Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and access
Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA is 1,847 acres of public hunting land in Madison County, in KDFWR's Bluegrass region. Hunters telechecked 17 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season, 3 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.
Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMAOther KDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 1,847 acres (KDFWR) |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| KDFWR region | Bluegrass region |
| Deer zone of the county | Zone 2 |
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 17 (3 antlered bucks, 11 does) |
| Elevation | Minimum 868 feet, maximum 1095 feet |
| Contact | (859) 986-4130 |
| Nearest towns | Berea (4 mi), Richmond (7 mi) and Irvine (13 mi) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on Miller Welch-Central Kentucky 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 for the muzzleloader deer seasons.
- Closed for the modern gun deer season.
- Closed for the youth gun deer season.
- Closed for rabbit, quail, and grouse seasons.
- Closed for furbearer hunting.
- Unleased dogs are prohibited from April 1 until the third Saturday in August, except during department-authorized field trials and the spring squirrel season. At other times of the year, unleashed dogs are permitted on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
- Shooting Range Information
- A person shall not target practice, sight in a firearm, or discharge a firearm in any area except the shooting range. Shooting multiple projectile shells is not permitted on Tube Ranges. Club Ranges are off-limits unless authorized by an approved event with a club range safety officer. A person shall not discharge a firearm within 100 yards of a residence or occupied building, whether or not the building is on the WMA.
Shooting Range Permit Required
- An annual or one-day shooting range permit is now required to use firearms and archery equipment on any department managed, leased or affiliated shooting range. The permit system will help the agency better gauge how many people use the ranges, promote safe practices, and support maintenance and improvements.
- The permit is free to annual hunting or fishing license holders, but you must obtain it through
- My Profile
Prohibited Activities
- Damage a tree or shrub (No installation of targets on trees or shrubs)
- Dump trash or litter (Clean up targets and spent shells)
- Deface or destroy a signs
- Pose a risk to persons or property (Shooters responsible for ensuring adequate backstop)
- Engage in an activity which could unreasonably interfere with other uses or users of the area
Source: KDFWR's page for Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA, read October 2026. Statewide seasons: 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, page 10.
How many deer are taken on Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA?
Hunters telechecked 17 deer on Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA in the 2025-26 season: 3 antlered bucks, 3 button bucks and 11 does. Over the 10 seasons KDFWR reports, the area averaged 11 deer a season, from 6 in 2021-22 to 17 in 2025-26.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Firearms | Archery | Crossbow | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 17 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 13 | 2 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | 15 | 3 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 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: 7 in 2025, 14 in 2024, 11 in 2023 and 11 in 2022 (KDFWR Harvest Data, spring season).
What kind of ground is Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA?
KDFWR describes the area's habitat as 51.49% forest, 47.75% open land, 0.49% wetland and 0.22% open water. Elevation runs from 868 feet to 1095 feet.
Which county is Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer zone | County deer, 2025-26 | Rank of 120 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County | 1,847 | 2 | 958 | 66th |
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 Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA?
Nine miles southeast of Richmond, from US 421 take Dreyfus RD east (KY 3376, also Bearwallow RD) at Kingston and proceed about 2 miles east. The WMA office is on the right, just before Muddy Creek RD (Paved road through center of area). Rolling to flat terrain with fields, wooded areas. Oak-hickory timber stands, cedar thickets. Fishing in area ponds for largemouth bass, bluegill, channel catfish. Area used most for field trials, bird dog training, hiking, birding, trap and skeet shooting. Limited hunting for deer (archery only), wild turkey, squirrel, and dove; consult current Hunting Guide. Shooting range (for single projectile firearms only; no shotshells or pistols allowed) closed Monday, open Tuesday-Saturday 9:00 AM-sunset & Sundays noon-sunset. Check online calendar (see http://app.fw.ky.gov/Calendar/ and select Other) or call Area office for closures or events. Trap and skeet shooting facilities are operated by local clubs and open to the public seasonally for nominal fees. Contact WMA office for current schedule and pricing. Archery ranges (10-60 yard static range and 30-station woodland course) open daily 9:00 AM-sunset. Mobility impaired access to permit holders in designated area. Administration Buillding available for conservation club groups. Berea, Fort Boonesborough State Park and Daniel Boone National Forest are nearby. Owned by Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
From KDFWR's page for the area.
Highways through the area: KY 3376. Nearest towns: Berea (4 miles), Richmond (7 miles), Irvine (13 miles) and Ravenna (13 miles).
The closest other public hunting areas with a page here: Blue Grass Army Depot (next to it), Daniel Boone National Forest (5.2 miles), Mill Creek WMA (13.9 miles) and Ross Creek WMA (16.6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA in 2026-27?
KDFWR's 2026-27 rules for Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA: Open under statewide rules and regulations in effect for the county.
How many deer were killed on Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA last season?
Hunters telechecked 17 deer on Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA in the 2025-26 season: 3 antlered bucks and 11 does. The most taken with archery (13).
What county is Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA in?
All of it is in Madison County, by KDFWR's boundary.
What deer zone is Miller Welch-Central Kentucky WMA in?
Madison 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, Miller Welch-Central Kentucky 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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