State set to open new hunting area in Livingston County

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife will open two new wildlife management areas for public hunting in western Kentucky, including one in Livingston County.

The Ferguson Creek WMA includes 614 acres in Livingston County, immediately south of the Cumberland River near its confluence with the Ohio River.

It's a former pine plantation purchased by the state from a company that managed timber. It contains 98 acres of existing wetlands that the state plans to restore and enhance.

The area is within a few miles of the Bissell Bluff and Newman's Bluff State Natural Areas. Wood ducks and teal come to the region in September, and other waterfowl species visit each winter.

Ferguson Creek provides habitat for the federally-listed endangered gray bat, as well as the rare lesser siren, a salamander species that can reach two feet in length.

Work is underway to create parking areas at Ferguson Creek WMA.

In Butler County, the Gabbard Branch WMA encompasses 809 acres about 12 miles downstream from Lock and Dam 5 on the Green River.

Several former stream channels of Gabbard Branch and Little Reedy Creek in the lowlands of the area are now wetlands that hold water part or all year long.

Mussel population surveys in Green River show the rough pigtoe mussel, the fanshell mussel, the sheepnose mussel and spectaclecase mussel live throughout this part of the river. All four mussels are "Endangered" under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Both properties will be open under statewide seasons and regulations for spring and fall hunting,including Kentucky's youth-only turkey season, April 1-2. They will also be open for the regular spring turkey season, which runs from April 15-May 7.

For all the regulations for spring turkey season, please see the Spring Hunting Guide online at fw.ky.gov, or pick up a printed copy wherever hunting licenses are sold.