Cane Creek WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and access
Cane Creek WMA is 6,677 acres of public hunting land in Laurel County, in KDFWR's Southeast region. Hunters telechecked 21 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season, 11 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.
Cane Creek WMAOther KDFWR public hunting areasNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 6,677 acres (KDFWR) |
|---|---|
| County | Laurel County |
| KDFWR region | Southeast region |
| Deer zone of the county | Zone 3 |
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 21 (11 antlered bucks, 10 does) |
| Elevation | Minimum 728 feet, maximum 1296 feet |
| Contact | (606) 376-8083; London Ranger district 606-864-4163 |
| Nearest towns | Corbin (10 mi), London (10 mi) and Ferguson (16 mi) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on Cane 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.
- Closures Due to Recent Storms
- The only areas open and accessible to the public are those adjacent to Highway 192. All other areas of the WMA remain closed due to extensive storm damage and ongoing cleanup efforts. Visitors to the accessible areas near Highway 192 should remain cautious, as there is still a risk of fallen trees and debris across roads and trails. Please exercise extreme caution, respect posted closures, and stay alert to changing conditions as recovery efforts continue.
- Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Fall Hunting Season
- Open under statewide rules and regulations in effect for the county.
Exceptions
- Closed to both October and December muzzleloader seasons.
- Closed to modern gun deer season.
- All deer hunting seasons on this WMA are closed during quota hunts except for drawn hunters. Archery/crossbow quota hunt from the fourth Monday in October through Nov. 30, except when closed during the quota hunt that starts the first Saturday in November.
- Rabbit and quail seasons open Nov. 1-Dec. 31, except during the opening weekend of modern gun deer season.
- Grouse season open Oct. 1-Dec. 31.
- The CWD Antlerless Season (Sept. 25-28) IS NOT available on Cane Creek WMA.
Source: KDFWR's page for Cane Creek WMA, read October 2026. Statewide seasons: 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, page 10.
How many deer are taken on Cane Creek WMA?
Hunters telechecked 21 deer on Cane Creek WMA in the 2025-26 season: 11 antlered bucks, 0 button bucks and 10 does. Over the 10 seasons KDFWR reports, the area averaged 26 deer a season, from 9 in 2017-18 to 36 in 2022-23.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Firearms | Archery | Crossbow | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 35 | 14 | 21 | 25 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 2023-24 | 34 | 18 | 14 | 23 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| 2022-23 | 36 | 15 | 18 | 25 | 2 | 8 | 1 |
| 2021-22 | 32 | 15 | 15 | 23 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| 2020-21 | 23 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2019-20 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
| 2018-19 | 23 | 10 | 10 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2017-18 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2016-17 | 27 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 8 | 0 | 2 |
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: 13 in 2025, 15 in 2024, 20 in 2023 and 12 in 2022 (KDFWR Harvest Data, spring season).
What kind of ground is Cane Creek WMA?
KDFWR describes the area's habitat as 98.28% forest, 1.48% open land and 0.27% open water. Elevation runs from 728 feet to 1296 feet.
Which county is Cane Creek WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer zone | County deer, 2025-26 | Rank of 120 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laurel County | 6,676 | 3 | 1,593 | 35th |
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 Cane Creek WMA?
Approximately 15 miles west of London. To access northern portion, from London: take HWY 192 west approximately 6 miles. Turn right on Line Creek-Cold Hill RD (FR 56). Travel 2.7 miles and bear left on FR 119 (gravel road). Travel 5.9 miles to the WMA on the left. Southern section accessed directly from HWY 192. Use map to access desired destination. Access by interior roads and traversed by Sheltowee Trace trail. Primarily hilly, steep terrain, mostly forested with only a few openings. No developed facilities. For camping check with owner. Within Daniel Boone National Forest. Owned by U.S. Forest Service
From KDFWR's page for the area.
Highways through the area: KY 192. Nearest towns: Corbin (10 miles), London (10 miles), Ferguson (16 miles) and Livingston (16 miles).
The closest other public hunting areas with a page here: Daniel Boone National Forest (next to it), Rockcastle River WMA (2.2 miles), Beaver Creek WMA (4.8 miles) and Lake Cumberland WMA (6.4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt Cane Creek WMA in 2026-27?
KDFWR's 2026-27 rules for Cane Creek WMA: Open under statewide rules and regulations in effect for the county.
How many deer were killed on Cane Creek WMA last season?
Hunters telechecked 21 deer on Cane Creek WMA in the 2025-26 season: 11 antlered bucks and 10 does. The most taken with firearms (14).
What county is Cane Creek WMA in?
All of it is in Laurel County, by KDFWR's boundary.
What deer zone is Cane Creek WMA in?
Laurel County is in Zone 3. Up to four deer. Only one antlerless deer with a firearm or air gun. 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, Cane 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.
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