Individuals 16-years-old or older and participating in hunting activities on the refuge, who are required to have a Kentucky State hunting/fishing license, must also have a refuge annual hunt permit.
Please refer to the refuge Public Use Regulation Brochure for current refuge specific regulations.
NEW IN 2026 - Deer Lottery Hunt
Deer archery and crossbow hunting will be allowed during November in designated areas by a lottery hunt only. The lottery will be open for all individuals to apply. Units will be closed to all entry with the exception of the drawn permit holders on drawn hunt days only. Drawn hunt days will be assigned dates on Thursday through Sunday of each week in November.
To participate in the lottery draw, a person must apply at kynwrs.recaccess.com. Applications will be accepted starting September 1 and must be completed no later than September 30. Winners will be notified by email on October 2 and must claim their permit by October 16. Unclaimed permits will be available on October 18 at 12 pm on a first come, first serve basis. Only one permit may be claimed per user per season.
You can find a map of the Lottery Hunt Units here.
Annual refuge hunt permits can be obtained at RecAccess. The following fee structure is in place for annual hunt permits:
| Youth Under 16 | Free, no permit needed |
| Adults 16 and over | $10 |
| All Deer Lottery Applications | $6 |
Maps and Other Resources
A refuge map can be found here.
A map of the Lottery Hunt Units is located here.
The Public Use Regulations Brochure contains refuge specific regulations for visitors wanting to participate in outdoor recreation on refuge land.
Here is the link to view or download the latest edition of Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources' Hunting and Fishing guides.
