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WMA · 2026-27
Redbird WMA rules, zones and quota slots
Wildlife management area in Clay County and Leslie County: 24,033 acres, Deer Zone 4.
Hunting gearPhoto: Daniel McFeeters (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Redbird WMA
Parking, trailheads and gates near Redbird WMA
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Sugar Creek TrailheadTrailhead · 1.8 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.
The character of Redbird WMA
With roughly 24,033 acres in Clay and Leslie counties, Redbird WMA is one of the Southeast Region's public hunting places. Its manager of record is the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Ownership rests with U.S. Forest Service. Management intensity on the KDFWR layer: low.
In the agency's words, Redbird WMA offers this:
- Located 7 miles west of Hyden, KY off US-421.
- Hilly to steep with gentle slopes in bottomlands and on ridge tops. Mostly forested with approximately 100 acres of openings and 25 miles of improved hiking trails. No developed facilities. Mobility impaired access to permit holders on designated area, which is currently the Redbird Crest Trail. For camping check with owner.
- Within Daniel Boone NationalForest.
About 99 percent of Redbird WMA is forest, the largest cover type on record.
Bobcat standing in sunlit golden grass
Acres: KDFWR Public Lands Search detail page ("Size: 24033 acres"). Description and habitat from the area record; checked November 10, 2026.
Limits posted for Redbird WMA hunters
County statewide regulations apply on Redbird WMA except for the specific items below. KDFWR lists mobility-impaired access on Redbird WMA.
- Closed for the muzzleloader deer seasons.
- Modern gun deer season is open under statewide regulations for two consecutive days beginning the second Saturday in November only.
- Portions of the area are open during elk quota hunts to persons who possess the appropriate elk hunting permit.
- Area: 23-miles of Redbird Crest Trail
- ADA Acreage: ATVs not allowed off designated trails; contact Daniel Boone National Forest for Trail Maps (606)-598-2192.
- Accessible WMA Area: 23-miles of
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.
Redbird WMA season chart for 2026-27
KDFWR's grid for Redbird WMA reads 11 open, 1 closed, 0 quota cells for 2026-27.
| Season type | Open or not | Note no. |
|---|---|---|
| Deer archery, crossbow | Open | – |
| Deer muzzleloader | Closed | – |
| Deer modern gun | Open | 1 |
| Deer youth gun | Open | – |
| Fall squirrel | Open | – |
| Rabbit | Open | – |
| Grouse | Open | – |
| Quail | Open | – |
| Fall turkey | Open | – |
| Furbearer | Open | – |
| Bear | Open | – |
| Elk quota | Open | 2 |
- Open under statewide regulations for two consecutive days starting the second Saturday in November.
- Portions open during quota elk hunts to persons who possess the appropriate elk hunting permit.
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 Redbird WMA
Typical game for this part of Kentucky.
Wild turkey gobbler strutting with tail fanned
Redbird WMA is a Deer Zone 4 area; the season rows below are the Zone 4 ones.
| County | Deer zone | Zone limit | Zone change | CWD zone | Bear | Elk zone | Small game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | Deer Zone 4 | 2 deer, 1 antlerless | No | No | Bear Zone 2 | Yes | Eastern |
| Leslie County | Deer Zone 4 | 2 deer, 1 antlerless | No | No | Bear Zone 2 | Yes | Eastern |
Zone 4 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 | |
| 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 4 | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | Guide p. 12 | |
| Late Muzzleloader | Zone 4 | 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 4 framework, not a promise that Redbird 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 &
Big game zones touching Redbird WMA
Bear hunting
Bear Zone 2 dates apply on Redbird WMA, and any licensed hunter can buy a bear permit. No bear dog hunting on Redbird 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 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 Redbird WMA, part of Elk Hunting Unit 3. 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 Redbird WMA
KDFWR does not publish harvest by public area, so these are county Telecheck totals for the counties around Redbird WMA (2025-26 license year). Clay County checked 926 deer in 2025-26, placing 68th in Kentucky.
| County | Telecheck deer | Place | Turkey | Bear | Elk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | 926 | 68th | 207 | – | – |
| Leslie County | 565 | 98th | 153 | 38 | 30 |
KDFWR Harvest Results app (Telecheck, license years); spring turkey by calendar spring; checked November 10, 2026.
