Increasing opportunities for hunters and anglers within the capability of the resource was a common theme with many regulations changes.

The establishment of a buck-only archery deer hunt in the first full weekend of September will enable hunters on private land and on Commission-owned or controlled wildlife management areas to pursue a deer still “in velvet.” Such opportunities have been available in some states, but were only briefly possible to hunters participating in controlled urban archery hunts.

Another regulation change that received healthy public support was the establishment of an alternative firearms season in lieu of Arkansas’s traditional muzzleloader season. Muzzleloaders will still be legal during this season that precedes the modern gun hunt, but hunters will be able to use modern straight-walled centerfire rifle cartridges .30 caliber or larger fired from a non-semiautomatic rifle. The change has been requested by hunters during the last few years and was moved forward by the Commission after the initial public comment survey showed strong support for the modification.

Bear hunters in northwest Arkansas continue to see increased opportunities for harvest, thanks to the strong black bear population. The archery quota for black bears in Bear Zone 1 will see an increase to the archery hunting quota from 400 to 450 bears.

Duck hunters on AGFC-owned WMAs will again be able to use motorized decoys that create motion or simulate wing movement. This change was made to create consistency between hunters on private land and those who chase waterfowl in Arkansas’s famous public waterfowl hunting areas.

The standardization of the shell limit for duck hunting will bring more consistency on Arkansas’s waterfowl hunting WMAs. All waterfowl-focused WMAs now have a 25-shotshell limit per hunter. This is an increase of 10 shells for some WMAs, but it also establishes this limit on some WMAs where none existed before. The shell limit is intended to reduce the amount of borderline shots at waterfowl, reducing the number of unrecovered birds as well as the amount of disturbance from excessive shooting.

The AGFC’s northern bobwhite program will turn the page on a new opportunity at Stone Prairie and Little Bayou WMAs this year. with the establishment of permit-based quail hunting opportunities. Jack Mountain Leased Land WMA and Harold E. Alexander Spring River WMA will also have quail hunting opportunities, all thanks to successful rebounds of birds as a result of increased habitat management.

One of the few regulations that run countercurrent to the theme of increased opportunity is the removal of the annual Private Land Antlerless Only Modern Gun Deer Hunt. The hunt, originally established to encourage the harvest of does to balance the deer herd, has been successful in helping change the “bucks only” mindset of many traditional Arkansas hunters. Recent participation in this hunt has slowed, and biologists have seen some slight reductions in fawn recruitment. The elimination of these hunting days will enable some relief from that pressure on antlerless deer without major changes in bag limits or regular seasons.

A previously considered regulation concerning the requirement for all hunting dogs pursuing game to be outfitted with collars capable of GPS location as well as some form of remote correction was tabled after the Commission received many public comments from hunters who use dogs to pursue deer and other game. The initial regulation stemmed from continued complaints over trespassing issues by some hunters’ dogs following game on or through private property, and the Commission is still very interested in working with hunting dog groups to find a resolution to this issue without the need for more stringent regulations.

Another previously proposed regulation that was tabled at today’s meeting was a possible reduction of the daily bag limit on mallard hens to one bird per day. Commissioners explained during Wednesday’s business meeting that they consistently want to ground in science any decisions restricting any opportunities and they wished to wait until the results of this year’s Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey are available from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before making any decisions on bag limit reductions.

During his address to the Commission, AGFC Director Austin Booth reflected on the lessons learned from a trip to nearby Moro Big Pine Natural Area WMA Wednesday. The area is a result of a partnership between the AGFC, the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, The Nature Conservancy and Potlatch Deltic Timber. It also is home to a thriving population of federally endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers, which commissioners and staff had a chance to view firsthand during a trip to the area.

“We can learn from Moro Big Pine lots of things, one of which is the importance of partnerships in conservation,” Booth said. “I learned that when a red-cockaded woodpecker seeks to make a cavity in a tree, it can take as much as nine years for that woodpecker to make a home in that tree. That woodpecker isn’t just doing it by himself or herself. Multigenerational groups of these woodpeckers work to make that home in the tree. We as people want what we want, when we want it. We are often most instantly gratified by what’s immediately in front of us. The reality is that more often than not, the successes we make are made as we string together through days, weeks, months and even generations.”

