Arkansas Commission Proposes Moving 2027 Turkey Season One Week Earlier for Most Hunters

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission heard the first reading Thursday of a proposal to move 2027 turkey season one week earlier for most hunters, it said in a release from Hot Springs.

Under the proposal, season would open April 5 in Zones 2 and 3 and April 12 in Zone 1. A youth hunt for all five zones would run April 3-4. Proposed 2027 dates follow.

• Zone 1: April 12-May 2
• Zone 1A: April 12-20
• Zones 2 and 3: April 5-25
• Zone 2A: April 5-13
• Youth Turkey Hunt, Zones 1, 1A, 2, 2A and 3: April 3-4

No other turkey hunting regulation changes are in the proposal. The commission’s Regulations and Resource Management Committee asked for the change after discussions that followed a Wednesday presentation by former commissioners Jim Hinkle and Ken Reeves.

Hinkle spoke to the number of changes turkey hunters have endured in the last decade. “I think this is a minimal change that we are asking for,” he said.

The meeting was held during the second annual Generation Conservation Summit at Hot Springs Convention Center and Bank OZK Arena.

Hunters can comment on the revised season through an online survey linked in the release. Commissioners are expected to consider action on the regulation after a 30-day comment period.