Keith Stephens, Author at Arkansas Game & Fish Commission https://www.agfc.com/news/author/kstephens/ Mon, 15 Jul 2024 21:22:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6 AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice https://www.agfc.com/news/agfc-commissioner-meeting-notice-51/ Mon, 15 Jul 2024 21:22:23 +0000 https://www.agfc.com/?p=15370 The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]>

July 15, 2024

You are hereby notified that Commissioners of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will meet on the following date and times to consider any business that may be brought before the Commission. Unless otherwise stated, meetings will be held at the AGFC offices, 2 Natural Resources Dr. in Little Rock. Click here to view the Thursday commission meeting online.

Wednesday, July 17

8 a.m.

Call to Order

Committee Chair Assignments

Budget Committee – Anne Marie Doramus, Chair

FY24 Budget FSR – Emily Shumate

Regulations Committee – Rob Finley, Chair

2024 code clarifying corrections approval – Luke Naylor

Property Management Committee – Phillip Tappan, Chair

AGFF agreement for access area projects – Ben Batten

Inventory removal/award – Austin Booth

Project Updates

Key Results – Austin Booth

GTR/Wetland Renovations- Luke Naylor and Buck Jackson

Habitat/Wildlife Health

Lake Renovations

Hatcheries

Systems and Administration

5 p.m.

Attending Natural State Landowner Conservation Awards at the Chenal Event Venue, 21 Rahling Circle in Little Rock.

Thursday, July 18

9 a.m.

Call to Order

Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance

Approval of agenda

Approval of June 20, 2024 commission meeting notes

AGFC Staff Presentations

Intern presentations

Director’s Report

Committee Meeting Reports

Commission Items

AGFF agreement; access area projects – Ben Batten

Inventory removal/award – Austin Booth

2024 code clarifying corrections approval – Luke Naylor

New Business

Old Business

Executive Session (if necessary)

Adjournment

If you need assistance to participate in this public meeting due to a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact AGFC’s ADA Coordinator in Human Resources at 501-382-3813 prior to the scheduled meeting to request an accommodation. Every reasonable effort will be made to meet your request.

The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]> AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice https://www.agfc.com/news/agfc-commissioner-meeting-notice-50/ Mon, 08 Jul 2024 15:33:47 +0000 https://www.agfc.com/?p=15290 The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]>

July 8, 2024

You are hereby notified that Commissioners of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will meet on the following date and times to consider any business that may be brought before the Commission. Unless otherwise stated, meetings will be held at the AGFC offices, 2 Natural Resources Dr. in Little Rock.

Monday, July 8

1 p.m.

Attending event at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center in downtown Little Rock.

The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]> AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice https://www.agfc.com/news/agfc-commissioner-meeting-notice-49/ Mon, 17 Jun 2024 15:26:18 +0000 https://www.agfc.com/?p=15137 The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]>

June 17, 2024

You are hereby notified that Commissioners of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will meet on the following date and times to consider any business that may be brought before the Commission. Unless otherwise stated, meetings will be held at the AGFC offices, 2 Natural Resources Dr. in Little Rock. Click here to view the Thursday commission meeting online.

Monday, June 17

12 noon

Attending the Special Session of the General Assembly at the Arkansas State Capitol.

Wednesday, June 19

9 a.m.

Call to Order

Guest Speakers

Mud Motors – Kyle Broussard

Tourism in Arkansas – Susan West

Regulations Committee – Anne Marie Doramus, Chair

Resident Angler Survey – Vic Dicenzo and Jessica Feltz

Southeast Grasslands Institute – Theo Witsell and Allison Fowler

Alternative location data on F and C Ponds – Joe Kaiser

Youth nonresident turkey bag limit approval – Luke Naylor

2024 code clarifying corrections, first reading- Luke Naylor

Property Management Committee – Rob Finley, Chair

War Eagle Lewis donation – Kevin Mullen

Cadron Creek Pinnacle Springs donation – Kevin Mullen

Hope Upland AGFF donation – Kevin Mullen

Arkansas River Valley Electric easement – Kevin Mullen

Budget Committee – JD Neeley, Chair

Financial Status, May Report – Emily Shumate

FY25 Operating Budget Approval – Emily Shumate

FY25 Gas Lease Revenue Budget Approval – Emily Shumate

FY25 Black River Budget Approval – Emily Shumate

FY25 Marine Fuel Tax Budget Approval – Emily Shumate

Federal electronic duck stamp price increase – Kyle Curry

AR Prescribed Burn Association grant agreement – Garrick Dugger

Personnel/Governance Committee – Philip Tappan, Chair

Legal Report – John Marks

6:30 p.m.

Attending the Chairman’s Dinner, Arkansas Governor’s Mansion.

Thursday, June 20

9 a.m.

