LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will open the application window for 2025 Wildlife Management Area Turkey Hunt Permits Jan. 15-Feb. 15. These permits are required to hunt on a few WMAs that present some of the best public hunting available in the state.
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.
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.