The 2026 Turkey Hunting Season will be as follows:

• Zone 1: April 20-May 10, 2026
• Zone 1A: April 20-28, 2026
• Zone 2: April 13-May 3, 2026
• Zone 2A: April 13-21, 2026
• Zone 3: April 6-26, 2026

The Special Youth Turkey Hunt will be available April 11-12 in zones 1, 1A, 2 and 2A. No Special Youth Turkey Hunt will be available in Zone 3.

Exiting Commission Chairman J.D. Neeley noted that the change is an effort to offer a slightly better experience for hunters in portions of the state where gobbling may peak earlier while remaining conservative and maintaining a season that allows turkeys to begin their nesting cycle before disturbance from hunting pressure. During Neeley’s 7-year term as a Commissioner, the Arkansas turkey harvest has shown steady growth, thanks to habitat management, conservative hunting seasons and a little help from Mother Nature. Earlier this year, the harvest hit a 10-year high, encouraging commissioners to look into a slightly earlier opening day for some areas of the state.

The Commission unanimously passed a regulation that enables bass tournament directors to receive a waiver from the AGFC’s Fisheries Division to allow anglers fishing in their tournaments on lakes Poinsett, Barnett and Brewer to temporarily keep more than one fish over 16 inches per day. The anglers must adhere to strict catch-and-release fishing requirements and report their tournament’s success after their fishing day is complete to receive the permit.

Commissioners also passed regulations concerning hunting and boating conduct on wildlife management areas. Obstruction or Harassment of Hunting, Fishing or Trapping Activities and Public Disorder are now a Class 4 violation with a possible fine up to $7,500 and a jail sentence up to 180 days if physical confrontations occur. If no physical confrontation occurs, the penalty is a Class 3 violation with up to $5,000 in fines and up to 90 days’ jail sentence.

Additionally, anyone convicted of these violations who has their license and WMA access revoked would not be allowed to have that period reduced through later court decisions.

The Commission unanimously elected Commissioner Anne Marie Doramus of Little Rock as chairman for the next fiscal year and chose Commissioner Rob Finley of Mountain Home to serve as vice chairman.

“I can’t say enough about the support of all the commissioners as well as the staff during this last year,” Neeley said. “And it’s not just the current Commission, but we all build on the work of former commissioners and learn from each other. We all work together to make this a better place, a better state. I’m going off the Commission, but I’m not going anywhere. You’ll always have my support, and I plan to be busy working with [the Arkansas Game and Fish] Foundation.”

In other business, the Commission:

• Heard from Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation President Deke Whitbeck, who presented Neeley a specially commissioned knife and commissioner’s journal in memory of Marshall Hughes, a former AGFF board member;
• Heard a presentation from Benjamin Babst, Ph.D. at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, who updated them on his research into the timing and cues of tree root dormancy in red oak species and their implications for future management of greentree reservoirs in Arkansas;
• Approved the 2026-2031 Chronic Wasting Disease Management Plan, which was revised to adapt to evolving knowledge about the disease and its spread in The Natural State;
• Approved a grant of one 2025 public land youth elk hunting permit to the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation to be used for fundraising purposes at the upcoming annual Arkansas Outdoors Hall of Fame Banquet;
• Awarded Neeley his service sidearm after seven years of voluntary service to the AGFC and the natural resources of Arkansas;
• Approved the AGFC’s 2026 Fiscal Year Maintenance and Operation budget totaling $133,430,402;
• Approved the 2026 Fiscal Year Black River Restoration Fund budget totaling $1,780,894;
• Approved the 2026 Fiscal Year Gas Lease Funds budget totaling $360,200;
• Approved the agency’s 2026 Wetland Habitat Restoration Budget totaling $5,042,847;
• Approved the agency’s 2026 Marine Fuel Tax Budget totaling $5,478,467;
• Approved the agency’s 2026 Continuation Budget totaling $464,067 to pay for four capital improvement projects that will not be completed by the end of the 2025 Fiscal Year;
• Approved a minute order to remove $5,478 worth of assets from agency inventory stolen from the Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA workshop;
• Approved a minute order authorizing merit pay increases effective July 1, 2025, for staff who received favorable reviews during their annual performance evaluations, and
• Approved a change to authority delegations to authorize the agency director and chief of staff to act on behalf of the Commission with purchases and personnel matters.

