MonticelloLive

Continued closures required to repair flooded WMAs
ARKANSAS CITY - Floodwaters are beginning to recede in southeast Arkansas and other parts of the state, and as rivers and streams continue to fall, outdoorsmen will be interested in returning to deer camps, houses and other dwellings to assess damages. There also will be anglers looking to try their luck on recharged lakes.

Biologists preparing for possible increase in deer nuisance complaints
MONTICELLO – Wild animals, particularly deer, forced from flooded land have moved to neighboring croplands, and may impact farmers’ summer crops. Although some ridges in the flooded region are above water, the land left can only support so many animals. Small woodlots and farms near flooded land offer good shelter and abundant food, which has caused many animals to make a temporary move. 

Partners fire up to restore Arkansas oaks system
For two centuries, the forests of Arkansas have ridden a pendulum. The woods that furnished food and building material for early residents were later logged heavily then overly protected against fire.  Today, the latest swing is involving the Oak Ecosystem Restoration Team, a partnership of several organizations and state and federal agencies working to improve the upland oak ecosystem of the state.

CRP SAFE is perfect program for flood prone croplands
Arkansas’s row-crop farmers have thousands of acres of cropland still under water after many weeks of rain.  Many of these same acres experience flooding on a regular yearly basis and continue to be a thorn in the side of farm producers.  However, there is a new option available to plant trees, grass or establish wetlands on these flood prone cropland acres and receive incentives and 15 year rental payments to stabilize farm income on these risky croplands. 

Fisheries public input meetings still available
There are 8 remaining public input meetings scheduled by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to give anglers the opportunity to comment on the proposed fishing regulation changes for 2009. The input meetings are part of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s regulations-setting process. All the remaing public meetings will start at 7 p.m.  

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

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 8.
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
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 and Charitable Event at Lake Maumelle in the Little Rock area. This is a change of location due to the unfavorable conditions on the river. Ten catfish limit for donation to charity, with the two largest weighed-in for the tournament. Visitors welcomed to observe and may join if desired.  Registration at 5 a.m. and launching at 5:40 a.m. Check-in at 3 p.m. 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  or Lee Fields of the Russellville area at (479) 331-0399
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 16 – Ouachita River Day. Students from Malvern High School will be participating in National River Cleanup Week will be picking up trash and stabilizing the river bank.
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
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. Successful applicants will be notified by July 15, 2008. Application forms and instructions may be downloaded at http://www.agfc.com/education-class/programs/conservation-scholarship-program.aspx.
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

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.