Kentucky · Public Land · 2026 Edition
Kentucky Public Hunting Land 2026: WMAs & Access Rules
2 wildlife management areas tracked here, from 11,173 to 40,744 acres. A hunting license covers you on Kentucky WMA land the same as anywhere else in the state — but read the access rules below before you assume that's all you need.
01 — Wildlife management areas
| Area | County | Acres | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peabody Wildlife Management Area | Hopkins, Muhlenberg, Ohio | 40,744 | Deer, Turkey, Quail, Waterfowl, Small game |
| Sloughs Wildlife Management Area | Henderson, Union | 11,173 | Waterfowl, Deer, Turkey, Furbearers |
Peabody is reclaimed strip-mine land — Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's relationship with it started in the 1980s managing Canada geese on what was then Peabody Coal property, and grew into a 40,000+ acre WMA spanning three counties, now rated one of the state's better quail spots alongside its deer and turkey hunting. Sloughs, west of Henderson along the Ohio River, is the opposite kind of ground — a National Natural Landmark of natural wetland sloughs and ridges recognized as an Important Bird Area, where the waterfowl hunting that made it famous runs through quota permits on the best units (Sauerheber, Jenny Hole) rather than open access. This list is a starting point, not KDFWR's full inventory of roughly 90 wildlife management areas statewide.
02 — Access rules beyond your hunting license
Most Kentucky WMAs require a $15 user permit ($25 for a group event permit) on top of a standard hunting license — carry it, don't just buy it. Waterfowl access on the state's two flagship areas is quota-hunt-permit-only for the best units, and both close large sections to all entry during the peak migration window (mid-October through mid-March), so the acreage on paper is not the acreage you can actually walk into during duck season.
03 — Where to go next
Verified · Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources · Last verified 2026-08-08
Publisher's note. WMA list and access rules read from KDFWR, retrieved 2026-08-08. Review due 2027-08-01. This is a starting list, not the agency's full WMA inventory — confirm current rules for a specific area before you hunt it.