MonticelloLive

Northern snakehead makes Arkansas arrival
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission fisheries biologists confirmed a breeding population of northern snakehead, an invasive species from Asia, in Lee County on April 28.

Season for seeking elk permits is approaching
You’ve heard the old saying that if something’s too good to be true, then it probably is. That’s not the case with elk hunting in Arkansas. A free chance to hunt Arkansas’ largest game animal is very real and it’s coming up soon.

Public meetings set to hear angler comments on regulation changes
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be holding 12 public meetings around the state to give anglers the opportunity to comment on the proposed fishing regulation changes for 2009.

What’s open for hunting
Current and approaching seasons in Arkansas:
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.
Snow Goose Conservation Order:
Feb. 4-April 27
Spring Turkey:
Zones 1, 2, 3, 4B, 5, 5B, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 9, and 10 - April 12-May 2
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-Feb. 28 and May 16-June 14.
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
April 29-30 – Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Youth Expo at Lake Sylvia in Perry County, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information or to sign up a fifth-grade class, contact Eric DeVries at (501) 223-6402
May 2 – Scout Night at the Travelers game at Dickey-Stephens Park in Little Rock. AGFC fish tank and Hooked on Fishing Not on Drugs truck will be on display at the game. The first 500 kids will get a free keychain light. For more information, contact the Traveler’s office at (501) 664-1555 May 3 - Johnson County Razorduck Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, sponsor meeting, Johnson County Fairgrounds in Clarksville. For more information call Cheryl Feikema at (479) 754-3924
May 4 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 10 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Topwater Tactics for Bass.”
May 8-9 - Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Youth Expo at the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information or to sign up a class, contact Kelly Mulvihill at (479) 452-3993
May 10 - Arkansas Catfishing Association Tournament at the Arkansas River in North Little Rock at the Alltel Arena access. For ACA members: rod and reel, catch and release, and alive and well. For an ACA application form, constitution and bylaws, local conditions and information along with the rules and regulations, contact ACA president James Freeman of Pocahontas at (870) 810-3294
May 10 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Black Bears of Arkansas.”
May 13 – North Little Rock Chapter of Ducks Unlimited meeting, Hooter’s in North Little Rock. For more information call Pat Mahan at (501) 743-6154
May 17 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Fish Management.”
May 22 – AGFC Commission monthly meeting, 2 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, 9 a.m.
May 24 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Boating Safety.”
May 31 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 8:30 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Fishing Free for All.”
June 7 – Marion Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, Motorcycle Poker Run, Barton Ag Center. For more information call David Jett at (901) 848-9720
June 7 - Arkansas Catfishing Association Tournament at Lake Norfork at the Gamaliel Access. For ACA members: rod and reel, catch and release, and alive and well. Launching behind the Highway 101 Grocery and Bait and sponsored in part by the Lake Norfolk Chamber of Commerce. For an ACA application form, constitution and bylaws, local conditions and information along with the rules and regulations, contact ACA president James Freeman of Pocahontas at (870) 810-3294
June 7 - The Independence County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is hosting their Waterfowl Hunter Party at the BUBBA Hut in Batesville. For more information please contact: Shannon Huff at (870) 612-3757 or by email at black_mallard@hotmail.com.
June 10 – Deadline for application for AGFC conservation scholarships. Considering a career in conservation? Many fields of study can lead to a career in conservation. Education in law enforcement, fisheries management, wildlife management, public relations, environmental education and interpretation and many other fields is always a benefit to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The Conservation Scholarship Program uses funds from the sale of conservation license plates to let students reach their potential and create tomorrow’s conservation professionals. Minimum Requirements: Applicants must be Arkansas high school seniors or Arkansas college undergraduates pursuing a career in the field of natural resources conservation with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (4.0 scale) the first year. A 3.0 GPA will be required thereafter, beginning with 2009 fall semester renewals. Applicants must not have received a full scholarship or grant from another source. Only resident students paying in-state tuition may apply. Selections are based purely on merit, without discrimination to race, sex, religion, age, color or national origin. Minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Completed applications must be postmarked by June 10, 2008, for the fall semester and by February 15, 2008, for the second semester. Successful applicants will be notified by July 15, 2008.
June 19  – AGFC Commission monthly meeting at the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith beginning at 10 a.m.
June 21 - The Paragould Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is hosting their Waterfowl Hunter Party at the National Guard Armory. For more information please contact: Bryan Murray at (870) 335-6049
July 26 - Arkansas Catfishing Association (ACA) Tournament at Bull Shoals (night) for ACA members: Rod and Reel, Catch and Release, and Alive And Well. For an ACA application form, constitution and bylaws, local conditions and information along with the rules and regulations, contact ACA president James Freeman of Pocahontas at (870) 810-3294
June 28 - The Benton County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is hosting their 11th annual David Bain Memorial Ducks Unlimited Golf Tournament, 1 p.m. shotgun start at the Kingswood Golf Course in Bella Vista. For more information please contact: Blayne Estes at (479) 721-3394
Aug. 23-24 - Arkansas Catfishing Association ACA Charity tournament at Lake Millwood and Lake Earling in southwest Arkansas. For an ACA application form, constitution and bylaws, local conditions and information along with the rules and regulations, contact ACA president James Freeman of Pocahontas at (870) 810-3294
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. Contact Gary Harlow at gjharlow@aol.com for more information.
Sept. 20 - Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Youth Expo at the Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center in Jonesboro, For more information or to sign up a class call Shaun Merrell at 870-933-6787 .
For the latest in Arkansas Game and Fish Commission information go to www.agfc.com or call the Wildlife Information Hotline, (800) 440-1477.