West Kentucky WMA rules, zones and quota slots

Ground, size and manager of West Kentucky WMA

Measured on the KDFWR layer, West Kentucky WMA runs to about 4,495 acres of McCracken County in the Purchase Region. Its manager of record is the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. KDFWR rates it at the moderate management level.

What the official listing says about West Kentucky WMA:

• Seven miles from I-24, exit 4, in Paducah, on US 60 in Future City. Turn north on KY 996 for 3.6 miles. Turn west on KY 358 for 2.6 miles to office.
• Old fields, woodlots, grasslands, crop fields and food plots. Twelve fishing ponds with access for small boats; picnicking, hiking; kennels and stalls for use during field trials. Horseback riding on designated trails only. National caliber horseback bird dog field trials, retriever field trials, and retriever test hunts are hosted September – May on the WMA. Chief Paduke Skeet Range (Phone (270) 488-3248, web site www.chiefpaduke.com )
• on KY 358 one-half mile east of office. Archery range (mobility-impaired accessible) with 10-50 yard targets open daily during daylight hours, wildlife viewing areas (Tupelo Swamp) , the fishing pier at "Disabled Access Pond" is handicap assessable. Primitive camping is allowed on the WMA, but ONLY at the designated camping
• For hunting there is mobility impaired access in designated areas to permit holders (Tract 3). Huntable populations of deer, turkey, dove, squirrel, rabbits and quail exist on the area. Special regulations apply for deer, turkey and small game hunting. All vehicular traffic is prohibited on Tract 6 Feb. 1 – April 16.
• Trails were put in with the assistance of a National Recreational Trails Fund grant and the Russ Chittenden Woodlands Fund provided funds for materials, signs, tree seedlings, and a large amount of volunteer labor.
• Owned/leased by Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

Expect mostly forest: the record puts it at 40 percent of the ground.

Acres: KDFWR Public Lands Search detail page ("Size: 4495 acres"). Description and habitat from the area record; checked November 10, 2026.

West Kentucky WMA area regulations for 2026-27

Hunters with a mobility-impaired permit have designated access on West Kentucky WMA. Sighting in on West Kentucky WMA happens at its range, under the KDFWR range permit.

• Check-in is required before entering any area marked with an “A”; Only shotguns may be used for small game or furbearer hunting; Hunters may not use centerfire rifles or handguns to take deer. Tract 1, Tracts 1A, 2A, 4A, and portions of Tract 7A at West Kentucky WMA are now closed to public use. Please refer to the online map on the WMA page for updated information. Closed to anterless-only Special Season.
• During WMA deer quota hunts and the open firearm deer hunt, only participating hunters and accompanying non-hunting assistants (limit one per hunter) are allowed to be on the WMA, except waterfowl hunters in some areas that may be open, or if a part of the WMA is otherwise open as noted elsewhere. Non-hunting assistants must check in with the quota hunter they are accompanying and abide by hunter-orange requirements.
• Muzzleloader deer season is open only during department-administered quota hunts.
• Shooting Range Information
• A person shall not target practice, sight in a firearm, or discharge a firearm in any area except the shooting range. Shooting multiple projectile shells is not permitted on Tube Ranges. Club Ranges are off-limits unless authorized by an approved event with a club range safety officer. A person shall not discharge a firearm within 100 yards of a residence or occupied building, whether or not the building is on the WMA.
• An annual or one-day shooting range permit is now required to use firearms and archery equipment on any department managed, leased or affiliated shooting range. The permit system will help the agency better gauge how many people use the ranges, promote safe practices, and support maintenance and improvements.
• The permit is free to annual hunting or fishing license holders, but you must obtain it through My Profile .
• Damage a tree or shrub (No installation of targets on trees or shrubs)
• Dump trash or litter (Clean up targets and spent shells)
• Deface or destroy a signs
• Pose a risk to persons or property (Shooters responsible for ensuring adequate backstop)
• Engage in an activity which could unreasonably interfere with other uses or users of the area
• Area: "Handicap Pond" Tract.
• Terrain: Gently rolling and bottomlands.
• ADA Acreage: 3,669.77 Acres.

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.

Special big game rules on West Kentucky WMA

CWD Surveillance Zone

McCracken County is in the 23-county CWD Surveillance Zone, so carcass export limits apply to deer taken on West Kentucky WMA. A CWD antlerless window from September 25 to September 28, 2026 covers McCracken County.

No whole carcasses or high-risk parts (head, skull/skull cap with brain, spine) may leave the zone or enter Kentucky from other states/provinces; deboned meat, antlers, clean skull caps/skulls/teeth, hides and finished taxidermy allowed.

Elk

Outside the elk zone, as West Kentucky WMA is, elk follow deer dates and methods with an Out-of-Zone Elk Permit.

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.

Animals tallied in the West Kentucky WMA area counties

Use these as a guide to deer numbers around West Kentucky WMA; they cover whole counties. In 2025-26, McCracken County reported 863 deer, 73rd among the counties.

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

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West Kentucky WMA in a dozen quick answers