AGFC Assistant Chief of Wildlife Management Matthew Warriner said the exchange will help the USFWS complete a vital corridor of property, spanning from Felsenthal NWR in Arkansas to the Lower Ouachita NWR in Louisiana and was a focus of former AGFC Director Pat Fitts, who recently died. 

“Opening this area to public access in Desha County was very important to Pat, who spent most of his career in Southeast Arkansas,” Warriner said. “This exchange has been a long time in the making, and we’re excited to open this land up to outdoors enthusiasts in Desha County upon its completion.”

The Commission voted to approve a budget increase of $51,000 from unobligated Marine Fuel Tax funds to build a canoe and kayak access on Lake Atkins in Pope County. The access will be constructed on the north side of the lake, near the dam, and will be used exclusively for canoes, kayaks and other watercraft capable of being launched by hand.

AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock highlighted the efforts of the agency’s Recreational Shooting Division during his report to the Commission, noting that August is National Shooting Sports Month.

“Recreational shooting has a very strong link to conservation,” Schoenrock said. “A portion of the purchases of firearms, ammunition and archery equipment is being allocated back to the states for conservation support.” 

In addition to highlighting some of the special promotions being conducted at AGFC ranges, Schoenrock explained how the Recreational Shooting Division and AGFC Research Division are working together to learn more about people’s attitudes toward efforts to expand shooting sports like trap and skeet shooting as collegiate sports offerings.

“This is a fast-growing segment of education experiences, and AGFC Recreational Shooting Chief Jose Jimenez and his team are at the forefront of the charge to make it a reality in more Arkansas schools and colleges,” Schoenrock said. 

The Commission also formally agreed to send a letter of support to the Arkansas Department of Transportation, requesting the new Arkansas Highway 88 bridge over Little Bayou Meto in Reydell be named in honor of former Commissioner Joe Morgan when it is completed. The new bridge is needed to increase flow through the bayou and improve drainage to George H. Dunklin Bayou Meto WMA. Morgan served on the Commission from July 2017 until his death on the opening day of duck season 2020 and was a stalwart advocate of improving public hunting opportunities on Bayou Meto.

In other business, the Commission:

• Heard a presentation from Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation President Deke Whitbeck about the Arkansas Outdoors Hall of Fame, scheduled for Aug. 23 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. 
• Approved a budget increase of $221,000 from unobligated federal wildlife restoration funds and AGFC state funds to renovate a water-control structure on Galla Creek WMA in Pope County. This water-control structure is required to flood the greentree reservoir on the WMA, offering vital wetland habitat to waterfowl in this portion of the state.
• Approved a budget increase of $573,000 from unobligated federal wildlife restoration funds and AGFC state funds for the removal and replacement of a water-control structure at Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA in Conway County. The water-control structure is essential to management of moist-soil units that provide wildlife habitat for wetlands species and migrating waterfowl popular with hunters on the WMA. The total cost of the project is estimated at $1.3 million. 
• Approved a minute order to remove a stolen firearm from inventory with an original value of $424 and a current net book value of $0. 

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

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CUTLINES:

AT DESK
AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock and AGFC Chairman Anne Marie Doramus share a smile after the Commission approved a grant for more than $777,000 to Arkansas schools at today’s meeting. AGFC photo.

SPEAKING TO COMMISSION
Commissioners Chris Caldwell (middle) and Bill Jones (right) listen as AGFC Chief of Construction Mike Cantrell (left) presented a trio of construction projects to improve boating access and wetland management in Arkansas. AGFC photo.

DIRECTOR SPEAKS
AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock highlighted the efforts and importance of the AGFC’s Recreational Shooting Division at Thursday’s meeting. AGFC photo.

AGFC Post Secondary Program Coordinator Lauren Cannon presented a summary of the agency’s summer internship programs to the Commission. Cannon, who organizes both the Internship Program and Conservation Scholarship Program, said the agency not only offers internships to college students who are receiving scholarships from the AGFC, but also works through the American Fisheries Society to host Hutton Scholar internships for high school students interested in fisheries careers. Thirty-two students participated in this summer’s internship program, which wraps up Friday.

