Beaver Creek WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and access
Beaver Creek WMA is 17,753 acres of public hunting land in McCreary and Pulaski counties, in KDFWR's Southeast region. Hunters telechecked 25 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season, 18 antlered bucks among them. KDFWR's 2026-27 rule for the area: Open under statewide rules and regulations in effect for the county.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: KDFWR's page for the area. Harvest: KDFWR Telecheck reports, 2016-17 to 2025-26.
Beaver Creek WMAOther KDFWR public hunting areasNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 17,753 acres (KDFWR) |
|---|---|
| County | McCreary County, Pulaski County |
| KDFWR region | Southeast region |
| Deer zone of the county | Zone 4, Zone 3 |
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 25 (18 antlered bucks, 7 does) |
| Elk | In the Elk Management Zone, unit 1 is closed to elk hunting |
| Elevation | Minimum 721 feet, maximum 1438 feet |
| Contact | (606) 376-8083 |
| Nearest towns | Burnside (11 mi), Ferguson (12 mi) and Somerset (13 mi) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on Beaver Creek 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 rules and regulations in effect for the county.
Exceptions
- Closed to modern gun deer season.
- Closed to muzzleloader deer seasons.
- Rabbit season is open Nov. 1-Dec. 31, except during the opening weekend of modern gun deer season.
- Grouse season is open Oct. 1-Dec. 31.
- Quail season is open Nov. 1-Dec. 31, except during the opening weekend of modern gun deer season.
- The CWD Antlerless Season (Sept. 25-28) IS NOT available on Beaver Creek WMA.
Source: KDFWR's page for Beaver Creek WMA, read October 2026. Statewide seasons: 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, page 10.
How many deer are taken on Beaver Creek WMA?
Hunters telechecked 25 deer on Beaver Creek WMA in the 2025-26 season: 18 antlered bucks, 0 button bucks and 7 does. Over the 10 seasons KDFWR reports, the area averaged 17 deer a season, from 8 in 2021-22 to 25 in 2025-26.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Firearms | Archery | Crossbow | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 25 | 18 | 7 | 16 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 20 | 13 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 18 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| 2021-22 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 22 | 16 | 6 | 13 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2019-20 | 16 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 17 | 11 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 2017-18 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | 14 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 1 | 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: 14 in 2025, 16 in 2024, 14 in 2023 and 14 in 2022 (KDFWR Harvest Data, spring season).
What kind of ground is Beaver Creek WMA?
KDFWR describes the area's habitat as 96.21% forest, 3.51% open land and 0.25% open water. Elevation runs from 721 feet to 1438 feet.
Which county is Beaver Creek WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer zone | County deer, 2025-26 | Rank of 120 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCreary County | 17,216 | 4 | 441 | 109th |
| Pulaski County | 536 | 3 | 2,359 | 12th |
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 Beaver Creek WMA?
One mile north of Greenwood off US 27 to Bauer RD. Gravel road through center, several ridge and valley dirt trails within area. Steep, mountainous terrain in mixed hardwoods, approximately 150 acres of open fields. Opportunities for trout fishing and sightseeing. WMA is within Daniel Boone National Forest. Beaver Creek Wilderness Area (4,877 acres) is within WMA, no motorized or mechanized equipment is allowed within the designated wilderness area. No developed facilities. For camping, check with owner. Owned by U.S. Forest Service.
From KDFWR's page for the area.
Highways through the area: KY 90 and US 27. Nearest towns: Burnside (11 miles), Ferguson (12 miles), Somerset (13 miles) and Corbin (14 miles).
The closest other public hunting areas with a page here: Daniel Boone National Forest (next to it), RH Group WMA (next to it), Lake Cumberland WMA (1.7 miles) and Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (3.7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt Beaver Creek WMA in 2026-27?
KDFWR's 2026-27 rules for Beaver Creek WMA: Open under statewide rules and regulations in effect for the county.
How many deer were killed on Beaver Creek WMA last season?
Hunters telechecked 25 deer on Beaver Creek WMA in the 2025-26 season: 18 antlered bucks and 7 does. The most taken with firearms (16).
What county is Beaver Creek WMA in?
McCreary County (17,216 acres) and Pulaski County (536 acres), measured on KDFWR's boundary.
What deer zone is Beaver Creek WMA in?
McCreary County is in Zone 4 and Pulaski County is in Zone 3. 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, Beaver Creek 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.
Kentucky hunting All Kentucky WMAs McCreary County deer harvest Pulaski County deer harvest