Today’s regulations package also included the dates for the 2024-25 hunting seasons, which will be as follows:

 

Deer

Early Buck Archery Hunt

Sept. 7-9

Archery Deer

Sept. 28-Feb. 28

Alternative Firearms (formerly muzzleloader season)
Zones 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11 — Oct. 19-27 and Dec. 14-16

Zones 4A, 5A, 14 and 15 — Oct. 19-27 and Dec. 21-23

Zones 9, 12, 13, 16, 16A and 17: Oct. 19-27

Modern Gun

Zones 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11: Nov. 9-Dec. 1 and Dec. 26-28

Zones 4A, 5A, 14 and 15: Nov. 9-Dec. 8 and Dec. 26-28

Zones 4 and 5: Nov. 9-17 and Dec. 26-28

Zones 9, 12 and 13: Nov. 9-Dec. 15 and Dec. 26-28

Zones 16, 16A and 17: Nov. 9-Dec. 28

Youth Modern Gun Deer

Nov. 2-3 and Jan. 4-5

 

Bear 

Archery (Zones 1 and 2 only)

Sept. 18-Nov. 30

Alternative Firearms (formerly muzzleloader season) (Zones 1 and 2 only)

Oct. 19-27

Special Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt (Zones 1 and 2 only)

Nov. 2-3

Modern Gun
Bear Zones 1 and 2 — Nov. 9-30

Bear Zone 3, 4, 5, and 5A — Dec. 21-27

 

Waterfowl

Special Early Teal Season — Sept. 15-30

Duck, Coot and Merganser — Nov. 23-Dec. 2, Dec. 10-23 and Dec. 27, 2024-Jan. 31, 2025

Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt — Feb. 8-9, 2025

Special Active Duty Military and Veteran Hunt — Feb. 9, 2025

White-fronted, Snow, Blue and Ross’s Goose — Oct. 26-Nov. 3, Nov. 23-Dec. 2, Dec. 10-23 and Dec. 27-Jan. 31

Canada Goose — Sept. 1-Oct. 15, Nov. 23-Dec. 2, Dec. 10-23 and Dec. 27-Jan. 31

Light Goose Conservation Order (Snow, Blue and Ross’s Goose) — Feb. 1-7, Feb. 10-April 25

Early Migratory Birds

Dove (Mourning, White-winged and Eurasian collared-dove) — Sept. 7-Oct. 27 and Dec. 8-Jan. 15

Virginia Rail and Sora — Sept. 14-Nov. 22

Common and Purple Gallinule — Sept. 1-Nov. 9

Wilson’s Snipe — Nov. 1-Feb. 15

Woodcock — Nov. 2-Dec. 16

Small Game
Quail — Nov. 1-Feb. 1

Rabbit — Sept. 1-Feb. 28

Squirrel — May 15-Feb. 28

 

In other business, the Commission:

• Heard the first reading of a regulation to set the seasonal turkey limit at one bird for all nonresidents including youth hunters. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Authorized Director Booth to complete the purchase of 320 acres of property adjacent to Scott Henderson Gulf Mountain WMA. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Heard a presentation from Ryan Farney, AGFC Feral Hog Program coordinator, with an update on the continued progress of the Arkansas Feral Hog Eradication Task Force. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Recognized Stephen Kelly, a local hunter and angler, who briefed the Commission about how the outdoors in southern Arkansas helped shape his life. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Recognized Don Miller, a representative of Murphy USA and the city of El Dorado, who welcomed the Commision with a presentation of opportunities available in the city and the many amenities provided to improve quality of life and education opportunities for El Dorado residents and visitors. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Authorized the removal of a stolen temporary carport from agency inventory. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Approved a minute order to update the AGFC’s volunteer policy in the AGFC Policy and Procedures Manual. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Awarded retiring game warden Sgt. John Crissman his service sidearm for 25 years of service to the AGFC. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

A complete video of the meeting is available at the AGFC’s YouTube Channel.

 

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CUTLINES:

 

COMMISSION AT TABLE
Commissioners passed the regulations to set the 2024-25 hunting seasons and 2025 fishing regulations at Thursday’s meeting in El Dorado.