Call to Order

Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance

Approval of agenda

Approval of May 16, 2024 commission meeting notes

Delegations

Rep. Bruce Westerman

Awards

AGFC Years of Service Awards- Austin Booth

AGFC Presentations

Future of Arkansas recreational shooting – Jose Jimenez

Director’s Report

Committee Meeting Reports

Commission Items

Youth nonresident turkey bag limit approval – Luke Naylor

2024 code clarifying corrections, 1st reading- Luke Naylor

War Eagle Lewis donation – Kevin Mullen

Cadron Creek Pinnacle Springs donation – Kevin Mullen

Hope Upland AGFF donation – Kevin Mullen

Arkansas River Valley Electric easement – Kevin Mullen

Building removals – Emily Shumate

FY25 operating budget approval – Emily Shumate

FY25 gas lease revenue budget approval – Emily Shumate

FY25 Black River budget approval – Emily Shumate

FY25 Marine Fuel Tax budget approval – Emily Shumate

Federal electronic duck stamp increase- Kyle Curry

Arkansas Prescribed Burn Association grant agreement- Garrick Dugger

New Business

Election of FY25 commission chair and vice-chair

Old Business

Executive Session (if necessary)

Adjournment

If you need assistance to participate in this public meeting due to a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact AGFC’s ADA Coordinator in Human Resources at 501-382-3813 prior to the scheduled meeting to request an accommodation. Every reasonable effort will be made to meet your request.

The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]> AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice https://www.agfc.com/news/agfc-commissioner-meeting-notice-48/ Tue, 14 May 2024 17:33:27 +0000 https://www.agfc.com/?p=14818 The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]>

May 9, 2024

You are hereby notified that Commissioners of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will meet on the following date and times to consider any business that may be brought before the Commission. Unless otherwise stated, meetings will be held at the AGFC offices, 2 Natural Resources Dr. in Little Rock. Click here to view the Thursday commission meeting online.

Wednesday, May 15

9 a.m.

Committee meetings will be held at the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce, 111 W. Main St. in El Dorado.

Call to Order

Guest Speakers

Non-resident Deer Dog Regulations – Lane Stephens

Non-resident Deer Dog Regulations – Chris Creech

Non-resident Deer Dog Regulations – Allen Bates

Duck Season Regulations – Jonathan Wilkins

Regulations Committee – Anne Marie Doramus, Chair

Ouachita River Catfish Projects – Jacob Martin

Crayfish Diversity and Slenderwrist Crayfish Project – Maxwell Hartman

Regulations Approval – Luke Naylor and Tommy Laird

Property Management Committee – Rob Finley, Chair

Removal of Inventory Items – Emily Shumate

Inventory Removal/Award/Sale of Service Weapon to Sgt. John Crisman -Brad Young

Gulf Mountain Potlatch Acquisition – Kevin Mullen

Education/IT/GIS/Communications Committee – Bill Jones, Chair

New Education Recognition Program – Mary Beth Hatch

PayIt Update – Kyle Curry, Jean Nobile and Chris Billard

Volunteer Policy Update – Leah Hughes

Budget Committee – JD Neeley, Chair

Financial Status Report – Emily Shumate

Personnel/Governance Committee – Philip Tappan, Chair

Legal Report – John Marks

1 p.m.

Touring Moro Big Pine Natural Area WMA.

6:30 p.m.

Dinner at Mystic Grill, 191 Clubhouse Ln. in El Dorado

Thursday, May 16

8 a.m.

Breakfast with local leaders at the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce, 111 W. Main St. in El Dorado.

9 a.m.

The regular monthly commission meeting will be held at the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce, 111 W. Main St. in El Dorado.

Call to Order

Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance

Approval of Agenda

Approval of April 11, 2024 commission meeting notes

Delegations

Perspective of a Local Hunter/Angler – Stephen Kelly

Perspective of a Local Hunter/Angler – Courtney Kelly

AGFC Presentations

Feral Hog Program update – Ryan Farney

Director’s Report

Committee Meeting Reports

Commission Items

Regulations Approval- Brad Carner

Inventory Removal/Award/Sale of Service Weapon to Sgt. John Crisman – Brad Young

Removal of Inventory Items- Emily Shumate

Volunteer Policy Update- Mary Beth Hatch

Gulf Mountain Potlatch Acquisition- Kevin Mullen

New Business

Old Business

Executive Session (if necessary)

Adjournment

If you need assistance to participate in this public meeting due to a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact AGFC’s ADA Coordinator in Human Resources at 501-382-3813 prior to the scheduled meeting to request an accommodation. Every reasonable effort will be made to meet your request.

