Eighteen-day turkey season proposed

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission heard proposals for an 18-day turkey season running April 16-May 3, 2011, at its monthly meeting Thursday in Little Rock.

To conserve turkeys hatched in 2010, the proposed season bag limit will be two bearded gobblers and no jakes. In turkey zones 4, 4A, 5A and 9A, the proposed season will run April 16-26, with a bag limit of one bearded gobbler and no jakes. Turkey season will be closed in turkey zone 1A. The special youth season will be April 9-10. The youth season bag limit will be two birds, of which one can be a jake.

Also, the commission voted to shorten the 2010-2011 dove season by two days. In July, the commission mistakenly approved a 72-day season. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service authorized a season lasting no more than 70 days. The amended season will run Sept. 4 through Oct. 19, and Dec. 11 through Jan. 3.

In other wildlife management business, the commission approved a budget increase of $25,000 to maintain food plots in the PineyCreeks Wildlife Management Area. The WMA encompasses 173,726 acres in the Ozark National Forest and contains 364 openings that provide food for wildlife. The AGFC maintains 120 openings per year in three-year rotations.

Regarding the taking of raptors, the commission approved a change in its falconry permit. The change allows taking of fledgling peregrine falcons younger than 1 year old on Sept. 20-Oct. 20 by any falconer who has been issued an Arkansas Passage Peregrine Falcon Permit by the Commission.

In fisheries-related business, the AGFC approved a regulations change regarding game fish possession limits. The new regulation excludes processed fish from possession limits that are stored in the processor’s residence. This excludes tents, motels, hotels, resorts, commercial campgrounds, recreational vehicles, mobile travel trailers or motor vehicles.

In other business, the commission approved a budget increase of $45,000 to buy a new 1-ton fish delivery truck for the Charlie Craig State Fish Hatchery at Centerton. The truck previously used at the hatchery was destroyed in an accident. The commission also approved buying a new truck for the Aquatic Resources Education Program. The truck will cost about $37,000 and will be used to pull the AGFC’s mobile aquarium. Federal Sport Fish Restoration funds will cover $27,750. The AGFC will make up the difference with $9,250.

Also, the commission approved a budget increase of $155,000 to buy a new tractor and 17-yard scraper pan to maintain ponds at the agency’s Joe Hogan State Fish Hatchery. The total cost of the equipment is $275,000. The commission previously authorized a budget increase of $120,000 to buy used equipment. Don Brader, the AGFC’s warmwater fisheries coordinator, reported that nosuitable used equipment was available at that price, making it necessary to buy new equipment at a higher cost.

Also, the commission approved a $105,675 budget increase to replace four radio towers used by the AGFC’s law enforcement division. The money will come from natural gas revenues.

“We are not expanding what we have,” said Craig Campbell, commission chairman. “We are upgrading what we have. Some of these towers are more than 50 years old and exhibit significant deterioration.”

In land management business, the commission voted to settle land encroachment disputes with four landowners who own property adjacent to AGFC property at Harris Brake Lake.