Veterans Memorial Wildlife Management Area Expands by 500 Acres in Scott County

SCOTT COUNTY, KENTUCKY – The Veterans Memorial Wildlife Management Area (WMA) has expanded by 500 acres along its northern boundary, adding valuable forestland and creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) announced this week.

Major Addition to Bluegrass Region Habitat

“This was a high-priority property for the Bluegrass Region,” said Derek Beard, assistant director of Wildlife for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “This acquisition includes a quality hardwood forest component that is becoming harder to find in central Kentucky. It adds a unique mix of habitat types that support deer, turkey, and a variety of forest wildlife.”

The addition increases the total size of the Veterans Memorial WMA to approximately 3,000 acres.

Forest Quality and Ecological Significance

Mike Hardin, assistant director of Engineering for KDFWR, said much of the new acreage is mature hardwood forest, with a notable presence of white oak trees and little sign of past disturbance.

He noted that native understory plants, including goldenseal and black cohosh, indicate a high ecological quality and contribute to the site’s biodiversity.

The Kentucky Wetland and Stream Mitigation Program, which Hardin oversees, also played a key role in funding the original 2,500-acre purchase that established the WMA in 2012.

Access and Future Developments

To improve access for hunters and visitors, officials plan to build a new parking area off KY 620 (Double Culvert Road) in the coming months. The newly acquired land is now open to the public under the same hunting and conservation regulations as the rest of the management area.

Beard called the expansion a “big win for wildlife and the public.”

“Adding quality wildlife management area acreage within Kentucky’s Golden Triangle creates vital outdoor opportunities close to home and helps ensure wildlife conservation remains a shared value in our fast-growing region,” he said.

Maps, hunting seasons, and area regulations are available through the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife at fw.ky.gov.

For more environmental news and outdoor conservation updates across Kentucky, follow ChicagoMusicGuide.com.