The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]> AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice https://www.agfc.com/news/agfc-commissioner-meeting-notice-47/ Thu, 09 May 2024 15:54:25 +0000 https://www.agfc.com/?p=14772 The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]>

May 9, 2024

You are hereby notified that Commissioners of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will meet on the following date and times to consider any business that may be brought before the Commission. Unless otherwise stated, meetings will be held at the AGFC offices, 2 Natural Resources Dr. in Little Rock.

Thursday, May 9

5:30 p.m.

Attending wild game supper and auction at the C.R. Crawford Hangar, 718 S. Old Missouri Rd. in Springdale.

The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]> AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice https://www.agfc.com/news/agfc-commissioner-meeting-notice-46/ Thu, 02 May 2024 19:20:40 +0000 https://www.agfc.com/?p=14729 The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]>

May 2, 2024

You are hereby notified that Commissioners of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will meet on the following date and times to consider any business that may be brought before the Commission. Unless otherwise stated, meetings will be held at the AGFC offices, 2 Natural Resources Dr. in Little Rock.

Friday, May 3

10 a.m.

Attending trophy bass stocking at Lake Monticello.

The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]> AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice https://www.agfc.com/news/agfc-commissioner-meeting-notice-45/ Tue, 16 Apr 2024 19:15:39 +0000 https://www.agfc.com/?p=13465 The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]>

April 16, 2024

You are hereby notified that Commissioners of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will meet on the following date and times to consider any business that may be brought before the Commission. Unless otherwise stated, meetings will be held at the AGFC offices, 2 Natural Resources Dr. in Little Rock.

Wednesday, April 17

6 p.m.

Attending the Arkansas Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus at the Arkansas Association of Counties  building, 1415 W. 3rd St. in Little Rock.

The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]> AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice https://www.agfc.com/news/agfc-commissioner-meeting-notice-44/ Tue, 09 Apr 2024 19:13:16 +0000 https://www.agfc.com/?p=13396 The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]>

April 9, 2024

You are hereby notified that Commissioners of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will meet on the following date and times to consider any business that may be brought before the Commission. Unless otherwise stated, meetings will be held at the AGFC offices, 2 Natural Resources Dr. in Little Rock. Click here to view the Thursday commission meeting online. 

Wednesday, April 10

9 a.m.

Call to order. 

Guest speakers in the AGFC director’s conference room.

Regulations Committee meeting in the AGFC director’s conference room.

Education/IT/GIS/Communications Committee meeting in the AGFC director’s conference room.

Research Review Committee meeting in the AGFC director’s conference room.

Budget Committee meetingin the AGFC director’s conference room.

Personnel/Governnce Committee meeting in the AGFC director’s conference room.

7 p.m.

Dinner at Cypress Social, 7103 Cock of the Walk Lane in North Little Rock.

Thursday, April 11

9 a.m.

The regular monthly commission meeting will be held in the AGFC Auditorium.

Call to Order 

a. Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance

b. Approval of Agenda

c. Approval of March 21, 2024 Commission Meeting Notes

AGFC Presentations

a. Elk harvest update – AGFC Elk Program Coordinator Wes Wright and Chad Bowen from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Director’s Report 

Committee Meeting Reports 

Commission Items

a. Additional regulations, first reading – Luke Naylor.

New Business 

Old Business 

Executive Session (if necessary)

Adjournment 

If you need assistance to participate in this public meeting due to a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact AGFC’s ADA Coordinator in Human Resources at 501-382-3813 prior to the scheduled meeting to request an accommodation. Every reasonable effort will be made to meet your request. 

The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]> AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice https://www.agfc.com/news/agfc-commissioner-meeting-notice-43/ Tue, 19 Mar 2024 13:54:58 +0000 https://www.agfc.com/?p=13226 The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]>

March 19, 2024

You are hereby notified that Commissioners of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will meet on the following date and times to consider any business that may be brought before the Commission. Unless otherwise stated, meetings will be held at the AGFC offices, 2 Natural Resources Dr. in Little Rock. Click here to view the Thursday commission meeting online. 

Wednesday, March 20

9 a.m.

Call to order. 

Guest speaker – Dog hunting regulations – Lee Kuykendall 

Regulations Committee meeting at Mount Magazine State Park. 

Education/IT/GIS/Communications Committee meeting at Mount Magazine State Park.

Budget Committee meeting at Mount Magazine State Park. 

Personnel/Governnce Committee meeting at Mount Magazine State Park.

1:30 p.m.

Fishing at Blue Mountain Lake.

6 p.m.

Dinner at Mount Magazine State Park.

Thursday, March 21

7:30 a.m.

Breakfast at Mount Magazine State Park

9 a.m.

The regular monthly commission meeting will be held at Mount Magazine State Park. 

