The 2010 Spring Turkey Permit application period closed Jan. 15, 2010. Notification to selected applicants starts Friday, Jan. 29.
This year, the AGFC is accepting permits only online. The application period is open through Jan. 15, 2010.
Online applications must be submitted on or before Jan. 15, 2010, to be eligible for the computer drawings. Selected applicants must pay a $10 processing fee. Applicants under 16 must have a hunter education card. The AGFC will be sending out draw notifications by email for applicants who list an email address when applying online. All drawn applicants (whether they list an email address or not) will also be mailed a notification to the address listed on the application.
Quota permit hunts are planned on Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA, Camp Robinson and Bell Slough WMA, Cut-Off Creek WMA, Dr. Lester Sitzes Bois d’Arc WMA, Freddie Black Choctaw Island Deer Research Area WMA East Unit, Gulf Mountain WMA, Harold E. Alexander Spring River WMA, Holland Bottoms WMA, Lafayette County WMA, McIlroy Madison County WMA, Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA, Moro Big Pine Natural Area WMA, Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA and Cache River NWR, Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA, Sulphur River WMA, and Sylamore WMA. Permit hunts will also be available on Felsenthal, Pond Creek and Holla Bend national wildlife refuges.
Several WMAs in Arkansas will hold youth turkey hunts, and they include Bayou Meto WMA, Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA, Big Lake WMA, Cut-Off Creek WMA, Freddie Black Choctaw Island Deer Research Area WMA East Unit, Gulf Mountain WMA, Harold E. Alexander Spring River WMA, Holland Bottoms WMA, Lafayette County WMA, McIlroy Madison County WMA, Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA, Moro Big Pine Natural Area WMA, Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA and Cache River NWR, Rick Evans Grandview Prairie WMA and Hope Upland WMA, Sulphur River WMA, Trusten Holder WMA, U of A Pine Tree Experimental Station WDA, WE Brewer Scatter Creek WMA.
Youth and quota permit hunts for Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA are separate from the permit hunts on Felsenthal NWR. To apply for a Felsenthal NWR or Pond Creek NWR spring turkey permit, contact the Felsenthal NWR at (870) 364-3167 or www.fws.gov/felsenthal. To apply for a Holla Bend NWR spring turkey permit, contact Holla Bend NWR at (479) 229-4300 or www.fws.gov/hollabend.
The spring 2010 turkey season will begin with the youth hunt on March 6-12 for zone 17B, March 27-28 for turkey zones 17 and 17A, and April 3-4 for the rest of the state. Zone 1A is closed. A hunter education card is not required for the general youth hunt, only the permit youth hunt. Youths without a hunter education card during the general youth hunt must be under direct supervision of a holder of a valid hunting license at least 21 years of age.
The rest of the season will be April 10-27 in zones 1, 2, 3, 4B, 5, 5B, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 9 and 10; April 10-20 in zones 4, 4A, 5A and 9A; April 3-20 in zone 17; April 3-May 16 in zone 17A and March 13-May 2 in zone 17B. Zone 1A is closed.
The bag limit for the spring season will be two legal turkeys in zones 1, 2, 3, 4B, 5, 5B, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 9, 10 and 17. The bag limit for zones 4, 4A, 5A and 9A is one legal turkey. Hunters will not be able to harvest more than one legal turkey per day, no more than one jake and no more than two turkeys per season in any combination of these zones.
In new zone 17A, hunters may take 4 bearded turkeys, with no more than one legal turkey taken per day.
In new zone 17B, hunters may take 3 adult gobblers, or gobblers with at least a 6 inch beard, with no more than one legal turkey taken per day.
The permit holder understands and agrees that, in accordance with provisions of Arkansas law (including, but not limited to the Arkansas Recreational Use Statutes, Ark. Code Ann. Sections 18-11-301 et seq.), by issuing this permit and allowing the permit holder to enter upon a wildlife management area for recreational purposes, the State of Arkansas and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission do not thereby:(1) extend any assurance that the WMA premises or other lands are safe for any purpose; (2) confer upon the permit holder the legal status of an invitee or licensee to whom a duty of care is owed; (3) assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to person or property caused by an act or omission of third persons; or (4) assume responsibility for or incur liability for any injury to person or property caused by any natural or artificial condition, structure, or personal property on the WMA.