MonticelloLive

Deer harvest up from previous year, Commission told
Commissioners from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission were briefed last week on the state’s recent deer season harvest. Brad Miller, AGFC deer program coordinator, told the Commission the harvest was up almost 4,200 deer from the 2006-07 season.

Nature trail renamed to honor former AGFC employee
Many years ago, Bell Slough was just the swamp across the highway from the Camp Robinson Wildlife Demonstration Area and was known as a problem for those Arkansas Game and Fish Commission employees that tried to manage it. One employee saw beauty in its murky water. Kenny Vernon, who died in January, worked for the AGFC almost 27 years until his retirement in 2007. He had a unique vision for the area – an interpretive trail. Last week, a large crowd of friends, family and fellow employees were on hand to rename the area the Kenny Vernon Bell Slough Nature Trail.

Young trumpeter swans venturing around Arkansas
The young trumpeter swans brought to Arkansas from their Iowa birthplaces haven’t gone back to Iowa after all.  Most of them got together for a few days in a new Arkansas location, not far from Huntsville in Madison County and close to the War Eagle River. But they have scattered again. 

2008-09 deer permit application process begins soon
Permit applications will be available for zone and WMA doe quota, youth, archery, modern gun and muzzleloader deer hunts on several AGFC wildlife management areas and deer zones throughout the state.  Applications may be picked up at Arkansas Game and Fish Commission offices, license dealers around the state or by applying online beginning June 1. The deadline for applications is July 1. 
Free Fishing Days will be June 6-8 in Arkansas
Free Fishing Days of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission this year will be from noon Friday, June 6, through midnight Sunday, June 8. No sport fisherman, resident or non-resident, will be required to have a fishing license or a trout permit to fish anywhere in Arkansas during this time.

Elk application deadline is rapidly approaching
Time is ticking away for chances to win one of the permits to hunt elk in the Buffalo River country of Arkansas. The hunt dates this year are Sept. 22-26 and Dec. 8-12.  The most pressing date at present, however, is June 2. That’s your last chance to apply for one of the coveted free elk hunting permits for the 2008 seasons. Mailed applications will not be accepted if postmarked after June 2. Online applications must be made before midnight June 2.  

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 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 3 – Hunters can voice their opinions about the upcoming Arkansas waterfowl hunting regulations and seasons at one of 12 public meetings to be held around the state.
These meetings are part of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s hunting regulation setting process. They will be held to give hunters and other interested parties the opportunity to make comments and proposals on the 2008-2009 waterfowl hunting seasons.The meetings will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Comments may be either verbal or written. Written comments may be submitted at one of the meetings or mailed to the AGFC, attn: Hunting Regulations Proposals, 2 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, Ark. 72205. . The deadline for comments is July 31.
Meeting sites, locations and phone numbers are:
Little Rock - AGFC Office
2 Natural Resources Drive
(800) 364-4263
 
Stuttgart- Phillips Community College
2807 Highway 165 South
 
Hot Springs - AGFC Regional Office
350 Fish Hatchery Road
(877) 525-8606

El Dorado- South Arkansas
Community College, West Campus
Library Auditorium
300 Summit
(877) 836-4612
June 6-7 - Arkansas Youth Hunter Education Challenge C. A. Vine 4-H Center in Ferndale. Competition starts at 8 a.m. on Friday and continues until 6 p.m. with dinner and the Arkansas Waterfowl Association Duck Calling Contest following. On Saturday, competition will start at 8 a.m. continue until completion. Dinner and awards banquet follows at 6 p.m. Make plans to attend the awards banquet, where over 300 trophies will be awarded plus door prizes. Scholarship winners to the International YHEC competition in Mansfield, Penn. will also be announced. For more information contact Gary Jobe at (713) 253-7914
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  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

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/