Public land · Kentucky
Flooded bottomland hardwood forest. Photo: USFWSBoatwright Wildlife Management Area
Wildlife management area · Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR)
- State
- Kentucky
- Type
- Wildlife management area
- Managed by
- Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR)
- Size
- 8,802 acres
- Official page
- Agency page
Ohio River bottoms near Barlow and Wickliffe, hunted Wednesday through Sunday by weekly online draw or a daily in-person drawing.
Waterfowl rules
- Open for waterfowl Wednesday–Sunday in the regular season; closed Mondays, Tuesdays, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Every regular-season hunt, Thanksgiving week included, needs a draw.Source: KDFWR Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Guide 2026–27 (PDF) · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
- Apply online Wednesday through Sunday for the following week; the drawing runs each Monday and assigns a unit. Up to 50 spots a day, depending on water.Source: KDFWR Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Guide 2026–27 (PDF) · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
- Check in at 362 Broadway St, Barlow before 4:45 a.m. Central or lose the spot. Doors open 4:15 a.m.; the in-person drawing starts 4:45 a.m.Source: KDFWR Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Guide 2026–27 (PDF) · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
- Off the area with all gear by 2 p.m. Central. 25 shells per person. Parties stay 200 yards from other parties and 50 yards from property lines. Boats under 22 ft, idle speed only.Source: KDFWR Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Guide 2026–27 (PDF) · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
- From Dec 1, only that day's drawn hunters may boat, and boats must be off the water by 2 p.m.Source: KDFWR Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Guide 2026–27 (PDF) · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
- You can't enter stand-by drawings at both Ballard and Boatwright on the same day.Source: KDFWR Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Guide 2026–27 (PDF) · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
Access and ramps
- Location: Ballard County (Peal, Olmsted, 400 Acre and Swan Lake units). Entrance GPS coordinates listed by KDFWR: 37.0095, -89.1218. Area phone: (270) 224-2244.Source: KDFWR public lands: Boatwright WMA · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
- During floods, online applications stop and permits go by in-person drawing only, if the manager decides it is safe. Notice is posted 24 hours ahead on fw.ky.gov.Source: KDFWR Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Hunting Guide 2026–27 (PDF) · Last checked Oct 22, 2026
See something wrong or out of date? Report a correction.
Before you go
Check the rules and the water
Confirm this season’s rules on our state law pages or the agency’s own site, check draw and permit deadlines, and look at today’s river levels on the migration map. Areas can close or flood on short notice.