MonticelloLive

Commission renames Madison County WMA to honor McIlroy family
Negotiations with Forest Service for Camp Ouachita Special Use Permit underway
Commissioners from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission last week renamed the Madison County Wildlife Management Area to honor the previous owners of the land. The McIlroy family of Fayetteville owned about 15,000 acres in the county where the WMA is now located. The area will be known as the McIlroy Madison County WMA.

Mayflower firing range scheduled for maintenance
Shooters who enjoy the Dr. James E. Moore Jr. Camp Robinson Firing Range in Mayflower may have to adjust their schedules during the next two months for scheduled maintenance work beginning Monday, Feb. 4.

Young Iowa swans take to new winter homes in Arkansas
Arkansas’s winter population of trumpeter swans increased a few days ago, but these new birds didn’t have to fly hundreds of miles to the south. They rode in pet carriers on a trailer pulled by a mini-van.  All 18 were young swans. Called cygnets, they were born in the spring of 2007.

Workshop focuses on Santa Fe Reservoir
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will hold a public workshop at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 7, to address short-term maintenance issues and long-term management options on the Santa Fe Greentree Reservoir on Petit Jean River Wildlife Management Area.

Hunter education class schedule
http://www.agfc.com/education-class/hunter-education.aspx

What’s open for hunting
Current and approaching seasons in Arkansas:

Squirrel:
Statewide – Sept. 8-Feb. 29.
Rabbit:
Statewide – Sept. 1-Feb. 29.
Spotted Skunk, Weasel Hunting:
Closed.
Duck:
Jan. 12-Jan. 27
White-Fronted Goose:
Dec. 26-Feb. 3           
Snow, Blue, and Ross’ Goose:
Dec. 26-Feb. 3           
Snow Goose Conservation Order:
Feb. 4-April 27
Statewide Canada Goose:
Dec. 26 – Feb. 3
Statewide Falconry:
Jan. 28-Feb. 17
Common Snipe:
Nov. 1, 2007 to Feb. 15, 2008
Deer Archery:
Oct. 1-Feb. 29 statewide.
Turkey Archery:
Oct. 1-Feb. 29 statewide.
Quail:
Nov. 1-Feb. 10 statewide.
Crow:
Sept. 1-Feb. 17 Thursdays thru Mondays only statewide.
Furbearers:
Furbearer trapping Nov. 17-Feb. 17 excluding coyote, beaver, muskrat and nutria.
Coyote trapping Aug. 1-March 31.
Beaver, muskrat, nutria trapping Nov. 17-March 31.
Gray fox, mink, opossum, red fox, striped skunk hunting Sept. 1-Feb. 29.
Raccoon day or night hunting Sept. 1-March 31.
Raccoon night hunting July 1-Aug. 31.
Bobcat and coyote hunting Oct. 1-Feb. 29.
River otter hunting Nov. 17-Feb. 29.
Muskrat, nutria and beaver hunting Sept. 1-March 31.
Badger, spotted skunk and weasel hunting is closed.

Projected dear season dates for the 2008-09 hunting season.
Archery
Oct. 1
Muzzleloader
Oct. 18
Modern Gun
Nov. 8

