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Arkansas Outdoors Weekly Newsletter
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Keith Stephens (501) 223-6342, e-mail: kastephens@agfc.state.ar.us
December 9, 2009 Edition
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Today's Topics
Public meeting format changes for 2010-11 hunting regulations
 LITTLE ROCK – Beginning in January, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be using a new model for public meetings on the regulation setting process. The hunting regulation meetings will follow this format.
Instead of 12 public meetings across the state, there will be a single meeting in Little Rock on Tuesday, Jan. 5 from 7-9 p.m. That meeting will be followed by a TV show on Thursday, Jan. 7, from 7-8 p.m. on AETN.
Both meetings will be moderated by Steve “Wild Man” Wilson and will include a panel made up of wildlife management chief David Goad, enforcement chief Mike Knoedl, deer biologist Brad Miller, elk biologist Cory Gray, waterfowl biologist Luke Naylor, turkey biologist Mike Widner and bear biologist Myron Means.
A PowerPoint on the proposed hunting regulations will be presented, followed by a two to three minute overview from each biologist in their area of expertise. After the overview is complete, the meeting will be opened to questions from the public.
As always, people will have until the end of January to submit comments by letter, phone call, Web site or email. Comments may be verbal or written. Written comments may be submitted at the meeting or mailed to the AGFC, Hunting Regulations Proposals, 2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205. Comments can also be made on the AGFC Web site at http://www.agfc.com/hunting/misc_hunting/public-meeting.aspx. The deadline for comments is Jan. 31.
Donated Christmas trees get second life as fish habitat
 LITTLE ROCK – Underwater structure is both cursed and praised by Arkansas anglers. Fishermen may curse those logs and branches that snag their brand new lures, but they know that structure is a key to a successful outing.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is asking that those leftover Christmas trees be used to help improve the state's fisheries by dropping the trees off at several sites around the state. AGFC community fisheries biologist Clifton Jackson says that studies have shown that fish utilize underwater structure for cover. "These trees are some of the best natural forms of underwater structure. Crappie, bass, bluegills and other fish will often use the tress to hide in and around," Jackson said.
The Christmas trees provide cheap, but quality underwater structures. They are easy to place in ponds and lakes, and they last for several years, Jackson said. "More importantly, their limbs offer something to fish of all shapes and sizes," he explained. The Christmas tree drop-off is underway and will run through Jan. 24. Please remove all tinsel and other decorations from the trees.
Trees can be dropped off at the following locations:
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Lake Hamilton - Andrew Hulsey State Fish Hatchery Access Area
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Lake Chicot - Connerly Bayou Access Area
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Bragg Lake – Bragg Lake Access
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White Oak Lake - Upper Jacks Landing Access
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Magnolia - Columbia County Road Dept Yard on Highway 371
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El Dorado - City recycling center drop-offs: one behind Arby’s and one on South Jackson
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Smackover - Recycling drop-off center (these will be transported to El Dorado)
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Millwood Lake - Cottonshed, White Cliffs Recreation Areas and the Millwood State Park ramp on the point
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Dierks Lake - Jefferson Ridge South Recreation Area
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DeQueen Lake - Any Corps of Engineers boat ramp
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Gillham Lake - Any Corps of Engineers boat ramp
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Lake Greeson - New Cowhide Cove and Self Creek Recreation Areas
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Arkansas River, North Little Rock – Northshore Landing Access (also known as Alltel Access below the I-30 bridge)
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Greers Ferry Lake - Sandy Beach (Heber Springs), Devils Fork Recreation Area and Choctaw Recreation Area (Choctaw-Clinton)
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Dardanelle Lake - Dwight Mission Access, Highway 64/Piney Access, Cabin Creek Slough Access
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Jack Nolen Lake - Largest access ramp on rip-rap near ramp
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Lake Atkins – Ramp at south end of dam or the ramp on the north side of lake
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Lake Conway - Lawrence Landing Access
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Harris Brake Lake - Chittman Hill Access
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Lake Overcup - Lake Overcup Landing
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Lake Barnett - Reed Access
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Jonesboro - Craighead Forest Park Lake boat ramp
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Gurdon Lake – Boat ramp and parking areas
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Cox Creek Lake – Boat ramp and parking areas
Elk hunt’s opening features youngsters, big bulls
 PONCA – In one sense, the 12th December elk hunt ran true to form. There were the successes, the misses, the unusual occurrences.