Three individuals who participated in AGFC internships throughout the summer offered their insight on the internship program and spoke about how their first-hand experiences filled a gap in their conservation career journey, allowing them hands-on field experiences to back up the scientific knowledge they had acquired in school. [LINK TO PRESENTATION]

Of the many accomplishments AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock highlighted in his address to the Commission, he took a moment to focus on the AGFC’s new book, “River to Ridge: Arkansas’s Wildlife Management Areas.” The book was the culmination of five years of writing and collaboration with many individuals of the agency’s Wildlife Management, Fisheries, Education and Communications divisions and will be available for purchase beginning Aug. 1. Within its 454 pages, the book highlights nearly all of the AGFC’s wildlife management areas, with a bit of history and featured activities on each.

“A bucket list for all of us should be to put a date in this book of when we visited those WMAs,” Schoenrock said. “This is a keepsake.”

The Commission also authorized a budget increase of $500,000 to fund three management practices to improve wildlife habitat on private land.

Randy Brents, assistant chief of the AGFC Private Lands Habitat Division, said the budget increase is for a portion of a $2.5 million grant that the agency received from the USDA Forest Service’s Landowner Support Initiative, and that the remaining balance will be used to fuel additional conservation work in the next fiscal year.

“We actually received notice of the grant from the Inflation Reduction Act Landowner Support Initiative in September of last year, but the funds associated with the grant were delayed earlier this year,” Brents said. “Now that it has been processed, we are going to offer a portion of it this year, and deliver the remainder for next year to allow landowners the full year to complete the three practices eligible for the grants.”

According to Brents, landowners will be able to apply for assistance to conduct prescribed burns, timber stand improvements or invasive tree removal through the AGFC’s Private Lands Habitat Division.

“These types of grants typically require a 20 percent match,” Brents said. “We were able to show how many of these practices we currently employ through similar programs directly benefit underserved communities, which eliminated that matching requirement, saving the agency $625,000 in state match requirements.” [LINK TO PRESENTATION]

In other business, the Commission:

• Recognized 28 employees with a combined 320 years of service to the natural resources of The Natural State. [LINK TO PRESENTATION]

• Awarded retiring game warden Lt. Jim Pennington his service sidearm for more than 14 years of service to the AGFC. [LINK TO PRESENTATION]

• Approved a minute order to restructure the agency’s committee structure, reducing the number of standing committees from seven to four, to streamline commission meetings. [LINK TO PRESENTATION]

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

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CUTLINES:

GROUP SHOT
Thirteen Arkansas schools received the designation as a “School of Conservation Leadership” at Thursday’s Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Meeting. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

POWERPOINT
Jarvis McCray, who recently graduated from Jacksonville High School, shared his internship experience with the Commission during the AGFC’s regularly scheduled July meeting. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

BOOK
AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock announced the completion of the agency’s new book, River to Ridge, which will be on sale beginning Aug. 1, at agfc.com. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

SMILE
Anne Marie Doramus presided over her first AGFC Commission Meeting as chairman. Doramus is the first female chairperson in the agency’s 110-year history. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath. 

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.

• Zone 1: Opening on the Monday closest to April 17 and running for 21 days.

• Zone 1A: Opening on the Monday closest to April 17 and running for 9 days.

• Zone 2: Opening on the Monday closest to April 10 and running for 21 days.

• Zone 2A: Opening on the Monday closest to April 10 and running for 9 days.

• Zone 3: Opening on the Monday closest to April 3 and running for 21 days.

Youth hunts for Zones 1, 1A, 2 and 2A would occur on the weekend one week before their opening day. Zone 3 would have no youth hunt. The Commission is expected to vote on the proposed waterfowl and turkey regulations changes at their scheduled meeting June 19.
(CLICK FOR PRESENTATION)

Deputy Director Ben Batten presented this year’s Free Fishing Weekend Proclamation to the Commission, which was ratified by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Thanks to the governor’s proclamation, anyone, resident or nonresident, may fish without a license or trout permit from noon June 6-midnight June 8. All daily limits and other fishing regulations will remain in place, but anglers will not need to purchase a license to fish these days.

Free Fishing Weekend began more than 30 years ago in an effort to increase fishing throughout the nation by removing the barrier of license cost to prospective anglers.

