September 2, 2009 Edition

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Today's Topics

• Dove season opens Saturday, don't forget to get HIP

• Toll-free number is vital for deer, turkey hunters

• Can I shoot a feral hog? AGFC says ‘please do’

• Summer fishing can be productive after dark

• A simple secret can lead to better tasting fish

• Ouachita River Sweep begins Sept. 12

• Boating education class schedule

• Hunter education class schedule  

• What’s open for hunting

• Coming up in the outdoors

Dove season opens Saturday, don't forget to get HIP

LITTLE ROCK – It’s Labor Day weekend, so that means football and dove season in Arkansas. The opening of dove season represents the traditional opening of fall hunting in Arkansas. The season opens Saturday morning, Sept. 5.

One of the first things hunters need to do is make sure they’re HIP registered. Harvest Information Program is the formal name, but everyone from hunters to license clerks just says HIP.

This is a mandatory federal program in effect in all states except for Hawaii. It's free, but hunters should remember they have to register for HIP each year in each state they hunt. There is no cost, and the best way to register for HIP is when you buy a hunting license. It’s required for duck, goose and all migratory bird hunting.

The information is used for hunter participation and harvest monitoring and for setting future regulations by wildlife authorities, both federal and state.

Arkansas's dove season first segment this year opens Saturday, Sept. 5, and runs through Oct. 18. The second season segment is Dec. 5-Dec. 30.

The daily dove bag limit remains at 15, with possession limit 30. Doves are migratory game birds, so federal rules of shotguns plugged to hold no more than three shells are in effect. There is no daily or possession limits on the Eurasian collared-dove.

2009-10 Early Migratory Bird Seasons Brochure

Toll-free number is vital for deer, turkey hunters

LITTLE ROCK – A new number is impacting the lives of Arkansas deer and turkey hunters. They will get to know it – at least the ones who are successful in taking a buck, a doe or a turkey.

The number is (877) 507-4263.

Yes, it is toll-free. Call it from anywhere when you are ready to check your deer or turkey. That is the new system of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, replacing the check stations that were used for decades.

If you are an over-65 hunter or a younger-than-16 hunter, you will do well to write this number down and keep it in your billfold. The number is in the Hunting Guidebook of the AGFC if you carry that with you and is also on the game tags in the Guidebook.

For others with wildlife conservation licenses or sportsmen’s licenses, the checking number is on the back of the license.

Checking of deer and turkey can be done two ways – the call to (877) 507-4263 or online at www.agfc.com. When you’ve finished checking your game, you’ll be given a check number that must be recorded on the license. So make sure you have a pen ready.

Can I shoot a feral hog? AGFC says ‘please do’

LITTLE ROCK – Feral hogs are not native to North America, but many feral hogs live in Arkansas because of illegal releases and high reproductive success. Hogs compete directly with many native game animals for food and destroy habitat for many other wildlife species.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission tries to eradicate feral hogs from its wildlife management areas and encourages private landowners to kill all free-ranging feral hogs on their property.

There are a number of problems caused by feral hogs, including:

• Habitat destruction – Feral hogs root for food and wallow, which destroys vegetation, ruins water holes used by other wildlife and contributes to erosion.

• Damage to endangered or sensitive plant/animal communities – Feral hogs can cause major, sometimes irreparable, damage to small, fragile habitats, such as acid seeps in the Ouachitas and cedar glades in the Ozarks.

• Disease – Feral hogs can carry brucellosis and pseudorabies, both of which can spread to livestock. Some diseases carried by feral hogs can be transmitted to humans. Gloves should always be worn when handling feral hogs.

• Direct competition with native wildlife – Deer, squirrels, ducks, turkeys, bears and many other species depend on acorns. Hogs also love acorns and are very efficient at finding them (often tearing up wildlife habitat in the process).

• Crop loss – Hogs often cause heavy damage to row crops, gardens, flower beds, pine plantations, orchards, tree farms and pastures.

• Trespass – It is illegal to release hogs or pigs on any public land. Feral hogs may be released only onto private land that is adequately fenced to prevent them from escaping. The Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission has additional regulations regarding disease testing, slaughter and identification of all hogs, including feral hogs.

On private land, feral hogs may be killed or trapped year-round by a landowner or anyone with the landowner’s permission (except anyone who has had his or her hunting license revoked). All general regulations for hunting safety should be observed.

The AGFC encourages hunters to shoot all feral hogs they see on WMAs. Hunters may kill feral hogs on WMAs during any open hunting season as long as they are using a weapon legal for that season. Only permit holders may hunt feral hogs during special permit hunts. Feral hogs killed on WMAs can be taken for processing or left where they were shot. Hunters may not use dogs, bait or traps to hunt feral hogs on WMAs and may not hunt at night.

