Green River Lake WMA

Fishing is just half the story

By Lee McClellan

There’s a place in Kentucky to hunt pheasants, ducks or trophy deer, and then spend the afternoon fishing for black bass, walleye or trophy muskellunge. It’s the 21,301-acre Green River Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Taylor and Adair counties.

Green River Lake WMA offers two trophy deer quota hunts. These hunts are open to 400 hunters and 15 mobility-impaired hunters the weekend of Nov. 1-2. The area is also open under statewide regulations for archery and crossbow seasons.

This area is under Quality Deer Management regulations, which means the outside antler spread of bucks taken by hunters must be at least 15 inches. Area Manager Brian Gray said quota hunts usually produce 15-20 trophy bucks.

          The area also hosts pheasant quota hunts November 21, 22 and 23. Each day is limited to 100 hunters. “The hunters with dogs have 100 percent success,” Gray said. “Those walking them up do fair. We have a lot of thick cover and I see a lot of walking hunters come back tired and frustrated. You can do enough walking to get the birds up, however.”

Call 800-858-1549 during the month of September only to register for quota hunts.

          For waterfowl hunters, the area has 34 blind sites available. Hunters can register for blinds at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Office at Green River Lake dam, located off KY 55. Hunters must register at the office at 9 a.m. Sept. 27. The drawing is held an hour later.

          While Green River WMA offers only fair rabbit hunting and has a few quail, squirrel and woodcock hunting can be above average. “If you find the right week, you can really get into some good woodcock hunting. Squirrel hunting should be good this year,” Gray said. “We had a good mast crop of white oak acorns and beech nuts.”

HOW TO GET THERE

From Campbellsville, take KY 70 east. Turn right (south) onto KY 76 to reach connector roads and the southeastern section of the WMA. Maps are also available online at fw.ky.gov.