“Although Arkansas’s resident fishing license is one of the lowest in the country and has not increased in decades, we still want to remove any barrier we can to get people on the water,” Batten said. “We’re very appreciative of Gov. Sanders continuing this great tradition and we look forward to another successful Free Fishing Weekend this June.” (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION)

Commissioners voted unanimously to construct a plaque and place it at the recently completed courtesy dock at Spillway Bay Access to DeGray Lake in memory of the late James “Rooster” Arnold, who was a proponent of tournament bass fishing in Arkansas and one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the courtesy dock.

Commission Vice-Chair Anne Marie Doramus said, “If you are a bass angler anywhere in Arkansas, you’ve heard of Rooster. I think it’s great that we’re taking the time to recognize him for his contributions to angling, and I’m excited to see the continued development of this area at DeGray Lake to better serve tournament anglers at this incredible lake.”
(CLICK FOR PRESENTATION)

In his report to the Commission, AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock thanked the Commission for their trust in selecting him for the position and took a special moment to thank former Director Austin Booth for the path he forged during his tenure and Interim Director Chris Racey, who worked diligently to keep the AGFC on track during the selection process.

“Chris grabbed the tiller at a critical time and helped lead the organization for the last few months,” Schoenrock said. “As one of my first official actions, I’m honored to let you know that I’ve asked Chris Racey to be my chief of staff, my wingman, enabling his continued dedication to this great organization.”

Schoenrock, who officially started in his role as AGFC director this week, spoke about the expansive amount of work the AGFC’s staff completes to conserve and improve Arkansas’s wildlife and fisheries habitat and increase hunting, angling and outdoor recreation satisfaction throughout the state.

“In my initial interactions with staff in the last three to five days, (they) have shown me that they don’t do this for a job; they do this out of a passion for the resource. I share in that passion, and I’m looking forward to more interactions with this team as we all work together to leave a legacy for future generations to enjoy all that The Natural State has to offer. Friends, thank you. Please get outside, and get outside often.”

(CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

The Commission also:

• Heard from AGFC Fisheries Biologist Sean Lusk about the successful reestablishment of vegetation in DeGray Lake thanks to cooperation from the Army Corps of Engineers and the creation of the “Arkansas cube” (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Heard from AGFC Regional Wildlife Supervisor Griffin Park about the vast improvement of wildlife habitat and development at DeGray Lake Wildlife Management Area (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Heard an update from AGFC Education Chief Mary Beth Hatch about the AGFC’s School of Conservation Leadership Program and the AGFC’s coordination with many partners to develop additional curriculum to be introduced into participating schools throughout the state (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Heard the first reading of a proposed Combination Guide License for an annual price of $350 (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION) to be voted on in June.

• Heard the first reading of an exception to the newly established largemouth bass limit of anglers only being able to keep one fish over 16 inches per day on lakes Barnett, Brewer and Poinsett. If passed in June, the exception would allow bass tournament directors to apply for a waiver as long as they adhere to strict catch-and-release and report their tournament’s success after their fishing day is complete (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Approved a budget increase of $252,000 from federal community-directed funds to continue infrastructure improvements at Shirey Bay Rainey Brake Wildlife Management Area to improve water flow through the WMA’s greentree reservoir and improve the health of the bottomland hardwood trees on this critical piece of public waterfowl hunting opportunity in The Natural State (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to complete a purchase agreement to acquire 205 acres of land adjacent to and surrounded by Petit Jean River WMA (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to negotiate and complete a right-of-way access easement to a portion of Wiggy Bridge Road at Departee Creek WMA to a neighboring landowner so they could access a portion of their private property adjacent to the road (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION ).

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to complete a right-of-way easement with Entergy Arkansas, LLC, adjacent to Wiggy Bridge Road for overhead transmission lines (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to convey a portion of AGFC property along Lake Atkins to resolve a level 2 encroachment to the existing public land buffer around the lake (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to complete a right-of-way easement with Entergy Arkansas, LLC, adjacent to Clinton Road on Camp Robinson Special Use Area in Mayflower to place a utility pole for overhead transmission lines (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to convey a permanent right-of-way easement to Entergy Arkansas, LLC, for the construction and maintenance of power poles along Lake Hogue within Earl Buss Bayou Deview WMA (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Authorized a grant of $25,000 to the Arkansas Prescribed Burn Association to help coordinate habitat management activities on private land throughout Arkansas (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Authorized an inventory removal of a lost 2017 Canon Rebel camera with an original purchase price of $642 and current net book value of $0 (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Awarded retiring game warden Capt. Norman Cornish his service sidearm for more than 30 years of service to the AGFC (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Awarded retiring game warden Capt. Bill Buck his service sidearm for 40 years of service to the AGFC (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Awarded retiring game warden Sr. Cpl. Roger Tate his service sidearm for 27 years of service to the AGFC (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

