Horseback riding on WMA's

[Valley Station]

A new regulation has been approved, and I think thats great , that beginning in 2003, no horseback riding will be allowed on a WMA during any GUN deer or turkey hunting day. Was this done due to "safety of riders" or as not to interfere/disturb/ruin hunting opportunities??
I know if during the "rutt" I spend all day up a tree and at "prime time" "Billy Bob's Saddle Club" comes riding thru and spooks a P&Y buck off from me, "someone's going to get shot". Is that not a "safety concern"??
Should we extend that same consideration to archery deer and turkey hunters on "OUR" WMA'S , that they have to GUN deer/turkey hunters??
What do you all think??

[Multidigits]

I'm wondering HOW and WHO let this get started in the first place???

Does anybody use horses for game retrieval or getting to their spots???

In my opinion, if your going to allow horses, you should allow ATV's. Both cause erosion of the soil, and ATV's don't poop.

I'd be for banning the use during any deer or turkey season. Small game hunters should be able to deter them just by a couple of wild shots in the general direction that the riders are.

[Xtreme]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought they were not allowed to ride during any legal hunting season. There again I don't use them much but I've never seen a horse on Yellowbank while hunting.

[Valley Station]

Xtreme,
I don't know how much you hunt at Yellowbanks, but, there are "horse bridal trails" running out practically every ridge and bottom of major hollow in Tracts 3 & 4.
So as not to get "walked or rode on", when selecting a stand location at Yellowbanks, you can't set-up on main hunter access routes, "horse and buggy" trails and now dang hiking trails.(Theres a new "trail head" parking lot and trail on Black Knob, down thru the stand of big oaks).
There are a couple of big clover food plots in remote areas, that I will not hunt, because "high use horse trails" run right thru them!
Who wants to pack a stand a mile, spend 4-5 hours up a tree and at "prime time", have "Billy Bobs Saddle Club" caravan, including a dang horse and wagon come thru.
Happened to me, first week of November 2-year ago.
It's a beautiful area and we should share it with others, but , "It ain't a dang state park" , YET !

[Strutter]

Be careful what we ask for cause if we try to get the no riding policy during bow season on wma's I would guess they would stop all deer hunting at central wma. As it is now, you can only hunt on Wednesdays IF the birddoggers aren't having a field trial. From Dec 18 on you can hunt any day. Guess it's to cold for the dogs, horses, or people after that time.

[shogan]

TVILLE has no horses and no atv's not even for retireval.

Now, here is where we have to remember there are many forms of enjoyment of KY's lands and fall is a great time to be out for everyone. PIGS GET FAT HOGS GET SLAUGHTERED. If an area dominated by horses and we decided to make push horse or hunt hunters are going to loose. When using public land you have to accept inconvience of hikers, hunters, horses, and all other legitimate forms of use of land. If you can't share you need to make a point to buy some or lease some land.

I must say I hear a lot of Deer hunters be awful possive of land between Sept 21 and when ever it ends. Shooting or even threating to shoot fellow ky citizens legally using public land will eventually be used against us.

With that said any horse back rider that goes out during Deer Gun season is either stupid or stupid. Not that anyone would even consider purposefull negligence it's just not smart.

[Valley Station]

I've never set foot on Central "WMA", but from what Iv'e read on this forum, with 700 acres bush hogged with no cover, wouldn't be any loss to deer hunting, anyway. Doesn't sound like its a "Wildlife Management Area" but a "dog, horse and pony Show". WMA?? What a joke.
"Field Trial Arenas and Petting Zoos" are nice, just not WMA's.
Why are the hunters and fishermen paying for these areas and their maintenance?

[Valley Station]

Shogan,
Some of the WMA's are not owned by KFWR - i.e.T'ville, Nolin, Green, Barren, LBL, Etc. are publicly owned Corp of Engineers, TVA, etc. and should be open to all activities.
WMA's such as Yellowbanks, Kleber,i.e. - were bought to provide those who buy hunting and fishing license a place to fish and hunt.
These are properties owned and operated by The Ky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Resources, paid for by the sale of hunting and fishing license!

[Strutter]

Concerning central wma, the area has lots of mature oaks and cedar thickets for the deer. It also has areas that are not accessible to mowing due to the ruggedness of the area in one particular section. As for the deer, there are some very nice deer that hang around the place. A guy I work with took a P&Y buck out there last year. I wish they would manage it more for deer as with the limited hunting, there would be some huge deer there in a couple years. They could do it if they wanted to. It would make a great trophy area for bowhunters. The genetics are there. They just need to put out some food plots and put an antler restriction on them. I don't see how this would interfere with the birddoggers unless of course their dogs run deer. Well I'm done now.

[Highbow]

Where you at Birdman? This is his topic.

[shogan]

OK but TVILLE is called a WMA and requires a hunting or fishing licence in possesion to use. Maybe the corp line around the lake is public. And if KDFWR bought it ear marked for hunters and fishers then hunters and fishers it is. But if someone buys a hunting license that then gives them access to use land (kinda like a 22 dollar club cool) and if they just want to walk around well thats the way it is.

