LITTLE ROCK — Hunters will discuss a slate of topics for 2012-2013 regulations at the eight public meetings the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will hold Jan. 31.
The meetings will be held in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Jonesboro, Hope, Monticello, Mount Ida, Russellville and Calico Rock.
David Goad, chief of the AGFC’s wildlife management division, presented the topics Wednesday at the commission’s monthly work meeting at Little Rock. Some generated lively discussion, such as a proposal to eliminate the flood prone zone designations that regulate deer hunting along major river corridors in eastern Arkansas.
Since 1987, the commission has recognized nine flood prone zones primarily along the White, Black, Cache and St. Francis rivers where deer seasons open and close based on water levels at fixed gauges.
“Those are arbitrary lines where my property might be closed but yours is open, and there might only be a gravel road between them,” Goad said. “Our deer herd is far more advanced today than it was years ago, and I can see no adverse reaction to eliminating flood prone zones A through I on private property.”
Goad and commission chairman George Dunklin noted no other state has flood prone zones or an equivalent.Commissioner Rick Watkins asked why they exist.
“Some commissioner,” commissioner Emon Mahony replied. “Somebody probably killed his buck.”
Goad said the history behind the zones is vague, but the consensus seems to be public land hunters complained when rising water pushed deer out of public areas onto private land.
“There might be some folks that don’t like this,” Goad said. “The refuge managers asked us to be able to retain flood prone regulations on their refuge properties, and our director still has the authority to close seasons wherever he believes it’s necessary to be closed. I hope the public supports it.”
An elk hunting item will require hunters to have a valid hunting license before applying for an elk hunting permit.Goad said too many people apply for the elk permits and only buy a hunting license if they get one. He said that is unfair to applicants who already have licenses.
A related item will discuss eliminating the Decemberelk hunt and moving it to late October or early November. The December hunt is held on private property, when elk have usually left private property.
Another deer hunting item would move opening day of archery season to the fourth Saturday in September. Dick Baxter, the AGFC’s deer biologist, said this would eliminate conflicts with the urban archery deer hunts held around the state. One reason they are popular, Baxter said, is because archery season traditionally opened Oct. 1. In 2012, archery deer season opens Sept. 15, and Baxter said the communities that hold the urban hunts are concerned opening the statewide season in mid-September might reduce participation.
For youth deer season, the AGFC will discuss prohibiting a mentor from carrying a gun. If the season is meant to provide a good hunting experience for youngsters, mentors should not have the opportunity to interfere with a youngster’s hunt, Mahony said.
Another item will discuss enhancing antler restrictions on WMAs. Goad said the wildlife management division wants a regulation that requires a legal buck on some WMAs in the Mississippi River Delta to have a 15-inch minimum inside spread and at least one 18-inch main beam. On some WMAs in other parts of the state, a legal buck would have a 12-inch minimum inside spread and a 15-inch main beam. Baxter said those dimensions would protect all yearling bucks and a sizeable portion of 2 1/2-yearold bucks.
“We’re trying to get the buck-to-doe ratio closer together, and we want to back off the buck harvest,” Baxter said. “Every three-and-a-half year old buck will be eligible for harvest, and it increases buck carryover.”
Also, an item will discuss changing the doe-only hunt to an antlerless-only hunt, to be held Oct. 13-17, 2012. Those dates would occur Saturday through Wednesday.
A bear hunting item will eliminate the modern gun bear hunt in September. Goad said the September gun hunt accomplished its purpose of increasing the bear kill in the Ouachita Mountains, but an unexpected consequence was that hunters killed too many females.
Eliminating the September gun hunt would allow time for female bears to go to den before major hunting pressure occurs. Brad Miller, assistant chief of the wildlife management division, said the commission will have the flexibility to reinstate the September gun hunt if data indicates the need later.
A squirrel hunting item will discuss increasing the daily bag limit from eight to 12, and the possession limit from 36 squirrels to 48.
Sports, Pages 23 on 01/19/2012