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

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CUTLINES

MAN AT LECTERN
AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock expressed his appreciation to the AGFC staff and directors before him as he named Chris Racey to continue as his chief of staff. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

MAP
If passed, a proposed turkey season format will have five zones, with three opening days to address hunter satisfaction concerns. AGFC photo. 

DIRECTOR AND COMMISSIONERS
Commissioners and new AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock heard many presentations during the Commission’s two-day meeting at DeGray Lake Resort State Park this week. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

RECIPE FOR TROPHY FISHERY PRESENTATION
AGFC Fisheries Biologist Sean Lusk gave an in-depth presentation on the disappearance and reestablishment of aquatic vegetation at DeGray Lake and its effect on the lake’s largemouth bass population. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

Although the 2024 pintail population of 1.98 million birds is lower than blue-winged teal populations, the Mississippi Flyway Council and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have recommended moving the daily limit to three birds for the 2025-26 season under the new interim harvest strategy.

“As we continue to study waterfowl populations, we are learning more and more about what drives increases and declines,” AGFC Wildlife Management Chief Luke Naylor said. “The models for pintails are being updated to reflect the latest data, and we consistently see that daily bag limits play a much lower role in population dynamics than other factors like declining habitat. The pintail population is below the long-term average, but most of that decline happened more than 40 years ago from habitat loss through land conversion on their nesting grounds. The population has been fairly stable since the 1980s.

The interim harvest strategy of a three-pintail daily bag limit is a cautious step toward offering more opportunity for hunters for those few hunts during the season when they have the chance to add an additional pintail or two to their bag limit.

Again, pintails are not a huge part of an Arkansas hunter’s harvest, but The Natural State is a higher harvest state in the Mississippi Flyway.

“The interim strategy calls for three years of this higher limit when supported by pintail population status, with evaluations and monitoring to keep an eye on any population effects,” Leach said. “As one of the leading states in the Mississippi Flyway in pintail harvest, it’s important that we work within this new strategy to accurately measure any unforeseen effects. The strategy calls for three years of a three-bird bag, but those seasons do not need to be consecutive. It just so happens that the population estimate during the first year of the new strategy supported an increased daily bag limit.”

The Commission also heard the first reading of new dates for the Veterans’ and Active-Duty Military Waterfowl Hunt. If approved, the hunt will run concurrently with Arkansas’s Youth Waterfowl Hunt Feb. 7-8, 2026. This will add an additional day for veterans and active-duty military personnel.

Arkansas’s 2025-26 Waterfowl season will be as follows:

Special Early Teal Season: Sept. 20-28, 2025

Duck, Coot and Merganser Seasons: Nov. 22-Dec. 1, 2025; Dec. 10-23, 2025; Dec. 27, 2025-Jan. 31, 2026

Special Youth, Active-Duty Military and Veteran Hunt (PROPOSED): Feb. 7-8, 2026

Early Canada Goose Hunt: Sept. 1-Oct. 15, 2025

Regular Canada Goose Season:  Nov. 22-Dec. 1, 2025; Dec. 10-23, 2025; Dec.27, 2025-Jan. 31, 2026

White-fronted Goose Season: Oct. 25-Nov. 2, 2025,  Nov. 22-Dec. 1, 2025; Dec. 10-23, 2025; Dec. 27, 2025-Jan. 31, 2026

Snow, Blue and Ross’s Goose Season:  Oct. 25-Nov. 2, 2025; Nov. 22-Dec. 1, 2025; Dec. 10-23, 2025; Dec. 27, 2025-Jan. 31, 2026

Light Goose Conservation Order: Feb. 1-6, 2026; Feb. 9-April 25, 2026

The Commission heard from Chief Financial Officer Emily Shumate, Chief of Fisheries Tommy Laird and Chief of Operations Mike Cantrell about damages incurred from recent storms, including major flooding damage to the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery. The hatchery was flooded by as much as 30 inches of rain during the deluge that worked its way across the state in early April, and conservative estimates for initial repairs exceed $5 million.

