301 Ky. Admin. Regs. 2:140 – Requirements for wild turkey hunting.

RELATES TO:

KRS 150.010, 150.170, 150.175, 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 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. (1) "Baited area" means an area where feed, grains, or other substances capable of luring wild turkeys have been placed.
2. (2) "Crossbow" means a bow capable of holding an arrow at full or partial draw without human aid.
3. (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. (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. (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. (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. (1) A person shall only take a wild turkey during the seasons established in:
  1. (a) 301 KAR 2:142;
  2. (b) 301 KAR 2:144; and
  3. (c) 301 KAR 2:111.
2. (2) A person shall not harvest more than the established bag limits, pursuant to:
  1. (a) 301 KAR 2:142;
  2. (b) 301 KAR 2:144; and
  3. (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. (1) Spring turkey permit during the spring season;
2. (2) Fall turkey permit during a fall season; or
3. (3) Junior turkey permit, if applicable.
Section 4. Harvest Recording.
1. (1)
  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. 1. Species taken;
    2. 2. Date taken;
    3. 3. County where taken; and
    4. 4. Sex of the wild turkey.
  2. (b) A person who has harvested a turkey shall record the information established in paragraph (a) of this subsection on:
    1. 1. The hunter's log section on the reverse side of a license or permit;
    2. 2. A hunter's log printed from the Internet;
    3. 3. A hunter's log available from any KDSS agent; or
    4. 4. An index or similar card.
2. (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. (1) A person shall check a harvested wild turkey by:
  1. (a) Completing the telecheck process after calling (800) 245-4263 or completing the check-in process on the department's Web site at fw.ky.gov:
    1. 1. Before midnight on the day the wild turkey is recovered; and
    2. 2. Prior to processing the carcass; and
  2. (b) Writing the check-in authorization number on the hunter's log as established in Section 4 of this administrative regulation.
2. (2) A person shall:
  1. (a) Not knowingly provide false information in completing the hunter's log, checking a wild turkey, or creating a carcass tag; or
  2. (b) Check a wild turkey before transporting it out of Kentucky.
3. (3) If a hunter transfers possession of a harvested wild turkey, the hunter shall attach to the carcass a hand-made tag containing:
  1. (a) A valid confirmation number;
  2. (b) The hunter's name; and
  3. (c) The hunter's telephone number.
Section 6. Weapon and Ammunition Restrictions.
1. (1) A person shall only use for the purpose of taking a wild turkey:
  1. (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. 1. Expandable; or
    2. 2. Non-expandable; or
  2. (b)
    1. 1. A.410 shotgun or larger, but no larger than a ten (10) gauge shotgun; and
    2. 2. A shell containing shot of size no larger than number four (4).
2. (2) A crossbow shall be equipped with a working safety device.
Section 7. Hunter Restrictions.
1. (1) A person shall not hunt wild turkeys on a baited area or by the aid of baiting:
  1. (a) While bait is present; or
  2. (b) For thirty (30) days after the bait has been removed.
2. (2) A person may hunt wild turkeys on an area where grain, feed, or other substance exists as the result of:
  1. (a) A bona fide agricultural practice; or
  2. (b) Manipulating a crop for a wildlife management purpose.
3. (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. (4) A person hunting wild turkeys:
  1. (a) May use a hand or mouth-operated call; and
  2. (b) Shall not:
    1. 1. Use a dog to aid in taking a wild turkey during the spring season;
    2. 2. Hunt from a boat;
    3. 3. Use or possess an electronic or digital calling device;
    4. 4. Use a live decoy; or
    5. 5. Harvest a roosting turkey.
5. (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:
  1. (a) March 1 until the opening of the youth turkey season; and
  2. (b) The close of the youth turkey season and the opening of the statewide turkey season.
6. (6) While hunting wild turkeys, a youth with a firearm shall be accompanied by an adult who can immediately take control of the firearm.

History

(Recodified from 301 KAR 3:053, eff. 10-6-82; Am. 9 Ky.R. 600; eff. 12-1-82; 10 Ky.R. 625; eff. 12-2-83; 11 Ky.R. 991; eff. 1-7-85; 12 Ky.R. 672; eff. 1-3-86; 13 Ky.R. 906; eff. 12-2-86; 14 Ky.R. 839; eff. 12-11-87; 15 Ky.R. 1134; eff. 12-13-88; 16 Ky.R. 496; eff. 11-22-89; 17 Ky.R. 1533; eff. 11-15-90; 18 Ky.R. 1161; eff. 11-26-91; 19 Ky.R. 1403; eff. 2-8-93; 20 Ky.R. 834; 1581; eff. 11-29-93; 21 Ky.R. 1164; eff. 12-12-94; 23 Ky.R. 2200; 2714; eff. 1-10-97; 3867; eff. 7-9-97; 24 Ky.R. 643; 1058; eff. 11-12-97; 25 Ky.R. 1690; 2134; eff. 3-10-99; 26 Ky.R. 116; eff. 9-8-99; 28 Ky.R. 2412; eff. 7-15-2002; 29 Ky.R. 1316; eff. 1-16-2003; 2517; eff. 6-16-03; 31 Ky.R. 1542; eff. 5-26-05; 41 Ky.R. 1140; 1520; eff. 2-6-2015; Cert. eff. 1-24-2022.)