Twenty-three hunters were in the field in Buffalo River country, and the elk were well scattered. Weather started favorably then headed downhill.
Two 7X7 bull elk were taken, and both came on private land. Both were large animals.
Freddie Ficht of Kingston got his 7X7 only a few months after extensive surgery on his neck. Medical clearance for him had come earlier, and he scored with a deer. Then he went to an elevated stand that has approached legend status.
This is in Elk Zone B, and the stand is the one the Ogden brothers used in 2007, spending the night in it before the hunt opened. A large bull elk was taken. In 2008, there was a repeat. This time, Ficht was invited to use the stand, and he scored with his .270 Short Magnum rifle.
James Horton of Marshall scored with a 7X7 on his land in Zone 4’s private land hunt.
Martin Walt of Dumas is only 13, but may have grabbed the record for most shots fired at a bull. The tally was 14 by his count.
Walt said, “We saw the elk from the edge of our field over on the next hill. They were lying down. I shot one clip then shot the other that I had with me. My dad ran back to the truck and got more ammunition, and I shot four more times. The elk went down.” It was a 4X5 bull.
 Peyton Clark of Mount Sherman wasted little time in filling his elk permit Monday morning when the December Arkansas elk hunt opened.
Clark, 12 years old, shot a 6X6 bull elk at 7:20 a.m., and it was a second choice for him. A planned spot didn’t pan out when daylight arrived, so Clark and dad Stacey moved to another. The bull stepped out within range, and Clark raised his borrowed .340 Weatherby rifle and fired once. The elk walked about 15 yards and dropped, dead.
Clark was hunting on private land in Elk Zone B in Newton County. A year ago, the first elk of the December hunt also came from Zone B early on opening morning.
This was Clark’s first elk, but dad Stacey scored with a cow elk in an earlier hunt. Peyton Clark isn’t a stranger to deer hunting, though. The seventh grader at Jasper school took a nice 10-point deer with a crossbow earlier this fall.
Lyle Mast of Mountain View, Nathan Swaffar of Vilonia and Allen Bourland of Bixby, Okla., all took cow elk on Gene Rush Wildlife Management Area. Bourland is a former Arkansas resident who holds a lifetime Arkansas hunting license. Darwin Baker of Nashville, a youth hunter, filled his permit with a 6X6 bull elk on Gene Rush WMA.
Richard Maley of Mountain Home came across a young female elk with a badly injured leg. He had an antlerless permit and could have waited for a larger elk. But he made the choice to put down the injured animal.
Doug Briscoe of Harrison got a 6X7 bull in Zone B with a 30.06 rifle.
The December hunt continues through Friday, Dec. 11, or until quotas for the private land zones and permits for the public land zones are filled.
Permits for the public land hunting are issued through a random drawing in late June after applications are submitted during the month of May. Both the applications and the permits are free.
Catfish with reward tags stocked in several waters
MAYFLOWER – Most of the time, catching a catfish is a reward in itself. But, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is adding incentive to the state’s anglers. The AGFC has launched a statewide channel catfish tagging study to evaluate the effectiveness of stocking these fish in several lakes and streams.
The tags are worth money to anglers who catch the fish. The tags have the word “Reward” printed on them, and anglers who land one of the fish can call a toll-free telephone number, answer a few questions and mail the tag back. They will receive a reward ranging from $10 to $100.
During November, catfish with reward tags were stocked in Crooked Creek, Fourche LaFave River and lakes Conway, Degray, Gillham and Norfork. Other waters that were previously stocked with reward tags include: Beaver Lake, Bull Shoals Lake, Caddo River, Lake Hinkle, Lake Hogue, Lake Ouachita, Lake Overcup, Little Missouri River and the White River.