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

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CUTLINES:
NEELEY AND DORAMUS
Exiting Commission Chairman J.D. Neeley of Camden passed the gavel to Vice-Chair and Incoming Chairman Anne Marie Doramus at the conclusion of today’s business meeting. AGFC photo.

MAP
The 2026 Arkansas Turkey Hunting Season will have five zones and differing opening dates by region. AGFC photo.

DIRECTOR SPEAKING
AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock addressed those in attendance with some highlights from the last month, including the work of the AGFC’s K9 unit in assisting with evidence recovery in a murder investigation. AGFC photo.

GROUP SHOT
The AGFC Commission toured Poison Springs State Forest as well as White Oak Lake State Park during their two-day meeting, stopping at the Little Grand Canyon during the tour. AGFC photo.

In addition to the facility expansion, the AGFC will enroll all current game warden lieutenants in the FBI Supervisor Leadership Institute this fall.

“The leadership training program will ensure our best and brightest continue to share their expertise to fellow wardens, increasing our effectiveness and benefit the people of Arkansas for generations to come,” AGFC Director Doug Shoenrock said.

AGFF President Deke Whitbeck said the Foundation’s Get It for Game Wardens Program was initiated in 2021 to identify and provide specialized equipment and tools to ensure AGFC game wardens can carry out their duties safely and effectively.

“This donation falls right in line with the Get It for Game Wardens initiative,” Whitbeck said. “The initiative was initially a regional focus, but this donation will enable us to affect the entire Enforcement Division and make the best use of the money for the entire agency.

Commission Chairman J.D. Neeley joined Whitbeck in explaining the history of the program, beginning with a partnership between Commissioner Bill Jones and the Split River Hunting Club in Desha County and their local game warden, Chuck Willis, to procure thermal-imaging equipment to catch night-hunters who were poaching on the property.

“This announcement will kick off our newest initiative, our Game Warden Backer Program, which expands greatly on Get It for Game Wardens.”

The funding for the donation came from discretionary settlement funds. Many settlement funds are restricted to certain initiatives decided by court agreements, but some settlements are unrestricted by settlement details. The Attorney General’s Office can use these funds at the AG’s discretion to improve law enforcement training and facilities throughout the state to better serve Arkansans and prevent future crime in the state.

“The emphasis on professionalism is important,” Griffin said. “If we’re going to have law enforcement, and we are, we shouldn’t have different qualities of law enforcement throughout the state. … Some agencies receive more training than others, but we need to narrow that gap so that the public feels the same about all of them. That means we have to exhibit to the public that same level of excellence across the board. That’s why we’re trying to plus-up with some of these settlement funds.”

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Maj. Brian Aston at the AGFC’s Little Rock Headquarters says the Enforcement Division is hoping to fill 15 vacancies around the state with the next class of game warden cadets being recruited.

Competition is strong for these jobs, and applicants may come from many backgrounds. State troopers, former sheriffs, former military police and many other law enforcement professionals apply each year. Many professionals from other backgrounds such as firemen, EMTs and wildlife biologists also are regularly chosen to fill the ranks of cadet classes because their skills and experience in stressful situations are valuable to the daily interactions a game warden may have.

If selected, cadets will embark on 33 weeks of training, which includes 18 weeks at the AGFC’s H.C. “Red” Morris Enforcement Training Center in Mayflower. They will be trained in self defense, physical fitness, wildlife forensics and law enforcement as well as state law. Upon graduation from the center, each new game warden will be assigned to a duty station for an additional 15 weeks of field training with a superior officer.

“We try to make some accommodations toward a new game warden’s desired duty station, but we have to fill vacancies in certain counties, so your assigned station ultimately is determined by the needs of the public and the agency,” Aston said. “Relocation may be possible once vacancies open in other areas of the state, but many game wardens become a part of their community and choose to stay once they’ve worked there for a few years.”

Visit https://jobs.agfc.com for a list of requirements, preferred skills and abilities and an electronic application form. Visit https://www.agfc.com/en/enforcement/becoming-game-warden for more information on becoming an AGFC game warden.

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CUTLINES:

K-9 UNIT
The AGFC K-9 Unit helps with search-and-rescue operations as well as evidence recovery, and even tracking down fugitives in cooperation with other state agencies. AGFC Photo.

