Leadership from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources recently announced the dates for the annual waterfowl blind drawings on season-long sites — including Lake Barkley, Doug Travis, Green River Lake and the Barren River Lake wildlife management areas.
According to officials, these are in addition to other public waterfowl hunting opportunities offered by the KDFW, and include quota hunts, daily drawings, walk-in areas and seasonally blind draws.
For the Lake Barkley WMA in Trigg and Lyon counties, it’s planned for 8 AM Monday, September 18, at the shelter on the east side of the Cumberland River at Lake Barkley Dam. This is off U.S. 62, near Lake City. Participants should use the powerhouse entrance and then turn right toward the drawing location.
For the Doug Travis WMA in Carlisle and Hickman counties, it’s planned for 10 AM Saturday, August 26. The drawing will be at the WMA office, 1/2-mile south of Berkley on KY 123. Registration starts at 9 AM.
Local hunters might be interested in the Green River Lake WMA in Taylor and Adair counties. It’s scheduled for 10 AM Eastern time, Saturday, September 30. The drawing will be at the Green River Lake U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office off KY 55, approximately seven miles south of Campbellsville. Registration starts at 9 AM Eastern time.
Furthermore, the Barren River Lake WMA in Allen and Barren counties has its scheduled for 7-9 AM Saturday, October 7, hosted at the Barren River Lake Corps of Engineers office, at the Barren River Lake dam off KY 252.
These seasonally drawn blinds confirm that selected waterfowl hunters will have a place to hunt during the entire waterfowl season. They take place well before the season to allow hunters time to build blinds and make all necessary plans for the season.
Hunters chosen in these random drawings have first rights to these waterfowl blind sites.
Hunters interested in participating in a waterfowl blind drawing must be at least 18 years old and possess a valid Kentucky hunting license, a Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Hunting Permit and a federal migratory bird permit (also known as a duck stamp) at the time of the drawing.
Proof of hunter education certification is also required of any participant born on or after Jan. 1, 1975.
Hunters must also have their Harvest Information Program (HIP) confirmation number prior to the drawing. To get a confirmation number, hunters must visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov, click the “My Profile” tab and answer a brief survey about their migratory bird hunting activities.
This confirmation number provided at the completion of the survey must be written on the hunting license or Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Hunting permit. Hunters may also reprint their license free of charge after completing the survey, as the HIP confirmation number will then be displayed on it.
Hunters drawn for these blinds must locate, prepare and maintain the blind site for the duration of the 2023-2024 waterfowl seasons. Each drawn hunter may select a co-owner of the blind site for the duration of the season to use the blind in the absence of the hunter drawn. The co-owner must be present at the drawing.
Hunters may construct a permanent blind or use a boat or portable blind, but each blind site must be pinned with a permanent marker identifying permit holders for the site. Those hunters selected hold first rights for use of the blind site, but these blind sites are open to public use if the drawn hunters or co-owners are not in the blinds by 30 minutes before shooting time.