MEN SEATED
Members of the Arkansas General Assembly spoke with Commissioners and constituents Thursday about combined efforts to pass the AGFC’s budget.  From Left to Right: Arkansas Speaker of the House Matthew Sheppard, Rep. Jeffrey Wardlaw,   and Rep. Wade Andrews, and Howard Beaty, Jr.

GROUP ON GRAVEL ROAD
AGFC Deputy Director Brad Carner explains how many agencies came together to create Moro Big Pine Natural Area WMA for hunters and wildlife.

MAN AT LECTERN
AGFC Director Austin Booth spoke about the power of partnerships and working together toward a common goal in Thursday’s address to the Commission.

BIRD ON TREE
One of many endangered red cockaded woodpeckers that thrive on Moro Big Pine Natural Area WMA with the help of habitat work and artificial nest sites.

AGFC Director Austin Booth took a moment in his monthly report to thank the many members of the public who have responded to surveys and showed up in person to voice their concerns and support for various regulations changes proposed for consideration in the 2024-25 regulations cycle.

“It’s always good to see that many members of the public come out and exercise their civic duty to participate in our regulations process,” Booth said.

The majority of his address, however, focused on the many ways the Commission is meeting challenges and preparing for unseen challenges yet to come. He spoke about the huge successes of the Conservation Incentive Program, mobilizing private landowners to increase and improve habitat well outside the bounds of the public land the AGFC manages.

“We’ve received applications from nearly 1,000 private citizens, trapped nearly 2,000 feral hogs, and have put drip torches in the hands of private landowners across Arkansas, and even just one-quarter into the new year, have burned well over 1,000 acres,” Booth said.

Wes Wright, AGFC elk program coordinator, updated the Commission on the 2023 elk harvest and subsequent elk population monitoring efforts.

According to Wright, 27 elk were harvested during the 2023 hunting season. Twenty-three came from Searcy County, three from Newton County and one elk was harvested in Boone County. No elk were harvested from outside the Core Elk Management Zone.

Wright said 18 bulls were taken by hunters and nine antlerless elk were harvested. As with most years, hunters pursuing bulls were much more avid in their efforts, while those who drew antlerless elk tags tended to not fill their tag as often.

Overall, the harvest has returned to roughly the same level as it was immediately preceding the discovery of chronic wasting disease in the state.

“We increased limits to reduce the population when CWD was discovered,” Wright said. “Now we’re at a point where we should return to more conservative harvest practices like we had last year to conserve the resource.”

Wright also briefed commissioners on improvements to Lick Mountain, which was acquired by the AGFC in 2017 and was under a conservation easement with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation from previous landowners. The 311-acre property has seen extensive management with the help of an additional 20 acres of wildlife food plots, 3 miles of firelane restoration and prescribed fire implementation to reduce invasive vegetation.

Wright highlighted the importance of the RMEF, which also contributed $25,000 to the habitat work.

“It’s kind of a showcase of what we can do through partnerships,” Wright said.

Since 1992 the RMEF has contributed more than $5.4 million toward the completion of 110 projects, enhancing more than 80,000 acres of habitat and 514 acres of public access in The Natural State.

The Commission also recognized AGFC Deputy Director Brad Carner, who announced Luke Naylor, AGFC wildlife management division chief, and Jason “Buck” Jackson, AGFC wetlands program coordinator, as the recipients of the Ducks Unlimited Wetlands Conservation Achievement Award for their leadership in wetland planning, restoration and habitat management for the benefit of waterfowl and waterfowl hunters on a national and international level.

A video of the meeting is available on the AGFC’s YouTube Channel.

PARIS — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission had a busy two-day meeting at The Lodge at Mount Magazine Wednesday and Thursday with topics ranging from using dogs to pursue deer to conservation programs improving thousands of acres of wildlife habitat on private land. 

