Pioneer Weapons WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and access
Pioneer Weapons WMA is 7,731 acres of public hunting land in Bath and Menifee counties, in KDFWR's Northeast region. Hunters telechecked 5 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season, 3 antlered bucks among them. KDFWR's 2026-27 rule for the area: Hunters may not use breech-loading firearms to take squirrel or turkey.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: KDFWR's page for the area. Harvest: KDFWR Telecheck reports, 2016-17 to 2025-26.
Pioneer Weapons WMAOther KDFWR public hunting areasNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 7,731 acres (KDFWR) |
|---|---|
| County | Bath County, Menifee County |
| KDFWR region | Northeast region |
| Deer zone of the county | Zone 2, Zone 3 |
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 5 (3 antlered bucks, 2 does) |
| Elevation | Minimum 744 feet, maximum 1315 feet |
| Contact | 859-473-0061 |
| Nearest towns | Salt Lick (3 mi), Lakeview Heights (5 mi) and Frenchburg (6 mi) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on Pioneer Weapons 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
- Hunters may not use breech-loading firearms to take squirrel or turkey.
Exceptions
- For archery/crossbow deer and the fall turkey seasons, hunters may use a crossbow during the archery season but shall use only open or iron sights on any weapon.
- Hunters can not use a modern gun or in-line muzzeleloading gun. Hunters shall use only open or iron sights on any weapon.
- Hunters shall not use any breech-loading firearm for muzzeleloader, modern gun or youth gun deer seasons.
- Hunters shall not use any breech-loading ammo for squirrel, rabbit, quail, grouse and furbearer seasons.
Source: KDFWR's page for Pioneer Weapons WMA, read October 2026. Statewide seasons: 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, page 10.
How many deer are taken on Pioneer Weapons WMA?
Hunters telechecked 5 deer on Pioneer Weapons WMA in the 2025-26 season: 3 antlered bucks, 0 button bucks and 2 does. Over the 9 seasons KDFWR reports, the area averaged 4 deer a season, from 2 in 2023-24 to 5 in 2025-26.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Firearms | Archery | Crossbow | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2024-25 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2023-24 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2021-22 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020-21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2018-19 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2017-18 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2016-17 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 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: 1 in 2025, 9 in 2024, 4 in 2023 and 4 in 2022 (KDFWR Harvest Data, spring season).
What kind of ground is Pioneer Weapons WMA?
KDFWR describes the area's habitat as 96.92% forest and 3.05% open land. Elevation runs from 744 feet to 1315 feet.
Which county is Pioneer Weapons WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer zone | County deer, 2025-26 | Rank of 120 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath County | 4,737 | 2 | 821 | 75th |
| Menifee County | 2,995 | 3 | 218 | 120th |
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 Pioneer Weapons WMA?
Located approximately 10 miles south of Morehead, KY. Salt Lick, KY located on US-60 can be accessed via I-64 exits 123 and 133. Road access within the WMA is provided by the Zilpo Scenic Byway (FR 918) north of FR 129, Buck Creek RD (FR 918A) that loops around to meet Zilpo Scenic Byway and Leatherwood RD (FR 129). Some gated side roads may be opened for seasonal hunts. The WMA is surrounded by the Daniel Boone National Forest and Cave Run Lake. It is almost completely forested with scattered openings. Terrain is rough with some gently sloping areas on ridge tops and creek valleys. Hiking trails are available. The U.S. Forest Service managed Zilpo Campground is adjacent to the WMA and provides access to Cave Run Lake. The Cumberland Ranger District Visitor Center is located north of the WMA near Cave Run Lake Dam on KY 801. Hunting limited to longbow, crossbow and muzzle-loading firearms only. For hunting information contact Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources; additional information available from U.S. Forest Service, 1700 Bypass Road, Winchester, KY 40391. Owned by U.S. Forest Service.
From KDFWR's page for the area.
Highways within 5 miles: KY 1274, KY 801, US 60 and KY 211. Nearest towns: Salt Lick (3 miles), Lakeview Heights (5 miles), Frenchburg (6 miles) and Morehead (8 miles).
The closest other public hunting areas with a page here: Daniel Boone National Forest (next to it) and Clay WMA (13.8 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt Pioneer Weapons WMA in 2026-27?
KDFWR's 2026-27 rules for Pioneer Weapons WMA: Hunters may not use breech-loading firearms to take squirrel or turkey.
How many deer were killed on Pioneer Weapons WMA last season?
Hunters telechecked 5 deer on Pioneer Weapons WMA in the 2025-26 season: 3 antlered bucks and 2 does. The most taken with muzzleloader (3).
What county is Pioneer Weapons WMA in?
Bath County (4,737 acres) and Menifee County (2,995 acres), measured on KDFWR's boundary.
What deer zone is Pioneer Weapons WMA in?
Bath County is in Zone 2 and Menifee 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, Pioneer Weapons 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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