Clay WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and access
Clay WMA is 8,979 acres of public hunting land in Nicholas, Fleming and Bath counties, in KDFWR's Northeast region. Hunters telechecked 211 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season, 64 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.
Clay WMAOther KDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 8,979 acres (KDFWR) |
|---|---|
| County | Nicholas County, Fleming County, Bath County |
| KDFWR region | Northeast region |
| Deer zone of the county | Zone 2 |
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 211 (64 antlered bucks, 122 does) |
| Elevation | Minimum 597 feet, maximum 959 feet |
| Contact | 859-473-0036 |
| Nearest towns | Ewing (2 mi), Carlisle (2 mi) and Flemingsburg (7 mi) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on Clay 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
- Archery and crossbow hunting are prohibited on the main tract during the quota fox hunting field trials, Sept. 9-12, Sept. 23-26 and Feb. 24-27, 2027.
- Closed to modern gun deer hunting except for the quota hunt.
- Rabbit season is open Nov. 1-Dec. 31, except closed Nov. 7-8 for the deer quota hunt and in the pheasant quota hunt units during pheasant quota hunts Dec. 4-7.
- Grouse and quail seasons are open until 3 p.m. (local time) on Tuesdays and Saturdays from Nov. 1-Dec. 31, except closed Nov. 7-8 for the deer quota hunt and the pheasant quota units during pheasant quota hunts Dec. 4-7. The daily bag limit is four quail and two grouse.
- Bear hunting is open only in the bear zone.
- Pheasant quota hunts, either sex, limit two, Dec. 4, 5 and 6; open Dec. 7 only to drawn pheasant quota hunters, either sex, limit three; open Dec. 8-31, either sex, daily limit three.
- The main tract of the management area is closed to public use Sept. 9-12, Sept. 23-26, 2026 and Feb. 24-27, 2027, except for those registered to participate in quota fox hunting field trials on those days.
- During the pheasant quota hunt period, pheasant quota hunt units close to small game hunting for four consecutive days starting the first Friday in December. Rabbit, quail and grouse hunters must check in and check out at a self-service kiosk and clearly display a department-provided vehicle hang-tag in a vehicle. Hang-tags are available in advance through the department's website. Portions of this WMA in Fleming and Bath counties are Zone 3 for bear.
Source: KDFWR's page for Clay WMA, read October 2026. Statewide seasons: 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, page 10.
How many deer are taken on Clay WMA?
Hunters telechecked 211 deer on Clay WMA in the 2025-26 season: 64 antlered bucks, 25 button bucks and 122 does. Over the 10 seasons KDFWR reports, the area averaged 133 deer a season, from 74 in 2016-17 to 211 in 2025-26.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Firearms | Archery | Crossbow | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 211 | 64 | 122 | 101 | 42 | 13 | 55 |
| 2024-25 | 174 | 62 | 94 | 68 | 48 | 15 | 43 |
| 2023-24 | 169 | 61 | 90 | 76 | 30 | 16 | 47 |
| 2022-23 | 93 | 33 | 50 | 11 | 26 | 13 | 43 |
| 2021-22 | 105 | 21 | 76 | 14 | 31 | 15 | 45 |
| 2020-21 | 206 | 65 | 132 | 107 | 36 | 13 | 50 |
| 2019-20 | 103 | 33 | 62 | 17 | 18 | 10 | 58 |
| 2018-19 | 93 | 33 | 54 | 8 | 36 | 2 | 47 |
| 2017-18 | 99 | 35 | 51 | 13 | 26 | 7 | 53 |
| 2016-17 | 74 | 32 | 39 | 17 | 30 | 5 | 22 |
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: 50 in 2025, 51 in 2024, 59 in 2023 and 60 in 2022 (KDFWR Harvest Data, spring season).
What kind of ground is Clay WMA?
KDFWR describes the area's habitat as 83.91% forest, 15.26% open land, 0.59% open water and 0.23% wetland. Elevation runs from 597 feet to 959 feet.
Which county is Clay WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer zone | County deer, 2025-26 | Rank of 120 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas County | 6,671 | 2 | 984 | 63rd |
| Fleming County | 1,598 | 2 | 1,051 | 58th |
| Bath County | 710 | 2 | 821 | 75th |
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 Clay WMA?
Located approximately eight miles northeast of Carlisle, KY. From Carlisle take KY 32 north and turn right on KY 57, Cassidy Creek RD. There are two entrances, watch for area signs. Terrain is steep to rolling. Several boat ramps provide access to the Licking River. Horseback riding trails on main Nicholas County tract only. Upland Bird and Rabbit Hunters MUST check in/out at Kiosks using HangTag (last page of map document) This WMA is closed to the public during quota fox hunting field trials. Owned by Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, portions purchased with funds from the Heritage Lands Conservation Fund.
From KDFWR's page for the area.
Highways within 5 miles: KY 32, KY 57, KY 36 and KY 11. Nearest towns: Ewing (2 miles), Carlisle (2 miles), Flemingsburg (7 miles) and Sharpsburg (8 miles).
The closest other public hunting areas with a page here: Fleming WMA (10.9 miles), Daniel Boone National Forest (11 miles), Pioneer Weapons WMA (13.8 miles) and Simon Kenton WMA (15.9 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt Clay WMA in 2026-27?
KDFWR's 2026-27 rules for Clay WMA: Open under statewide rules and regulations in effect for the county.
How many deer were killed on Clay WMA last season?
Hunters telechecked 211 deer on Clay WMA in the 2025-26 season: 64 antlered bucks and 122 does. The most taken with firearms (101).
What county is Clay WMA in?
Nicholas County (6,671 acres), Fleming County (1,598 acres) and Bath County (710 acres), measured on KDFWR's boundary.
What deer zone is Clay WMA in?
Nicholas County is in Zone 2, Fleming County is in Zone 2 and Bath County is in Zone 2. Up to four deer. 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, Clay 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 Nicholas County deer harvest Fleming County deer harvest Bath County deer harvest