Big Sandy WMA
Directions and Description
Site Directions: for Big Sandy WMA, Lat: 36.228583°N Long: -88.111354°W, if you are coming from Camden, Take Hwy 641 North towards Paris for approximately 8.2 miles, turn right on Lower Big Sandy Road, and follow it until it intersects with Hwy 69A. Turn left on HWY 69A and travel approximately 1.25 miles towards Paris, turn left onto a gravel drive that ends at the boat ramp. Various access points for the Big Sandy portion of the WMA can be found on Highway 69A and Hagler Ridge Road. For Gin Creek Unit (Lat: 36.207461°N Long: -88.145523°W) If you are coming from Camden, Take Highway 641 North towards Paris for approximately 9.8 miles, turn right onto Rushing Road and follow it for .5 miles, turn right onto Copper Spring Road and follow it for 2.5 miles, the WMA entrance will be on your right. This is the only access point for this Unit. The Gin Creek Unit is a part of the entire Big Sandy WMA, which compromises 2,370 aces.
The WMA is open Year round but some roads are closed to all access. License fees may apply.
Contact Information: Region 1 Office Phone: 731-423-5725, Toll-Free: 800-372-3928, E-mail the office Area Manager: Evan Gaskin (731) 593-0588
Site Description: The 2,370-acre WMA is located in Benton and Henry counties and is comprised of river bottom hardwoods, croplands, and swamps following the Big Sandy River and the shore of Kentucky Lake around the town of Big Sandy. Some county roads go around the WMA making access easy to most areas. Foot access is best before the WMA is flooded for wintering waterfowl in late October, then it is best explored by boat. Year-round wildlife viewing opportunities. Winter is best for viewing waterfowl; however the rest of the year deer, turkeys, furbearers, and songbirds are abundant. Shorebirds are a common sight on the many shorelines and mudflats that encompass the WMA.
This WMA is managed in cooperation with The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), which oversees the yearly drawdown of the area; ATVs are not permitted.
Regulations
All activities are prohibited in the sub-impoundments five (5) days before each opening day of the statewide duck season. Beginning on the opening day of the regular waterfowl season and continuing until the last day of the regular waterfowl season, public access in the subimpoundment will only be allowed from 4:00 a.m. until two hours after legal shooting hours have ended. During the late duck season, all activities are prohibited in the sub-impoundments when waterfowl hunting is closed.
Any temporary blinds, hides, and decoys must be at least 200 yards from any permanent blinds and be removed at the end of shooting hours each day.
Fishing, trapping and hunting of all species other than waterfowl prohibited in the sub-impoundments during the duck season occurring in Nov.–Feb.
CWD Carcass Transportation Regulations Apply
Big Game, Small Game, and Trapping are the same as statewide seasons, except as noted
Closed to Fall Turkey hunting
Turkey - One non-quota hunt: April 12–May 4. One male bearded turkey, counts toward statewidebag limit
Turkey (Young Sportsman) - Same as statewide season
Quail - Nov. 2, 2024 – Jan. 15, 2025
Special Dove (youth) - Sept. 1, 2024 noon until sunset. Each youth must be accompanied by a non-hunting adult, designated fields only
Dove - Sept. 2, 2024 through the remainder of the first and second segments of the statewide season, designated fields only
Waterfowl - Same as statewide season, except hunting of waterfowl during the duck season occurring in Nov.–Feb. permitted only on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and the first and last day of each segment of the duck and goose seasons occurring in Nov.–Feb
Dog training - Sept. 1, 2024 – March 15, 2025, except closed during duck season occurring in Nov.–Feb