Turkey numbers up for hunting season in Arkansas

Youth turkey hunt is Saturday, April 8 and Sunday, April 9 at Fort Chaffee Wildlife Administration Space

Turkey replica has improved in Arkansas, and the spring season is anticipated to be higher this yr, state wildlife consultants report.

Turkey hunters have some excellent news to stay up for this season. In accordance with current interviews featured within the Arkansas Recreation and Fish Fee, reproductive charges have seen sluggish enhancements during the last three years.

Hunters could not see an abundance of grownup, male gobblers nevertheless, because the harvest enhance shouldn’t be more likely to be seen this yr for grownup hunters, mentioned Brian Infield, Arkansas Recreation and Fish Fee biologist on the Fort Chaffee Wildlife Administration Space workplace in Fort Smith.

He mentioned younger hunters can bag a jake, or a younger male turkey as a part of their restrict of two, however adults cannot shoot a juvenile male. A turkey is taken into account an grownup after two years, Infield mentioned.

In the meantime, final yr’s estimates of turkeys gathered by way of the annual turkey and quail inhabitants survey point out the very best reproductive success since 2012 and 2013, the fee experiences.

So 2-year-old gobblers could also be extra ample in 2024.

Summer time 2022 was drier than regular, and the much less wet situations have been good for younger turkeys.

Hens ought to produce two poults, or child turkeys, a yr, mentioned Jeremy Wooden, the AGFC turkey program coordinator. Good climate helps, he mentioned.

“If a hen is simply efficiently rearing one poult, she’s solely changing herself within the inhabitants,” Wooden states. “We wish that quantity to be nearer to 2 poults per hen every year, and we noticed that in some areas of the state final yr.”

The Delta and Gulf Coastal Plain noticed the most effective poult-per-hen ratios final yr, 2022, adopted by The Ozarks area, and the Ouachitas area. Dry situations coinciding with peak hatching occasions probably have been accountable for the rise, in response to the survey.

“Turkey poults can’t thermoregulate (keep their physique temperature) in the course of the first few weeks after hatching, so good climate situations are important to brood survival,” Wooden said.

To hunt turkey a license is required and a allow for the primary three days of the season. A voluntary turkey stamp can be bought. Licenses can be found at outside shops and fee places of work.

Extra: 5 issues to know for turkey searching in Arkansas this season

The bag restrict is 2 authorized turkeys, no jakes, or younger males, or hens on personal land and one authorized turkey on public lands. An grownup male gobbler is taken into account a authorized turkey.

The Fort Chaffee Wildlife Administration space can be open for firearm searching Saturday, April 8 and Sunday, April 9 for the youth hunt and the April 17 to Could 7 interval. The world is situated in Crawford, Franklin, Logan and Sebastian counties that’s situated southeast of Fort Smith. Gates open at 4:30 a.m.

There’s 38,000 acres of public searching land at Lake Greeson in southwest Arkansas.

Turkey season begins April 8-9 in Arkansas with a statewide youth hunt earlier than the common turkey season April 17-.Could 7 in Sebastian County, included in Zone 1, and April 17-25 in areas of the state thought of Zone 2 which incorporates principally the jap a part of the state but additionally Benton and Washington counties within the northwest.

The Arkansas Recreation and Fish Fee workplace in Fort Smith is at 8401 Massard Highway, and name 833-356-0871 for info.