Call to Order 

a. Prayer and Pledge of Allegiance

b. Approval of Agenda

c. Approval of Feb. 15, 2024 Commission Meeting Notes

Delegations

a. Conservation Journey – Koen Masingale

b. Local Guest Speaker – Paul Reames

AGFC Staff Presentations

a. Bear Program Update – Myron Means

b. Conservation Incentive Program Update – Michelle Furr

Director’s Report 

Committee Meeting Reports 

Commission Items

a. Inventory Removal/Award/Sale of Service Weapon to Cpl. John Partain – Maj. Nakia Crims

b. Inventory Removal/Award/Sale of Service Weapon to Cpl.  Andy Smith – Maj. Nakia Crims

New Business 

Old Business 

Executive Session (if necessary)

Adjournment 

If you need assistance to participate in this public meeting due to a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact AGFC’s ADA Coordinator in Human Resources at 501-382-3813 prior to the scheduled meeting to request an accommodation. Every reasonable effort will be made to meet your request. 

The post AGFC Commissioner Meeting Notice appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]> CWD found in Craighead County https://www.agfc.com/news/cwd-found-in-craighead-county/ Thu, 22 Feb 2024 21:22:28 +0000 https://www.agfc.com/?p=13037 The post CWD found in Craighead County appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]>

JONESBORO — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has confirmed that a hunter-harvested white-tailed deer taken in Craighead County tested positive for chronic wasting disease.

The 2-year-old doe was harvested near Jonesboro during the Arkansas modern gun deer hunt. A CWD sample was collected by an AGFC employee at a biological checkstation that the hunter used for processing. That sample tested positive for CWD and was confirmed by the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory in Madison.

In addition to Craighead County, three new counties are being added to the CWD Management Zone due to their proximity to other CWD positive cases found. Sharp, Cleburne and Mississippi counties will also be added to the CWD Management Zone. Sharp will be added due to the cluster of infected deer found within 5 miles of the county line in northwestern Randolph County near Dalton. In Cleburne County, a positive deer was found in close proximity to the county line near Shirley in Van Buren County along with a detection in 2022 in Independence County near Locust Grove. Several CWD positive deer just across the Mississippi River from Mississippi County in Tipton County, Tennessee have been found. In all three of these new counties, infected deer were found within the 10-mile buffer zone which increases the overall likelihood of the disease already being present in these counties. This proactive measure of including counties based on risk values is outlined in the state’s CWD Management and Response Plan. Visit www.agfc.com/cwd for a complete list of CWD counties in Arkansas.

Cory Gray, chief of the AGFC’s Research Division, said, “Protecting the health of Arkansas’s deer herd is our top priority. We are being very proactive in all of our CWD management areas. Our desire is not to disrupt hunting, but to proactively address this disease while it is potentially at low prevalence.”

In keeping with the AGFC’s CWD Management and Response Plan, there will be no changes to deer-hunting regulations for the remainder of the 2023-24 deer hunting season.

AGFC Deputy Director Brad Carner said, “Including these counties in the CWD Management Zone allows us to implement targeted management strategies to slow the spread of this disease and minimize its impact on our deer population and hunting opportunities.”

Hunters who wish to have their deer tested for CWD can voluntarily take the head of the deer, with 6 inches of neck still attached, to one of the AGFC’s network of participating taxidermists to have a sample tested for free. They also may drop off the head at one of more than 100 CWD-testing collection stations positioned throughout the state. A list of CWD-testing facilities is available at www.agfc.com/cwd. Landowners near, especially those within 10 miles, of CWD-positive samples may contact the AGFC to participate in surveillance efforts in the area. For more information, call 501-710-6731.

CWD is a fatal neurological disease that affects deer, elk, caribou and moose. It was first detected in Arkansas Feb. 23, 2016. Since the first detection, AGFC has tested more than 40,670 deer and elk from across the state. To date, 1,260 deer and 38 elk have tested positive for the disease in Arkansas.

Research indicates that CWD is caused by a misfolded protein called a prion that is transmitted through feces, urine and saliva. Prions can survive for years in soil and plants. CWD can have an incubation period of at least 16 months, which means infected animals may not show immediate signs of disease. CWD prions accumulate throughout the body and affect an animal’s nervous system. The diseased prions cause normal cellular proteins to misfold into abnormal shapes that accumulate until neural cells cease to function. Infected animals begin to lose weight, lose their appetite and develop an insatiable thirst. They may separate from their herds, walk in repetitive patterns, carry their head low, salivate, urinate frequently and grind their teeth.

Visit www.agfc.com/cwd for more information.

 

####

 

CUTLINES

MAP
Craighead County is the latest area where AGFC has confirmed the presence of chronic wasting disease, a fatal neurological disease found in members of the deer family.

FREEZER
A network of CWD drop-off locations allows hunters to have their deer tested for CWD for free.

LABORATORY
AGFC has tested more than 40,670 deer and elk from across the state. To date, 1,260 deer and 38 elk have tested positive for the disease in Arkansas.

The post CWD found in Craighead County appeared first on Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

]]>