West Kentucky WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 rules and access
West Kentucky WMA is 4,495 acres of public hunting land in McCracken County, in KDFWR's Purchase region. Hunters telechecked 54 deer on the area in the 2025-26 season, 20 antlered bucks among them. KDFWR's 2026-27 rule for the area: Closed for modern gun deer season.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: KDFWR's page for the area. Harvest: KDFWR Telecheck reports, 2016-17 to 2025-26.
West Kentucky WMAOther KDFWR public hunting areasLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 4,495 acres (KDFWR) |
|---|---|
| County | McCracken County |
| KDFWR region | Purchase region |
| Deer zone of the county | Zone 1 |
| Deer telechecked, 2025-26 | 54 (20 antlered bucks, 29 does) |
| Elevation | Minimum 297 feet, maximum 451 feet |
| Contact | (270) 488-3233 |
| Nearest towns | Kevil (2 mi), La Center (7 mi) and Paducah (8 mi) |
What are the 2026-27 hunting rules on West 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
- Check-in is required before entering any area marked with an “A”; Only shotguns may be used for small game or furbearer hunting; Hunters may not use centerfire rifles or handguns to take deer. Tract 1, Tracts 1A, 2A, 4A, and portions of Tract 7A at West Kentucky WMA are now closed to public use. Please refer to the online map on the WMA page for updated information. Closed to anterless-only Special Season.
- During WMA deer quota hunts and the open firearm deer hunt, only participating hunters and accompanying non-hunting assistants (limit one per hunter) are allowed to be on the WMA, except waterfowl hunters in some areas that may be open, or if a part of the WMA is otherwise open as noted elsewhere. Non-hunting assistants must check in with the quota hunter they are accompanying and abide by hunter-orange requirements.
- Archery/crossbow season is closed during department-administered quota hunts.
- Muzzleloader deer season is open only during department-administered quota hunts.
- Closed for modern gun deer season.
- Youth-only gun season is open only for youth-mentor quota hunt on "A" tracts. Closed for all other youth firearm seasons.
- Rabbit and quail seasons: Tracts 1, 4, 5 and "A" tracts open Jan. 1-10 except if harvest limits are reached before Jan. 10; Tracts 2, 3, 6 and 7 open with statewide seasons and close Dec. 31.
- The CWD Antlerless Season (Sept. 25-28) IS NOT available on West Kentucky WMA.
- 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
ADA Acreage
- 3,669.77 Acres.
Source: KDFWR's page for West Kentucky WMA, read October 2026. Statewide seasons: 2026-27 Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide, page 10.
How many deer are taken on West Kentucky WMA?
Hunters telechecked 54 deer on West Kentucky WMA in the 2025-26 season: 20 antlered bucks, 5 button bucks and 29 does. Over the 10 seasons KDFWR reports, the area averaged 52 deer a season, from 33 in 2017-18 to 90 in 2020-21.
| Season | Deer telechecked | Antlered bucks | Does | Firearms | Archery | Crossbow | Muzzleloader |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 54 | 20 | 29 | 17 | 23 | 11 | 3 |
| 2024-25 | 48 | 21 | 21 | 12 | 18 | 11 | 7 |
| 2023-24 | 70 | 30 | 37 | 13 | 36 | 15 | 6 |
| 2022-23 | 47 | 15 | 30 | 0 | 31 | 16 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 40 | 20 | 19 | 2 | 25 | 13 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 90 | 29 | 47 | 15 | 40 | 24 | 11 |
| 2019-20 | 53 | 14 | 33 | 8 | 31 | 13 | 1 |
| 2018-19 | 38 | 13 | 21 | 2 | 32 | 3 | 1 |
| 2017-18 | 33 | 8 | 23 | 0 | 26 | 6 | 1 |
| 2016-17 | 42 | 13 | 27 | 0 | 40 | 2 | 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: 31 in 2025, 22 in 2024, 30 in 2023 and 32 in 2022 (KDFWR Harvest Data, spring season).
What kind of ground is West Kentucky WMA?