“We lost a lot of fish that were in the tanks, and there was massive scouring and undercutting from the dam being compromised,” Laird said. “It took a few days to resecure the bridge leading to the hatchery to even begin the evaluation.”

Laird said the hatchery has roughly 100,000 to 150,000 fish left that were not flushed into the Spring River or killed during the flood, and that 14 of the 24 tanks rebuilt in 2023 had live fish in them when the water receded.

“We may be able to provide about three months’ worth of stockings with those fish, but we have a lot of cleanup and work left to do,” Laird said. “I especially want to thank the staff at that hatchery for doing everything they could to save what equipment they could before the water got too high. They worked in rising water to move all the heavy equipment and vehicles used at the hatchery, except one UTV. They had to abandon that one UTV because the water had already risen to a foot over the bridge during their last trip out.”

The Commission unanimously authorized a budget increase of $500,000 from gas lease funds to cover construction costs and begin recovery in the area.

“We know the final cost is going to be much more than this, but this authorization will keep us moving as we assess the total damage and plan for the future,” Shumate said. “The transfer is for $300,000 to go to the Spring River hatchery, and the remaining $200,000 is to begin work on all the other areas we’re seeing damage across the state.”

In other business, Commissioners:

• Approved a minute order to increase the probationary period for game wardens from one year to two years and streamline the AGFC Policy and Procedures Manual;

• Heard a presentation from AGFC Biostatistician Chris Middaugh on the Lake Ouachita Florida Bass Genetics Project; and

• Approved the removal of a firearm from Commission equipment inventory that was stolen from a Commission vehicle.

 

####

CUTLINES:

DIRECTOR AND CHAIRMAN
AGFC Interim Director Chris Racey and Commission Chairman J.D. Neeley heard a proposal to expand the Active-Duty and Veteran Waterfowl Hunt to coincide with the established Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt in 2026. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

PINTAILS ON THE WATER
A new harvest strategy for pintails will allow hunters to take up to three of this species during the 2025-26 waterfowl season. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

DIRECTOR AT LECTERN
AGFC Interim Director Chris Racey acknowledged the hard work of game wardens and field staff to make this year’s youth turkey hunt a memorable experience for many first-time hunters. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

DAMAGE
The Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery saw millions of dollars worth of damage during storms in early April. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath. 

The Commission also proposed scheduling both the youth and active duty/veteran military waterfowl hunts for Feb. 7-8. Commissioners will consider the three proposals in April.

Four regulations changes presented by Deputy Director Brad Carner were adopted by unanimous vote. Conway County was added to the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone, and a ban on using natural deer urine as an attractant was lifted. Harvest definitions for deer on Ed Gordon Point Remove, Lake Overcup and Cove Creek Natural Area wildlife management areas in Conway County, and Norfork Lake WMA in Baxter County were adjusted; the terms “legal buck” and “doe” were exchanged for “antlered buck” and “antlerless deer.” The requirement that an antlerless deer must be harvested and checked before an antlered buck may be taken on Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA was removed.

The other regulations change was simple housekeeping: A regulation that considered an area baited for turkey for 10 days after removal of the bait was inadvertently removed from the codebook during the last regulations cycle; it was reinstated.

In other meeting developments, Rachel Worthen of the AGFC Operations Division explained that several power lines and water lines must be moved at William H. Donham State Fish Hatchery in Corning to accommodate a highway bypass project. She also mentioned that a right-of-way easement will be given for two water lines at Lake Elmdale near Springdale. The Commission voted in favor of the adjustments.

Emily Roberts, the AGFC’s fire program manager, spoke about the importance of prescribed fire and the advances the agency has made over the last 40 years with the help of partner agencies.

Eric Maynard, an assistant chief in the AGFC’s Education Division, drew attention to the agency’s birds of prey program by displaying a live barred owl to the audience.

Thursday’s meeting originally was scheduled for February at Central High to honor Sproles, the first Black commissioner from any state fish and wildlife agency, and to celebrate Black History Month. That meeting couldn’t be held at Central because of winter weather.

