Rolling Fork WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and access
Rolling Fork WMA is 2,896 acres of public hunting land in LaRue and Nelson counties, in KDFWR's Bluegrass region. Hunters telechecked 46 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season, 19 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.
Rolling Fork WMAOther KDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 2,896 acres (KDFWR) |
|---|---|
| County | LaRue County, Nelson County |
| KDFWR region | Bluegrass region |
| Deer zone of the county | Zone 1 |
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 46 (19 antlered bucks, 22 does) |
| Elevation | Minimum 520 feet, maximum 980 feet |
| Contact | (502) 477-9024 |
| Nearest towns | Raywick (6 mi), New Haven (7 mi) and Hodgenville (9 mi) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on Rolling Fork 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.
- Access within the WMA may be restricted due to construction.
Source: KDFWR's page for Rolling Fork WMA, read October 2026. Statewide seasons: 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, page 10.
How many deer are taken on Rolling Fork WMA?
Hunters telechecked 46 deer on Rolling Fork WMA in the 2025-26 season: 19 antlered bucks, 5 button bucks and 22 does. Over the 10 seasons KDFWR reports, the area averaged 51 deer a season, from 32 in 2016-17 to 66 in 2024-25.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Firearms | Archery | Crossbow | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 46 | 19 | 22 | 40 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 66 | 33 | 29 | 48 | 11 | 2 | 5 |
| 2023-24 | 62 | 28 | 30 | 48 | 8 | 2 | 4 |
| 2022-23 | 54 | 21 | 30 | 40 | 7 | 2 | 5 |
| 2021-22 | 33 | 21 | 12 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 2020-21 | 40 | 11 | 25 | 26 | 8 | 2 | 4 |
| 2019-20 | 57 | 18 | 35 | 48 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 2018-19 | 59 | 23 | 27 | 45 | 11 | 1 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | 56 | 24 | 31 | 46 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| 2016-17 | 32 | 12 | 17 | 27 | 5 | 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: 18 in 2025, 10 in 2024, 10 in 2023 and 10 in 2022 (KDFWR Harvest Data, spring season).
What kind of ground is Rolling Fork WMA?
KDFWR describes the area's habitat as 85.98% forest, 13.57% open land, 0.38% wetland and 0.1% open water. Elevation runs from 520 feet to 980 feet.
Which county is Rolling Fork WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer zone | County deer, 2025-26 | Rank of 120 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LaRue County | 2,110 | 1 | 1,059 | 55th |
| Nelson County | 787 | 1 | 2,591 | 9th |
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 Rolling Fork WMA?
From New Haven travel KY Hwy 52 east 1.2 miles and turn right onto Hwy 247. Follow Hwy 247 south for 7.6 miles towards Howardstown. At Hwy 84 turn left and travel east for 4.2 miles to WMA . Primitive Camping is allowed in designated area only and only during Turkey and Deer Seasons with a 14-day limit. No ATV’s, camping, horseback riding, or rock climbing is allowed on the WMA. The area is open under statewide regulations for all game species.
From KDFWR's page for the area.
Highways within 5 miles: KY 84, KY 210, KY 462 and KY 247. Nearest towns: Raywick (6 miles), New Haven (7 miles), Hodgenville (9 miles) and Loretto (10 miles).
The closest other public hunting areas with a page here: John C. Williams WMA (14.5 miles), Green River Lake WMA (16.6 miles), Marion County WMA and State Forest (19.9 miles) and Fort Knox Military Reservation (20.6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt Rolling Fork WMA in 2026-27?
KDFWR's 2026-27 rules for Rolling Fork WMA: Open under statewide rules and regulations in effect for the county. Access within the WMA may be restricted due to construction.
How many deer were killed on Rolling Fork WMA last season?
Hunters telechecked 46 deer on Rolling Fork WMA in the 2025-26 season: 19 antlered bucks and 22 does. The most taken with firearms (40).
What county is Rolling Fork WMA in?
LaRue County (2,110 acres) and Nelson County (787 acres), measured on KDFWR's boundary.
What deer zone is Rolling Fork WMA in?
LaRue County is in Zone 1 and Nelson County is in Zone 1. Unlimited number of antlerless deer using the statewide deer permit plus additional deer permits. 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, Rolling Fork 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 LaRue County deer harvest Nelson County deer harvest