The tags are yellow or pink and are attached to the dorsal or top fin of the catfish with a thin metal wire. They have been put on channel catfish only, not blue catfish, not flathead catfish, not on bullheads.
Fliers with information on the catfish tagging program and the phone number to call have been posted at boat launching ramps on the lakes and rivers where the tagged fish have been stocked. The phone numbers are AGFC’s regional offices.
Jeff Quinn, stream management biologist with AGFC, said, “We have named this program the Arkansas Statewide Catfish Exploitation Study. Its purpose is to see the number of catfish caught by anglers from our stockings at in these waters. The AGFC spends a large amount of money in its annual stocking of catfish, and we need solid evidence on how effective these stockings are. In other words, are we getting enough ‘bang for our buck’ in each of the bodies of water?”
Anglers reporting catching a tagged channel catfish will be asked their name, address, tag number, location of catch, date of catch, if the catfish was kept or released, if the angler was targeting catfish and method of fishing. The tags then must be mailed in for anglers to receive the reward payment. All anglers will be asked if they were satisfied with their trip.
Arkansas NWTF chapters funding state projects
LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas chapters of the National Wildlife Turkey Federation have played a vital role to help improve habitat for one of the state’s most popular game birds. Since 1985, over $2.1 million has been raised and spent by Arkansas NWTF chapters on projects within the state.
A sampling of the projects includes:
*$1,128,666 for habitat enhancement on projects that have impacted more than 144,852 acres within the state.
*$341,358 on educational programs and literature including scholarships, education boxes, 4-H and teacher workshops and educational projects for volunteers and professionals.
*$144,582 on wild turkey research including purchasing equipment related to research such as radio telemetry equipment.
*$134,000 to purchase 1,876 acres of land or conservation easements to preserve wildlife habitat and provide additional hunting areas.
*$129,740 to introduce youth, women and people with disabilities to outdoor activities, conservation and hunting through JAKES, Women in the Outdoors and Wheelin’ Sportsmen.
*$61,300 to protect and promote the hunting tradition including contributions to the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
*$54,310 on wild turkey management including the operation of wild turkey check stations, hunter success and satisfaction surveys, completion of wild turkey management plans and the purchase of equipment to support law enforcement and management activities.
*$10,145 to protect wild turkeys and other wildlife by supporting state-sponsored reward programs, printing reward signs and making reward payments.
The NWTF also is looking to the future by partnering with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and U.S. Forest Service, along with various colleges, to secure funding for research on better management of wild turkeys in the state.
Want to get involved? Contact NWTF state chapter president Gary Watts at (479) 934-4399, regional director David Sulton at (501) 844-2711 or regional biologist Dennis Daniel at (479) 754-2365 or go to www.nwtf.org.
Corps warning anglers of releases from Greers Ferry Dam
LITTLE ROCK – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reminding fishermen to expect releases from Greers Ferry Dam as officials evacuate flood water stored in the lake. Forecast rainfall could delay the operation.
In accordance with the approved water control plan for the reservoir, the seasonal regulating stage changes Dec. 1 each year. If floodwater is being stored in the lake during the agricultural growing season, releases are timed not to exceed a 13-foot stage at Georgetown. Of course heavy rain below the dam can cause the stage to rise well above 13 feet, and this has occurred several times this year, which has been abnormally high in rainfall.
Then on Dec. 1 each year after farmers have had time to harvest crops from low-lying fields, the seasonal operating stage is raised to 21 feet at Georgetown. This enables the Corps to evacuate floodwater in the lake more quickly in case of future flood-producing rains.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission District Fisheries Supervisor Tom Bly says the Corps is currently evacuating the flood pool on Greers Ferry by running both generators and spilling water through the gates. “Flows are approximately 15,000 cubic feet per second, a little more than twice full capacity through the generators. At Zebs Shoal, water levels are about four feet higher than two units of generation,” Bly said. “I have seen higher flows during flood events, but never this high for a sustained period. It looks like they will have the lake down to pool by Christmas barring any major rain events,” he added.
