TOURISM, ARTS AND HERITAGE CABINET

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

(As Amended at ARRS, December 6, 2011)

 

      301 KAR 2:142. Spring wild turkey hunting.

 

      RELATES TO: KRS 150.175(7), (8), (15), (17), (18) [150.175(7)(8)(15)(17)(18)], 150.305, 150.360, 150.990

      STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 150.025(1), 150.390(1)

      NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 150.025(1) authorizes the department to promulgate administrative regulations establishing hunting seasons, bag limits, and the methods of taking wildlife. KRS 150.390(1) authorizes the department to establish restrictions on hunting wild turkey. This administrative regulation establishes season dates, shooting hours, and other requirements for spring turkey hunting.

 

      Section 1. Definitions. (1) "Wildlife Management Area" or "WMA" means a tract of land:

      (a) Controlled by the department through ownership, lease, license, or cooperative agreement; and

      (b) That has "Wildlife Management Area" or "WMA" as part of its official name.

      (2) "Youth" means a person under the age of sixteen (16) by the day of the hunt.

 

      Section 2. Youth Turkey Season. There shall be a statewide youth-only turkey hunting season for two (2) consecutive days beginning on the first Saturday in April.

 

      Section 3. Statewide Turkey Season. There shall be a statewide turkey hunting season for twenty-three (23) consecutive days beginning on the Saturday closest to April 15.

 

      Section 4. Turkey Hunting Requirements. (1) A person shall not take more than:

      (a) One (1) male turkey per day;

      (b) One (1) turkey with a visible beard per day;

      (c) Two (2) male turkeys per season; or

      (d) Two (2) turkeys with visible beards per season.

      (2) A person shall not take a turkey using any device except the following equipment as authorized by 301 KAR 2:140, Section 5:

      (a) A firearm;

      (b) Archery equipment; or

      (c) A crossbow.

      (3) A person shall only hunt turkeys from one half (1/2) hour before sunrise until one-half (1/2) hour after sunset.

      (4) A person who is assisting or calling a turkey for a legal hunter shall not be required to possess a hunting license or turkey permit.

 

      Section 5. Wildlife Management Area Requirements. (1) Unless specified in this section, spring season dates and the requirements of 301 KAR 2:140 shall apply to Wildlife Management Areas.

      (2) Barren River WMA. On the Peninsula Unit, including Narrows, Goose Island, and Grass Island, a person shall not use a breech-loading firearm to take a turkey.

      (3) Higginson-Henry WMA. A person shall not use a firearm to take a turkey.

      (4) Livingston County WMA. Statewide spring turkey season is open to youth only.

      (5) Pioneer Weapons WMA. A person shall not use the following to take a turkey:

      (a) A breech-loading firearm; or

      (b) A scope or optical enhancement.

      (6) Robinson Forest WMA. A person shall not hunt turkeys on the main block of the WMA.

      (7) West Kentucky WMA. The area shall be open for the youth-only turkey season pursuant to Section 2 of this administrative regulation.

 

      Section 6. Special Area Requirements. (1) Unless specified in this section, all the requirements of this administrative regulation shall apply.

      (2) A person shall comply with all federal requirements when hunting on the following federal areas:

      (a) Bluegrass Army Depot;

      (b) Fort Campbell;

      (c) Fort Knox;

      (d) Land Between the Lakes; and

      (e) Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge.

      (3) A spring turkey season, not to exceed twenty-three (23) days, shall be allowed between the last Saturday in March and the second Sunday in May on the following areas:

      (a) Bluegrass Army Depot;

      (b) Fort Campbell;

      (c) Fort Knox;

      (d) Land Between the Lakes;

      (e) Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge; and

      (f) Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center.

      (4) A turkey taken on the following areas shall be considered a bonus bird:

      (a) Bluegrass Army Depot;

      (b) Fort Campbell; and

      (c) Fort Knox.

      (5) A person shall not take more than one (1) turkey on the following areas:

      (a) Land Between the Lakes; and

      (b) Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge.

      (6) Otter Creek Outdoor Recreation Area. All statewide season requirements shall apply, except that shooting hours shall be from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to noon each day.

