High water on the White and Cache rivers has forced the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to temporarily close deer season in some wildlife management areas of eastern Arkansas, as well as Flood Prone Region C, which includes private land in the Cache River basin near Augusta. Deer hunters are urged to check current water levels in their area before heading out for the opening of modern gun deer season, Nov. 10.
The bottomland habitats of eastern Arkansas offer habitat for large deer populations, but these low-lying areas also can become inundated quickly, pushing deer into smaller areas with less available cover. This creates a situation where deer may become vulnerable to overharvest, and removes some of the aspects of fair chase. Hunting in flooded areas also increases the chances of game loss as fatally hit deer may run into swift-moving stream or deep areas before hunters can recover their harvest.
The AGFC includes questions on flood prone zones during regular hunter opinion surveys. The last such survey was completed earlier this year by a third-party survey group, Responsive Management. A statistically valid sample of hunters who pursue deer in flood prone zones was interviewed by email to determine their approval of flood prone zones. According to that survey, 60 percent of hunters who hunted in regions with flood prone zones were in favor of closing deer hunting when the water rose to the criteria in place.
Only deer hunting is closed during flood-prone zone closures. Seasons and limits for other game animals remain unchanged.
MEN'S SOCCER
UCA's Bates earns conference honor
Paul Bates of the University of Central Arkansas was named defensive player of the week in the Missouri Valley Conference on Tuesday.
Bates helped the Bears defeat Missouri State 1-0 in a game that helped the Bears win their first Missouri Valley Conference title since joining the league in 2010.
Lyon advances to conference finals
Lyon College defeated Columbia College 1-0 in the American Midwest Conference semifinals in Columbia, Mo.
Estivan Garcia scored in the 23rd minute for Lyon College. Vicente Alamos had eight saves to record his fifth shutout of the season.
Lyon (11-7) will meet Missouri Baptist in the AMC championship game Friday.
BASKETBALL
Connors State downs Arkansas Baptist
Connors (Okla.) State sophomore Elijah Landrum scored 40 points and the Cowboys connected on 30 of 37 free-throw attempts in taking a 101-75 victory over Arkansas Baptist College at Little Rock Hall High School.
Landrum, a 6-0 transfer guard from Southern Methodist, scored 28 points in the first half while teammates Burke Putnam and Terrance Jones added 22 and 20 points, respectively.
Freshman Trajon Harris led Arkansas Baptist with 20 points, hitting four three-pointers and 6 of 6 free-throw attempts.
Connors (3-0) led 56-38 at the half and the Buffaloes (2-2) were never any closer than 11 points in the final half.
LaDarian Ceazer scored 11 points and Tevin Farris 10 for Arkansas Baptist, which hit only 21 of 58 shots from the field and 16 of 22 free throws.
Arkansas Baptist's next home game is Tuesday against Angelina Junior College.
Sports on 11/07/2018