WMA Turkey Hunt Application Period Now Open

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas hunters have one month to apply for limited permits on several Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wildlife management areas for the 2017 turkey season, beginning Dec. 15.

April may seem like an eternity for dyed-in-the-wool turkey hunters, but now is the time to start the process of bagging your bird on public land. Some of the best public areas for turkey hunting are too small to support many hunters, so access during the hunt is restricted to those who draw permits through a lottery system to ensure high-quality hunting experiences for those who are successful.

“There are many large wildlife management areas in the Ouachita National Forest and Ozark National Forest where hunters can spread out and find their birds,” said Brad Carner, chief of wildlife management for the AGFC, “But some of our smaller public areas that hold birds can get crowded pretty quickly. Limiting the number of hunters on these areas increases the safety of the hunt and reduces pressure so the birds will hopefully respond to calling better and make it a more enjoyable hunt.”

Applications will only be processed from Dec. 15, 2016 until Jan. 15, 2017. Applicants will be notified of their application status in late February. Permit winners must pay a processing fee of $10. Visit http://www.agfc.com/licenses/Pages/PermitsSpecialWMA.aspx to apply.