2012 Spring Turkey Hunting Information
Apply for spring quota turkey hunts online during February.
Kentucky
Quota: Youth hunt, March 31-April 1; one 2-day hunt, April 5-6; and one 2-day hunt, April 14-15 (Quota permit required.)
Nonquota: 14-day hunt, April 16-29
Bag Limit: One turkey with visible beard whether harvested on a quota hunt or nonquota hunt. The Kentucky statewide spring bag limit is two turkeys, including turkeys harvested at LBL. LBL turkeys are not bonus turkeys in KY.
Licenses: Hunters must have a valid Kentucky hunting license (five-day nonresident license is not valid for turkey hunting) and a valid spring turkey permit. All hunters age 16 and older must purchase an LBL Hunter Use Permit ($20)
Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
Tennessee
Quota: Youth hunt, April 7-8; one 2-day hunt, April 9-10; and one 2-day hunt, April 14-15 (Quota permit required.)
Nonquota: Two 7-day hunts, April 16-22 and April 23-29
Bag Limit: Two turkeys with visible beard; however, only one turkey may be taken during each of the spring hunts. Hunters harvesting a turkey in an LBL quota hunt (Kentucky or Tennessee) may not hunt on the April 16-22 Tennessee hunt. A quota hunt turkey is a bonus turkey in TN and does not count towards the TN statewide bag limit, but does count toward the LBL limit of two turkeys. Non-quota turkeys on LBL are not buonus turkeys in TN.
Licenses: Hunters must have either a Sportsmans License, Young Sportsmans License, or a Combination Hunting and Fishing License (Type 01) accompanied by either a Big Game Gun (Type 09), Big Game Archery (Type 10), or Big Game Muzzleloader (Type 11) license as determined by the type of weapon being used. All hunters age 16 and older must purchase an LBL Hunter Use Permit ($20). For further information, refer to Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Wild Turkey Regulations.
Shooting Hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Habitat Improvement: The Forest Service continues to partner with the National Wild Turkey Federation to improve wildlife habitat on LBL.
Area Open: Any designated open hunting areas, excluding all Nature Watch Areas, safety zones around campground and other facilities, wildlife refuges, and other areas posted as closed.
Prescribed Fire: The Forest Service has an active prescribed fire program on LBL to improve wildlife habitat and reduce hazardous fuels. A large burn was conducted recetly on a 2,148 acre block in Hunt Area 2. Another large prescribed fire is being planned for April in Hunt Area 1. A third burn may occur in May in Hunt Area 8. The actual timing of the burns depends on weather. Click HERE for a recent prescribed fire map.
LBL Permits: To participate in a quota hunt, each hunter must apply online during February by clicking HERE and be selected in a computer drawing. There is a $5 application fee. Hunters selected will print their LBL Quota Turkey Hunt Permit from this website. An annual LBL Hunter Use Permit is required for all hunters age 16 and older (quota and nonquota). Hunter Use Permits may be purchased for $20 and are valid for hunting all game on LBL from March 1, 2012 through February 28, 2013. A combination Hunter Use Permit/Backcountry Camping Permit is also available for $25. Permits may be purchased at LBL welcome stations (open March 1), the Golden Pond Visitor Center, and anywhere Kentucky or Tennessee state licenses are sold. (Combination permit not availabel on Kentucky state license system.)
Hunter Safety Requirements:LBL is a National Recreation Area and there are many visitors enjoying a variety of outdoor activities during all seasons of the year. Everyone's safety is a top priority. All hunters must possess a hunter safety card according to state regulations for the state portion of LBL on which they are hunting. Additionally for LBL, all youth hunters who are not required by the state to carry a hunter safety card, must receive basic hunter safety instructions and carry a verification form signed by the responsible adult. The verification form and basic hunter safety instructions can be found on LBL's website at www.lbl.org at this link All youth hunters (under age 16 in KY and ages 6-16 in TN) participating in LBL quota hunts must be accompanied at all times by an adult, 21 years of age or older, who must remain in a position to take immediate control of the hunting device.
General Regulations:
- Licensed motorized vehicles are permitted only on legal roads identified on the Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) and the LBL Recreation Map. Updated versions of these maps can be found on the Map Page of this webiste. Unlicensed motorized vehicles are allowed only in the Turkey Bay Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Area and require an OHV permit.
- Parking is permitted within one vehicle length of a legal road. Blocking access to any road or trail is prohibited. Rutting of fields is prohibited.
- Firearms transported in vehicles must be unloaded in both magazine and chamber and must be in a case.
- Hunting is prohibited within 150 yards of any developed LBL facility.