The difference this year from most others is that repeated heavy rains have filled the lake much fuller than is usual this time of year. Therefore, a combination of releases through the hydropower plant turbines and spillway releases will be required. While this is normal procedure, spillway releases have not been required from Greers Ferry to supplement turbine releases to maintain a 21-foot stage since 1983.
Combined turbine and spillway releases are not expected to exceed 15,000 cubic feet per second.
Officials caution anglers downstream from the dam to be extra vigilant because currents will be strong and swift when the larger releases are being made. Officials also advise downstream boat dock owners to ensure their docks are properly secured to withstand high flows. Owners of docks on Greers Ferry Lake are being advised to move their docks as needed to prevent them from grounding as the lake recedes.
Greers Ferry is one of six Corps lakes in the White River Basin that helps reduce the frequency and severity of floods. Releases from two of the other lakes, Bull Shoals and Norfork, were altered earlier this week as the seasonal regulating stage increased. There, too, moderate spillway releases are being made in conjunction with releases through the power plant turbines to safely evacuate floodwater stored in the lakes.
The water control plans for the lakes in the White River system are comprehensive in nature and attempt to balance benefits throughout the basin. These plans have been in use for many years and were developed through extensive public involvement as well as various perspectives from local, state, and federal entities.
Information regarding lake levels and power generation is available at www.swl-wc.usace.army.mil, under the Daily Reports (Little Rock District Lakes Pool Forecast) or Real-time Data (Reservoirs) headings.
Boating education class schedule
Click here for boating education information: http://www.agfc.com/education-class/boating-education.aspx
Hunter education class schedule
Click here for hunter education information: http://www.agfc.com/education-class/hunter-education.aspx
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What’s open for hunting
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Current and approaching seasons in Arkansas:
Mourning Dove and Eurasian Collared Dove
Dec. 5-Dec. 30
Woodcock
Nov. 7-Dec. 21
Snipe
Nov. 1-Feb. 15
Late Canada Goose Statewide Season
Dec. 26-Jan. 30
Duck, coot and merganser
Dec. 10-23
Dec. 26, 2009-Jan. 31, 2010
Snow, blue and Ross’ goose
Nov. 7-Dec. 24
Dec. 26, 2009-Jan. 31, 2010
Conservation Order
Feb. 1-April 25, 2010
White-fronted goose
Dec. 12-24, 2009
Dec. 26, 2009-Jan. 31, 2010
Deer
Archery
Statewide: Oct. 1-Feb. 28
Muzzleloader
Zones 1, 1A, 2, 3, 4A, 5A, 6, 6A, 7, 8, 8A, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15: Dec. 19-21
Zones 9, 12, 16, 16A and 17: Dec. 29-31
Zones 4, 4B, 5 and 5B: Closed
Modern Gun
Zones 4A, 5A, 13, 14 and 15: Nov. 14-Dec. 13
Zones 9 and 12: Nov. 14-Dec. 20
Zones 16, 16A and 17: Nov. 14-Dec. 25
Christmas Holiday Modern Gun Deer Hunt is Dec. 26-28 statewide.
The Special Youth Modern Gun Deer Hunt is Jan. 2-3 statewide excluding certain WMAs where a modern gun or muzzleloader permit is required to hunt.
Bear
Modern Gun
Zone 5: Dec. 5-13
Zone 5A: Nov. 28-Dec. 13
Fall Turkey Season
Closed
Elk
Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, A and B: Dec. 7-11
Quail
Statewide: Nov. 1-Feb. 7
Rabbit
Statewide: Sept. 1-Feb. 28
Fall Squirrel Season
Statewide: Sept. 5-Feb. 28
Spring 2010 Squirrel Season
May 15-June 13
Crow
Statewide: Sept. 5-Feb. 20
Furbearers (2009-2010)
Gray fox, mink, red fox and striped skunk hunting: sunrise, Sept. 1-sunset, Feb. 28
Opossum Hunting: sunrise, Sept. 1- sunset Feb. 28
Bobcat hunting: sunrise, Oct. 1-sunset, Feb. 28 and from the first day of spring turkey season through the last day of spring squirrel season.
