The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission approved early migratory bird hunting seasons Thursday at its monthly meeting in Little Rock.
The commission also heard a proposal for late migratory bird season dates and new fishing regulations, as well as proposals to modify access at major duck hunting WMAs.
At a glance
• A look at the early migratory bird hunting seasons approved Thursday by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and proposals for late migratory bird seasons:
APPROVED SEASONS
DOVE Sept. 6-Oct. 25 and Dec. 20-Jan. 8, 2015.
EARLY TEAL Sept. 13-28.
EARLY CANADA GOOSE Sept. 1-15 statewide. Sept. 20-29 northwest zone.
PROPOSED SEASONS
DUCK Nov. 22-Nov. 30, Dec. 4-23, Dec. 26-Jan. 25, 2015. Youth waterfowl season Jan. 31, 2015-Feb. 1, 2015.
WHITE-FRONTED, SNOW, BLUE, ROSS’S GEESE Nov. 13-Jan. 25, 2015.
LATE CANADA GOOSE Nov. 13-Jan. 25, 2015.
Dove season will run Sept. 6-Oct. 25 and Dec. 20 through Jan. 8, 2015. Early teal season will run Sept. 13-28, with a daily limit of six. Early Canada goose season will run Sept. 1-15 statewide and Sept. 20-29 in the northwest zone.
The proposed regular duck season will run 60 days in three segments, with a daily limit of six ducks. The proposed segments would run from Nov. 22-Nov. 30, Dec. 4-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 25, 2015. The youth waterfowl hunting season is proposed to run Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2015.
The daily limit may include no more than four mallards, of which no more than two may be hens. The daily limit for wood ducks will be three, and the limit for pintails and canvasbacks will be two.
The proposed season for white-fronted, snow, blue and Ross's geese would run Nov. 13-Jan. 25, 2015. The proposed daily limit for white-fronts will be two, and the limit for other species will be 50.
The proposed late season for Canada geese would run Nov. 13-Jan. 25, 2015.
The commission also heard proposals to modify access rules at certain WMAs. Commissioner Emon Mahony said the regulations are designed to eliminate de facto privatization of duck hunting areas at WMAs that are intensively managed as waterfowl habitat and which are extensively used for waterfowl hunting.
The main proposal would restrict access to WMA interiors from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. Boats would be restricted from 1 p.m. to 4 a.m., with certain exceptions to accommodate bowhunters and those hunting other game.
Luke Naylor, the AGFC's waterfowl biologist, said the regulations would help prevent groups of hunters from setting up large hunting perimeters.
In other wildlife management business, the commission was presented several deer hunting clarifications for Lake Greeson, Howard County and Choctaw Island WMAs. At Choctaw Island WMA, the youth permit gun deer hunts for the east and west units were changed to Nov. 22-23. The commission also struck wording that required a permit to kill deer at the Howard County and Lake Greeson WMAs.
Fisheries regulations proposals include changing the 13-16 inch slot limit on largemouth bass at DeGray Lake to a 13-inch minimum length limit, and reducing the daily limit of largemouth bass at DeGray Lake from 10 to six.
Other proposals would establish a 10-inch minimum length limit for all crappie at Lake Conway and establish a statewide daily limit of 30 for crappie. The commission also proposed restricting the use of limblines within the Buffalo River National Park.
Sports on 07/18/2014