Lake WMA quota hunts?

Nov. 7-8 and Nov. 7-8; see the quota table. Applications ran September 1 to September 30, 2026 at $3 per hunt.

Is Green River Lake WMA open for every season?

Not all: the chart lists 2 closed columns and 1 quota-only ones next to 9 open.

Does the 23-county CWD zone cover Green River Lake WMA?

No; none of its counties is among the 23 zone counties.

The night before a hunt on Green River Lake WMA

Recheck your quota hunt dates, zone limits and season windows for Green 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 &

. Checked November 10, 2026.

Other photos on this page: Lori Bell (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District) (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain).