MonticelloLive

Commission hears proposal for early migratory bird seasons
The unofficial opening of Arkansas’s fall hunting season was one of the main topics at last week’s meeting of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Dove season is the opening of the fall hunting seasons for many Arkansans. 

Turbulent tailwaters present fresh perils to anglers, boaters
Water is a wonderful commodity and an Arkansas asset – except when there is too much of it.  Weeks after the storms and heavy rains the state received earlier in the year, too much water remains here and there even as the traditionally dry summer is underway. The state’s large lakes, which are reservoirs in actuality, are well above normal level, and discharges of water are continuing to lower these levels.  

SWEPCO Lake Access dedication scheduled
The long-awaited completion of the access to SWEPCO Lake will be celebrated by a dedication at 1 p.m., June 26.

Arkansas farm producers snap up available wildlife enhancement acres
Beginning April 5, Arkansas farmers began taking advantage of a Department of Agriculture program known as SAFE.   

Safety first for Fourth of July boaters
Family picnics, fireworks and being on the water all are things associated with the Fourth of July. One more thing should be added to that list – safety. According to Bob Cushing, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Boating Education Program coordinator, this is one of the busiest and most dangerous times on the water. 

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

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
June 29 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 10 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Fishing Free for All.”
July 17 – AGFC Commission monthly meeting at the AGFC Little Rock central office, 2 Natural Resources Dr., beginning at 9 a.m. Topics include: early migratory bird season approval, proposed late migratory bird seasons (waterfowl seasons) and proposed general fishing regulations.
July 26 - Arkansas Catfishing Association (ACA) Tournament at Bull Shoals (night tournament) for ACA members ($20 annual membership) hosted by the Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock, Steve and Ricky Eastward, 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. 
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 (ACA) 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. contact ACA president James Freeman of Pocahontas at (870) 810-3294
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 hosted by godaddy.com:
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. 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.
Oct. 18 - Arkansas Catfishing Association (ACA).  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
Oct. 22 – 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.

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/