Public Hunt Land Finder

Public land that may allow hunting in Kentucky

150 named public land units in Kentucky from PAD-US 4.1: 111 state wildlife & game areas, 9 forests & grasslands, 4 wildlife refuges & WPAs, 17 lake & reservoir project lands, 9 other public land units. The largest are Daniel Boone National Forest, Redbird Purchase Unit, Land Between the Lakes Other.

Regulations & licenses: Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

This site does not list seasons, bag limits, license or permit rules. Those change every year and differ by area. Check them with Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (hunting information) before you go, and confirm the specific area is open to the hunting you plan.

All 150 areas, largest first

AreaAcres (approx.)ManagerAccessCounty
Daniel Boone National Forest
National Forest land
563,891U.S. Forest Service (USDA)Open accessMcCreary County, Laurel County + 14 more
Redbird Purchase Unit
National Forest land
146,480U.S. Forest Service (USDA)Open accessClay County, Leslie County + 3 more
Land Between the Lakes Other
National Forest land
107,071U.S. Forest Service (USDA)Open accessTrigg County, Lyon County
Cumberland Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
90,055U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessRussell County, Wayne County + 2 more
Barkley Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
53,082U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessLyon County, Trigg County + 1 more
Lake Cumberland Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
50,349State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessWayne County, Russell County + 2 more
Peabody Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
41,318State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessMuhlenberg County, Ohio County + 1 more
Green Rv Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
32,398U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessAdair County, Taylor County
Boone Forestlands Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
31,608State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessLeslie County, Bell County + 2 more
Redbird Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
24,024State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessLeslie County, Clay County
Green River Lake Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
20,947State: fish and wildlife agencyRestricted accessAdair County, Taylor County
Barren River Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
20,666U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessBarren County, Allen County
Yatesville Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
20,122U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessLawrence County
Beaver Creek Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
17,734State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessMcCreary County, Pulaski County
Elk Forest Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
16,868State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessLeslie County, Clay County + 2 more
Fishtrap Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
15,589U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessPike County
Pennyrile State Forest
State forest
14,353State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessChristian County, Caldwell County
Nolin Rv Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
13,337U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessGrayson County, Edmonson County + 1 more
Paintsville Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
13,183U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessJohnson County, Morgan County
Yatesville Lake Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
13,156State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessLawrence County
Fishtrap Lake Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
13,135State: fish and wildlife agencyRestricted accessPike County
Mill Creek Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
13,014State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessJackson County
Kentucky Ridge State Forest
State forest
11,821State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessBell County
Grayson Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
11,664U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessCarter County, Elliott County
C. F. Ataya Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
11,585Joint managementRestricted accessLeslie County
Paintsville Lake Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
11,215State: fish and wildlife agencyRestricted accessJohnson County, Morgan County
Sloughs Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
11,157State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessHenderson County, Union County
Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
9,394U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRestricted accessMarshall County, McCracken County
Taylorsville Lake Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
9,329State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessSpencer County, Anderson County + 1 more
Dewey Lake Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
9,148State: fish and wildlife agencyRestricted accessFloyd County
Dale Hollow Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
9,146U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessClinton County, Cumberland County
Barren River Lake Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
8,993State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessBarren County, Allen County
Clay Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
8,975State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessNicholas County, Fleming County + 1 more
Boatwright Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
8,843State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessBallard County
Grayson Lake Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
8,005State: fish and wildlife agencyRestricted accessCarter County, Elliott County
Ballard Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
7,986State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessBallard County
Pioneer Weapons Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
7,714State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessBath County, Menifee County
Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area and State Forest
State wildlife / game area
7,602Joint managementOpen accessCrittenden County, Union County
Green River Wild River
Other state land
7,024State: department of conservationOpen accessEdmonson County, Hart County
Yellowbank Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
6,741State: fish and wildlife agencyMixed (open and restricted parcels)Breckinridge County
Cane Creek Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
6,684State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessLaurel County
West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
6,446State: fish and wildlife agencyRestricted accessMcCracken County
Nolin River Lake Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
6,428State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessGrayson County, Hart County + 1 more
Rock Creek Wild River
Other state land
6,184State: department of conservationRestricted accessMcCreary County
Dale Hollow Lake Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
5,481State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessClinton County, Cumberland County
