Frankfort, Kentucky- Hikers, hunters and wildlife watchers have an additional 1,608 acres to wander in Metcalfe and Cumberland counties. Marrowbone State Forest and Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is now open to the public.
The Kentucky Division of Forestry and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources jointly manage this new area. Marrowbone is open under statewide regulations for all hunting and trapping seasons.
“The most cited reason people give us for choosing not to hunt is the lack of a place to go,” said Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Jon Gassett. “We are aggressively seeking more public land for hunting, fishing and wildlife-related recreation. We will never have enough money to be able to purchase enough land outright, so we must be innovative in the ways we purchase, lease and acquire lands.”
Marrowbone State Forest and WMA is located west of Burkesville, off KY 90. The area has been an active stewardship forest for 30 years, and was named Kentucky Tree Farm of the Year in 2003. Marrowbone, which is Kentucky’s seventh state forest, has a primary mission of education and demonstration of sound forest and wildlife management practices. “The Division of Forestry is pleased to once again partner with the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. This property will show the ability to have working forests while promoting wildlife and outdoor recreation, “said Leah W. MacSwords, director of the Division of Forestry.
The land was purchased for more than $1.3 million in late 2007 with funds from the Kentucky Heritage Land Conservation Fund and the Forest Legacy Program administered by the U.S. Forest Service in cooperation with its state partners.
Marrowbone State Forest and WMA is strategically located near outstanding state facilities such as the Barren River, Dale Hollow and Lake Cumberland state resort parks.
Marrowbone State Forest and Wildlife Management Area is open to the public for day use only unless hunting regulations specify extended hours. Allowable activities include regulated hunting, hiking and wildlife viewing. ATVs and horseback riding are prohibited. For additional information and maps, please visit http://fw.ky.gov/kfwis/viewable/ViewableWMA.asp on the Internet.
