? about running a hound on Ky. WMA's

[Nathan A. Nantz]

I have been thinking about trying to take advantage of the various WMA properties. I have a coonhound that I hunt in competition, so I like to expose him to strange land....much like he will see when he is entered in competition (practice makes perfect).

The question is, where do I look or who do I ask to find out where I can legally run him on Ky's public land?

[kyfanatic]

You can start by reading the Kentucky Hunting guide found at the KDF&W website,Here's a link to the WMA guide =
http://fw.ky.gov/kfwis/wmaguide.asp?lid=600&NavPath=C151C154

And a link to the Public Hunting Guide =
http://fw.ky.gov/navigation.asp?cid=628&NavPath=C151C132C624

And a link to KDF&W website=
http://fw.ky.gov/

Hope this helps ,
Glenn P.

[Nathan A. Nantz]

Thanks, I don't see anything saying I can't run a hound in there. Except for the ones with special restrictions, of course.

[WildmanWilson]

I hunted one wma and every morning and every evening some guys would run a big pack of rabbit dogs. Talk about frustrating. I just wish they would be a little more understanding about people deer hunting. I thought that surely they could find some private ground to run their dogs. Any way at least with coon dogs you should be able to run your dogs and not hurt anyone else.

[Nathan A. Nantz]

Wildman, I deer hunt too, so I understand what you mean. My coonhound stays on the leash during deer season, and turkey season. I have more trouble from house dogs running deer through my hunting spot. I know what you're getting at about private lands, but I'll be the first to tell you its hard for "just anyone" to get permission to run a dog on someones farm. I am fortunate enough (and have a good reputation with farmers) to have a good amount of hunting permission away from my home county, but I also understand some folks are not as lucky as I and must use the states public ground. I am a hound dog man, but I'll agree with you though, it is frustrating to see that after you've set up on a deer hunt. A little mutual respect will go a long way.

[Valley Station]

Didn't you see the regulation that said you can't have a unleashed dog on any WMA from March 1 thru mid August, except, for field trial???

[Nathan A. Nantz]

Didn't you see the regulation that said you can't have a unleashed dog on any WMA from March 1 thru mid August, except, for field trial???


Yes, I have known that for years, but I was wondering if some of them had year round restrictions. I have never hunted in Government owned property except for the Daniel Boone Nat'l Forest, so I am not familiar with the regs. Just trying to find out more...

[Valley Station]

Nathan,
If you get a chance, hunt the WMA's in central and western part of the state.
Have a diversity of terrain types from big river bottom land, swamps and lots of coons.
Local turkey hunters would like to see you catch all you can.

[Nathan A. Nantz]

Nathan,
If you get a chance, hunt the WMA's in central and western part of the state.
Have a diversity of terrain types from big river bottom land, swamps and lots of coons.
Local turkey hunters would like to see you catch all you can.


Thanks for the tip Valley Station. That is exactly what I'm looking for, different types of terrain than the mountains around here in Corbin. Thin or thick coon really doesn't matter as much as throwing him out in different types of ground. I'm going to get up in Central Ky....that is my favorite part of the state to hunt.

[Hallal]

about three years ago a buddy of mine talked me into heading over to the green river WMA to try out this pretty lil female beagle he bought. He wanted to see if she would run a rabbit. So we loaded up and headed that way. When we got there my buddy grabbed a pistol out of his truck in case we ran into wild dogs and we hit the woods. The dog did well. Maybe an hour or so after setting off we spotted a couple of Fish and Wildlife guys down the hill close to the truck. Figuring there was no need to hide from them we worked our way back to them.

[Hallal]

When we made it down to the officers they polietly asked us what we were doing. Again seeing no need to lie we told them we wanted to see if this dog would run a rabbit. they then asked us for our hunting liscense and explained even without a weapon to hunt rabbits with the dog was running rabbits so we were hunting - out of season mind you. They explained the lease law. We were okay on that one and explained folks could "exercise" there dogs off a leash at appropriate times and if they chased a rabbit then that was their nature it happens. But purposely running rabbits is hunting.

[Hallal]

All in all the officers were pretty nice about it. We apoligized and loaded up. They didn't even give us a hard time about the pistol.

Of course I wasn't going to argue with them over it but I did wonder how a fella is suppose to train his dogs if is considered hunting even without a shotgun.

Doesn't that mean lots and lots of folks are "hunting" out of season. Just think about the organized and advertised field trails.

[Hallal]

I guess what I'm getting at is you should call and talk to the game warden or someone better in the know if your not sure. The way we were run off the WMA that day didn't really seem right to me but it is never a good idea to argue with an officer

[jarhedhntr]

Make sure you read the regs of the WMA. At Central KY WMA you can only bow hunt on wensdays, and it never fails that after I take the trouble of getting off work and hunting mid week that someone is inconsiterate enough to run their dogs all over me. Drives me nuts.

[Nathan A. Nantz]

Make sure you read the regs of the WMA. At Central KY WMA you can only bow hunt on wensdays, and it never fails that after I take the trouble of getting off work and hunting mid week that someone is inconsiterate enough to run their dogs all over me. Drives me nuts.

That is why I asked this question...


Not trying to be inconsiderate of you or any other hunter...just wondering if I have the same rights to the WMA properties as turkey or deer hunters. Unless someone is bowhunting after dark, they won't be there when I drop my coonhound anyway.