The following WMAs have particularly high hog numbers. They may suffer extreme loss of habitat for deer, turkey and other wildlife if feral hogs are not eradicated:

• Cut Off Creek WMA
• Petit Jean WMA
• Gene Rush WMA
• Sulphur River WMA
• Gulf Mountain WMA
• Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois d’Arc WMA
• Harold E. Alexander Spring River WMA
• Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA

Summer fishing can be productive after dark

LITTLE ROCK – Too hot to fish? Anglers at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission suggest going out at night. For some Arkansans, outings after dark are often productive. Others don’t like it.

Fishing at night is a tradeoff. You get away from the full impact of sun, but you give up a good deal of visibility. True, some folks are just afraid of the dark.

A few brief points here apply to night fishing in general and not with any one species targeted.

For starters, approach night fishing like you would a daytime outing. Darrell Royal, the old Texas football coach, said, “Dance with what brung you.” If something worked for you in daytime fishing, it likely will work at night. Fish familiar waters. Night is not the time to go exploring.

When the sun goes down, the air cools much quicker than the water. You’ll be more comfortable after dark, but the water temperature won’t change more than a degree or so.

If you normally use a bobber for fishing, it will not be as visible in the dark. Swapping the usual red and white bobber for a fluorescent orange one should help a little. Think about skipping the bobber and go to tight-line fishing so you will work by feel instead of by sight.

Take light with you. A flashlight is a must. Those cap bill-mounted lights are handy because you don’t have to give up a hand to hold them. Some night fishermen like to use high-output camping lights like propane or gasoline lanterns. These are not every angler’s choice, but if they work for you – fine.

Consider using a floating light, sometimes called crappie lights. These are battery-powered lights that are buoyant floodlights pointed down into the water. The idea is bugs are attracted to the lights, small fish go after the bugs and crappie and other gamefish go after the small fish. Another benefit is the floating lights give off enough ambient light as to help anglers see what they are doing in the boat.

Rig up your gear when it is daylight. It’s much easier. If you have a question about line on your reel needing changing, do it at home, not in the boat when it’s dark.

Know where you are going when it’s dark. Even moving at low speed, a boat can bump into unseen objects if you are careless.

If you fish a popular area, you will have much less competition at night.

Take a cooler with drinks. Take snacks. Take sandwiches if it’s going to be a long night of fishing.

Finally, snakes are no more of a problem at night than in daytime. They are out there. Be careful, be alert and go on with your fishing.

A simple secret can lead to better tasting fish

LITTLE ROCK – Fish is good eating. That is no secret, and most Arkansans enjoy tasty and healthy fish on their dinner tables.

“Fresh” and “fish” just go together. The fresher the fish when you cook it, the better it is to eat.

Take a fish off the hook, fillet it, build a fire on the shore and cook it. That’s fresh. But this quick treatment is not usually practical either.

Here is a suggestion passed along from experienced fish cooks at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. They did not originate the secret but picked it up from some renowned chefs who handle fish and handle it well.

This is for wild-caught fish. In Arkansas, that can be catfish, largemouth bass, crappie, bream, catfish, walleye, trout – you name it.

Mix two tablespoons of table salt, one teaspoon of baking soda and a gallon of cold tap water. Stir well so the salt and soda are thoroughly dissolved. Put your fish fillets in a container, cover with the salt-soda solution and refrigerate overnight.

Remove the fish from the solution and rinse well with cold water. Pat with paper towels to dry. Proceed with your normal fish cooking method – fry, broil, bake, grill, smoke.

What the soak in the solution does is to greatly reduce the “fishy” taste some eaters object to and to remove any foreign taste, like muddiness, from the fish. The result is sweeter tasting fish, and this likely will produce favorable comments from people around your dinner table.

If time for soaking in the solution is a problem, less than overnight will work nearly as well. Four hours in the solution should be a goal, however.

Cover the container while the fish is soaking in the refrigerator. One idea is to use some empty and rinsed cardboard milk or other drink containers. Plastic containers with lids work well also. Discard the used solution after soaking. Don’t try to save it for another batch of fish.

Ouachita River Sweep begins Sept. 12

ARKADELPHIA – Keeping The Natural State natural is one of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s creeds. The Arkansas Stream Team, a program of the AGFC’s Fisheries Division, is sponsoring the Ouachita River Sweep to clean up the southern Arkansas river.