Higginson-Henry Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
5,456State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessUnion County
Dewey Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
4,963U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessFloyd County, Pike County
Hensley-Pine Mountain Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
4,851State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessLetcher County, Harlan County
Kentucky Fuel Corporation Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
4,665State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessKnott County, Floyd County
John A. Kleber Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
4,271State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessOwen County, Franklin County
Obion Creek Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
4,258State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessFulton County, Hickman County + 1 more
Rough River Lake Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
4,231State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessBreckinridge County, Grayson County + 1 more
Kentucky Lake Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
4,191State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessCalloway County, Marshall County
Doug Travis Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
4,132State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessCarlisle County, Hickman County
Kentenia State Forest
State forest
4,102State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessHarlan County
Carr Creek Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
3,862U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessKnott County
Buckhorn Lake Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
3,602State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessLeslie County, Perry County
Kentucky River Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
3,569State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessHenry County, Owen County
Rockcastle River Wild River
Other state land
3,517State: department of conservationRestricted accessLaurel County, Pulaski County + 1 more
Kentucky Ridge Forest Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
3,502Joint managementOpen accessBell County
Cumberland River Wild River
Other state land
3,123State: department of conservationRestricted accessWhitley County, McCreary County
Rockcastle River Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
2,932State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessPulaski County
Rolling Fork Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
2,910State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessLarue County, Nelson County
Carr Creek Lake Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
2,901State: fish and wildlife agencyRestricted accessKnott County
Shillalah Creek Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
2,546State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessBell County, Harlan County
Ashland Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
2,504State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessLee County
Big South Fork Wild River
Other state land
2,496State: department of conservationOpen accessMcCreary County
Veterans Memorial Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
2,491State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessScott County
Paul Van Booven Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
2,292State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessBreathitt County
Dr. James R. Rich Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
2,269State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessOwen County
Cranks Creek Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
2,144State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessHarlan County
Jones-Keeney Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
2,053State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessCaldwell County
Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
2,048U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRestricted accessFulton County
Green River National Wildlife Refuge And Conservation Partnership Area
National Wildlife Refuge
2,044U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRestricted accessHenderson County
Knobs State Forest and Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
2,044Joint managementOpen accessBullitt County
Robinson Forest Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
2,014State: fish and wildlife agencyRestricted accessBreathitt County, Perry County
Marrowbone State Forest and Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
1,961Joint managementOpen accessMetcalfe County, Cumberland County
Kaler Bottoms Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
1,912State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessGraves County
Fleming Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
1,905State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessFleming County
Harris-Dickerson Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
1,838State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessHopkins County, Muhlenberg County
Miller Welch-Central Kentucky Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
1,837State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessMadison County
Martins Fork Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
1,514U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessHarlan County
Ed Mabry - Laurel Gorge Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
1,503State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessElliott County
Little South Fork Wild River
Other state land
1,403State: department of conservationRestricted accessWayne County, McCreary County
Fortner-Davis Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
1,360State: fish and wildlife agencyRestricted accessBell County
Marion County Wildlife Management Area and State Forest
State wildlife / game area
1,344Joint managementOpen accessMarion County
Bad Branch Wild River
Other state land
1,342State: department of conservationRestricted accessLetcher County
Burchell-Beech Creek Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
1,241State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessClay County
Ohio River Islands Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
1,224State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessLivingston County
R. F. Tarter Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
1,162State: fish and wildlife agencyRestricted accessAdair County, Russell County
Curtis Gates Lloyd Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
1,097State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessGrant County
Green River State Forest
State forest
1,093State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessHenderson County
Red River Wild River
Other state land
1,035State: department of conservationRestricted accessWolfe County, Menifee County
Stone Mountain Wildlife Management Area and State Natural Area
State wildlife / game area
1,013Joint managementOpen accessHarlan County
Livingston County Wildlife Management Area and State Nature Preserve (Newman's Bluff SNP)
State wildlife / game area
994Joint managementOpen accessLivingston County
Simon Kenton Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
985State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessMason County
John C. Williams Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
