LBL wildlife refuges now closed for the winter

Land Between the Lakes has closed nine wildlife refuges to all activities including hunting, fishing, and boating until March 16.

USDA Forestry officials said the closures provide undisturbed resting and feeding areas for waterfowl, shorebirds, and bald eagles.

The closures include portions of Duncan Bay and Smith Bay on Kentucky Lake in northern LBL and Rushing Bay on Kentucky Lake in the southern portion.

Also closed are Fulton Bay, Honker Bay, the western one-third of Energy Lake, and Long Creek Refuge at the back of Elbow Bay.

In addition, all of Energy Lake and Bards Lake are closed to hunting. The eastern two-thirds of Energy Lake and all of Bards Lake will remain open to fishing.

LBL also announced that Hematite Lake and Honker Lake near the Woodlands Nature Station will be closed to fishing and boating, but the trails will remain open.

They also remind people that hunting is not allowed within 150 yards of any Land Between the Lakes facility, and waterfowl hunting is not allowed within 200 yards of a refuge boundary.



(Photo courtesy landbetweenthelakes.us)