SMALL GAME & WATERFOWL HUNTING INFORMATION
2009-2010
(Valid through July 31, 2010)
NWTF STEWARDSHIP AGREEMENT:
The Forest Service and National Wild Turkey
Federation have signed a 10-year stewardship agreement to cooperatively
manage open lands in LBL. Cooperative work under this agreement will
improve open lands habitat and benefit many species of wildlife, including
deer and turkey. See habitat maps at LBL Welcome Stations and Hunter Check
Station for locations or on the map page of our website.
FERAL HOGS
Feral Hogs have been illegally released in LBL and may be harvested during
any open season with weapons specified for that season. Feral hogs are
destructive pests that transmit diseases and compete with native wildlife
for food and habitat. Please immediately report any sightings of feral
hogs or hog signs to: Wildlife Unit: 270-924-2065
HUNTER USE PERMITS
An annual LBL Hunter Use Permit ($20) is required for all hunters, age 16 and older, in addition to a valid Kentucky or Tennessee hunting license for the state portion of LBL in which you are hunting. A combination Hunter Use Permit/Backcountry Camping Permit (age 18 and older) is also available. Permits may also be purchased at LBL welcome stations, the Golden Pond Visitor Center, or wherever Kentucky or Tennessee State hunting licenses are sold. Note: Combination permits not available in KY state licensing system.
HUNTER SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
Hunters must possess a hunter safety card according to state regulations. All youth who hunt on LBL must have previously attended a hunter safety course.
CAMPING
LBL offers developed campgrounds, lake access areas, and backcountry camping. Backcountry camping requires a $20 annual permit for each person 18 years and older ($5 for a 3-day permit) or a combination Hunting/Backcountry Camping Permit (for $25), and is permitted anywhere in LBL except in the Environmental Education Area, Brandon Spring Group Camp, cemeteries, picnic areas, and within 200 yards of The Trace, Silver Trail Road, Mulberry Flat Road, and Fort Henry Road. The backcountry length of stay limit is 14 days on a site. Campfires are permitted but must be attended at all times and completely extinguished before leaving the site. Fire ring rocks shall not be left in fields. During periods of extreme fire danger all open-air fires may be prohibited. Additional camping information is available in the camping section of our web site.
LEGAL WEAPONS FOR SMALL GAME HUNTING
Shotguns, rimfire rifles, rimfire handguns, muzzleloaders, and archery equipment according to state regulations with the following exceptions: the use of centerfire rifles, centerfire handguns, and shotguns loaded with slugs or buckshot are prohibited. (See exceptions under Coyote/Feral Hog section below.) Broadheads may not be used for small game hunting except for specified game during the deer archery season.
TICKS
Tick repellent is highly recommended from March 15 to October 15. Tick repellents are available at LBL.
GENERAL REGULATIONS
To Report a violation or an emergency call 877-861-2457
- All areas are open to small game and waterfowl hunting during specified seasons except: Nature Watch areas, wildlife refuges, safety zones around facilities, and areas posted as closed.
- Licensed motorized vehicles are permitted only on roads that are marked by
numbered signs and corresponding numbers on the LBL Recreation and MVUM Maps. Other roads are maintained for administrative access or
trails, but are not legal for driving.
- Unlicensed motorized vehicles, including four-wheelers, are allowed only on
designated trails in the Turkey Bay Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area and
require an OHV Permit.
- Parking is permitted within one vehicle length of a legal road. Blocking access to
any road or trail is prohibited. Rutting of fields is prohibited.
- There shall be no discharge of a firearm, or other implement capable of taking life, within 150 yards of any developed area.
- Wildlife refuges are closed to all hunting year-round and closed to human entry during the refuge period.
- Hunters hunting on LBL all the way to the waters' edge, at any elevation of
Kentucky Lake or Lake Barkley, must possess a valid LBL Hunter Use Permit.
- Hunters possessing weapons who use LBL to access hunting opportunities off
of LBL, (e.g. launch a boat from LBL or wade into the lake from the LBL
shoreline) must possess a valid LBL Hunter Use Permit.
- Small game hunting from horseback is permitted (except in conjunction with
deer bow hunting).
- Hunting dogs must have a current rabies vaccination and wear a collar
showing owner¹s name, address, and phone number.
- No species of wildlife may be harassed or taken except those authorized.
- Spotlighting or the use of any artificial lights to locate wildlife is
prohibited.
- Hunters must not be under the influence of controlled substances or
alcoholic beverages.
- All applicable state and federal regulations must be observed.
- Paint, tape, flagging, or other artificial materials shall not be used to
mark trees, trails, or routes.
- The placement of bait or hunting over bait, including food or mineral
substances, is prohibited on LBL.
- To protect the future of hunting, hunters are encouraged to be sensitive and courteous to other visitors.
WATERFOWL
Waterfowl hunting is allowed throughout the inland portion of LBL except as designated under General Regulations above. Permanent blinds and pits are not allowed.
Portable blinds are permitted, but must be removed at the end of each
hunting day. Goose and duck hunting are allowed according to state seasons
for the zone in which LBL is located; however, there is no waterfowl
hunting on LBL during quota deer hunts (KY portion closed Oct. 24-25 and Nov. 20-21,
TN portion closed Oct 24-25, Nov 13-14 and Nov. 28-29). Steel shot is
required for all waterfowl hunting. Hunters must not have lead shot in
their possession while waterfowl hunting. All state and federal waterfowl
regulations, license requirements, and bag limits apply. Carefully review
all General Regulations above.
FOX CHASING & HUNTING
Fox chasing is permitted south of U.S. Highway 68 only, from sunset to
sunrise. Foxes (gray and red) may be harvested only during the specified
hunting seasons during daylight hours in any open hunting area. Hand- or
mouth-operated calling devices are permitted. Electronic calling devices
for taking foxes are prohibited.
