MonticelloLive

Commissioner Announcement
Gov. Mike Beebe today named Ron Duncan of Springdale as his most recent appointment to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Duncan replaces Sonny Varnell of St. Paul, whose term had expired. Beebe said Duncan was a devoted outdoorsman and educator.

Commission approves early migratory season Hears proposal on spinning wing decoy’s return
It’s time to pull the shotgun out of the gun case and give it a good cleaning. Commissioners from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission last week approved the early migratory bird seasons for 2008-2009.

Spring turkey harvest down compared to previous season
Arkansas’s unusually wet spring weather played a huge role in the state’s turkey harvest. Most parts of the state suffered from epic floods that wreaked havoc with the state’s hunters.

Arkansas River advisory lifted, Big Bass Bonanza set for Aug. 1-3
The small craft advisory on the Arkansas River has been lifted, and the Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza - the country’s largest amateur bass fishing tournament - is set for Aug. 1-3.
<div>Dove chances improve with some strategy planning
Can’t you tell dove season is coming? The temperature is bumping 100, it’s dry, so there needs to be something encouraging in the near future.</div>
Trusten Holder WMA reopens after flood repairs are completed
Arkansas’s spring flooding damaged a number of the state’s wildlife management areas, but one of the most severly damaged areas is now open for business. The main road on Trusten Holder WMA that was destroyed during the floods has been repaired and the area has been reopened.

