With chemical weapons fully destroyed, public hunting will resume at a Kentucky army depot
A new hunting spot will be available for select area residents in a couple months, as the Blue Grass Army Depot is reopening its gates for small game and waterfowl hunting seasons.
It’s the first time in nearly six years that the depot is opening up its land for public hunting, the depot said. It shut its gates to public hunting in as the site became the home to a chemical weapons destruction program at the Blue Grass Chemical Agent Pilot Plant. Only depot employees have been able to access the land for hunting since then.
But with chemical weapons destruction having finished earlier this year, the depot plans to hold a lottery to pick hunters who can utilize the space. Those interested can find more information online. The applications must be mailed to the depot, care of Raysha Childers, by Dec. 11. The depot said there is no cost to apply but hunters must pay a $25 fee if their application is selected from the lottery process.
The small game hunting season in Kentucky opened on Monday and the duck and goose hunting seasons do not open until Nov. 23, according to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. Access to the depot’s land won’t open until Jan. 20 and Madison County residents must submit an application to be considered for access. The army depot confirmed it will also open its land for deer and turkey hunting season.
All selected sportsmen must obtain a security badge from the depot before the hunting date and must have completed a hunter’s safety course from any state before being permitted to hunt on the depot’s land, the depot said.
People seeking more information about hunting on the depot’s land are encouraged to call 859-779-6038 or check out the depot hunting fact sheet.
In July, officials with the Blue Grass Chemical Agent-Destruction Pilot Plant announced they had destroyed the last rocket in the chemical weapons stockpile, an M55 rocket containing GB nerve agent, also known as sarin. The plant began safely destroying more than 523 tons of chemical agent stored in rockets at Blue Grass Army Depot over four years prior.
Vice President Kamala Harris, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Gov. Andy Beshear (D) later praised the depot’s successful mission, with McConnell calling his involvement with the project one of his greatest honors of his career in politics.