Coming up in the outdoors

Feb. 1-2 - Quail and Songbird Habitat Workshop, Petit Jean Mountain. Registration for the workshop is available online at http://www.uawri.org/ or by calling (866) 972-7778. Overnight accommodations are available. The registration deadline is Jan. 28. For more information about the workshop, contact Sandy Davies by phone at (501) 215-7990
Feb. 2 - Delta Wings Chapter of Delta Waterfowl, Southland Park Gaming and Racing, West Memphis. For information, contact Gary Harlow at (870) 636-0551
Feb. 2 – Regional turkey calling championship, Arkansas State University Convocation Center in Jonesboro, 11:30 a.m. For more information go to http://www.arsportshow.com/ or contact Marvin Day or call (870) 932-1306.
Feb. 2 - Crowley’s Ridge Strutters Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Forrest City Civic Center. For more information contact: Randy Baldwin at (870) 270-0050
Feb. 2 - Saline River Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Sheridan Community Center. For more information contact: David Hooks at (870) 942-4642.
Feb. 2 - Sebastian County Boss Gobblers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Fort Smith Knights of Columbus Hall. For more information contact: Bob Gleason at (479) 996-6800
Feb. 2 - Chicot County Young Hens and Old Gobblers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Lake Village Country Club. For more information contact: Bobby Fisher at (870) 737-3088
Feb. 2 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Winter Trout Fishing.”
Feb. 2 – KZHE/Steve’s Outdoor Sports Inc. Annual Crow Shoot. For more information contact KZHE at (870) 234-7790 or Steve’s Outdoor Sports at (870) 234-2277.
Feb. 8 - Laigle Creek Longbeards Grand Prairie Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Hermitage Community Center. For more information contact: Grady Story at (870) 628-3142Feb. 8-9 – Ozark Conference Center’s Duck Calling Operations Seminar in Solgohachia. For more information call (501) 354-3959
Feb. 8-10 - Arkansas RV Show, Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock. For more information, contact: Denton and Griffey Attractions, Ken Griffey, (501) 225-6177 or (501) 765-1423.
Feb. 9 - Cane Creek Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Star City Civic Center. For more information contact: Bruce Morgan at (870) 628-1616.
Feb. 9 – Perry County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Perryville National Guard Armory. For more information contact: Tim Cates at (501) 727-5767
Feb. 9 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Outdoor Photography.”
Feb. 9 - Miller County Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Texarkana V. F. W. For more information contact: Jesse Whitehead at (870) 773-6720.
Feb. 15 – South Central Arkansas Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Sahara Center in Pine Bluff. For more information contact: Sam McBryde at (870) 535-7920.
Feb. 15-17 - Arkansas State Boat Show, Little Rock’s Statehouse Convention Center. The show times are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 12 noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Feb. 16 – Cleveland County Cutters and Strutters Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Rison school cafeteria. For more information contact: Terry Thompson at (870) 357-8346
Feb. 16 - Arkansas Catfishing Association meeting, 2 p.m. at the AGFC West Central Regional Office at 1266 Lock and Dam Road located between Russellville and Dardanelle.
Feb. 16 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Snow Goose Hunting.”
Feb. 16 – Crawford County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Alma high school cafeteria. For more information contact: Roger Atwell at (479) 369-2055
Feb. 16 – Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Springdale Rodeo Grounds. For more information contact: Gary Cobb at (479) 659-3018.
Feb. 16 – Southeast Arkansas Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Lakewood Inn in Crossett. For more information contact: Mickey Pennington at (870) 364-9061
Feb. 16 – Sugarloaf Wild Turkey Hunters Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Cleburne County Fairgrounds in Heber Springs. For more information contact: Don Melton at (501) 362-5555.
Feb. 21 - AGFC Commission monthly meeting, Dumas.
Feb. 23 – Four Rivers Limbhangers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Arkadelphia National Guard Armory. For more information contact: Teena Bebee at (870) 245-6594
Feb. 23 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Late Season Squirrel Hunting.”
Feb. 23 – Lafayette County Strutters Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Lewisville Middle School. For more information contact: Tony Wheelington at (870) 533-1349
Feb. 23 – Lawrence County Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Hoxie Community Center. For more information contact: Bobby Tedder at (870) 892-3007.
Feb. 23 – Lower White River Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Arkansas County Fairgrounds in DeWitt. For more information contact: Walter Jones at (870) 282-8009
Feb. 23 – Palarm Creek Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Sherwood Forest in Sherwood. For more information contact: Keith Brown at (501) 835-9546
Feb. 24 – Tightlines Flyfishers outing, Beaver Tailwaters, 12 noon. For more information contact Ken Richards at (479) 531-5741.
Feb. 26 – Billy Mitchell Sr. Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Knights of Columbus Hall in Wynne. For more information contact: Robert Bassham at (870) 238-7570.
Feb. 26 – Spa City Spurs Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Elk’s Lodge in Hot Springs. For more information contact: Darrel Sulton at (501) 844-7705.
Feb. 28 – East Arkansas Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Phillips Community College in West Helena. For more information contact: Terry Grubbs at (870) 995-2985
Feb. 29-Mar. 2 - Hot Springs Boat Tackle and RV Show, Hot Springs Convention Center, Hot Springs. For more information, contact: Denton and Griffey Attractions, Ken Griffey, (501) 225-6177 or (501) 765-1423.
Feb. 29 – Buffalo Island Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Cowboy Grill in Caraway. For more information contact: Billy Vanderbilt at (870) 273-8056
Feb. 29 – Tri-County Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Fordyce Armory Building. For more information contact: Burk Weatherly at (870) 687-3118
Mar. 7 – Annual Spring Conservation Banquet and Fundraiser, Fayetteville Town Center, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information contact Keri Russell at (479) 640-8319.
Mar. 20 - AGFC Commission monthly meeting, 2 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, 9 a.m.
April 17 – AGFC Commission monthly meeting, 2 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, 9 a.m.
May 22 – AGFC Commission monthly meeting, 2 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, 9 a.m.
June 19  – AGFC Commission monthly meeting.

For the latest in Arkansas Game and Fish Commission information go to www.agfc.com.