MonticelloLive

Biologists find varying waterfowl habitat across the state
LITTLE ROCK – Earlier this month, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists took the skies for their monthly aerial waterfowl surveys. What they found was a variety of habitat conditions around the state. 

Black bear adorns 2008 conservation license plate
LITTLE ROCK - A leaping largemouth bass, a mallard drake in flight, a woodpecker listening for grubs.
Those are a few images on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s license plates, which debuted with a popular white-tailed deer in 2000. The ninth plate in the annual series – a sow black bear with her cub in the Arkansas highlands – became available Jan. 1.

Russellville man forming catfishing group
RUSSELLVILLE – Competitive catfishing may be coming to Arkansas. A Russellville man is trying to put together the Arkansas Catfishing Association with a “catch-and-release” format.

Eagle watching opportunities abound in coming weeks
LITTLE ROCK - Winter is eagle time for many Arkansans and for many visitors to the state.. Migrating bald eagles along with a few golden eagles are in the state along with an increasing number of year-round resident eagles and commonly attract “oohs” and “aahs” from young and old viewers.

Public meetings set for input on 2008-09 hunting regulations
LITTLE ROCK - Hunters may voice their opinions about hunting regulations and seasons at one of 11 public meetings across the state Tuesday, Jan. 8.

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.
Dove:
Dec. 15-Jan. 4
Duck:
Nov. 17-Dec. 18, Dec. 26-Jan. 6, 2008 and Jan. 12, 2008-Jan. 27, 2008
Youth Waterfowl Hunt:
Dec. 22-23
White-Fronted Goose:
Nov. 17-Dec. 18 and Dec. 26-Feb. 3 
Snow, Blue, and Ross’ Goose:
Nov. 8-Dec. 21 and Dec. 26-Feb. 3   
Snow Goose Conservation Order:
Feb. 4-April 27
Statewide Canada Goose:
Dec. 26 – Feb. 3
Statewide Falconry:
Dec. 19-21, Jan. 7-11 and Jan. 28-Feb. 17
Common Snipe:
Nov. 1, 2007 to Feb. 15, 2008
Woodcock:
Nov. 10 to Dec. 24
Deer Archery:
Oct. 1-Feb. 29 statewide.
Deer Modern Gun:
Nov. 10-Dec. 16 for zones 9 and 12.
Nov. 10-Dec. 25 for zones 16, 16A and 17.
Christmas holiday modern gun deer hunt is Dec. 26-28 statewide
Deer Muzzleloader:
Dec. 15-17 for zones 1, 2, 3, 4A, 5A, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15
Dec. 29-31 for zones 9, 12, 16, 16A and 17
Zones 4, 4B, 5 and 5B are closed
Bear Modern Gun:
Dec. 8-16 for zone 5 but may close earlier if quota is reached.
Dec. 1-16 for zone 5A but may close earlier if quota is reached.
All other zones closed.
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.

Jan. 8 – 2008-09 AGFC Hunting Regulations Public Meetings, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Monticello
AGFC Regional Office 771 Jordan Drive
(877) 367-3559

Jan. 24 – AGFC Commission monthly meeting, 2 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, 9 a.m.
Feb. 1-2 - Quail and Songbird Habitat Workshop, Petit Jean Mountain. Registration for the workshop is available online at http://www.uawri.org/ or by calling (866) 972-7778. Overnight accommodations are available. The registration deadline is Jan. 28. For more information about the workshop, contact Sandy Davies by phone at (501) 215-7990.
Feb. 21 - AGFC Commission monthly meeting, Dumas.
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/.