New WMA in east KY

From KDFWR news release:

CONSOL Energy to open 5,000 acres to public hunting in Knott and Floyd counties

Frankfort, Kentucky - CONSOL Energy will open 5,000 acres of its property in Knott and Floyd counties to public hunting under an access agreement recently reached with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

"CONSOL Energy is pleased to partner with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to make these areas available to the public through their public access program," said Dennis Fredericks, CONSOL Energy's manager of Conservation Properties and Activities.

"In doing so we hope to further substantiate our commitment to practice conservation through sound stewardship of the valuable land resources required to support our energy operations," Fredericks said. "We will continue to partner with other conservation groups like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the National Wild Turkey Federation and others who share and promote the same mission of wise use of our valuable natural resources."

The new CONSOL of Kentucky Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is expected to open by Oct. 4, the start of Kentucky's gun season for bull elk. The WMA consists of 11 parcels, with the largest block located northeast of the community of Mousie, off KY 550.

"This is an outstanding example of how public and private partnerships can benefit our sportsmen and sportswomen," said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jon Gassett. "Since 95 percent of our state's land is privately owned, we depend on agreements such as this one to increase opportunities for hunters. We appreciate CONSOL Energy's willingness to work with our department to make this happen."

The new WMA includes a mixture of forested land and reclaimed coal mine property. The area is located near one of the original release sites for Kentucky's elk restoration project, and supports a noticeable population of elk.

CONSOL of Kentucky WMA will be open under statewide regulations for deer, turkey, elk and small game. All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and horses will not be allowed on the management area.

Not all of CONSOL Energy's holdings in Kentucky will be open to the public, due to active mining. Kentucky Fish and Wildlife plans to publish a map of the WMA online at fw.ky.gov.

anybody here live near this area?

I don't live there,but know the area somewhat,good thing for elk hunters thrown out to find their own place to hunt.That's one of my peeves about the elk draw and restocking effort,far more private land than public.