Nearest towns and KDFWR contacts for Redbird WMA
Hyden, roughly 8 miles out, is the first town you reach from Redbird WMA on this site. Manchester counts 1,433 residents (2024), more than any other town in the table. Williamsburg, 45 miles away, holds the closest KDFWR office. KDFWR's Southeast Region line: (606) 344-0585.
| Nearest towns | County | Population | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyden | Leslie | 279 | 8 miles | northeast |
| Oneida | Clay | – | 14 miles | northwest |
| Manchester | Clay | 1,433 | 14 miles | west |
| Combs | Perry | – | 19 miles | northeast |
| Coldiron | Harlan | – | 20 miles | south |
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 Redbird WMA sits among nearby areas
Redbird Ranger District is the nearest neighbour, 6 miles to the southwest. The nearest six break down as 5 wildlife management areas and 1 ranger district.
| Public land | Kind | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redbird Ranger District | Ranger district | 146,434 | Clay | 6 miles | southwest |
| Hoskins WMA | WMA | 5,292 | Harlan | 7 miles | southeast |
| Buckhorn Lake WMA | WMA | 3,570 | Leslie | 9 miles | northeast |
| Elk Forest WMA | WMA | 16,587 | Bell | 10 miles | south |
| Burchell-Beech Creek WMA | WMA | 1,241 | Clay | 11 miles | west |
| Boone Forestlands WMA | WMA | 27,997 | Bell | 13 miles | south |
Point: KDFWR Public Hunting Areas layer (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Earliest and latest legal shots at Redbird WMA
Redbird 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 | 7:07 a.m. | 7:59 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 8:29 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. | EDT |
| Sep 19, 2026 | Deer crossbow opens | 7:18 a.m. | 7:38 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 8:08 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. | EDT |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Bull elk week | 7:24 a.m. | 7:27 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 7:57 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 10, 2026 | Youth gun opens | 7:36 a.m. | 7:06 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 7:06 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Early muzzleloader | 7:42 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. | EDT |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Bear Zone 2 archery | 7:49 a.m. | 6:47 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 7:17 p.m. | 7:19 a.m. to 6:47 p.m. | EDT |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 4 gun opener | 7:11 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:56 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 26, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:24 a.m. | 5:19 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:49 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | EST |
| Nov 29, 2026 | Zone 4 gun closes | 7:27 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Bear Zone 2 firearm; late muzzleloader | 7:38 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:44 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. | EST |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Free youth weekend | 7:46 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 7:16 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. | EST |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting &
Bring these along to Redbird WMA
Redbird 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.
Redbird WMA: practice before the trip
32 miles separates Redbird WMA from Center Target Firearms and Range, the nearest range on file.
From the KDFWR range layer and permit list, club sites and directory listings, checked November 10, 2026.
Ruffed grouse perched among bare branchesPhoto: David A Mitchell (CC BY 2.0)
Black bear looking out from green forest undergrowthPhoto: marneejill (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Hunters ask, the records answer: Redbird WMA
Do CWD carcass limits apply at Redbird WMA?
Not inside the area itself, since its counties are outside the zone.
Is there a black bear season at Redbird WMA?
It follows the Bear Zone 2 archery, dog and firearm windows.
Elk at Redbird WMA?
Drawn permit holders can hunt it (Elk Hunting Unit 3).
Acreage of Redbird WMA?
About 24,033 acres.
Where do Redbird WMA hunters stock up?
Hyden is nearest, roughly 8 miles off.
Start and stop times for hunting Redbird 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 Redbird WMA?
Try (606) 654-2533 first, then the regional coordinator on (606) 344-0585.
Which of the four deer zones covers Redbird WMA?
Zone 4 rules apply (2 deer, 1 antlerless).
What does the KDFWR chart say about Redbird WMA?
11 open, 1 closed and 0 quota columns for 2026-27, each with its exceptions.
Do I need a draw to hunt Redbird WMA?
Not for deer: no deer quota hunt is listed there this season.
Double-checking plans for Redbird WMA
Report a poaching case on Redbird WMA to KDFWR law enforcement; the KDFWR Information Center is (800) 858-1549.
Sources: KDFWR area page · KDFWR page · KDFWR map layer · KDFWR PDF; seasons from the 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting &
Other photos on this page: Renee Grayson (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).