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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 RqLk02QkLMWndyc7Is4biwdRMYUhLCTUouOhMzCwDbnYjopRnnd+0AY9OYKb1A2S
 Tw1wZKq3mOelQCDgKaMjLg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-015909.txt : 20040805
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-015909.hdr.sgml : 20040805
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040805091713
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-015909
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040804
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040805

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NESS WILLIAM G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001244329

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18607
		FILM NUMBER:		04953293

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ARCTIC CAT INC
		STREET 2:		601 BROOKS AVENUE SOUTH
		CITY:			THIEF RIVER FALLS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			56701

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARCTIC CAT INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000719866
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT [3790]
		IRS NUMBER:				411443470
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 BROOKS AVE SOUTH
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 810
		CITY:			THIEF RIVER FALLS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			56701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2186818558

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ARCTCO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940224
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000719866</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARCTIC CAT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACAT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001244329</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NESS WILLIAM G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1201 MAYER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HUDSON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>54016</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice Chairman of the Board</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>STOCK OPTIONS</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.57</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-08-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">EXPIRATION DATE IS 5 YEARS FOLLOWING TERMINATION OF SERVICE AS A DIRECTOR.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William G. Ness</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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