MonticelloLive

Local wildlife officer wins award from National Wild Turkey Federation
POCAHONTAS – Continuing their commitment to law enforcement, the National Wild Turkey Federation will honor Sgt. Matt Byrd with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for his efforts in conserving America’s wildlife.

2008 Arkansas fishing guidebook now available
The latest edition of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing guidebook is now being distributed to AGFC offices and license dealers around the state. The guide is free and contains a few changes from the 2007 guide.
Great backyard bird count: Opportunity to meet nature
Audubon Society of Central Arkansas invites Arkansans to make their fascination with nature add up for science and for the future during the 11th annual Great Backyard Bird Count. The Great Backyard Bird Count is organized by the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

eBird Trail Tracker enhances outdoor enjoyment
­Parks, nature centers, wildlife management areas and wildlife refuges can now enhance their visitors’ experience with the installation of eBird Trail Tracker software from the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology.

Click here for boating education information:
http://www.agfc.com/education-class/boating-education.aspx#classes

Click here for hunter education information:
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.
Snow Goose Conservation Order:
Feb. 4-April 27
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 deer season dates for the 2008-09 hunting season.
Archery
Oct. 1
Muzzleloader
Oct. 18
Modern Gun
Nov. 8

Coming up in the outdoors

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) 628-3142
Feb. 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. 1 – Independence County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Independence Hall UACCB in Batesville. For more information contact: Gary Stround at (870) 307-3802
Mar. 1 – Ozark Foothills Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting in Clarksville. For more information contact: Terry Pelts at (479) 754-1168.
Mar. 1 – Southwest Arkansas Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Reynolds Center in Magnolia. For more information contact: Corky Thornton at (870) 234-4825.
Mar. 3 – Foothills Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Searcy High School Cafetorium. For more information contact: Wade Smalley at (501) 279-0499 Mar. 6 – Crowley’s Ridge Longbeard Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, District Fairgrounds in Jomesboro. For more information contact: Kimberly McDaniel at (870) 935-9852
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. 7 – Hempstead County Sharp Spurs Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Hope Fair Park Coliseum in Hope. For more information contact: Paul Chambless at (870) 777-0770.
Mar. 7 – Southern Mississippi County Strutters Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Riverlawn Country Club in Osceola. For more information contact: Stanley McPherson at (870) 563-5762.
Mar. 7 – Spring River Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Omaha Center in Cherokee Village. For more information contact: Chris Jones at (870) 625-1415
Mar. 8 – Benton County Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Quail Unlimited Barn in Bentonville. For more information contact: Tim Wise at (479) 631-4140
Mar. 8 – Caddo River Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Center Point School in Glenwood. For more information contact: Leah Davidson at (870) 246-1575
Mar. 8 – Desha County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Dumas Community Center. For more information contact: G. Lynn Weatherford at (870) 382-2984.
Mar. 8 – Poteau Mountain Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Waldron High School Cafeteria. For more information contact: Mark Bailey at (479) 637-2735.
Feb. 28 – Cache/White River Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Woodruff County Fairgrounds in McCrory. For more information contact: Bruce Golden at (870) 919-6494
Mar. 13 – Seven Devils Limb Hangers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Drew County Fairgrounds in Monticello. For more information contact: Angela Simmons at (870) 460-0070.
Mar. 14 – Holland Bottoms Limbhangers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, First Baptist Church in Cabo. For more information contact: Jack Young at (501) 680-6028
Mar. 15 – Petit Jean Valley Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation meeting, Sacred Heart School gym in Morrilton. For more information contact: Pat Jackson at (501) 354-4521
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 or call the Wildlife Information Hotline, (800) 440-1477.

The mission of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is to wisely manage all the
fish and wildlife resources of Arkansas while providing maximum enjoyment for the people.
Visit us on the web at http://www.agfc.com/