The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will open the application window for 2025 Wildlife Management Area Turkey Hunt Permits Jan. 15 through Feb. 15. These permits are required to hunt on a few WMAs that present some of the best public hunting available in the state, according to a news release.
Turkey hunting is open on many Arkansas WMAs to anyone during the season, but a handful of locations are managed through randomly drawn permits to increase hunt quality.
Some draws are designed to reduce pressure on birds in popular hunting areas, while others are used in smaller areas where hunters may get too close to each other to have enjoyable hunts, according to the release.
One notable change to this year’s WMA turkey permit hunts is the opportunity to bring a hunting mentor who didn’t draw a permit. Hunting mentors must have a valid hunting license, and they are not eligible to harvest a bird or hunt any other in-season game animals, but they can call for the permitted hunter and help them learn the ropes.
“Hunting mentors not only make the experience more fun by increasing the odds of success, but they are also vital to introducing new hunters to those unwritten rules of hunting etiquette,” said Luke Naylor, chief of the AGFC’s Wildlife Management Division. “Even people who have hunted for years can benefit from an extra set of eyes and ears in the turkey woods.”
Applications are taken electronically through www.agfc.com. Winning applicants will be notified via email after the Feb. 20 draw. Applications require a $5 nonrefundable processing fee. Winning applicants are not required to pay any additional fees beyond the purchase of their hunting license. Any leftover permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Feb. 26.
Visit www.agfc.com/en/hunting/turkey/turkeypermits to view a list of available permits and odds of drawing each hunt based on last year’s permit applications.