You know somtimes I get a chance around 9 or 10 to run out there and hunt of course someone sets up 50 feet from parking area. And you can't help but walk right by them. Sometimes you get a real a** wad that starts cussing. I prefer the people who are kind and understanding might even make a friedn. We all use the land and maybe he will get lucky and my walk in will push a deer his way. Maybe he should go deeper in where the likely hood of someone walking up is less. It wouldn't hurt to have a little map board with some magnets to place in the area you planning on going. Of course then If I decide to walk around that just gives them reason to get mad.

Us foot hunters get little respect maybe I should get a climber.

[MULESKINNER]

Man! I have No respect for foot hunters. All they do is screw up my hunt and talk about the A$$ of a P&Y buck they saw heading away from them at mock five!!! LOL just kidding Shogan! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
Don't forget my offer about access to T-ville during bow season.
sounds like you may need it. Dumb ole foot hunters!!!
L A T E R

[Ynothirekybiologists]

well I am happy to see some unhappy voices being spoken on the use and misuse of Central "WMA"! Yea maybe KDFWR has a solution...stop ALL horseback riding on ALL WMA's. Then no more horseback birddoggers at Central acting like they are the managers there. oh wait, they are the managers there...the dept feels it should tailor its wildlife mgt plan to the needs of the birddoggers so hence they are getting complete control of the area that is Paid for by Sportsman and Sportswomen! cyberhunters-have you requested the MGT PLAN for Central? Would be interesting to read it and then go to central and compare some notes on it.
jimmy

[shogan]

I thought I was lucky to see all that big buck a$$ running. Nothing like going home and saying honey I saw some good a$$ today. And they never stand still. I'ts unreal how much noise a startled deer will make they blow like they have trumpets. One time I made one so mad I heard it blow for like 15 minutes down to the water around the edge of lake, over to the far ridge (it did like this great big 360).

Mule I'll take you up on that access let me know the best way and time to reach you (do I have to shoot buck shot over the neighbors heads). Thanks

[MULESKINNER]

Shogan,
Thats a different farm in Lawrenceburg I was talking about with the idiot neighbors. The lake farm is actively patrolled now by the local warden.
You can have access through during bow season. Modern gun and muzzleloader seasons will have paid hunts at that time. They may not like the commotion.
sacmarata@juno.com
L A T E R . . .

[Multidigits]

Shogan--Tville, like the other Corp lakes do not require a hunting or fishing license for their use. They are Corp owned but managed by the KYDFWR. The designated hunting areas and all the land below the red line are open to the public for hunting and other uses. Only if your hunting would you need a hunting license, and likewise for fishermen.

[Birdman]

HighBow your right, I've been down for about a week now but recovering, I hope. I or we about a year ago, suggested that this be added the our regs. for saftey as well as respect for our hunters. When we make our schedule out for our saddle club we go by the dept.hunting guide, so not to be on the area while gun season is going on. Now as for as the bow hunters go I don't see this as a problem, because all rides are posted with the local bioligist, dates, time, and location. Now I'm talking about on corp property, the head mama on Paintsville Lake has been keeping a close eye on the erosion problem, there has been none. As for some of your opinions on if the horse people should be there, their money paid for this property just as yours did, and the money your paying for a license don't give you or I anymore right to be on those areas than anyone else. You buy a license to hunt in Ky. not on WMA's.

If the people that run the corp property and the local biologist as well as the hunter and horse people work together there will be or should not be any problem. Highbow thanks, we need to get together on a few matters if you have time.

[Highbow]

No problem there Birdman, give me a call it's listed in the Staffordsville directory. I don't like the rumors floating about Auxier Flats again???

[Birdman]

Nor do I. And this time it's not rumors, what we need to do is find a new location. I've discussed the area you suggested before, their checking it out now. If it's large enough I think they'll go for it.

[Highbow]

We have mayor's attention and I know that they can use the area at the dam if they want.

[Multidigits]

Check this link out:



http://www.acslpa.org/pgcadhoc/Game%20Lands%20use.htm



Edited by - Multidigits on 09/05/2002 3:29:19 PM

[Valley Station]

Multi ,

That is very interesting. Do you think KFWR is risking the loss of Pittman-Robinson Fund monies by illegel secondary use of WMA properties here in Kentucky? I notice F&W webb site list horseback riding at Corp of Engineers owned state parks , but, NOT on Corp owned WMA properties. Wonder why that is??

[Ralph]

When I hunt W. KY WMA & the guys come out with the horses & dogs I just love it. Darn deer runnin everywhere all day long. Man it is fun. But at W. KY the horse guys are real considerate of us bowhunters. They never come into the woods. Now, at Clay WMA they won't stay on the trails & that rally screws things up. They will ride right past you in the middle of nowhere. At H-H they stay on the trails pretty good. Not too bad there, from what I see. The quality of inter-action between horses & hunters is all relative to the amount of personell available at each area & how serious those personnel take their job. Just my humble opinion.