Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Association dominated the discussion Wednesday at the Game and Fish Commission's monthly work meeting.
It was a "high protein" discussion that produced several auspicious proposals and revelations.
The biggest was a proposal to ban spinning wing decoys at Bayou Meto and Dave Donaldson Black River wildlife management areas. At Bayou Meto especially, commissioners said spinning wing decoys create conflict among hunters.
"From a personal hunting experience, you cannot finish ducks in timber with spinning wing decoys," said Commissioner Joe Morgan of Little Rock. "I think it causes hunter conflict on our public areas when they're swing-shooting them."
Recent survey data suggests hunters are ambivalent about spinning wing decoys at public areas.
Luke Naylor, the AGFC's waterfowl biologist, said data from Michigan and Minnesota suggests hunter satisfaction increased on areas where the devices are restricted.
"Duck harvests did not change, but overall hunt satisfaction increased," Naylor said. "People didn't indicate they would hunt any less, and there was some indication that some people would hunt more if they were banned."
Commissioner Fred Brown of Corning said the commission has no intention or desire to ban the devices on private property.
AGFC Commissioner Mike Knoedl and several commissioners said they believe the behavior of mallards toward spinning wing decoys in greentree reservoirs encourages hunters to shoot at ducks beyond responsible ranges, and that hunters cripple a lot of ducks as a result.
"It condemns them to a slow death when they can't fly and fend for themselves," Knoedl said. "That's inhumane."
Commissioner Ford Overton of Little Rock said the commission's mission statement requires it to side with the resource on a 50-50 proposition.
"This ain't biological, this is political," commission chairman Emon Mahony said.
He argued against the ban in debate but voted for it when the commission agreed to pass it on a five-year trial basis.
Mahony also was concerned the decision comes too late to include it in the 2015-16 Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook. He was assured it would be included. That was ironic because the 2009 fall turkey hunting season was already in that year's hunting regulations when Mahony and three other commissioners voted to suspend the season three days before it was to open.
The so-called Bayou Meto boat races dominated the first two hours of the meeting. Knoedl said new boating regulations will be strictly enforced.
For example, Knoedl said law enforcement's presence at Bayou Meto will increase by 50 percent this year. As many as 12 wildlife officers will be on the area at any given time, he said. If officers have days off, others will be brought in from other areas to compensate.
Also, Knoedl said boaters will be required to maintain a distance of two boat lengths, or about 30 feet, between boats. Boats will not be allowed to pass unless it is to pass a boat that has slowed down to enter the woods.
"If you pass someone, you're going to get a ticket," Knoedl said.
Conviction of a boating violation at Bayou Meto and Dave Donaldson Black River entails a one-year ban from the area where the violation occurred from the date of conviction.
Chris Lacy, an attorney, said prosecutors in southeast Arkansas have a history of reducing charges to prevent friends from accruing violations points on their hunting licenses. He warned the commission it will happen with boating violations, too.
Knoedl said the AGFC has a new law enforcement supervisor in southeast Arkansas who is dedicated to stopping dangerous boating at Bayou Meto.
"I don't want to hear any excuses. I want this stopped, and I want it stopped now before somebody gets hurt or killed," Knoedl said. "We've debated it around this table for years, and I can tell you there's going to be a huge change this year."
Brown said the commission showed the same commitment by finally getting rid of private duck blinds and privatization of public duck hunting areas in northeast Arkansas.
"That wasn't as dangerous as this, but it was a harder fight," Brown said.
"I'm as committed to this as anything I've ever done," Knoedl said. "You can't police ethics and you can't fix stupid, but I can tell you there's a new sheriff in town. We're coming."
Sports on 08/23/2015