The 2009 Ouachita River Sweep is an effort to clean and beautify the Ouachita River. The event will provide an opportunity to bring together the communities surrounding Malvern, Arkadelphia, Camden, Moro Bay, Crossett and El Dorado. AGFC personnel and volunteers from sponsoring partners will be on hand to help clean and beautify the Ouachita River watershed. The clean-up is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Volunteers are encouraged to join at any of the five clean-up locations. The areas are located at the Grigsby Ford Access at Malvern, Highway 7 Ouachita River Park Access in Arkadelphia, Sandy Beach Park Access at Camden, Moro Bay State Park and Crossett Harbor. T-shirts and a free lunch will be provided to all volunteers.

The event is being hosted in partnership with the Ouachita River Valley Association, Ouachita River Commission, Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services’ Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge, Friends of Felsenthal, Ouachita Conservation District, Save the Ouachita and the cities of Malvern, Arkadelphia, Camden, Moro Bay and Crossett.

Please come and spend a day on the Ouachita River with family, friends and neighbors pitching in to help keep Arkansas clean and green. Bring a boat, canoe or just your shoes, litter bags will be supplied. For more information contact Andy Turner, Stream Team Coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at(501) 539-0903.

Sept. 12 – University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton Skeet Shoot, 2 p.m. at the Point Remove Lodge in Hattieville. This year Andy Miller is scheduled to do a shooting exhibition. Again this year, the Ducks Unlimited Green Wing shoot for kids ages 8-14 will be featured. For more information call Kristi Strain at (501) 977-2085 or by email at strain@uaccm.edu.

Sept. 12 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be "Wing Shooting.”

Sept. 12 – Jacksonville Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, old Wal-Mart building in Jacksonville. For more information contact Matt Robinson at (501) 412-8055 or jacksonvilledu@aol.com.

Sept. 17 – North Little Rock Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Sherwood Forest in Sherwood. For more information contact Pat Mahan at (501) 743-6154 or northlittlerock@yahoo.com.

Sept. 20 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be "Bass Fishing and Canada Goose Hunting.”

Sept. 22 – 7th Annual Lonoke County CASA Outdoors at the Cabot Community Center. All proceeds from the live auction and the silent auction will be used to assist abused and neglected children in the 23rd Judicial District of Arkansas. Some premier hunting and fishing trips as well as various other outdoor related items will be auctioned to the highest bidder. Tickets are $20 per adult and $10 per child and are available from the Lonoke County CASA headquarters at (501) 676-6533. The doors open at 6 p.m.

Sept. 25 – Toad Suck Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Knights of Columbus Hall in Conway. For more information contact Jeremy Abbott at (501) 428-3161 or jerabb@yahoo.com.

Sept. 26 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be "National Hunting and Fishing Day.”

Sept. 26 – West Logan County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, 1st Baptist Church in Booneville. For more information contact Josh Boersma at (479) 518-4250 or boersma66@yahoo.com.

Sept. 26 – National Hunting and Fishing Day at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bring the whole family – it’s free. There will be displays, activities such as the laser shot and knife making along with exhibitors. The nature center is located in the River Market District in downtown Little Rock.

Sept. 28 – Bradley-Drew Chapter of Delta Waterfowl annual banquet, The River Restaurant in Monticello. There will be a partial HRC hunt test simulation at 5:30 p.m. for those interested. All retrievers and their owners are welcome to participate at no charge. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. Cost of admission to the event is $40 for a single, $50 for a couple, $15 for youth under age 16 and $150 for a sponsor ticket. Delta Waterfowl membership and dinner are included. There will be a live auction, silent auction and raffles for prints, guns and a variety of duck hunting gear. For more information contact Mike Reeves at (870) 460-0899.

Oct. 1 – Southwest Arkansas Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Hope Country Club. For more information contact Larry England at (870) 703-4944 or ashleywarehouse@gmail.com.

Oct. 2-4 - Women’s Outdoor Weekend, Bull Shoals-White River State Park in Lakeview. During this three-day, two-night workshop, participants can attend different sessions like basic camping/backpacking skills, nature journaling, beginning bird-watching, introduction to fly fishing, beginning kayaking, Dutch oven cooking and more. Plenty of free time will be allotted to building friendships and honing newly developed outdoor skills. All gear and meals are included in the $125 registration fee. Space is limited, so early registration is advised. To register and attain more information, contact Bull Shoals-White River State Park at (870) 445-3629 or e-mail julie.lovett@arkansas.gov. The park is located at 129 Bull Shoals Park in Lakeview. If you’re traveling from Mountain Home, drive six miles north on Arkansas 5, then go eight miles west on Arkansas 178 to the park entrance. Turn left on Powerhouse Road.

Oct. 3 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be "Arkansas’s Elk Herd.”