Thursday’s meeting opened with a group of speakers voicing concerns about a proposed regulation change which would require all dogs pursuing game in Arkansas to be outfitted with a tracking collar capable of GPS location and remote correction. Jan Jones, president of Arkansas Dog Hunters, and Ronnie Powell, president of Scott County Fox, Wolf and Deer Hunters Association, spoke in representation of the hunters who would be impacted by the requirement. Arkansas dog hunting enthusiast Lee Kuykendall also spoke to the Commission during briefings held Wednesday. Chief among their concerns was the cost of equipment required to satisfy the regulation change and it being burdensome on many hunters who do not have the financial means to acquire it. Kuykendall also spoke about limitations of current electric collar technology and its inability to correct a dog from crossing a property line without adversely affecting the dog’s future ability to hunt.

Arkansas State Senator Terry Rice was one of three representatives from the Arkansas General Assembly who spoke in representation of their constituents about the proposal. Rice said he understood and appreciated the position in which Commissioners are placed, balancing the needs of the hunters who are passionate about deer hunting using dogs and landowners who have had repeated issues with trespassing and dogs disturbing their hunts.

“We’ve got to find some kind of option that can be worked out that can be as fair as possible,” Rice said.

Commissioners and AGFC Director Austin Booth all echoed Rice’s sentiment of trying to come up with solutions that balance enjoyable hunting opportunities for everyone and the rights of landowners and leaseholders who want a different hunting experience. They asked members of the dog hunting community to pose some alternatives to the proposed regulation that would work.

“We want to come up with some solution,” Commission Chairman Stan Jones said. “We absolutely don’t want to take away what you’ve done all your lives.”

AGFC Fisheries Chief Tommy Laird introduced two proposals to clarify existing fisheries regulations to the regulations package:

• Continue the removal of bag limits on Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir during the lake’s renovation.
• Clarify the code concerning largemouth bass size limits on Tommy L. Sproles Lake Pickthorne. The change to a daily limit of 2 with only one exceeding 21 inches was made in 2018 and is reflected in the Fishing Guidebook and signage at the lake, but code language was not updated at that time.    

Commissioners also asked staff to draft code language and proposals to add three additional changes to the regulations package for consideration in April. 

• Remove the restriction of motion decoys for waterfowl hunting on AGFC-owned wildlife management areas;
• Allow certain weapons capable of firing straight-walled ammunition of .30 caliber or larger during the statewide muzzleloader season, and
• Replace the current 3-day trip fishing license with a 4-day trip fishing license at the same price. (This change would be contingent upon approval by the Arkansas General Assembly.)

Although the change to muzzleloader season was not proposed as an official rule change in the public comment survey conducted in February and early March, it received numerous comments. The change to again allow motion decoys on WMAs during duck season comes from communications with hunters who wish to see more consistent regulations for private and public land hunters and the desire to use additional types of decoys to add motion to their spread.  

The two newest proposals will be available in an additional public comment survey, available for input through March 31 here. 

The Commission is expected to hear the first reading of these additional proposed regulations at its April 10-11 meeting, and will vote on the final regulations in May.

The Commission also heard from Koen Masingale, a 12-year-old hunter who shared pictures of his journey into hunting and angling thanks to his parents and getting involved in programs offered at the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center. Masingale has competed and won at the AGFC’s Marksmanship Challenge and Big Squirrel Challenge and has attended many educational programs held at the center. He recently signed up to participate in the 2024 Archery in the Schools Program and had the highest single score of any student in the Elementary and Middle School Division. 

“I’m in a virtual school, most of my recess is fishing or hunting,” Masingale said. “But I didn’t know I could participate at first. Kendra at the center let me know I could enter, and I had a great time.”

In other business, the Commission:

• Heard an update on the 2023 Arkansas black bear harvest from Large Carnivore Program Coordinator Myron Means. [CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO SEGMENT]
• Heard an update on the agency’s new Conservation Incentive Program from Private Lands Habitat Division Program Coordinator Michelle Furr. [CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO SEGMENT]
• Heard from local hunter and angler Paul Reames about his experience growing up in the outdoors of Logan County. [CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO SEGMENT]
• Heard an update on the agency’s Recreational Shooting Division from Division Chief Jose Jimenez, Youth Shooting Sports Coordinator Jimmy Self and newly promoted Archery in the Schools Coordinator Aimee Swaim. 
• Heard an update on the incredible growth of the agency’s Fishing in the Natural State Program by FINS Coordinator Bo Davidson. 
• Awarded retiring wildlife officer Cpl. John Partain his service sidearm for 37 years of service to the AGFC. [CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO SEGMENT]
• Awarded retiring wildlife officer Cpl. Andy Smith his service sidearm for 28 years of service to the AGFC. [CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO SEGMENT]

 

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CUTLINES:

COMMISSION SITTING
Arkansas Game and Fish Commissioners held their March 20-21 briefing and meeting at the Lodge at Mount Magazine State Park. 