KDFWR describes the area's habitat as 39.8% forest, 33.9% open land, 25.52% wetland and 0.8% open water. Elevation runs from 297 feet to 451 feet.
Which county is West Kentucky WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | Deer zone | County deer, 2025-26 | Rank of 120 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McCracken County | 4,495 | 1 | 863 | 73rd |
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 West Kentucky WMA?
Seven miles from I-24, exit 4, in Paducah, on US 60 in Future City. Turn north on KY 996 for 3.6 miles. Turn west on KY 358 for 2.6 miles to office. Old fields, woodlots, grasslands, crop fields and food plots. Twelve fishing ponds with access for small boats; picnicking, hiking; kennels and stalls for use during field trials. Horseback riding on designated trails only. National caliber horseback bird dog field trials, retriever field trials, and retriever test hunts are hosted September - May on the WMA. Chief Paduke Skeet Range (Phone (270) 488-3248, web site www.chiefpaduke.com ) on KY 358 one-half mile east of office. Archery range (mobility-impaired accessible) with 10-50 yard targets open daily during daylight hours, wildlife viewing areas (Tupelo Swamp), the fishing pier at "Disabled Access Pond" is handicap assessable. Primitive camping is allowed on the WMA, but ONLY at the designated camping site. For hunting there is mobility impaired access in designated areas to permit holders (Tract 3). Huntable populations of deer, turkey, dove, squirrel, rabbits and quail exist on the area. Special regulations apply for deer, turkey and small game hunting. All vehicular traffic is prohibited on Tract 6 Feb. 1 - April 16. Trails were put in with the assistance of a National Recreational Trails Fund grant and the Russ Chittenden Woodlands Fund provided funds for materials, signs, tree seedlings, and a large amount of volunteer labor. Owned/leased by Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
From KDFWR's page for the area.
Highways through the area: KY 358. Nearest towns: Kevil (2 miles), La Center (7 miles), Paducah (8 miles) and Barlow (11 miles).
The closest other public hunting areas with a page here: Ballard WMA (9.9 miles), Boatwright WMA (11.9 miles), Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge (13.5 miles) and Coil Estate WMA (14.4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When can you hunt West Kentucky WMA in 2026-27?
KDFWR's 2026-27 rules for West Kentucky WMA: Check-in is required before entering any area marked with an “A”; Only shotguns may be used for small game or furbearer hunting; Hunters may not use centerfire rifles or handguns to take deer. Tract 1, Tracts 1A, 2A, 4A, and portions of Tract 7A at West Kentucky WMA are now closed to public use. Please refer to the online map on the WMA page for updated information. Closed to anterless-only Special Season. During WMA deer quota hunts and the open firearm deer hunt, only participating hunters and accompanying non-hunting assistants (limit one per hunter) are allowed to be on the WMA, except waterfowl hunters in some areas that may be open, or if a part of the WMA is otherwise open as noted elsewhere. Non-hunting assistants must check in with the quota hunter they are accompanying and abide by hunter-orange requirements. Archery/crossbow season is closed during department-administered quota hunts. Muzzleloader deer season is open only during department-administered quota hunts. Closed for modern gun deer season. Youth-only gun season is open only for youth-mentor quota hunt on "A" tracts. Closed for all other youth firearm seasons. Rabbit and quail seasons: Tracts 1, 4, 5 and "A" tracts open Jan. 1-10 except if harvest limits are reached before Jan. 10; Tracts 2, 3, 6 and 7 open with statewide seasons and close Dec. 31. The CWD Antlerless Season (Sept. 25-28) IS NOT available on West Kentucky WMA. 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.
How many deer were killed on West Kentucky WMA last season?
Hunters telechecked 54 deer on West Kentucky WMA in the 2025-26 season: 20 antlered bucks and 29 does. The most taken with archery (23).
What county is West Kentucky WMA in?
All of it is in McCracken County, by KDFWR's boundary.
What deer zone is West Kentucky WMA in?
McCracken 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, West 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.
Kentucky hunting All Kentucky WMAs McCracken County deer harvest