STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources has scheduled dates for public drawings to select season-long waterfowl hunting blind sites at four wildlife management areas this fall.
Barren River Lake is one of the available sites, and multiple hunters can be selected for each location, according to the department.
Seasonally drawn blind sites ensure that selected waterfowl hunters will have a place to hunt during the entire waterfowl season. The drawings for these blinds take place well before the season to allow hunters time to build blinds and make all necessary plans for the season.
The Barren River Lake WMA draw will be 9 a.m. (CT), Saturday, Oct. 3. The drawing will be at the Barren River Lake Corps of Engineers office, at the Barren River Lake dam off KY 252. Registration starts at 7 a.m.
Hunters interested in participating in a waterfowl blind drawing must be at least 18 years old and possess a valid Kentucky hunting license, a Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Hunting Permit and a federal migratory bird permit (also known as a duck stamp) at the time of the drawing. Proof of hunter education certification is also required of any participant born after 1974.
Hunters must also have their Harvest Information Program (HIP) confirmation number before the drawing. To get a confirmation number, hunters must visit the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife website at fw.ky.gov, click the “My Profile” tab and answer a brief survey about their migratory bird hunting activities. This confirmation number provided at the completion of the survey must be written on the hunting license or Kentucky Migratory Bird/Waterfowl Hunting permit. Hunters may also reprint their license free of charge after completing the survey, as the HIP confirmation number will then be displayed on it.
Hunters drawn for blinds on Barren River Lake must locate, prepare and maintain the blind site for the duration of the 2026-2027 waterfowl seasons. Each drawn hunter may select a co-owner of the blind site for the duration of the season to use the blind in the absence of the hunter drawn. The co-owner must be present at the drawing.
Hunters may construct a permanent blind or use a boat or portable blind, but each blind site must be pinned with a permanent marker identifying permit holders for the site. Those hunters selected hold first rights for use of the blind site, but these blind sites are open to public use if the drawn hunters or co-owners are not in the blinds by 30 minutes before shooting time.
Learn more by visiting the Waterfowl Hunting webpage on the department’s website (fw.ky.gov).
Questions about waterfowl hunting or hunting blinds may be directed to the agency’s information center at 800-858-1549, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (ET) weekdays, excluding state holidays, or at info.center@ky.gov.