MAN SPEAKING
Arkansas General Assembly Senator Terry Rice spoke to the Commission about proposed regulations changes concerning hunting deer with dogs. 

MAN AND BOY AT LECTURN
J.J. Gladden, AGFC Assistant Chief of Education, introduced Koen Masingale, who presented his journey in hunting and angling with the Commission.

WOMAN SPEAKING
Michelle Furr, AGFC Private Lands Habitat Division program coordinator, gave an update on the AGFC’s Conservation Incentive Program and the hundreds of landowners already signed up to increase habitat quality on private land.

Hailey Robinson, life sciences teacher at Lincoln High School, received the Education Division’s Conservation Educator of the Year Award. Robinson not only inspires her students through in-school curriculum fostered through the AGFC, but also is the president of Trout Unlimited’s 514 chapter in northwest Arkansas. Her work with students has ranged from growing trout in an aquarium in the classroom, to taking students on fishing trips and conservation projects for fisheries and even developing a free fishing camp for students to learn how to fish. Other programs she leads include habitat programs for lakes and rock climbing with the students.

“We’re getting kids outside and doing stuff that they’re going to remember forever,” Robinson said. “They’re probably not going to remember what they did in my biology class, but they’re going to remember rock climbing with Mrs. Robinson … They’re going to remember the 8-mile canoe float down the Elk River; and a lot of this is made possible through Arkansas Game and Fish.”

Batesville School District received the Education Division’s Conservation Education District of the Year Award for their work in many conservation and recreational shooting programs offered through the AGFC.

Dr. Michael Hester, superintendent of Batesville School District, praised the educators in his district for their commitment to the many conservation programs in which the district is engaged. He equated the Batesville area as being similar to Fort Collins, Colorado, in the many outdoors opportunities available to residents and visitors.

“The Batesville culture is to get our kids out, get our people out and enjoy the beautiful nature around us,” Hester said. “I want to thank all [Batesville educators], through the programs they pull it together, and it’s just wonderful.”

Dr. Greg Pilewski, superintendent from the North Little Rock School District, and Mary Beth Hatch, an educator in the district, were honored with the AGFC’s Conservation Education Project of the Year Award for their implementation of AGFC outdoor curriculum across nearly the entire school district. Professional development classes for hunter and boater education, Fishing in the Natural State, Archery in the Schools and many other AGFC offerings were attended by multiple teachers from elementary through high school level to implement these programs in their classrooms.

“I was privileged to grow up in north-central Arkansas and I had the opportunity to play in the pond that was on my land; to go to the creek, play in caves, and have that experience,” Hatch said. “When I had children, I wanted them to have those same experiences that I have. Now I have hundreds of children from 18 years in education and I want them all to have those same experiences as well. Dr Pilewski laid out a vision for what impact outdoor education and environmental learning could have for all of the students in our district.”

In his monthly report to the Commission, AGFC Director Austin Booth continued the discussion about the many partnering organizations who create Arkansas’s conservation ethos. He spoke about the educators in attendance, as well as groups like Ducks Unlimited, and the many outdoorsmen and women who attend public meetings to be a part of conservation and come alongside the agency to move the needle.

