Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, March 1, 2024
RELATES TO:
KRS
150.010,
150.170,
150.175,
150.305,
150.360,
150.990
NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:
KRS
150.025(1) authorizes the
department to promulgate administrative regulations to establish open seasons
for the taking of wildlife, to regulate bag limits and methods of take, and to
make such requirements apply to a limited area.
KRS
150.390(1) requires that
wild turkeys shall not be taken in any manner contrary to any provisions of KRS
Chapter 150 or Title 301 KAR. This administrative regulation establishes legal
methods of take and checking and recording requirements for wild turkey
hunting.
Section 1. Definitions.
(1) "Baited area" means an area where feed,
grains, or other substances capable of luring wild turkeys have been
placed.
(2) "Crossbow" means a bow
capable of holding an arrow at full or partial draw without human
aid.
(3) "Fall turkey permit" means
a permit that, in conjunction with appropriate licenses, seasons, and methods,
allows a hunter to harvest up to the fall season bag limit of
turkeys.
(4) "Junior turkey permit"
means a permit that, in conjunction with appropriate licenses, seasons, and
methods, allows a youth hunter to harvest one (1) turkey during a license
year.
(5) "Spring turkey permit"
means a permit that, in conjunction with appropriate licenses, seasons, and
methods, allows a hunter to harvest up to the spring season bag limit of
turkeys.
(6) "Youth" means a person
under the age of sixteen (16) by the day of the hunt.
Section 2. Wild Turkey Season Dates and Bag
Limits.
(1) A person shall only take a wild
turkey during the seasons established in:
(a)
301 KAR
2:142;
(b)
301 KAR
2:144; and
(c)
301 KAR
2:111.
(2) A person shall not harvest more than the
established bag limits, pursuant to:
(a)
301 KAR
2:142;
(b)
301 KAR
2:144; and
(c)
301 KAR
2:111.
Section 3. License and Wild Turkey Permit
Requirements. Unless exempted by
KRS
150.170, a person hunting a wild turkey shall
possess proof of purchase of a valid Kentucky hunting license and a valid:
(1) Spring turkey permit during the spring
season;
(2) Fall turkey permit
during a fall season; or
(3) Junior
turkey permit, if applicable.
Section
4. Harvest Recording.
(1)
(a) Immediately after harvesting a wild
turkey, and prior to moving the carcass, a person shall record in writing on
one (1) of the items established in paragraph (b) of this subsection, the:
1. Species taken;
2. Date taken;
3. County where taken; and
4. Sex of the wild turkey.
(b) A person who has harvested a
turkey shall record the information established in paragraph (a) of this
subsection on:
1. The hunter's log section on
the reverse side of a license or permit;
2. A hunter's log printed from the
Internet;
3. A hunter's log
available from any KDSS agent; or
4. An index or similar card.
(2) A person shall
retain and possess the completed hunter's log while the person is in the field
during the current hunting season.
Section 5. Checking a Wild Turkey.
(1) A person shall check a harvested wild
turkey by:
(a) Completing the telecheck
process after calling (800) 245-4263 or completing the checkin process on the
department's Web site at fw.ky.gov:
1. Before
midnight on the day the wild turkey is recovered; and
2. Prior to processing the carcass;
and
(b) Writing the
check-in authorization number on the hunter's log as established in Section 4
of this administrative regulation.
(2) A person shall:
(a) Not knowingly provide false information
in completing the hunter's log, checking a wild turkey, or creating a carcass
tag; or
(b) Check a wild turkey
before transporting it out of Kentucky.
(3) If a hunter transfers possession of a
harvested wild turkey, the hunter shall attach to the carcass a hand-made tag
containing:
(a) A valid confirmation
number;
(b) The hunter's name;
and
(c) The hunter's telephone
number.
Section
6. Weapon and Ammunition Restrictions.
(1) A person shall only use for the purpose
of taking a wild turkey:
(a) A crossbow or
archery equipment loaded with a non-barbed broadhead that has a minimum cutting
diameter of seven-eighths (7/8) inch, whether:
1. Expandable; or
2. Non-expandable; or
(b)
1. A.410
shotgun or larger, but no larger than a ten (10) gauge shotgun; and
2. A shell containing shot of size no larger
than number four (4).
(2) A crossbow shall be equipped with a
working safety device.
Section
7. Hunter Restrictions.
(1) A
person shall not hunt wild turkeys on a baited area or by the aid of baiting:
(a) While bait is present; or
(b) For thirty (30) days after the bait has
been removed.
(2) A
person may hunt wild turkeys on an area where grain, feed, or other substance
exists as the result of:
(a) A bona fide
agricultural practice; or
(b)
Manipulating a crop for a wildlife management purpose.
(3) A field shall be considered baited if
grain, feed, or other substance grown on the field is removed and later
returned to the field.
(4) A person
hunting wild turkeys:
(a) May use a hand or
mouth-operated call; and
(b) Shall
not:
1. Use a dog to aid in taking a wild
turkey during the spring season;
2.
Hunt from a boat;
3. Use or possess
an electronic or digital calling device;
4. Use a live decoy; or
5. Harvest a roosting turkey.
(5) In an area open to
wild turkey hunting and where wild turkeys are reasonably expected to occur, a
person shall not mimic the sound of a wild turkey from:
(a) March 1 until the opening of the youth
turkey season; and
(b) The close of
the youth turkey season and the opening of the statewide turkey
season.
(6) While
hunting wild turkeys, a youth with a firearm shall be accompanied by an adult
who can immediately take control of the firearm.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY:
KRS
150.025(1),
150.390(1)