- Spotlighting or the use of any artificial lights to locate wildlife is prohibited at all times.
- Paint, tape, flagging, or other artificial materials shall not be used to mark trees, trails, or routes to hunting sites.
- Hunters must not be under the influence of alcoholic beverages or controlled substances.
- All applicable state and federal regulations must be observed.
- Parking along US68/KY80 is permitted except in construction zones. Do not drive on the paved Bike/Hike trail or block farming access.
- To protect the future of hunting, hunters are encouraged to be sensitive and courteous to other visitors.
Check-In: Check-in is not required for quota hunts or nonquota hunts. While turkey hunting on LBL, hunters must carry on their person the following items: $20 LBL Hunter Use Permit, (age 16 and under) state hunting license and turkey permit, Hunter Safety Card or verification form as described under Hunter Safety Requirements (see above) and an LBL Quota Hunt Permit (if hunting on a quota hunt).
Check-Out: All harvested turkeys must be checked-out at the LBL Hunter Check Station, Golden Pond Visitor Center, or North or South Welcome Stations before leaving LBL. Kentucky Only - Write down harvest information on a KY hunter harvest log as soon as a bird is taken and before it is moved. Then proceed to an LBL check station. If the LBL check stations are closed, Kentucky hunters should Telecheck their LBL turkey before leaving LBL by calling 1-800-245-4263. (No coins are needed.) Enter the appropriate county code (KY Hunt Areas 1-4 Lyon - 072, all other KY areas Trigg - 111) and that the turkey was harvested on public land, LBL. Tennessee - If the LBL check stations are closed, Tennessee hunters should proceed to the nearest statewide check station and be certain to check the turkey as harvested on LBL.
Legal Firearms and Archery Equipment: Conventional or muzzleloading shotguns, not smaller than 20 gauge or larger than 10 gauge. Conventional shotguns may hold no more than three shells (Kentucky portion) or unrestricted number of rounds (Tennessee portion). Shells may be loaded with lead or steel No. 4 shot or smaller only. All archery equipment must conform to state regulations.
Prohibited Hunting Methods: Rifles, sidearms, electronic calls, baiting, and live decoys are prohibited.
No Preseason Calling: Calling or attempting to call turkeys by imitating the sounds of a wild turkey is prohibited by law in LBL from March 1 until the opening of turkey season. Locator calls, such as owl or crow calls, are permitted.
Reduced Road Access: Several public roads will be closed to motorized vehicle access from March 29 through the end of turkey season to provide additional "walk-in" areas. Roads closed will be barricaded and highlighted on a map at hunter check stations.
Camping: LBL offers developed campgrounds, lake access areas, and backcountry camping. Camping fees can be paid on-site at developed campgrounds and lake access areas. Backcountry camping requires a $20 annual permit or a $5 three-day permit or a $25 combination under Use Permit/Backcountry Camping Permit for each person age 18 and older. Backcountry camping is permitted anywhere in LBL except in the Nature Watch Demonstration Area, Brandon Spring Group Camp, fee campgrounds, cemeteries, picnic areas, and within 200 yards of US Hwy 68/KY 80, The Trace, Silver Trail Road, Mulberry Flat Road and Fort Henry Road. Campfires are permitted, but must be attended at all times and completely extinguished before leaving the site.
Bunkhouses Available at Wranglers Campground and Piney Campground. Small bunkhouse (sleeps 4) is $35/night, large bunkhouse (Wranglers only, sleeps 8) is $55/night. Call 1-800-525-7077 for reservation information.
Additional Information: For additional LBL hunt information, write Land Between The Lakes, 100 Van Morgan Drive, Golden Pond, Kentucky 42211-9001, or telephone 270-924-2065 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. CST, Monday through Friday or visit the LBL website at www.lbl.org.
PLEASE FOLLOW TURKEY HUNTING SAFETY RULES:
DO know and practice safe gun handling.
DO see the beard before you shoot. It will positively identify the legal target.
DO shout to reveal your presence to another hunter. Moving, whistling, or making unusual noises may draw fire. There's no mistaking the human voice.
DO wear an orange vest or use an orange bag when carrying your turkey out of the woods.
DON'T scout in the hunting woods while other hunters are hunting.
DON'T wear any garment which has red, white, blue, or black - items that could be mistaken for colors of a turkey.
DON'T hunt hen calls. Stalking such calls could lead to a dangerous encounter with another hunter.
DON'T use a gobble call. Experienced turkey hunters know this to be dangerous and might attract careless shooters.
For more LBL information call 270-924-2000 Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST. or write Land Between The Lakes, 100 Van Morgan Drive, Golden Pond, KY 42211-9001.