“The flame of conservation is what drives conservation forward,” Booth said. “It lives first in the hearts of people before it does expertise or degrees. As we look at Natural State Tomorrow and the conservation work ahead, I remain more confident than ever that the flame of conservation burns brightly within all of us. The best part about conservation and the most important thing for it to thrive are people.” [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

The Commission recognized Keith Stephens, AGFC chief of communications, and Eric Maynard, interim chief of education, who presented the artwork for the 2024 AGFC Conservation License Plate, a barred owl. Conservation license plates are available for an additional $35 fee over the normal registration fee, $25 of which is sent to the AGFC to fund scholarships, internships and other education efforts in the state. The program has generated nearly $20.8 million for conservation education since its inception in 2000. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

In other business, the Commission:

• Recognized Deke Whitbeck, president of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, who presented Patricia Salisbury, AGFC licensing specialist, with a lifetime hunting and fishing license for a member of their family under 16 in a drawing of all AGFC employees who joined the Foundation in a membership drive during January. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Recognized Luke Naylor, AGFC Chief of Wildlife Management, who presented AGFC Deputy Director Brad Carner with the Arctic Goose Joint Venture’s Partner Appreciation Award. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Recognized 17 employees with a combined 365 years of experience serving the people of Arkansas and conserving the precious natural resources of The Natural State.

• Authorized Director Booth to complete a grant agreement of $130,500 with Southern Arkansas University to expand the recreational shooting facilities at SAU’s Outdoor Campus in Magnolia. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Authorized Director Booth to complete the purchase of a building from the city of Mountain Home to serve as the AGFC’s permanent Mountain Home Regional Office. The building previously served as Mountain Home’s Police Department headquarters and will be purchased for $1.1 million. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

 

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CUTLINES:

SEATED COMMISSIONERS
AGFC Commission Chairman Stan Jones led healthy discussions on many of the proposed regulations changes during yesterday’s Commission briefings and today’s formal Commission meeting.

WOMAN SPEAKING TO CROWD
Hailey Robinson was awarded the AGFC’s Conservation Educator of the Year Award for her work with students at Lincoln High School in northwest Arkansas.

MAN AT LECTERN
Dr. Michael Hester praised many of the educators in the Batesville School District for the continued implementation of outdoors curriculum throughout their schools.

THREE PEOPLE AT LECTERN
Mary Beth Hatch and Dr. Greg Pilewski of the North Little Rock School District listen to student Chris Brown describe his experience with the district’s many outdoor-based curriculums that have been implemented in the last year.

Armed with the new models and knowledge, the AGFC has been working with outside contractors to design plans for engineers. Those plans are expected to be complete in 2024. Construction is expected to begin in 2025 and should take roughly five years, pending weather and site conditions.

Naylor and AGFC Director Austin Booth stressed that the area would not see large-scale closures during waterfowl seasons during the construction.

“The Black River is still going to flood, there’s no stopping that,” Naylor said. “Just like we saw last year at Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA with all structures removed. That water is going to pulse in and flood it, and the ducks and hunters will find it. Our design is focused on reducing only the artificial flooding capacity and increasing drainage of the area to make sure the bottomland hardwood forest is sustained in the long-term.”

Chairman Stan Jones noted his appreciation for the staff and design that has been in place and for the suggested improvements.

“Dave Donaldson was a brilliant man who was 50 years ahead of his time,” Jones said. “We would have done the same sort of work he did even 15 years ago, but now that we have new knowledge of how these systems work, it’s exciting to see the work that is going to be done to make sure this area remains a great place to hunt for maybe another 100 years. I know it’s taking some time, but we want to do it right and I have complete confidence that we’re going to do it right. This is not just for today and tomorrow, but for generations down the road.” [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

A local hunter, Dr. Hetal Patel, spoke to the Commission about the amazing transformation she and her entire family have undergone thanks to the work of staff at the AGFC’s Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center. Patel was introduced to the outdoors this summer, thanks to many of the programs offered by the AGFC. She has already been able to harvest small game and white-tailed deer and has introduced fishing and hunting to other members of her family, including her three children. She explained that although a few opportunities to begin hunting or angling had been available to her when she was younger, the programs offered through AGFC were specialized to be welcoming to newcomers and ultimately led to this new passion she can share with family and friends. Dr. Patel donated two checks to the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation in appreciation of her journey. The first check of $1,250 will be earmarked for Becoming an Outdoors-Woman events in Northeast Arkansas, and a second $1,250 check will be directed toward youth hunting education efforts in Northeast Arkansas. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

Jonesboro Mayor Harold Copenhaver offered an update on the AGFC’s partnership with the City of Jonesboro to build the Jonesboro Shooting Sports Complex in 2021. The Complex has nine trap fields, three skeet fields, rifle and handgun shooting ranges and an extensive 3D archery range. It supports many recreational shooters, including nine local teams in the AGFC’s Youth Shooting Sports Program. He concluded his presentation with a request to continue this partnership with additional opportunities to expand the range in the future.

