FRANKFORT, Ky. – Doug Travis Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Hickman and Carlisle counties will hold a special quota hunt for one blind accessible by mobility- impaired hunters.
This opportunity became available after publication of the current Kentucky Hunting Guide for Waterfowl and is not listed with the other mobility impaired quota hunts cited in the guide.
“We are keeping one blind out of the regular blind drawing for this hunt,” said Wes Little, migratory bird biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “This blind (Blind #13) is built and maintained by Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. It can accommodate up to two hunters in wheel chairs and two other hunters. The mobility-impaired hunt party will be able to drive to this blind.”
The hunt dates for the mobility-impaired quota hunts during 2015 are: Nov. 26 – 29; Dec. 7 – 10; Dec. 11 – 13; Dec. 14 – 17; Dec. 18 – 20; Dec. 21 – 24; Dec. 25 – 27 and Dec. 28 – 31. Hunt dates for 2016 are: Jan. 1 – 3 (2016); Jan. 4 – 7; Jan. 8 – 10; Jan. 11 – 14; Jan 15 – 17; Jan. 18 – 21; Jan. 22 – 24; Jan. 25 – 28; and Jan. 29 – 31.
To register to be drawn for this blind during one or more of the mobility impaired hunts, mail a 3 x 5 white index card in an envelope addressed to: “Attn. Wes Little – Doug Travis WMA Mobility-Impaired Waterfowl Hunt Application, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, #1 Sportsman’s Lane, Frankfort, KY, 40601.” The envelope must be post marked between Nov. 1 and Nov. 15, 2015.
“They must specify on the index card the dates they for which they are applying and list them in order of preference,” Little said. “They list three dates, but will only be drawn for one. The index card must include their name, complete mailing address and social security number as well.”
Successful applicants may invite up to three guests. After Nov. 15, those selected for hunts will be mailed a quota hunt permit for the dates they are drawn, a map showing the blind location and other instructions concerning the hunt. Unsuccessful applicants will not be notified. Duplicate applications for the same hunt will result in disqualification.
“The hunting party will be responsible for bringing and placing decoys as well as retrieving birds,” Little said. This blind is open to standby hunters on a first-come, first-serve basis if the blind is not occupied by the drawn party by one hour before sunrise.
“Water levels at Doug Travis WMA depend on Mississippi River water levels, weather conditions and pumping status,” said Tim Kreher, area manager for Doug Travis WMA. “Hunters are urged to call the area office at (270) 488-3233 to check current conditions before visiting.”
Waterfowl hunters must now go online to fw.ky.gov or call 1-800-858-1549 weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time and fill out the Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey before they are legal waterfowl hunters.
The process takes less than five minutes. Go to the "My Profile" tab on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website to fill out the survey. Hunters who complete the survey will receive a confirmation number. This number must be written on the hunting license or Kentucky Migratory Game Bird-Waterfowl Hunting permit.