Sproles, who was appointed to the AGFC by Gov. Bill Clinton July 26, 1983, was introduced by his twin grandchildren, Cameryn and Colin Sproles. Colin is student body president and Cameryn is senior class president at Central.

“This appointment was truly an honor for our family and our state,” Colin said. “So, even though I was not born at the time, I have no doubt that my grandfather served his seven years with dignity, honor and respect.”

His grandfather, 80, spoke about the importance of students following scientific fields of study during brief remarks.

“The Game and Fish Commission is a science-based agency,” Sproles said. “The recommendations that they make are scientific. Kids here need to know that. Everything the Commission does is mostly science-based. You can’t take politics totally out of bureaucracy, but you can base your decisions that are going to impact our future environment and our resources on science.”

Sproles’ seven-year term was followed by Clinton’s second appointment of a Black commissioner, Dr. James E. Moore of Little Rock, in 1990.

####

PHOTOS:

SPROLES
Former Commissioner Tommy Sproles hugs his grandson, Colin Sproles, after Colin introduced him at Thursday’s Commission meeting. Photo by Mike Wintroath.

AHFH AWARD
Ronnie Ritter (right) of Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry presents Jeremy Brown, AGFC Deer Management Assistance Program coordinator, with an award for his work promoting the AHFH snack sticks program. Photo by Mike Wintroath.

OWL
Eric Maynard of the AGFC Education Division talks about birds of prey with a live barred owl on his arm at Thursday’s Commission meeting. Photo by Mike Wintroath.

In his monthly report to the Commission AGFC Director Austin Booth recognized members of the public who took time out of their schedules to speak about recent regulations changes and considerations to be incorporated into the next regulations cycle. He also took a moment to reflect on the accomplishments of the last fiscal year, which will be available for viewing in the agency’s annual report later this month.

“Thomas Paine said, ‘The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph … I love the man who can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow,’” Booth stated. “It was hard for me not to think about this quote as I reviewed this agency’s FY 24 Annual Report.”

The report highlights some of the accomplishments the agency has had during the last fiscal year but, more importantly, measures the outcomes of the goals the agency set for itself in its 5-year strategic plan “The Natural State Tomorrow.”

“Make no mistake, these annual reports are not brag sheets,” Booth said. “It is solely a motivation by this agency to show transparency and accountability to the public, not only for what we do, but to ensure that we’re progressing toward our long-term goals for conservation both on the natural resource side and on the people side.”

Matt Horton, Aquatic Nuisance Species Program coordinator for the AGFC, presented an update on non-native, invasive species in Arkansas and the threats they pose to aquatic habitat, recreation and commercial activities. The agency’s invasive carp removal program was a high point of his presentation, having netted and removed 343,000 pounds of invasive carp since its introduction.

According to Horton, the AGFC received federal grants to help in the effort, and is exploring a way to incentivize harvest by commercial anglers by paying an additional 18 cents per pound above market value to commercial anglers for their carp catch.

“Our goal is to develop a commercial harvest-based control program to increase our effort to remove a large amount of biomass of these fish from our river systems,” Horton said. “Since February, commercial fishermen have removed 265,299 pounds of invasive carp. We have enough money to provide incentives for 1.9 million pounds.”

Horton’s presentation also covered many of the latest introductions of invasive species, including mystery snails, giant apple snails and giant salvinia.

In other business, the Commission:

• Approved a budget carry-forward of $1.1 million in funds from Fiscal Year 2024.

• Awarded retiring wildlife officer Capt. Stephanie Weatherington her service sidearm for 29 years of service to the AGFC.

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CUTLINES:

COMMISSION LISTENING
Mary Beth Hatch, AGFC chief of education, presented a minute order at today’s meeting to transfer nearly two-thirds of a million dollars to the AEDC for school grant programs. Photo by Mike Wintroath.

DIRECTOR SPEAKING
AGFC Director Austin Booth reflected on challenges and accomplishments of the last year in his report to the Commission. Photo by Mike Wintroath.

PRESENTATION
Matt Horton, AGFC Aquatic Nuisance Species Program coordinator, offered an update on invasive species control efforts in Arkansas. Photo by Mike Wintroath.

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.