Tags needed to bag a turkey this spring; nonresidents limited to single gobbler 

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas turkey hunters will need to add one more item to their hunting vest this season: an Arkansas Turkey Hunting Tag. The tags and a valid hunting license are required to enable the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to more accurately judge the number of hunters taking to the field in the search of a gobbler.

The resident versions of the turkey tags, labelled RTT for adults and YTT for youth hunters, are free but must be acquired through the AGFC’s licensing system before the hunter takes to the woods. Even residents who hold lifetime licenses and disability licenses are required to add this free permit to their licensing account before hunting. Checking out the tags will enable all resident hunters a total of two legal gobblers.

Nonresidents have a few more hoops than resident hunters to jump through if they wish to chase an Arkansas turkey. For nonresident hunters under 16, the Nonresident Youth Turkey Tag remains free and will be the only license they need. Adult hunters, on the other hand, will need to either purchase a Nonresident Turkey Tag (NRTT) for $100 in addition to their Nonresident Annual Hunting License (NBG), which costs $410, or they may opt for the newly created Nonresident Annual Turkey Hunting License (NRTL), which includes a tag, for $325.

“Many hunters who chase turkeys in Arkansas may not have an annual license from last deer season, so we wanted to offer this $325 license as a more affordable option for nonresidents wanting to pursue turkeys in Arkansas,” Brad Carner, deputy director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said. “If you already hunt deer here, you can just buy the $100 tag to add to your annual license as well. Whichever way is more economical will work.”

Nonresidents who hold a Non-expiring Lifetime Hunting and Fishing Permit from their time as residents in Arkansas will still need to get the Nonresident Turkey Tag in the license system, but will not be charged the $100 fee when they check out of the system.

Regardless of the license, all nonresidents will need to choose wisely this spring, as all nonresident options are limited to a single legal turkey per year.

“The Commission has heard from many hunters through the regulations public comment process as well as during informal conversations about the idea of reducing bag limits for turkeys to one per year in order to preserve hunt quality and protect Arkansas’s turkey flock,” Carner said. “Although very few hunters actually harvest two birds, the Commission did decide to opt for a more conservative limit on nonresidents after many discussions.”

According to Susan Porter, AGFC licensing manager, one additional turkey tag option may appear in Arkansas’s license system for some hunters. The code NBLTP represents another free turkey tag, this one specifically for Mississippi residents who are hunting land that falls under the Arkansas/Mississippi reciprocal agreement.

“They will need to have all licenses required to hunt in Mississippi, but some of these lands are on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River, so they will need to get this free turkey tag to transport their bird back across state lines to check it with Mississippi’s license system,” Porter said. “That is the only scenario where a hunter in Arkansas would need this particular tag on their license profile.”

Arkansas’s turkey season opens April 21 statewide. In Turkey Zone 1, it closes April 29; it continues through May 11 in Turkey Zone 2. The Special Youth Turkey Hunt for hunters younger than 16 is April 12-13. A full list of turkey regulations is available in the 2024-25 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook.

All turkeys harvested in Arkansas must be checked via agfc.com, the AGFC mobile app or by phone within 12 hours of harvest. If they are checked immediately upon harvest, the turkey does not need a physical tag attached to it. If the hunter is unable to immediately check the bird, then they must affix a possession tag indicating the hunter’s name, CID number and the date and time of harvest that must remain with the bird until it is checked. Checking should also be more convenient this season, as the AGFC plans to roll out a new “express check” option on its website beginning with the Special Youth Turkey Hunt. Visit www.agfc.com/licenses to procure your turkey tag.

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CUTLINES:

TURKEYS
Arkansas hunters will need to obtain turkey tags in addition to their hunting license before heading afield this year. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

SUCCESSFUL YOUTH HUNTER
Ricky Cash with his daughter showing off a nice Arkansas turkey taken during a previous Special Youth Turkey Hunt. Photo Courtesy Ricky Cash.

SAMPLE LICENSE
Turkey tags will be displayed on the hunter’s digital and printed licenses once obtained. AGFC photo.