Rare conjoined swallows found in White County
<div>A pair of conjoined swallows were found earlier this week by a landowner in White County. The two birds, joined by skin and possibly muscle tissue, are on their way to the Smithsonian Institution for study.</div>
Youth trap state champions qualify for upcoming national championships
Young trap shooters from across Arkansas earned state titles-with many qualifying to represent Arkansas at upcoming national championships at the Scholastic Clay Target Program Arkansas Trap State Championship.
<div>What’s open for hunting
Current and approaching seasons in Arkansas:
Deer:
Archery: All zones: Oct. 1, 2008 to Feb. 28, 2009.
Modern Gun: Zones 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11: Nov. 8-30.
Zone 4: Nov. 8-9.
Zone 5: Nov. 8-9 and Nov. 15-16.
Zone 4A, 5A, 13, 14 and 15: Nov. 8-Dec. 7.
Zones 4B and 5B: Nov. 8-16.
Zones 9 and 12: Nov. 8-Dec. 14.
Zone 16, 16A and 17: Nov. 8-Dec. 25.
Muzzleloader: Zones 1, 2, 3, 4A, 5A, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 13-15.
Zones 9, 12, 16, 16A and 17: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 29-31.
Zones 4, 4B, 5 and 5B: Closed.
The statewide Christmas holiday modern gun deer hunt will be Dec. 26 to 28 with the special youth modern gun deer hunt in all zones (excludes certain WMAs where a modern gun or muzzleloader permit is required to hunt) scheduled for Nov. 1 to 2.
Spotted Skunk, Weasel Hunting:
Closed.
Fall Turkey:
Archery: All Zones: Oct. 1, 2008-Feb. 28, 2009.
Firearms: Zones 3, 5B, 6, and 17: Oct. 11-17.
Zones 1, 1A, 2, 4, 4A, 4B, 5, 5A, 7, 7A, 8, 9, 9A and 10: Closed.
Bear:
Archery: Zone 1: Oct. 1-Nov. 30
Zone 2: Sept. 15-Nov. 30
Zones 3, 4, 5, 5A, 6 and 7: Closed
Muzzleloader: Zones 1 and 2: Oct 18-26
Zones 3, 4, 5, 5A, 6 and 7: Closed
Modern Gun: Zones 1 and 2: Nov 3-30
Zone 5: Dec 6-14 Zone 5A: Nov 29-Dec 14
Zones 3, 4, 6 and 7: closed
Special Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt - Zones 1 and 2 (does not include WMAs requiring a deer permit to harvest a bear): Nov. 1-2
Zones 3, 4, 5, 5A, 6 and 7: Closed
Furbearers (2008 Season):
Raccoon night hunting July 1-Aug. 31.
Badger, spotted skunk and weasel hunting is closed.
Furbearers (2009 Season):
Trapping (other than coyote, beaver, muskrat, nutria): sunrise, Nov. 15-sunset, Feb. 22.
Coyote trapping: sunrise, Aug. 1-sunset, March 31.
Beaver, muskrat, nutria trapping: sunrise, Nov. 15-sunset, March 31.
Gray fox, mink, opossum, red fox, striped skunk hunting: sunrise, Sept. 1-sunset, Feb 28.
Raccoon day or night hunting: sunrise, Sept 1-sunset, March 31.
Raccoon night hunting: sunset, July 1-sunrise, Aug. 31.
Bobcat hunting: sunrise, Oct. 1-sunset, Feb. 28 and from the first day of spring turkey season through June 14.
Coyote hunting: sunrise, July 1-sunset, Feb. 28 and from the first day of spring turkey season through June 14.
River otter hunting: sunrise, Nov. 15-sunset, Feb. 28.
Muskrat, nutria, beaver hunting: sunrise, Sept. 1-sunset, March 31.
Badger, spotted skunk and weasel hunting: Closed.
Elk:
Zones 1, 2, 3, 4 and A: Sept. 22-26.
Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, A and B: Dec. 8-12.
Quail
Statewide: Nov. 1-Feb. 8.
Rabbit
Statewide: Sept. 1-Feb. 28.
Squirrel
Statewide: Sept. 6, 2008-Feb. 28, 2009 and May 16-June 14, 2009.
Crow
Statewide: Sept. 6-Feb. 23.
Projected opening dates for the 2009-2010 deer hunting season.
Archery:
Oct. 1, 2009
Muzzleloader:
Oct. 17, 2009
Modern Gun:
Nov. 14, 2009
Coming up in the outdoors
July 26 - Arkansas Catfishing Association Tournament at Bull Shoals (night tournament) for ACA members ($20 annual membership) hosted by the Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock, Steve and Ricky Eastwold, www.bullshoalsboatdock.com, 140 Boat Dock Road off Highway 178: Rod and Reel, catch and release, and, alive and well. Catfishing site will be available for launching and familization between 3 and 9 p.m. Registration at 11 p.m. and launching at midnight, with check-in NLT 8 a.m. Visit our new website that’s being updated daily with all the information/details hosted by godaddy.com with domain as ArkCats.Org: or contact ACA president James Freeman of Pocahontas at (870) 810-3294
July 26 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Snakes of Arkansas.”
Aug. 2 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Extreme Fishing.”
Aug. 10 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 5 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Arkansas Alligators.”
Aug. 17 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 5 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “All About ATVs.”
Aug. 21 - AGFC Commission monthly meeting at the AGFC Little Rock central office, 2 Natural Resources Dr., beginning at 9 a.m. Topics include: late migratory bird season (waterfowl season) approval and 2009 fishing regulation approval.
Aug. 23-24 - Arkansas Catfishing Association Charity tournament at Lake Millwood and Lake Earling in southwest Arkansas. Two-day event. No entry fee and no payouts, double limit blues and channel. Catch to Hope in Action, Hope, Arkansas. Details at ArkCats.Org website: or contact ACA president James Freeman of Pocahontas at (870) 810-3294
Aug. 30 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Outdoor Resources.”
Sept. 6 - Annual White River Fishermen Bass and Trout Tournament benefiting
Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Access and weigh-in at Guion Access. $50 entry fee per person. For more information contact: Johnny Thomas at (870) 269-4596 or (870) 213-5979 or (870) 213-6606, Rickey Canard at (870) 214-0760 or Bill Turner at (870) 793-3670 or (870) 834-5783.
Sept. 7 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 5 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “All About Elk.”
Sept. 13 - Arkansas Catfishing Association (ACA). Arkansas River, Cherokee Landing, Morrilton, launching from Cherokee Park. Registration at 5 a.m. and launching at 5:40 a.m. Check-in time is 3 p.m. Details at ArkCats.Org website:, or contact ACA president James Freeman of Pocahontas at (870) 810-3294
Sept. 13 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Fishing for Monster Catfish.”
Sept. 18 - North Little Rock chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Woody’s Sherwood Forest in Sherwood. For more information call Pat Mahan at (501) 743-6154
Sept. 18 - AGFC Commission monthly meeting at the AGFC Little Rock central office, 2 Natural Resources Dr., beginning at 9 a.m. Topics include the 2009 spring turkey season regulations proposal.
Sept. 20 - Delta Wings Chapter of Delta Waterfowl will hold it’s third annual banquet on at Southland Park Gaming and Racing in West Memphis. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m.
Sept. 20 - Fort Smith chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Adelaide Hall in Fort Smith. For more information call Chris Walthall at (479) 471-8009
Sept. 27 - Jacksonville chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Old Wal-Mart building in Jacksonville. For more information call Matt Robinson at (501) 412-8055
Sept. 28 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “All About Archer.”
Oct. 18 - Arkansas Catfishing Association tournament. Arkansas River, Ozark Taylor Lock and Dam. Registration at 5 a.m. and launching at 5:40 a.m. Check-in time is 3 p.m. Details at ArkCats.Org website hosted by godaddy.com:, or contact ACA president James Freeman of Pocahontas at (870) 810-3294
Oct. 18 - Logan County chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, First National Ban Community Building in Paris. For more information call Shane Vincent at (479) 963-6245.
Oct. 23 - AGFC Commission monthly meeting in Pine Bluff, beginning at 9 a.m. Topics include:the2009 spring turkey seasons regulations approval and special fishing regulations proposal.
Nov. 20 - AGFC Commission monthly meeting at the AGFC Little Rock central office, 2 Natural Resources Dr., beginning at 9 a.m. Topics include: special fishing regulations approval.
Dec. 18 - AGFC Commission monthly meeting at the AGFC Little Rock central office, 2 Natural Resources Dr., beginning at 9 a.m.
Jan. 22, 2009 - AGFC Commission monthly meeting at the AGFC Little Rock central office, 2 Natural Resources Dr., beginning at 9 a.m.
Feb. 19, 2009 - AGFC Commission monthly meeting at the AGFC Little Rock central office, 2 Natural Resources Dr., beginning at 9 a.m. Topics include the 2009-2010 general hunting regulation proposals.
March 19, 2009 - AGFC Commission monthly meeting at the AGFC Little Rock central office, 2 Natural Resources Dr., beginning at 9 a.m. Topics include the 2009-2010 general hunting regulations approval.
April 16, 2009 - AGFC Commission monthly meeting at the AGFC Little Rock central office, 2 Natural Resources Dr., beginning at 9 a.m.
May 21, 2009 - AGFC Commission monthly meeting at the AGFC Little Rock central office, 2 Natural Resources Dr., beginning at 9 a.m.
June 18, 2009 - AGFC Commission monthly meeting in Lake Village. Topics include the early migratory bird season proposals.</div>
For the latest in Arkansas Game and Fish Commission information go to www.agfc.com or call the Wildlife Information Hotline, (800) 440-1477.