Kentucky Opens Two Wildlife Areas Totaling 1,300 Acres

The Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has opened the Muddygut and Crow Creek Wildlife Management Areas for public use.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Hunting

Screen-print poster illustration of a steep forested ridge over a creek valley in warm autumn tones, evoking new public land for outdoor recreation. — Kentucky's Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources opened the 465-acre Muddygut and 872-acre Crow Creek Wildlife Management Areas for public use. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should state-owned forest land in your area be open to public hunting?

Kentucky's Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources opened two Wildlife Management Areas for public use, the 465-acre Muddygut and the 872-acre Crow Creek. Together the properties cover more than 1,300 acres of mostly forested, steep terrain.

Why it matters

The areas open new public land for outdoor recreation across eastern and southern Kentucky. Both properties are also slated for stream restoration projects funded through a state wetland and stream mitigation program.

The Muddygut Wildlife Management Area covers 465 acres between Louisa and Paintsville, while the Crow Creek area covers 872 acres south of Russell Springs along the Cumberland River. Restoration planning for both properties remains in early stages, and any future changes to public access have not been announced.

The players

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

The state agency that manages Kentucky's fish and wildlife resources and public wildlife management areas, including hunting and conservation programs.

The details

Hunting at both locations will be governed by statewide regulations applicable to the respective counties. The properties are mostly forested with steep terrain, and the state's Wetland and Stream Mitigation Program funds preservation of ecological functions there.

Both Wildlife Management Areas were announced for public opening on November 4, 2026.

Seasonal Patterns

The Kentucky Wetland and Stream Mitigation Program funds stream restoration as a state fund, and these openings apply that program to newly public wildlife land in eastern and southern Kentucky. The two areas add more than 1,300 acres of public access to the state's wildlife management system.

Hunters and outdoor visitors in Kentucky gain access to more than 1,300 acres of public land, subject to statewide hunting regulations for the local counties. Users should check county rules before visiting the Muddygut and Crow Creek areas.

The takeaway

Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts should review statewide regulations before visiting these newly opened areas. Future restoration work may change access, so checking updates from the state agency is advisable.