Oct. 5 – Benton County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, The Quail Barn in Bentonville. For more information contact Todd Etzel at (501) 613-1874 or toddetzel@sbcglobal.net or Blayne Estes at (479) 721-3394 or baestes@cox.net.

Oct. 10 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be "Arkansas Alligator Hunt.”

Oct. 10 - The Little Red River Action Team chapter 722 of Trout Unlimited in Heber Springs is hosting the 3rd annual fly fishing film tour in Little Rock. The event is a fundraiser for the chapter and will take place at the Clinton Library and Museum at 7 p.m. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. There will be finger food, a cash bar and TU merchandise for sale. This highly popular two hour mini-film festival features exciting segments from the sport's best filmmakers shot in foreign destinations like Papua New Guinea, Russia, Belize as well as domestic waters from California and Colorado to southern Louisiana and the Florida Keys. The films offer a great blend of sensational footage, hilarious comedy, poignant commentary and some of the largest and most impressive fish ever caught. The Fly Fishing Film Tour is an opportunity for fans of fly fishing to come together to celebrate their sport and support the Little Red River Action Team chapter of Trout Unlimited. The ticket sales are the fund raiser and will be available from TU board members as well as at the Little Red Fly Shop, Ozark Angler in Little Rock and Heber Springs, Lobo Landing, Lindsey's Rainbow Resort and Holland's Exxon in Heber Springs. Donations to the chapter will also be most welcomed. To learn more, please visit www.flyfishingfilmtour.com.

Oct. 10 - Union County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, American Legion in El Dorado. For more information contact John Mooney at (870) 310-3392 or john_mooney@arwp.uscourts.gov.

Oct. 12 – Crawford County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Boys and Girls Club in Van Buren. For more information contact David Martin at (479) 806-7761 or huntnduck@yahoo.com.

Oct. 15 - Pine Bluff Razorback Chapter of Ducks Unlimited banquet at the Harbor Oaks Golf Course Restaurant in Pine Bluff. For more information contact Brian Hornsby at (870) 267-3885.

Oct. 15 - Rice ‘n Wings Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Craighead County Fairgrounds in Jonesboro. For more information contact John Hardin at (870) 268-2449 or john.hardin@morganstanley.com.

Oct. 17 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be "Largemouth Bass Fishing.”

Oct. 22 – Central Arkansas Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Clear Channel Building in Little Rock. For more information contact Jeff Marcussen at (501) 831-3818 or jmarcussen@baldwinshell.com.

Oct. 24 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be "Deer Hunting.”

Oct. 24 - Hurricane Lake Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Carmichael Center in Searcy. For more information contact Larry Winningham at (501) 827-5080 or shelma@sbcglobal.net.

Oct. 24 - Fordyce Moro Creek Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet. For more information contact Chris Rich at (870) 313-2588 or bigrich_@hotmail.com.

Oct. 24 - Magnolia Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Main Event Pavillion in Magnolia. For more information contact Greg Harrell at (870) 904-3710 or sra_sda@yahoo.com.

Oct. 26 - Drew County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Monticello Country Club. For more information contact Paul Griffin at (870) 723-4030 or golferpaul21@yahoo.com.

Oct. 29 - Northwest Arkansas Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Washington County Fairgrounds in Fayetteville. For more information contact Matt Brasel at (479) 426-2585 or Mbrasel@communityfirstbank.com .

Oct. 3111 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be "Deer Season Forecast.”

Nov. 5 – Texarkana Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Four State Fairground Building. For more information contact James Morphew at (903) 832-5880 or morphewp@hooksisd.net.

Nov. 7 – Greers Ferry Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Cleburne County Fairgrounds in Greers Ferry. For more information contact Larry Winningham at (501) 827-5080 or shelma@sbcglobal.net.

Nov. 19 – Phillips County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Phillips County Community College in Helena-West Helena. For more information contact Jason Smith at (870) 995-6103 or jason6868@att.net.

Nov. 19 – Paragould Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Paragould National Guard Armory. For more information contact Jerrod Brown at (870) 215-3212 or william.brown@smail.astate.edu.

Nov. 28 – Brookings Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Big Tent at Brookings. For more information contact Eric and Carolann Wilmes at (870) 476-1580 or ufoundcarolann@hotmail.com.  

Dec. 5 – Clear Creek Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Alma Boys and Girls Club. For more information contact Jeremy Teff at (479) 409-4646 or duckranger@gmail.com.

Dec. 5 – Cypress Bayou Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Beebe National Guard Armory. For more information contact Barry Wolfe at (501) 681-4286 or wolfe.barry@gmail.com.

Dec. 5 – Poinsett County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Trumann New Sports Complex. For more information contact Chris Gairhan at (870) 530-2899 or cgairhan@yahoo.com.