864 Wildlife Lodge Road
Ballard County, Kentucky
270-224-2244
Ballard Wildlife Management Area is part of the Mississippi River floodplain and contains approximately 8,200 acres comprised of bottomland hardwoods, interspersed with numerous oxbow lakes, tupelo and cypress swamps, grasslands, and agricultural fields. The management emphasis for the area is to provide wintering habitat for migrating waterfowl. However like all natural wetland ecosystems it is rich in wildlife diversity. Ballard WMA is home for numerous for birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. Nesting neotropical songbirds in spring/summer/fall, large concentrations of migrating waterfowl in the fall through late winter, and transient white pelicans in spring can be seen here. Wild turkey and mourning doves are also abundant. White-tailed deer and raccoon are some of the most common mammals at Ballard WMA. Persistent viewers may catch a glimpse of a coyote, bobcat, or beaver.
Most of the area is closed to visitation from October 15 to March 15 annually. It contains 25 miles of maintained gravel roads where visitors may access the area March 16 to October 14 to view wildlife. There is a 2 mile driving loop that is open year round that takes visitors to elevated viewing platforms and a photography blind located on Goose Trap Slough. The man-made impoundment is maintained to provide resting habitat for wintering ducks and Canada geese. A 1/2 mile interpretive walking trail with an elevated wetland walkway accesses Beaver Dam Slough. Beaver Dam Slough is an excellent example of Cypress Slough and Bottomland Hardwood Forest habitat. Parking is available and a portion of the trail leading to the walkway into Beaver Dam Slough is accessible to the physically challenged via a hard gravel surface. An adjacent native grass field provides visitors with a glimpse of native grass prairie that was once a larger part of the landscape in Kentucky.
The 25 miles of interior maintained roads give birders an excellent opportunity to access some of the best birding in the state as well as viewing of other wildlife. During spring and summer grassland and wetland bird species abound. The habitat varies from natural wetlands to manmade wetlands, native grass plantings to maintained fields for hay production and agricultural fields of wheat, corn and soybeans. There are nine lakes on the management area, varying from 20 to 60 acres. Boats may be used on some of the larger lakes and one lake has a handicapped accessible fishing pier. Fishing is allowed and fish that anglers can include white bass, largemouth bass, black crappie, white crappie, bluegill, longear sunfish, and warmouth. Hunting for deer and waterfowl is allowed in season.
It is advisable to obtain a map of the area before your visit by contacting the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources at 1-800-858-1549, pick up a copy at the Ballard WMA office, or visit the website listed below. Ballard is susceptible to flooding during high water events. The area may also be closed for special hunting events. Contact the Ballard office for information concerning area accessibility by calling 1-270-224-2244, Monday –Friday, 7 am to 3:30 pm Central time.
Bird Watching
Ballard Wildlife Management Area offers excellent year-round birding. The majority of the Ballard Wildlife Management Area is closed from mid-October to mid-March, but a public viewing loop is accessible 365 days a year unless it’s flooded. Waterfowl, especially Canadian Geese, and Bald Eagles can be observed from along the public loop throughout the winter. The extensive tracts of bottomland hardwood forest harbor a great diversity of forest birds including Acadian Flycatchers and Great Crested Flycatchers, Northern Parula, and American Redstarts. Spring and fall migration can be excellent for warblers and other songbirds. During the summer and fall, the impoundments at Ballard WMA often begin to lower because of reduced rainfall, and herons, egrets, and shorebirds are sometimes abundant.
Visiting the Ballard Wildlife Management Area
Hours:
May 16 - October 14: Dawn - dusk
There is a 2 mile driving loop that is open year round that takes you to elevated viewing platforms and photography blind located on Goose Trap Slough.
There is no charge to visit the Ballard Wildlife Management Area
Learn more about the Western Kentucky area
Ballard Wildlife Management Area - The official website of the Ballard Wildlife Management Area maintained by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.