301 KAR 2:142. Spring wild turkey
hunting.
RELATES
TO: KRS 150.175(7), (8), (15), (17), (18), 150.305, 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) prohibits a person from taking,
pursuing, or molesting a wild turkey in any manner contrary to the provisions
of Chapter 150 or its administrative regulations. 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 authorized by 301 KAR 2:140:
(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. Tracts marked with the letter "A" shall be closed
for the statewide turkey season established in Section 3 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.
(24 Ky.R. 792; Am. 1060; eff. 11-12-97; 25 Ky.R. 1692; 2135; eff. 3-10-99; 26
Ky.R. 2017; 27 Ky.R. 75; eff. 7-17-2000; 3335; 28 Ky.R. 358; eff. 8-15-2001;
2413; eff. 7-15-02; 29 Ky.R. 1317; eff. 1-16-2003; 31 Ky.R. 1705; 1962; eff.
6-8-05; 32 Ky.R. 1923; eff. 7-7-06; 33 Ky.R. 1893; eff. 4-6-07; 38 Ky.R. 1042;
1300; eff. 2-3-12; 39 Ky.R. 1298; 3-8-2013.)
