I realize that this topic may have been ran in the ground several times.. But I'm just not finding the info that I want.. I'm about to purchase a new boat, and I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to build it. I hunt several different wmas I'm Arkansas and have spoke to sevetal wardens and rangers that say It's only a matter of time before all wmas in Arkansas go to that rule. My original thought process was, as long as it's 35hp block then your ok.. But after taking with a Jefferson county game warden, he said if it's a 36hp motor with any mods then it's not a 36.. I'm just curious as to what you guys run in that area . about 50% of my season is spent on wmas so if all the wmas go to that rule, I need to make sure I'm legal.. The boat I'm wanting is a 1754v prodigy with all the bells and whistles... Just wondering what kind of speeds is be looking at with a stock 36/35 sport v or hdr35. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Game warden won't be able to tell if you have head work, cam, and a stock gutted exhuast.


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That's what I was thinking. Was thinking about doing the heads, and gutting the exhaust. Wonder what extra hp I could get out of that?

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I live here and hunt all over, as long as the serial number is registered to a 35hp (horizontal block) or 36hp (vertical block) you will be good. I have a State trooper and game warden that hunt with me also, both have stated there is nothing they can do with a modded motor as they would have to prove that is was modded, which means tearing into the block. I run a modded Gator Tail at Felsenthal and Bayou Meto. Never ran into an issue.

But let's say that I have a BD 4400. That would be an obvious giveaway right? Even though it's a 35 block.

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I've talked with several guys that run modded 25s. The speeds they run are a dead giveaway. I was thinking about just getting headwork done and changing/gutting the exhaust.. Don't wanna change the cam unless I just have to.. I can get the headwork done for free. Just wondering if anybody has just done head work and exhaust and has a guess to how much hp they gained.. Kind of feel like the warden I spoke with was just trying to make it sound like "they don't tolerate anything over there so don't even think about it" . I just don't want to pay 2 grand more for something and not be able to use it. I also hunt a lot of big water and fish a lot too.. So I want the biggest motor I can get and still be legal.. Guess I just need two boats!

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You should be fine. And I know next year the Game and fish will be using 40hp motors on Bayou Meto anyways. As long as you stay with the 35hp block, and go from there you should be just fine.

So i guess yáll can't run a 37 efi?

Legally no. Game and fish are aware of the issue, but I have yet to hear if they really want to up the restrictions at the WMAs.

The way it's sounding, yes, as long as you have the right sticker !

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So best bet is to buy a stock 35 and hide the mods?

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Well, to me you aren't hiding modifications. I consider them as efficiency upgrade to a shitty designed block. Or reliability upgrades. You are thinking too much into it. If it is that much of a concern stay with a 25hp outboard or stock 35. I did it because that is the route I wanted to go. The only reason I hunt at Bayou Meto is because of the Camp I am in, otherwise I probably wouldn't hunt there at all. there are plenty of other places that have just as many ducks or no hp restriction.

I'm only concerned about the other wmas going to that rule.. Don't wanna spend 25 grand on a new rig and then find out that I can't use it the next season.. Never even been to Meto.. Just trying to see what other guys are doing.

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I have no issue with you doing it, but those upgrades take a 35/36 hp and move it out of the limit set by those regs. Regardless of the motor now running better or more efficiently, once it passes that hp, it's illegal in those areas. Best bet to avoid the ticket is to leave it alone. Trust me though, I'm a rules guy usually because I don't feel like paying the penalties.

Wonder what kind of results I could get out of a prodigy with a stock 35 or 36

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A 1748 with a modded 27, I was getting decent holeshot, ran 19 with three and hunting gear. So stock 35 should be around 22 with that load in my boat. A 1754 would carry that load much better. Top speed solo wouldn't be much different with a stock engine, probably 27 or 28.

Thanks Russ

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1754 prodigy, hunt deck, catwalks, extended front deck with stock 35 GTR, 65 yeti full,two 27 group battery's ran 28. Three people (650#)ran 22. Weight kills a stock motor.


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I run a 35 gtr with heads, cam, exhaust, and carb. My buddy runs a mud buddy with the same setup (minus cam). Mostly in Northeast arkansas. Never even been so much as asked about my motor by a game warden. If I had to go back to stock (not for Arkansas wma's, but for fishing, bowfishing, fun runs, etc) I would probably go back to an outboard

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Thanks for the feed back.. I'm good with mid+ 20s. Close to what my boat runs now with an outboard

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I don't see any way that a gw could tell you that a mikuni carb could be considered a "speed" mod on a mud motor, especially when you can come fairly close with tweaking a stocker. And they have no way of telling if you have decked heads and a cam,so I don't ever see this happening unless of course they set a hard line on all motors being 25 horse power for the limit.

I was checked by one of at least 7 game wardens waiting at the boat ramp last year after hunting Hurricane. They wanted life jackets, registration, insurance, plugs in guns hunting licenses with stamps signed and a Sweet Sixteen Permit. He did not like that the registration numbers were rubbed severely and illegible on the sides of my hull. He ask how I rubbed them off and ask if i had been hitting other boats to which I explained how much brush and timber was out there when my buddy interrupts and replies "Rubbing is Racing" That was the only time the warden cracked a smile. He then sent me on my way telling me to get new numbers.

Meanwhile he never even glanced at the Twin Mikuni's on the front of my GTR 35 or the BPS Q on the back side of the fully modded internals of my Vanguard 35............

As long as you are not passing a "25HP" Zuki I doubt you will have any problems unless you are doing something stupid illegal or both. But then I could be wrong.....

Thinking about just going with a black death and just hoping for the best

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