Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

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Hunting

2008 Spring Wild Turkey Season Dates

Statewide, the spring season bag limit is two gobblers or bearded turkeys. Hunters may hunt in different zones or WMAs as long as they comply with zone or WMA restrictions, while not exceeding the statewide bag limit of two.

No more than one legal turkey may be taken per day and no more than one jake (sub-adult male) may be taken during the spring season, including the special youth hunt.

Description Season Dates Limits
Zones 1, 2, 3, 4B, 5, 5B, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 9, and 10   

April 12-May 2, 2008

Limit 2
No more than one
legal turkey per day
 Zones 1A, 4, 4A, 5A and 9A   April 12-25, 2008 Limit 1
No more than one
legal turkey per day
Zone 17 April 5-27, 2008 Limit 2
No more than one
legal turkey per day

 

Youth Hunt 

Description Season Dates Limits
Youth Hunt - Zones 1, 1A, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 4B,
5, 5A, 5B, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 9, 9A and 10
April 5-6, 2008  Limit 2
No more than one
legal turkey per day
   Youth Hunt - Zone 17 March 29-30, 2008   Limit 2
No more than one
legal turkey per day

 

Download a Spring 2008 Turkey Zone Map

2008 Spring Turkey Quota And Youth Hunt Permits

Quota and Youth Hunt Permits

Quota and youth permit hunts are held on several wildlife management areas. The purposes of these hunts are to better manage turkey populations, improve hunt quality by preventing overcrowding and provide high quality hunting opportunities for youngsters.

Limit is one legal turkey for quota and youth permit hunts. This is not a bonus turkey; it counts as part of the season bag limit. Only permit holders will be allowed to engage in any hunting-related activity on these areas during quota permit hunts. Additional instructions are printed on the permit. If drawn, there is a $10 processing fee.

The youth permit hunts are restricted to youths under the age of 16 as of Dec. 15, 2007. For both the youth permit hunts and the quota permit hunts, youths must have completed a hunter education course and be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older.
Because these are preseason youth permit hunts, these areas are closed to all other hunting-related activities including turkey scouting and photography during the permit hunts.

Click here to learn more about the 2008 Spring Turkey Quota And Youth Hunt Permits

Permit Lookup Status

Did I Get Drawn?

Once the deadline for applying has passed, the process of entering all the applications into a database begins.  The applications are entered electronically and then verified manually by staff of the Wildlife Mnagement Division.  Once this process is complete and all the applications are entered into the database, a private firm takes that database and completes the draw.  Online applicants are then notified via e-mail and applicants who mailed their applications are sent a notification via postal mail. 

Preference Points

The permit system is a computerized drawing to select applicants who have accumulated the highest number of preference points. Preference points are accumulated by turkey hunt type (quota or youth). Once an applicant’s first choice is drawn and paid for, preference points are reduced to zero for that hunt type. If drawn for a second choice or if a first choice is not paid for, points will remain the same. Applicants submitting late, incorrect or duplicate applications are disqualified for the current application period and do not receive a preference point for the next year’s hunt, but they do retain previously accumulated points. An applicant does not need to apply every year to keep preference point status.

Applicants who have accumulated 12 violations points in the Commission’s point system for hunting and fishing violations will be disqualified for the current year’s hunt and their preference points will be reduced to zero.

Preference points are accumulated by the applicant’s identification number, which may be a driver’s license, social security number or hunter education number.

2008-2009 Fall Wild Turkey Seasons

Description Season Dates Limits
Archery / Crossbow
All Zones
October 1, 2008-February 28, 2009
One turkey of either sex.
Firearms
Turkey Zones 3, 5B, 6, and 17
October 11-17, 2008
One turkey of either sex.
Firearms
Turkey Zones 1, 1A, 2, 4, 4A, 4B, 5, 5A, 7, 7A, 8, 9, 9A and 10
Closed
            

Click Here for more information about the Season Setting Schedule