Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

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Arkansas Game and Fish Commission - Code of Regulations - Section 4

Section 04.00 - Wild Turkey

 

04.01            Resident Wild Turkey License Requirements.

04.02            Non-Resident Wild Turkey License Requirements.

04.03            Hunting Wild Turkey Over Bait Prohibited.

04.04            Weapon and Shot Restrictions for Taking Wild Turkey.

04.05            Prohibited Methods for Taking Wild Turkey.

04.06            Wild Turkey Hen Restrictions.

04.07            Domestic Turkey Stocking Prohibited.

04.08            Special Youth Turkey Hunt Restrictions.

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04.01            RESIDENT WILD TURKEY LICENSE REQUIREMENTS. It shall

04-05                  be unlawful for any resident to take, attempt to take or possess any wild turkey without having obtained a current

                            Resident Sportsman's License; Resident 65 Plus Lifetime Sportsman's Hunting License (or Resident 65 Plus Lifetime Combination License); Resident Disabled Lifetime Sportsman's Hunting License (or Resident Disabled Lifetime    Combination License); or Resident Disabled Hunting 3-Year License (or Resident Disabled Combination  3-Year 

                            License); or a Lifetime Resident Hunting and Fishing Sportsman's Permit. (Ref: Code 02.13, Arkansas Wildlife Harvest Recording and Checking Requirements, and Code 19.02, Requirements to Possess Another's Wildlife.)

                      EXCEPTION:

                      (1)       Residents under 16 years of age.

                      PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00.

04.02            NON-RESIDENT WILD TURKEY LICENSE REQUIREMENTS. It

04-07                 shall be unlawful for any non-resident, 16 years of age or older,  to take, attempt to take or possess a wild turkey without

                            having obtained a current Non-Resident Annual All Game License; Non-Resident 5-Day All Game License; or a

                            Non-Resident 3-Day All Game License.

                      PENALTY: $500.00 to $1,000.00.

04.03            HUNTING WILD TURKEY OVER BAIT PROHIBITED. It shall be

07-01                 unlawful to take or attempt to take wild turkey by baiting or hunting on or over a baited area. An area is considered baited

                            for 10 days following complete removal of the bait if the person knows or reasonably should know that the area is a             baited area. 

                            Bait is considered to be shelled, shucked or unshucked corn, chops, wheat or other feed is present so as to constitute

                            a lure, attraction or enticement to any area where hunters are attempting to take wild turkey.

                      PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00.


04.04            FIREARM AND SHOT RESTRICTIONS FOR TAKING WILD TURKEY.

10-06                 It shall be unlawful to take or attempt to take wild turkey with the use of rifles, muzzle-loading rifles, or pistols,

                           shotguns larger than 10 gauge or shot larger than No. 2 common shot (.15 inch in diameter).

                      PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00.

04.05            PROHIBITED METHODS FOR TAKING WILD TURKEY. It shall be

04-05           unlawful to take or attempt to take wild turkey using any of the following methods:

                      (1)       With the use of traps, snares, nets, hooks, explosives, dogs or live decoys;

                      (2)       While in possession ofmechanical or electrical callers; or

                      (3)       From a boat, or other flotation device.

                     PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00.

04.06            WILD TURKEY HEN RESTRICTIONS. It shall be unlawful

04-99           to take, attempt to take or possess a wild hen turkey at any time.

                      EXCEPTIONS:

                      (1)       In a zone or area declared open by the Commission to the taking of either-sex turkey.

                      (2)       If said wild turkey hen in possession was legally taken and checked in a zone or area declared open by the

                                 Commission to the taking of either-sex turkey.

                      (3)       If said turkey in possession was legally taken in another state and accompanied by verification.

                      (4)       Hens bearing beards in a zone or area declared open by the Commission to the taking of bearded turkeys.

                      PENALTY: $150.00 to $1,000.00, and hunting privileges may be suspended in accordance with Code 11.05, Revocation of Privileges.

04.07            DOMESTIC TURKEY STOCKING PROHIBITED. It shall be

07-80           unlawful to release any domestic-reared turkey to the wild.

                      PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00.

04.08            SPECIAL YOUTH TURKEY HUNT RESTRICTIONS. It shall be unlawful

10-03/10-07      for anyone other than youths, 15 years of age or younger, to hunt turkeys during the special youth turkey hunt as specified

                         herein:

                     Zones 1, 1A, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 4B, 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 9, 9A and 10: April 5-6, 2008. Zone 17: March 29-30, 2008.

                     Youths who have completed a hunter education course must be accompanied by an adult mentor who is 18 years of age or older. Youths who have not completed a hunter education course must be under the direct supervision of an adult

                    mentor who is 21 years of age or older.

PENALTY:    $100.00 to $1,000.00.