WMA's closed to horesback riding

Not completely, but during deer, elk and turkey hunts where firearms are permitted.

Frankfort, Ky. – Wildlife management areas across the state will close to horseback and mule riding during spring turkey seasons in April and May.

A new Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources regulation prohibits horseback riding on wildlife management areas (WMA) anytime that a firearms season for turkey, deer or elk is open. One exception does allow elk hunters to use horses.

The department has received an increasing number of complaints from hunters about causal horseback riding on WMAs during firearms seasons. The Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission enacted a new regulation prohibiting horseback riding during firearms seasons in response to hunters, who pay for the purchase or lease of wildlife management areas through their purchase of hunting licenses and permits, as well as a federal excise tax on the sale of firearms and ammunition. Although riders do not pay entry fees to most WMAs, the department has opened some 600 miles of trails and roads to horseback riders within these areas.

Most wildlife management areas in the state are open to gun hunting for the spring turkey seasons. Youth season for turkey is April 7-8, while the general season is April 14 through May 6. Likewise, many WMAs will be closed to riding at times this fall during specified firearms seasons for deer, turkey, and/or elk. Riders should consult the WMA section of a current issue of the Kentucky Hunting and Trapping Guide to determine when an individual WMA will be closed.

Wildlife management areas are closed at all times to all-terrain vehicles, or ATVs.