Redbird WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and access
Redbird WMA is 24,033 acres of public hunting land in Leslie and Clay counties, in KDFWR's Southeast region. Hunters telechecked 34 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season, 30 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.
Redbird WMAOther KDFWR public hunting areasNational forestLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 24,033 acres (KDFWR) |
|---|---|
| County | Leslie County, Clay County |
| KDFWR region | Southeast region |
| Deer zone of the county | Zone 4 |
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 34 (30 antlered bucks, 4 does) |
| Elk | In the Elk Management Zone, hunting units 2 and 3 |
| Elevation | Minimum 842 feet, maximum 1881 feet |
| Contact | (606)-654-2533 |
| Nearest towns | Hyden (4 mi), Manchester (9 mi) and Buckhorn (13 mi) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on Redbird 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.
- Modern gun deer season is open under statewide regulations for two consecutive days beginning the second Saturday in November only.
- Portions of the area are open during elk quota hunts to persons who possess the appropriate elk hunting permit.
ADA Acreage
- ATVs not allowed off designated trails; contact Daniel Boone National Forest for Trail Maps (606)-598-2192.
Source: KDFWR's page for Redbird WMA, read October 2026. Statewide seasons: 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, page 10.
How many deer are taken on Redbird WMA?
Hunters telechecked 34 deer on Redbird WMA in the 2025-26 season: 30 antlered bucks, 0 button bucks and 4 does. Over the 10 seasons KDFWR reports, the area averaged 35 deer a season, from 24 in 2017-18 to 40 in 2023-24.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Firearms | Archery | Crossbow | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 34 | 30 | 4 | 26 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | 38 | 33 | 5 | 28 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 40 | 35 | 5 | 29 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
| 2022-23 | 36 | 36 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 38 | 35 | 3 | 31 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 28 | 24 | 4 | 24 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 34 | 29 | 5 | 27 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2018-19 | 38 | 33 | 5 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| 2017-18 | 24 | 22 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2016-17 | 37 | 29 | 7 | 27 | 6 | 2 | 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: 14 in 2025, 15 in 2024, 6 in 2023 and 7 in 2022 (KDFWR Harvest Data, spring season).
Elk telechecked on the area: 1 in 2022-23 (1 bull, 0 cows), 1 in 2021-22 (0 bulls, 1 cow), 1 in 2019-20 (0 bulls, 1 cow), 1 in 2018-19 (0 bulls, 1 cow) and 3 in 2017-18 (1 bull, 2 cows). See Kentucky elk hunting.
What kind of ground is Redbird WMA?
KDFWR describes the area's habitat as 98.8% forest and 1.22% open land. Elevation runs from 842 feet to 1881 feet.
Which county is Redbird WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer zone | County deer, 2025-26 | Rank of 120 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leslie County | 21,718 | 4 | 565 | 98th |
| Clay County | 2,315 | 4 | 926 | 68th |
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 Redbird WMA?
Located 7 miles west of Hyden, KY off US-421. Hilly to steep with gentle slopes in bottomlands and on ridge tops. Mostly forested with approximately 100 acres of openings and 25 miles of improved hiking trails. No developed facilities. Mobility impaired access to permit holders on designated area, which is currently the Redbird Crest Trail. 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 80 and US 421. Nearest towns: Hyden (4 miles), Manchester (9 miles), Buckhorn (13 miles) and Loyall (15 miles).
The closest other public hunting areas with a page here: Boone Forestlands WMA (next to it), Daniel Boone National Forest (next to it), Hoskins WMA (next to it) and Buckhorn Lake WMA (3.2 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt Redbird WMA in 2026-27?
KDFWR's 2026-27 rules for Redbird WMA: Open under statewide rules and regulations in effect for the county.
How many deer were killed on Redbird WMA last season?
Hunters telechecked 34 deer on Redbird WMA in the 2025-26 season: 30 antlered bucks and 4 does. The most taken with firearms (26).
What county is Redbird WMA in?
Leslie County (21,718 acres) and Clay County (2,315 acres), measured on KDFWR's boundary.
What deer zone is Redbird WMA in?
Leslie County is in Zone 4 and Clay County is in Zone 4. Up to two deer, only one of which can be antlerless. Antlerless deer cannot be taken during the modern gun season, the early muzzleloader season or the first six days of the late muzzleloader season. Area rules can be stricter than the zone's, as listed above.
Are elk taken on Redbird WMA?
Yes. KDFWR's Telecheck reports show 1 elk in 2022-23, 1 elk in 2021-22 and 1 elk in 2019-20 on the area. Elk hunting is by quota permit; see Kentucky elk hunting.
Get a Kentucky hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Kentucky included.
Where these numbers come from
- Area rules, size, habitat, contact and directions: KDFWR, Redbird 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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