Peabody WMA is located along the Western Kentucky Parkway and has numerous access points from state routes (SR) 70, 369 and U.S. Route 62. There is an intricate system of gravel "haul" roads throughout the area as well, so be sure and obtain an area map before heading out.

Also, be aware that the WMA requires a $12.50 user permit that can be purchased wherever hunting and fishing licenses are sold. Portions of the WMA are closed as a waterfowl refuge from Oct. 15 until March 15, so be sure and check the fall hunting guide for additional information. Questions regarding the WMA can be directed to the local Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) office at (270) 273-3568.

BEAVER CREEK WMA
The heavily forested hills and hollows of eastern Kentucky provide an ideal environment for eastern wild turkeys. Bluegrass State hunters are blessed with almost 700,000 acres of public land in this region in the form of the Daniel Boone National Forest (DBNF). Last year, 151 turkeys were harvested on the DBNF during the fall firearms season, and while that may not seem like a whole lot for such a large tract of land, the figure is more a product of light hunting pressure than it is a lack of birds.

Hunters who wish to take advantage of this vast public hunting land should make sure they get plenty of exercise before the season. The terrain is mountainous with many sections quite steep and rugged. It is this same ruggedness combined with the remoteness of many areas that keeps the pressure light on the DBNF, especially for those who are willing to put in a little legwork.

Spanning from the Tennessee line in McCreary County, all the way north to Fleming and Lewis counties, finding a starting point can be pretty intimidating. Several counties in the southern portion of the forest posted excellent harvest numbers for the 2004 firearms season, including McCreary County with 99 birds checked in, Pulaski County with 96 birds, and Rockcastle County with 86 birds.

Within two of those counties, McCreary and Pulaski, you can find an excellent turkey hunting opportunity in the form of Beaver Creek WMA. Thirty-five of the nearly 200 birds taken in those two counties came from the 17,347-acre area.

Like the DBNF that encompasses it, Beaver Creek WMA consists of steep, mountainous terrain covered in mixed hardwoods, with approximately 150 acres of open fields. Access is by a gravel road that transects the area, as well as several ridge and valley dirt trails inside the WMA. Within the center of the WMA lies the Beaver Creek Wilderness Area. This area is closed to all motorized vehicles, and hence, with a little legwork, provides an opportunity to get away from any potential crowding.

For more information on Beaver Creek WMA, contact the KDFWR regional office at (606) 376-8083.

GRAYSON LAKE WMA
In the northeast portion of the state, just east of the Daniel Boone National Forest, lies another good public turkey hunting opportunity, Grayson Lake WMA. The 14,763-acre area, in Carter and Elliot counties, had a combined harvest of 114 birds during the fall firearms season. Fourteen of those birds were taken from the WMA.

The terrain surrounding Grayson Lake is hilly and steep with some gently sloping upland areas and flat creek bottoms, and the habitat is primarily in hardwoods, with some openings located in the bottoms and upland flats.

The WMA can be accessed from SRs 7 and 1496. Hunters with access to a boat should consider using that to their advantage by getting into more remote areas of the WMA. Camping is available at nearby Grayson Lake State Park. For more information on hunting Grayson Lake WMA, contact the local KDFWR office at (606) 474-8535.

CONCLUSION
With nearly 250,000 birds spread from one end of the state to the other, and over 75 public hunting areas, there are sure to be some excellent fall turkey hunting opportunities near you.

The three areas discussed above are my top public-land picks for this fall season, but there are plenty of other good opportunities to be found. So if you've put off giving fall turkey hunting a try, head out to one of these areas this fall and discover a whole new season of excitement.