AGFC sets regulations, dates for hunting seasons
Posted on Friday, March 21, 2008
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission approved regulations and dates for the 2008-2009 hunting seasons Thursday in Little Rock.
The biggest change in the hunting regulations eliminates the doubling of points for violations on wildlife management area.
The commission passed the regulations package with a 4-2 vote.
Commissioners Ron Pierce of Mountain Home and Craig Campbell of Little Rock voted no, but did not explain their objections.
For modern gun deer season, there will be no split in the season in zones 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 11 and in WMAs within those zones.
The season will run from Nov. 8-30 in those zones.
Also, hunters with a 65-plus license will be able to kill a deer during the special statewide youth hunt when accompanying a youth.
Ricky Chastain, assistant chief of the AGFC’s wildlife management division, said the regulation should encourage senior hunters to take youth hunters afield.
“It is the intent of the Game and Fish Commission to try to provide not only additional hunting opportunities for 65-plus license holders, but we also hope that it will foster a mentoring program where older hunters will take some younger hunters with them,” Chastain said. “Hopefully that will get some more youths into the woods as well.” In fisheries business, Jeff Williams, the AGFC’s trout biologist, proposed a trout management plan for the Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters.
The commission will vote on the plan at its April meeting.
Highlights of the plan include increasing the minimum length limit for brown trout to 24 inches, with a limit of one trout per day. Rainbow trout management will remain the same.
In administrative business, the commission reviewed the federal E-Duck Stamp program, which began in 2007.
This program allowed hunters to buy federal duck stamps from AGFC license vendors and by phone.
The AGFC sold 10, 671 EDuck Stamps for a total of $ 172, 337, most of which was sent to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The commission approved a budget increase of $ 170, 736 for the 2008-2009 program.
The commission also approved changing residency requirements for those buying 65-plus lifetime licenses, resident disabled three-year licenses and lifetime sportsman’s licenses.
Anyone purchasing those licenses will be required to prove 60-day residency in Arkansas.
Also, the commission approved a budget increase of $ 1, 369, 192 to purchase 68 fleet vehicles.
In other business, the commission honored former commissioner Sheffield Nelson by renaming Dagmar WMA.
It will now be called the Sheffield Nelson / Dagmar WMA.
The commission also rejected a proposal by Mike Ruffin, Big Mazarn Safety Committee chairman, to prohibit water skiing in the Big Mazarn basin of Lake Hamilton.
Commission chairman Sonny Varnell said more vigorous enforcement of existing regulations should resolve safety issues in that area. Deer season dates ARCHERY Oct. 1, 2008-Feb. 28, 2009 MUZZLELOADER Statewide: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 13-15 Zones 9, 12, 16, 16 A, 17: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 29-31 Zones 4, 4 B, 5 and 5 B: Closed MODERN GUN Zones 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11: Nov. 8-30 Zone 4: Nov. 8-9 Zone 5: Nov. 8-9, Nov. 15-16 Zones 4 A, 5 A, 13, 14, 15: Nov. 8 - Dec. 7 Zones 4 B, 5 B: Nov. 8-16 Zones 9 and 12: Nov. 8-Dec. 14 Zones 16, 16 A, 17: Nov. 8-Dec. 25 SPECIAL YOUTH MODERN GUN HUNT Nov. 1-2 CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY MODERN GUN HUNT Dec. 26-28 OPENING DATES FOR 2009 DEER SEASONS ARCHERY Oct. 1 MUZZLELOADER Oct. 17 MODERN GUN Nov. 14
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