COYOTE / FERAL HOGS
Coyotes and feral hogs may be taken during daylight hours in any open
hunting season with weapons specified for that season. Hand, mouth, or
electronic calling devices are permitted. During February,
center-fire rifles and handguns, and shotguns with shot size T or smaller
may be used for coyote/hog hunting. Hog hunting with dogs is prohibited.
CROW
Crows may be hunted during dates and days indicated on the front of this
sheet. Decoys and hand, mouth, or electronic calls are permitted.
BOBCAT
Kentucky
The bobcat hunting season is Dec. 1-Jan. 31. All bobcats must be
Telechecked and tagged according to state regulations. The statewide
season limit is five bobcats per person, (only three may be taken with a
gun), including bobcats harvested on LBL. Bobcats may be hunted during
daylight hours only. Legal weapons are those specified for small game
hunting, or for deer archery hunting during the Dec.-Jan. bow season.
Callers may use hand- or mouth-operated calls only. Electronic calls are
not permitted for bobcat hunting.
Tennessee
Bobcats may be taken Dec. 1 - Feb 15 by legally licensed and/or permitted
hunters. Statewide regulations and limits apply.
FIELD TRIALS & DOG TRAINING
A field trial permit from LBL and approval by the appropriate state
wildlife agency are required to conduct field trials. Trials must be
scheduled at least two months in advance to prevent conflicts with hunting
seasons or recreational events. An LBL Hunter Use Permit is required for
all dog training. No game may be taken or shaken out and no firearms
possessed during field trials or dog training. Horses may be used.
Raccoon dog training is permitted only in Hunt Areas 1, 9, 13, and 15. closed dates in Oct. are during youth deer hunt.
TRAPPING
Trappers must obtain a trapping permit in advance at the Golden Pond
Administrative Office and submit a completed report at the end of the
season. The trapping season is Jan. 11-24, on Kentucky Hunt Areas 5, 6, & 7 and Jan 18-31 on Tennessee Hunt Areas 12 and 14. Areas shaded on the Public
Access Roads & Hunt Area Map or areas posted Closed to Hunting are also
closed to trapping. All trappers must possess an LBL Hunter Use Permit and
state trapping license. Legal traps, sets, and species must conform to
state regulations. All traps must bear the trapper's name and address.
All bobcats and otters harvested on the Kentucky portion of LBL must be
Telechecked and tagged according to state regulations and statewide limits
apply. There will be a beaver trapping season Feb. 1-28 in KY and TN in
all areas except those shaded areas on the LBL Public Access Roads and Hunt
Area Map or areas posted No Hunting. Otters may be taken during February
days which coincide with state otter seasons for the respective counties.
*NOTE: Trappers will be in Hunt Areas 5, 6, & 7 from Jan. 11-24 and Areas 12 & 14 Jan. 18-31.
Hunters with dogs should avoid those areas during this period.
| 2009 - 2010 SMALL GAME HUNTING & TRAPPING INFORMATION |
| | SEASON | LIMIT |
| SPECIES | Kentucky | Tennessee | Kentucky Daily/ Possession | Tennessee Daily / Possession |
| Squirrel | Aug 15-Sep 25
Oct 1-14 Dec 1-Feb 28
June 5-June 18 | Aug 15-Sep 25
Oct 1-14 Dec 1-Feb 28
May 8-June 13 | 6/12 | 10/20 |
| Quail | Dec 1-Feb 10 | Dec 1-Feb 28 | 8/16 | 6/12 |
| Rabbit | Dec 1-Feb 10 | Dec 1-Feb 28 | 4/8 | 5/10 |
| Raccoon* | Dec 1-Feb 28
| Dec 1-Feb 15 | One per person per night | One per person per night |
| Opossum* | Dec 1-Feb 28 | Dec 1-Feb 15 | No limit | No limit |
| Dove, Woodcock, Wilson Snipe | Open to conform to statewide seasons before Sept. 26 & after Nov. 30
| Open to conform to statewide seasons before before Sept. 26& after Nov. 30 | According to state & federal regulations | According to state & federal regulations |
| Waterfowl | See text | See text | See text | See text |
| Fox Hunting | Dec 1-Feb 28 | Dec 1-Feb 28 | No limit -- see text | No limit -- see text |
| Fox Chasing | Aug 15-Sep 19 | Aug 15-Sep 19 | None may be taken, see text | None may be taken, see text |
| Bobcat | Dec. 1 - Jan. 31 | Dec. 1 - Feb. 15 | See Bobcat regulations | See Bobcat regulations |
| Coyote/Feral Hogs | During any open hunting season | During any open hunting season | No limit -- see text | No limit -- see text |
| Crow | Sept 1-Sept 25
Jan 4-Feb 28 | Aug 15-Sept 25
Dec 1-Feb 28 June 1-13
Fri, Sat, Sun only | No limit -- see text | No limit -- see text |
| Bird Dog, Rabbit Dog, Raccoon Hound Training | Oct 1-Oct 22
Oct 26-31 | Oct 1-Oct 22
Oct 26-31 | See text | See text |
| Field Trials | Jul 1-Mar 31 | Jul 1-Mar 31 | See text | See text |
| Trapping | Jan 11-24 | Jan 18-31 | Permit required — See Trapping text | Permit required — See Trapping text |
| Beaver Trapping | Feb 1-Feb 28 | Feb 1-Feb 28 | Permit required — See Trapping text | Permit required — See Trapping text |
*Raccoon and Opossum hunting is from sunrise of opening date to sunset of
the closing date. |
Additional Information:
For Additional Information call 270-924-2065, between 8 a.m.-4 p.m. CT, Monday-Friday.
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