Boatwright WMA

WMA Overview

Size: 8847 acres
Location: Ballard
Contact: (270) 224-2244
Elevation: minimum 295 feet, maximum 361 feet.
Entrance GPS coordinates: Latitude N 37.0095, Longitude W -89.1218
Area Habitat: open land 35.77%, forest 1.87%, wetland 53.88%, open water 8.50%.

Regulations

Olmsted, Peal and all other units open under statewide regulations for all hunting and trapping seasons, except some portions may be closed to public access as marked by signs.

Open for Special Antlerless Season (Sept. 27-28). Please go to the CWD Surveillance Zone page for more information.

Swan Lake Unit

Deer Season Restrictions:

  • Archery/crossbow: Open under statewide archery/crossbow regulations Only through Oct. 14.
  • Muzzleloader: Closed
  • Modern Gun: Closed
  • Youth Gun: Open during the youth-only gun season through Oct. 14; Closed for free youth weekend.
  • Special Anterless Season: Open (See Above).

Fall Squirrel: Open August 16 – Oct 14, 2025

Closed to all other hunting

Directions & Description

  • Peal Unit (1,835 acres): 4 miles west of Barlow on Mounds City Landing Road. River bottomland with marshlands and cypress swamps; 2 roads, access to 3 oxbow lakes. Special regulations for waterfowl hunting.
  • Upper Blenderman Unit (308 acres): same address as Peal. Special regulations for waterfowl hunting.
  • Zola Taress Unit (100 acres): same address as Peal. Open under statewide regulations.
  • Stevens Unit (73 acres): same address as Peal. Special regulations for waterfowl hunting.
  • Swan Lake Unit (2,299 acres): 6 miles northwest of Wickliffe on US 51/60. Primarily bottomland and flood plain area of the Ohio River, with several lakes and some interior gravel roads. Wintering ring-billed and herring gulls, double-crested cormorants, waterfowl, bald eagles. Special regulations for hunting, advance application for waterfowl hunting. Except for designated observation area, Swan Lake Unit closed Oct. 15-March 15 as waterfowl refuge. Public hunting closed when floodwaters prevent safe entry to blinds by wheeled vehicles. Fishing and boating available. Open under statewide regulations,
  • Olmsted Unit (2,005 acres): 4 miles west of Barlow on Salle Crice Road. Special regulations for waterfowl hunting.
  • Other units include the Stalling Unit (148 acres), the Perkins Unit (107acres) and Perkins Unit East (62 acres), Little Clark Estate (59 acres), and Harper (256 acres).