“Many of us who live in rural areas can take it for granted that we can just go to some of our property or a friend’s property and sight in a rifle, but many people in cities like Jonesboro don’t have that opportunity,” Commission Chairman Stan Jones said. “Ranges like this are so critical to people who don’t have access to property to learn safe firearms handling and to get ready for hunting seasons.” [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

In his monthly report to the Commission, Booth took a moment to thank all AGFC staff for their continued work, with a particular emphasis on the agency’s Enforcement and Licensing divisions.

“For our Enforcement Division and all the men and women who place themselves in the line of duty, November is when our Superbowl starts,” Booth said. “Right now while everyone is hunting and fishing, they are outside working and leaving their families at home while they’re doing it.”

The agency’s Licensing Division has spent many weekends and nights to ensure deer were checked and hunters were able to purchase their licenses through the AGFC’s newly updated system.

Booth also praised one particular employee, Dr. Chris Middaugh in the AGFC’s Research Division. In addition to his valuable contributions to research being conducted on forestry, wildlife and fisheries work throughout the agency, Middaugh recently stepped up to temporarily fill the role of the agency’s competitive grants coordinator to help procure money for future projects.

“Through his efforts working throughout the agency, but again taking that initiative to take a job that needed to be done that he didn’t have to do; through his initiative the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission was awarded $5.4 million in competitive grants through America the Beautiful,” Booth said.

The Commission also unanimously approved a budget increase of $1.5 million to the Private Land Habitat Division to be used for the upcoming Landowner Conservation Incentive Program. The program, which will be officially announced soon, will provide reimbursement for landowners who voluntarily conduct certain wildlife and fisheries management practices, similar to some Farm Bill programs offered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. $3.5 million will be offered to landowners in 2024, with the portion authorized today to be used before the end of the Fiscal Year in June. The additional $2 million is expected to be authorized in Fiscal Year 2025. The money for this program was requested from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration in September and approved by the peer committee of Arkansas Legislative Council in October. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

In other business, the Commission:

• Heard a presentation from AGFC Fisheries Chief Tommy Laird on Lake Ashbaugh and the recent installation of two additional deep-water wells to help alleviate some of the seepage experienced in the lake as well as an update that contractors are onsite to determine possible long-term solutions to maintain this valuable waterfowl rest area and fishing area in the future. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Heard from Jerry Morgan of Lynn, about his experiences at Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA throughout his lifetime and the continued improvement and popularity of that area. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Heard from Rector resident and former school superintendent Kelly Scobey about his experiences at Dave Donaldson Black River WMA throughout his lifetime and the WMA’s fame over the decades. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Recognized two employees with a combined 45 years of experience conserving the natural resources of Arkansas and serving outdoors enthusiasts in The Natural State. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

• Authorized the purchase of three fiberglass boats for the Trout Management Program. Commissioner Rob Finley recused himself from the discussion and vote on the purchase because of his partial ownership of the company who won the sealed bid process. The request for bids was submitted twice and the vendor chosen was the only company to submit a bid during either submission process. [CLICK FOR PRESENTATION]

A recording of the meeting is available on the AGFC’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/live/RCU8I8-lo4w?si=lkbP90iLdHZSZ0IK

CUTLINES:
SPEAKER
AGFC Director Austin Booth praised the efforts of many AGFC staff during November at last Thursday’s commission meeting. AGFC photo.

WATER-CONTROL STRUCTURE
Commissioners toured a recently improved water-control structure at Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA during the two-day meeting.

THREE PEOPLE
AGFC Education Coordinator Elizabeth Kimble (left) introduced Dr. Hetal Patel (middle), who told her story at last Thursday’s meeting about learning to hunt. After her story, Dr. Patel donated two checks to AGFF President Deke Whitbeck (right).