MonticelloLive

26 hunters win elk permits for upcoming 2008 season
As it is every year, the highlight of the 11th annual Buffalo River Elk Festival is the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission drawing for elk hunting permits. Almost 8,000 people applied for this season’s hunt. The two-segment season will be held Sept. 22 to 26 and Dec. 8 to 12. 

Cherokee Village urban deer hunt applications now available
Due to increasing nuisance deer complaints, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the City of Cherokee Village have joined together to offer a limited urban archery hunt to combat the overpopulated deer herd.  

Night fishing: Be prepared and catch a bunch
When summer arrives and daytime temperatures climb past 90, the numbers of fishermen on Arkansas waters decline. It’s inevitable.  Many anglers grumble, “It’s just too hot. The fish won’t bite.” So other fishermen chuckle to themselves and get ready to work waters less populated with anglers. The reports come in from boat docks, marinas and sporting goods outlets that this species and that species are biting “early and late.” Yes, those are the best times all right and more so for the fishermen than the fish. 
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
July 12 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Best Baits for Trout and How to Tie a Fly.”
July 11-13 – Scholastic Clay Target Program Arkansas Trap State Championship, Remington Gun Club, 1682 Highway 15 North in Lonoke. For more information contact Paul Acre, SCTP Arkansas State Director at (501) 679-4188
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 19 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Fly Fishing for Trout.”
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.  Visit our new website that’s being updated daily http://www.arkcats.org/ or contact ACA president James Freeman of Pocahontas at (870) 810-3294
July 26 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Snakes of Arkansas.”
Aug. 2 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Extreme Fishing.”
Aug. 10 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 5 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Arkansas Alligators.”
Aug. 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.”
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. Details at ArkCats.Org or contact ACA president James Freeman of Pocahontas at (870) 810-3294
Aug. 24 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 5 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Fishin for Talipia.”
Aug. 31 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 5 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Outdoor Resources.”
Sept. 7 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 5 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “All About Elk.”
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 or contact ACA president James Freeman of Pocahontas at (870) 810-3294
Sept. 13 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “Fishing for Monster Catfish.”
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. 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.
Sept. 28 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be “All About Archer.”
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 or contact ACA president James Freeman of Pocahontas at (870) 810-3294
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/