Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, March 1, 2024
RELATES TO:
KRS
150.010,
150.170,
150.175,
150.305,
150.360,
150.390,
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 these 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 KAR Title 301. This administrative regulation establishes
seasons, bag limits, and methods of take, hunter requirements, and special area
restrictions for fall wild turkey hunting.
Section
1. Definitions.
(1) "Crossbow"
means a bow capable of holding an arrow at full or partial draw without human
aid.
(2) "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.
Section 2. Statewide Wild Turkey
Season Dates. Except as established in
301 KAR 2:111, a person shall
only take wild turkey during the seasons established in subsections (1) through
(3) of this section:
(1) Archery season shall
be the first Saturday in September through the third Monday in
January;
(2) Crossbow season shall
be:
(a) From October 1 through the end of the
third full weekend in October; and
(b) From the second Saturday in November
through December 31; and
(3) Firearm season shall be:
(a) For seven (7) consecutive days beginning
the fourth Saturday in October; and
(b) For seven (7) consecutive days beginning
the first Saturday in December.
Section 3. Legal Equipment.
(1) A person shall only use legal weapons and
ammunition as established in
301 KAR 2:140.
(2) Fall archery season. Archery equipment
may be used.
(3) Fall crossbow
season. Crossbows and archery equipment may be used.
(4) Fall firearm season. Archery equipment,
crossbows, and firearms may be used.
Section 4. Fall Wild Turkey Bag Limits. A
person shall not take more than:
(1) Two (2)
wild turkeys statewide, of which only:
(a) One
(1) shall have a visible beard at least three (3) inches long; and
(b) One (1) shall have no visible beard or a
beard less than three (3) inches long; and
(2) One (1) wild turkey per day.
Section 5. Hunter Restrictions.
(1) Dogs may be used to aid in taking wild
turkey during any fall season.
(2)
A person may take a wild turkey from one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise until
one-half (1/2) hour after sunset.
(3) A person hunting wild turkey in the fall
shall comply with all license, permit, and check-in requirements established in
301 KAR 2:140.
(4) A person shall not take a wild turkey
within 600 feet of a baited area, as defined by
301 KAR 2:140, or for thirty (30)
days after the bait has been removed, except that this prohibition shall not
apply:
(a) To bona fide agricultural
practices;
(b) To crop manipulation
for a wildlife management purpose; and
(c) Across property boundaries.
Section 6. Wildlife
Management Areas. Except as established in subsections (1) through (6) of this
section, Wildlife Management Areas shall be open to fall wild turkey hunting
pursuant to this administrative regulation and
301 KAR 2:140.
(1) Ballard Wildlife Management Area. A
person shall not hunt wild turkey during the fall firearm, crossbow, or archery
seasons.
(2) Barren River Wildlife
Management Area. On the Peninsula Unit, including Narrows, Goose and Grass
Islands, a person:
(a) Shall not hunt during
the fall firearm season with a breech-loading firearm;
(b) May use a muzzleloading shotgun or
crossbow during the fall firearm season; and
(c) May use a crossbow during the fall
archery season.
(3)
Higginson-Henry Wildlife Management Area. A person shall not use a firearm
while turkey hunting.
(4) Pioneer
Weapons Area. A person may use a crossbow during the fall archery turkey
season.
(5) Main block of Robinson
Forest. A person shall not hunt wild turkey during the fall firearm, crossbow,
or archery seasons except a person participating in a department-authorized
hunt.
(6) Swan Lake Unit of
Boatwright Wildlife Management Area. A person shall not hunt wild turkey during
the fall firearm, crossbow, or archery seasons.
STATUTORY AUTHORITY:
KRS
150.025(1),
150.390(1)
