Ashland Wildlife Management Area
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Ashland Wildlife Management Area is a 4,500-acre site located in the western part of Boyd County in Kentucky.
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Summary
The area is managed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and is popular among visitors for its diverse range of wildlife and recreational activities.
Visitors to Ashland Wildlife Management Area can engage in a variety of activities such as hunting, fishing, hiking, bird watching, and wildlife photography. The area is home to a wide range of wildlife species, including deer, turkey, squirrels, rabbits, and various types of waterfowl.
One of the main points of interest at Ashland Wildlife Management Area is the large wetland complex, which features several shallow ponds and marshes that provide habitat for various bird species. The area is also home to a number of historic buildings, including a log cabin, a schoolhouse, and a church.
Interesting facts about Ashland Wildlife Management Area include the fact that it was once the site of a large iron furnace, which operated from 1826 to 1868. The area was also used as a training ground by Union soldiers during the Civil War.
The best time of year to visit Ashland Wildlife Management Area depends largely on the activities you wish to engage in. Hunting season typically takes place from September to January, while fishing is best during the spring and summer months. Overall, the area is best visited during the mild months of spring and fall when temperatures are comfortable and wildlife activity is at its peak.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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