The Caldwell County Sportsman Club is dedicated to promoting the shooting sports by organizing local club shoots and maintaining the range located at the Jones- Keeney WMA. [Information provided by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Website]
Jones-Keeney WMA
New property for Kentucky's oldest wildlife management area
Back in 1931, two far-sighted men worked together to purchase t
he first wildlife management area for the people of Kentucky. At the January 1931 meeting, Jones invited the commission to visit a site near Dawson Springs, which he proposed buying for use as a game refuge. By March, commissioners decided to acquire the property and name it the Jones-Keeney Game Refuge. The area is now called the Jones-Keeney Wildlife Management Area (WMA). For 70 years, the 1,604-acre area has provided both wildlife habitat and outdoor opportunities for the public. Originally, pheasant and quail were stocked on the area. Today, the wooded hillsides are more suitable for deer, turkey and squirrel. The mixed oak woods are shady refuge for summer hikers and picnickers. The trees are mature enough that some unusual plants have been found in the old woods. Of interest to botanists is a shrub called the Black Cohosh, which is typically found only in eastern Kentucky and no where else in the western end of the state. An interpretive trail is being constructed through the WMA that will identify interesting features such as tree species and rock formations. The area includes bluffs and a rockhouse that is a favorite of visitors. The new nature trail will be three to four miles long, so hikers take note. Along U.S. 62 visitors will see a shooting range run by the Caldwell County Sportsmen's Club. The range is open for public use except when the club is using it for special events. In 2000, the first new acquisition in 69 years was added to the WMA. On the eastern end of the property 281 acres of logged-over land was added. As this grows up it should provide good rabbit habitat. Last year, the department received a gift of 267 acres on the south side of the WMA. The Boyd family donated the property from the estate of William Boyd. Boyd grew up in Caldwell County, but later moved to New York and lived there until his death. It was Boyd’s wish that future generations would know the rural landscape he loved. However, only the northern portion of the Boyd property will be available for public use. The southern portion is being held in a life estate by Laughlin Boyd. Many thanks go to the Boyd family for carrying out their brother's wishes. How to get there
Jones-Keeney WMA, located in Caldwell County, is bounded by U.S. 62, county road 1627 and Mount Hebron Church Road. The WMA is well-marked and there are plenty of pull-off parking areas. Public Lands Biologist Pat Hahs manages the property and can provide detailed maps of the area. Hahs can be reached at (270) 753-6913 for additional information. Art Boebinger is the public land coordinator for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