[RELATES TO: KRS 150.175(1)(r), 150.305, 150.360, 150.390, 150.990(11)

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 150.025(1), 150.390(1)

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 150.025(1) and 150.390(1) authorize the department to promulgate administrative regulations governing wild turkey hunting. This administrative regulation establishes season dates, shooting hours and other requirements for spring turkey hunting.

 

      Section 1. Definition. "The youth turkey season" means a season that is open to a person who has not reached his 16th birthday by the day of the hunt.

 

      Section 2. A person may take a wild turkey:

      (1) For twenty-three (23) consecutive days beginning on the Saturday closest to April 15.

      (2) Using firearms or archery equipment as specified in Section 5 of 301 KAR 2:140; and

      (3) From one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise until one-half (1/2) hour after sunset.

 

      Section 3. Youth Turkey Season. There shall be a two (2) day statewide youth turkey hunting weekend beginning the first Saturday in April.

 

      Section 4. A person shall not take more than:

      (1) One (1) male turkey or turkey with a visible beard per day; or

      (2) Two (2) male turkeys or turkeys with visible beards during the spring season.

 

      Section 5. (1) Unless otherwise specified in this section, spring season dates and the requirements of 301 KAR 2:140 shall apply to Wildlife Management Areas.

      (2) A person shall not hunt a wild turkey during the spring on the areas listed in this section except on the dates specified in this administrative regulation.

      (3) A turkey listed as a bonus bird shall not count against statewide limits.

      (4) Barren River Wildlife Management Area. On the peninsula unit, including Narrows, Goose and Grass Islands, a person shall not:

      (a) Hunt turkey with a breech-loading firearm; or

      (b) Except as authorized by the department, carry a breech-loading firearm with ammunition in the chamber or magazine.

      (5) Fort Campbell Wildlife Management Area.

      (a) Season. The third Saturday in March through the second Sunday in May.

      (b) A turkey taken on Fort Campbell shall be a bonus bird.

      (c) A person shall:

      1. Obtain a post combination hunting-fishing permit before hunting; and

      2. Attach a Fort Campbell game check card to the turkey before leaving the post.

      (6) Fort Knox Wildlife Management Area.

      (a) Seasons. The last Saturday in March through the second Sunday in May.

      (b) A person shall:

      1. Hunt in assigned areas; and

      2. Not take more than one (1) turkey during the spring season.

      (c) A turkey taken on Fort Knox shall be a bonus bird.

      (7) Higginson-Henry Wildlife Management Area. During the spring season a person shall not use or possess a firearm while turkey hunting.

      (8) Land Between the Lakes.

      (a) Seasons.

      1. Quota hunts of no more than six (6) days beginning on or after the last Saturday in March.

      2. Up to sixteen (16) days between the first Saturday in April and the second Saturday in May.

      (b) A person shall:

      1. Check in and out, as required by the USDA Forest Service;

      2. Hunt in assigned areas;

      3. Check turkeys at a Land Between the Lakes check station before leaving Land Between the Lakes, as required by the USDA Forest Service;

      4. Affix a Land Between the Lakes game check card as required by the USDA Forest Service; and

      5. Not take more than one (1) turkey in the spring.

      (c) Shooting hours shall be from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise until one-half (1/2) hour after sunset.

      (9) Livingston County Wildlife Management Area. Open for the Youth Turkey Season. Statewide Spring Turkey Season open to youth only.

      (10) Pioneer Weapons Wildlife Management Area. During the spring season a person shall not use a breech-loading shotgun.

      (11) Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge.

      (a) Season. Quota hunt, three (3) consecutive days in April.

      (b) A person shall:

      1. Not take more than one (1) turkey; and

      2. Obtain written permission from the area manager before hunting.

      (12) The main block of Robinson Forest shall be closed to turkey hunting.

      (13) West Kentucky Wildlife Management Area shall be open during the youth turkey season.

 

      Section 6. A person may assist or call turkeys for another person who is legally hunting. This assistant:

      (1) May possess a hunting license or turkey permit, but does not have to possess a hunting license if he is assisting a licensed hunter; and

      (2) Shall not carry a firearm, archery equipment or crossbow if he has taken the bag limit for that season.]

 

      CONTACT PERSON: Rose Mack, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Arnold L. Mitchell Building, #1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, phone (502) 564-3400, fax (502) 564-9136, email fwpubliccomments@ky.gov.