DIVE TEAM
The AGFC Dive Team helps recover evidence in addition to many other duties. Photo by Mike Wintroath.

WARDEN PAIR
After graduating cadet school, new game wardens will have 15 weeks of in-the-field training with a superior officer to learn the ropes in the real world. Photo by Mike Wintroath. 

“Once a game warden is assigned to their region, they have to handle a variety of tasks beyond wildlife code regulation, which can include state and federal law enforcement, forensics, interviewing and public relations and community outreach,” Carman said. “We have instructors and experts come in and assist with training on such things as recognizing and dealing with child abuse and domestic violence situations, which our officers may have to engage in once they’re on their own.”

Each of the remaining cadets celebrated during Friday’s formal graduation ceremony before heading to their assigned duty stations. Each officer is assigned to a duty station based on the current needs of the Commission, but accommodations can be made to ensure officers that are familiar with certain areas are assigned near them if possible.

“We always try to place officers in counties where they are already part of the community,” Aston said. “But we also have to ensure vacancies are filled across the state. Sometimes an officer will work in a county far from home for a few years until a vacancy opens up closer to their hometown. Sometimes they decide to stay at their original duty station once they become a part of that community.”

The 2024 graduates and their county assignments are:

• Clayton Bramel of Benton County, assigned to Phillips

• Brandon Bybee of Craighead County, assigned to Crittenden County

• Douglas Carpenter of Yell County, assigned to Sebastian County

• Heath Hampton of Gleason Wisconsin, assigned to Cleveland County

• Aaron McNew of Faulkner County, assigned to Dallas County

• Alyssa Mostrom of Marion County, assigned to Ouachita County

• Brandon Trammell of Stone County, assigned to Desha County

The AGFC will begin the process to accept applications for the next class of cadets to fill vacancies soon. Visit www.agfc.com/enforcement for more information on becoming a wildlife officer.

CUTLINES: 
Judge Joe Volpe swears in the graduating class of new AGFC game wardens. Photo by Mike Wintroath.

SPEAKER
Col. Brad Young commends the graduating class of AGFC game wardens for their perseverance and dedication. Photo by Mike Wintroath.

WARDENS OUTDOORS
From left to right: Capt. Sydney Carman, training instructor; Brandon Trammell; Clayton Bramel; Brandon Bybee; Doug Carpenter; Heath Hampton; Aaron McNew; Alyssa Mostrom; Lt. Tracey Blake, assistant training instructor. 

Col. Brad Young, chief of the AGFC Enforcement Division, praised the officers involved in the increased boating safety effort.

“Taking those 23 impaired boaters off the water likely prevented some major disasters and saved lives during a weekend reserved for celebration,” Young said. “I am extremely proud of our men and women out there making sure everyone made it home safely to remember their time on Arkansas’s waters.”

Grant said the lifesaving measures didn’t stop with boating-under-the-influence checks. Lack of properly fitting life jackets, reckless boating and other violations were reported as well.

“Out of the 3,659 vessels contacted, 534 contacts uncovered a violation,” Grant said. “In 346 of those cases, wardens were able to issue a warning as soon as the violation was rectified; the remaining 188 were severe enough to warrant a citation.”

With well over a month of prime boating weather still to come, Grant reminds everyone to do their part to help keep Arkansas’s waterways safe.

“We want everyone to enjoy boating, angling and paddling in The Natural State, but we have to do it responsibly,” Grant said. “High-traffic times like holiday weekends are critical, but every time you’re on the water is a time to remember safe and courteous boating. We’re all out there to have fun, and winding up in jail or the hospital because of poor judgment isn’t very fun at all.”

Operation Dry Water (ODW) is a national initiative aimed at reducing alcohol- and drug-related incidents and fatalities on the water.

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CUTLINES

BOATING CHECK
Arkansas game wardens contacted 11,258 boaters July 4-6 to ensure safety during the holiday weekend. Photo by Tanner Mills, AGFC.

OFFICERS IN BAY BOAT
Twenty-three people were arrested and removed from Arkansas’s waters over the weekend because they were boating while intoxicated. Photo by Mike Wintroath, AGFC.

OFFICER IN MUD BOAT
Arkansas game wardens patrolled large lakes, streams and rivers to ensure everyone enjoyed the Independence Day holiday responsibly. Photo by Tanner Mills, AGFC.