Ballard WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and access
Ballard WMA is 8,014 acres of public hunting land in Ballard County, in KDFWR's Purchase region. Hunters telechecked 74 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season, 24 antlered bucks among them. KDFWR's 2026-27 rule for the area: Open under statewide archery/crossbow seasons through Oct. 14 only.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: KDFWR's page for the area. Harvest: KDFWR Telecheck reports, 2016-17 to 2025-26.
Ballard WMAOther KDFWR public hunting areasNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 8,014 acres (KDFWR) |
|---|---|
| County | Ballard County |
| KDFWR region | Purchase region |
| Deer zone of the county | Zone 1 |
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 74 (24 antlered bucks, 45 does) |
| Elevation | Minimum 286 feet, maximum 367 feet |
| Contact | (270) 224-2244 |
| Nearest towns | Barlow (4 mi), La Center (5 mi) and Kevil (9 mi) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on Ballard WMA?
KDFWR lists these rules for the area. Where it says the area is open under statewide seasons, the county's zone rules apply.
Fall Hunting Season
- Open under statewide archery/crossbow seasons through Oct. 14 only.
- Open during the youth-only gun season through Oct. 14, 2026; closed for free youth weekend.
- Squirrel season open Aug. 15 through Oct. 14, 2026.
- The main unit is closed to unauthorized public access Oct. 15-Mar. 15; the area west of HWY 473 within the two-mile driving loop is closed to all hunting as marked by signs.
- The CWD Antlerless Season (Sept. 25-28) is open on Ballard WMA.
Source: KDFWR's page for Ballard WMA, read October 2026. Statewide seasons: 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, page 10.
How many deer are taken on Ballard WMA?
Hunters telechecked 74 deer on Ballard WMA in the 2025-26 season: 24 antlered bucks, 5 button bucks and 45 does. Over the 10 seasons KDFWR reports, the area averaged 59 deer a season, from 23 in 2018-19 to 124 in 2023-24.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Firearms | Archery | Crossbow | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 74 | 24 | 45 | 48 | 24 | 1 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | 68 | 31 | 33 | 55 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 124 | 42 | 71 | 105 | 16 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022-23 | 38 | 13 | 23 | 32 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2021-22 | 26 | 12 | 13 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 98 | 31 | 59 | 81 | 13 | 3 | 1 |
| 2019-20 | 36 | 18 | 18 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 3 |
| 2018-19 | 23 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | 57 | 32 | 19 | 28 | 24 | 2 | 3 |
| 2016-17 | 50 | 22 | 26 | 33 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
Source: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by public land. Antlered bucks are KDFWR's count of males with visible antlers; the rest of the males are button bucks.
Spring turkey telechecked on the area: 17 in 2025, 23 in 2024, 26 in 2023 and 23 in 2022 (KDFWR Harvest Data, spring season).
What kind of ground is Ballard WMA?
KDFWR describes the area's habitat as 63.93% wetland, 31.58% open land, 3.98% open water and 0.5% forest. Elevation runs from 286 feet to 367 feet.
Which county is Ballard WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer zone | County deer, 2025-26 | Rank of 120 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballard County | 8,015 | 1 | 575 | 97th |
Acres measured by FilledTag on KDFWR public hunting area boundaries and the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries. County harvest: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county. Zones: KDFWR current deer zones.
How do you get to Ballard WMA?
Thirty miles west of Paducah, on Ohio River. From Paducah take US 60 for 17 miles to LaCenter, take KY 358 north 5.6 miles to KY 1105. Turn west through Bandana, follow KY 1105 to KY 473. Travel 6 miles to Lodge Road. Several roads within area. Sloughs and agricultural bottomlands, some hardwood stands. Wintering bald eagles, eagle nests. Fishing in 11 lakes on area. Special regulations for hunting and fishing. The 400-acre tract located south of Sallie Crice/Terrell Landing Road (formerly the Ballard Hunting Unit) falls under Boatwright WMA Olmsted and Peal Unit hunting regulations. Fee, advance application required of deer, waterfowl hunters. Write, email or call Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources for additional information. The majority of Ballard WMA is closed to visitation Oct. 15-March 15. Areas designated as no hunting (pink areas on the maps) are open to year-round visitation. The hiking trail located in the no hunting tract off Loop Road, however, is closed Oct. 15-March 15 to avoid disturbing waterfowl. Owned by Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
From KDFWR's page for the area.
Highways through the area: KY 473. Nearest towns: Barlow (4 miles), La Center (5 miles), Kevil (9 miles) and Wickliffe (10 miles).
The closest other public hunting areas with a page here: Boatwright WMA (1.1 miles), West Kentucky WMA (9.9 miles), Winford WMA (11.9 miles) and Coil Estate WMA (12.6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt Ballard WMA in 2026-27?
KDFWR's 2026-27 rules for Ballard WMA: Open under statewide archery/crossbow seasons through Oct. 14 only. Open during the youth-only gun season through Oct. 14, 2026; closed for free youth weekend. Squirrel season open Aug. 15 through Oct. 14, 2026. The main unit is closed to unauthorized public access Oct. 15-Mar. 15; the area west of HWY 473 within the two-mile driving loop is closed to all hunting as marked by signs. The CWD Antlerless Season (Sept. 25-28) is open on Ballard WMA.
How many deer were killed on Ballard WMA last season?
Hunters telechecked 74 deer on Ballard WMA in the 2025-26 season: 24 antlered bucks and 45 does. The most taken with firearms (48).
What county is Ballard WMA in?
All of it is in Ballard County, by KDFWR's boundary.
What deer zone is Ballard WMA in?
Ballard County is in Zone 1. Unlimited number of antlerless deer using the statewide deer permit plus additional deer permits. Area rules can be stricter than the zone's, as listed above.
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Where these numbers come from
- Area rules, size, habitat, contact and directions: KDFWR, Ballard WMA.
- Deer, elk and turkey harvest on the area: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by public land. County harvest: KDFWR Harvest Data (Telecheck), deer by county.
- Boundary: KDFWR public hunting area boundaries. Counties, highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries; U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer. National forest and refuges: U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.
FilledTag is not part of Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. Numbers are copied from KDFWR or measured from public maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
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