Waterfowl Blind Drawing Set For Mobility-Impaired Hunters At Doug Travis Wildlife Management Area

Canada geese in snow. Photos taken Feb. 9, 2006, at Kentucky Fish and Wildlife headquarters lake.

Applications will be accepted beginning Sept. 1  for two specially constructed waterfowl blinds for mobility-impaired hunters at Doug Travis Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Hickman and Carlisle counties. Applications for these quota hunts must be postmarked by Sept. 30.

“One blind, Blind 19, is a boat-in site with a handicap-accessible boat ramp. Hunters must hunt within 10 yards of the location marker while using this blind. There will not be a constructed blind to hide the boat this year,” said Wes Little, migratory bird biologist for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “The other blind, Blind 13, is an above ground blind that is wheelchair accessible. The mobility-impaired hunt party will be able to drive to this blind.”

The hunt dates for the mobility-impaired quota hunts during 2019-2020 are:

• Nov. 28–Dec 1, 2019
• Dec. 7-8, 2019
• Dec. 9–12, 2019
• Dec. 13–15, 2019
• Dec. 16–19, 2019
• Dec. 20–22, 2019
• Dec. 23–26, 2019
• Dec. 27–29, 2019
• Dec. 30, 2019 – Jan. 2, 2020
• Jan. 3–5, 2020
• Jan. 6–9, 2020
• Jan. 10–12, 2020
• Jan. 13–16, 2020
• Jan 17–19, 2020
• Jan. 20–23, 2020
• Jan. 24–26, 2020
• Jan. 31, 2020

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:

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

Attn: Wes Little – Doug Travis WMA Mobility-Impaired Waterfowl Hunt Application

1 Sportsman’s Lane

Frankfort, KY 40601

The envelope must be postmarked between Sept. 1 and Sept. 30.

“Hunters must specify on the index card the dates for which they are applying and list them in order of preference,” Little said. “While they may apply for up to three hunting dates, they can only be drawn for one hunt. The index card must include the hunter’s name, complete mailing address and phone number as well.”

Successful applicants may invite up to three guests. After Sept. 30, 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. “These blinds are open to standby hunters on a first-come, first-served basis if the blind is not occupied by the drawn party by one hour before sunrise, but priority for its use will go to mobility impaired hunters.”

If not completed already, waterfowl hunters must go online at the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov and click the “My Profile” tab to fill out the Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey before hunting.