962State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessNelson County
Tygarts State Forest
State forest
953State: department of natural resourcesOpen accessCarter County
Ross Creek Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
949State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessLee County, Estill County
Lake Malone
State wildlife / game area
883State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessMuhlenberg County, Logan County + 1 more
Jefferson National Forest
National Forest land
879U.S. Forest Service (USDA)Open accessLetcher County, Pike County
Livingston County Wildlife Management Area (Reynolds Tract)
State wildlife / game area
875Joint managementOpen accessLivingston County
Buck Creek Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
874State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessPulaski County
Lake Beshear
State wildlife / game area
872State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessCaldwell County, Christian County
Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
857State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessHopkins County
Martins Fork Lake Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
828State: fish and wildlife agencyRestricted accessHarlan County
Ping-Sinking Valley Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
816State: fish and wildlife agencyRestricted accessPulaski County
Lake Barkley Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
804State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessTrigg County
Coil Estate Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
799State: fish and wildlife agencyRestricted accessCarlisle County
Cedar Creek Lake Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
740State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessLincoln County
Griffith Woods Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
736State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessHarrison County
Tradewater Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
733State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessChristian County, Hopkins County
Laurel Rv Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
676U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessLaurel County, Whitley County
Martin's Fork Wild River
Other state land
676State: department of conservationRestricted accessHarlan County
Dr. Norman and Martha Adair Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
634State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessBoone County
Mud Camp Creek Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
573State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessCumberland County
Livingston County Wildlife Management Area and State Nature Preserve (Bissell Bluff SNP)
State wildlife / game area
567Joint managementOpen accessLivingston County
Dix River Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
395State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessLincoln County
Stephen's Creek Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
393State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessGallatin County
Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
380U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceRestricted accessLewis County
Guist Creek Lake
State wildlife / game area
333State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessShelby County
Cave Run Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
331U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessBath County, Rowan County
Old Trace Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
330State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessLewis County
Camp John Currie
State wildlife / game area
281State: fish and wildlife agencyRestricted accessMarshall County
Mullins Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
261State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessKenton County
Dr. James C. Salato Wildlife Education Center
State wildlife / game area
244State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessFranklin County
Camp Earl Wallace
State wildlife / game area
243State: fish and wildlife agencyRestricted accessWayne County
Meadow Creek Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
239State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessWayne County
Winford Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
233State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessCarlisle County
KDFWR Game Farm
State wildlife / game area
226State: fish and wildlife agencyRestricted accessFranklin County
Meldahl Pool Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
178U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessBracken County
Greenup Pool Recreation Area
Army Corps of Engineers project land
177U.S. Army Corps of EngineersOpen accessGreenup County
Twin Eagle Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
174State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessOwen County
Bayou Creek Ridge TVA Habitat Protection Area
State wildlife / game area
163State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessMcCracken County
Beaver Lake
State wildlife / game area
154State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessAnderson County
Elmer Davis Lake
State wildlife / game area
154State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessOwen County
T. N. Sullivan Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
144State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessFranklin County
Sunnybrook Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
143State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessRowan County
L.B. Davison Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
142State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessOhio County
Bullock Pen Lake
State wildlife / game area
142State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessGrant County, Boone County
Shanty Hollow Lake
State wildlife / game area
124State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessWarren County, Edmonson County
Beechy Creek Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
114State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessCalloway County
Mutter's Cave Conservation Area
State wildlife / game area
109State: other or unknown agencyRestricted accessBarren County
Boltz Lake
State wildlife / game area
103State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessGrant County
Dennis-Gray Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
102State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessAdair County
Corinth Lake
State wildlife / game area
100State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessGrant County
South Shore Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
96State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessGreenup County
Carpenter Lake
State wildlife / game area
67State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessDaviess County
Lee K. Nelson Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife / game area
57State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessWebster County
McNeely Lake
State wildlife / game area
52State: fish and wildlife agencyOpen accessJefferson County

Acreage is calculated from simplified PAD-US boundaries for the portion inside Kentucky. “Access” is the PAD-US public access field, not a statement about hunting. National wildlife refuges are generally coded “restricted” in PAD-US because of seasonal or area closures.

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