Coyote hunting: sunrise, July 1-sunset, Feb. 28 and from the first day of spring turkey season through June 14.
River otter hunting: sunrise, Nov. 4-sunset, Feb. 28
Raccoon night hunting: sunset, July 1-sunrise, Aug. 31
Raccoon day or night hunting: sunrise, Sept. 1-sunset, March 31
Muskrat, nutria, beaver hunting: sunrise, Sept. 1-sunset, March 31
Badger, spotted skunk and weasel hunting: Closed
Furbearer trapping (other than beaver, coyote, muskrat, nutria): sunrise, Nov. 14-sunset, Feb. 21
Coyote trapping: sunrise, Aug. 1-sunset, March 31
Beaver, muskrat, nutria trapping: sunrise, Nov. 14-sunset, March 31
The 2010 deer season opening dates:
Deer (archery):
Friday, Oct. 1, 2010
Deer (muzzleloader): Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010
Deer (modern gun): Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010
Upcoming
Public Meetings:
2010-2011 General Public Meetings
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
For further hunting changes regarding bag limits, deer zone boundaries, game checking and other information go to www.agfc.com.
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Coming up in the outdoors
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Dec. 12 – Brinkley Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Brinkley Convention Center. For more information contact Jeff Robinson at (870) 734-1749.
Dec. 12 –Gillette Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet at the Dough Boy Building in Gellette. For more information contact Randy Womack at (870) 830-4353.
Dec. 12 – Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be "Youth Duck Hunting.”
Dec. 19 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be "Urban Trout Fishing Hotspots.”
Dec. 26 - Talkin’ Outdoors at the Corner Café with Steve “Wildman” Wilson, 9 a.m. on KARK Channel 4. Topic of the show will be "Bloopers.”
Jan. 9, 2010 – Stuttgart Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Occasions Banquet Hall. For more information contact Lester Sieber at (870) 673-1739 or 1A572042@yahoo.comm.
Jan. 9, 2010 – Black River Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Rolling Hills Country Club in Pocahontas. For more information contact Danny Barr at (870) 219-1396 or dannybarrroof@yahoo.com.
Jan. 9, 2010 – Grant County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet. For more information contact Gary Smith at (870) 413-9197.
Jan. 16, 2010 – Chicot County Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Lake Village Country Club. For more information contact Daniel Clark at (870) 265-1616 or drc@pollution-management.com.
Jan. 22-24, 2010 – - Arkansas Big Buck Classic, Arkansas State Fairgrounds. For more information go to bigbuckclassic.com or call Catherine at (501) 985-1533.
Jan. 23, 2010 – Bottomland Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Tri County Farmer’s Association. For more information contact Stanley Powell at (870) 270-7331 or spowell4@yahoo.com.
Jan. 23, 2010 – Fort Smith Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet at the Adelaide Hall Varsity Sports Bar in Forth Smith. For more information contact Chris and Raelyn Walthall at (479) 774-9737 or tynoiaca11@yahoo.com.
Jan. 29, 2010 – White River Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, American Legion Building. For more information contact Rusty Lansford at (870) 468-6097.
Jan. 30, 2010 – Arkansas State Turkey Calling Contest, Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center in downtown Little Rock. Calling contest will begin at 10:30 a.m. Open winner pays $1,000, $500, $250, 150; friction winner pays $750, $350, $200 and youth winner pays $100, $75, $50. Sponsorships of the contest are available for $250. For more information contact Jim Wells at (870) 853-9262 daytime or (870) 853-6077 and leave a message or by email at jimw_71646@yahoo.com.
Jan. 30, 2010 – Three Rivers South Chapter of Ducks Unlimited membership banquet, Arkansas County Fairground in DeWitt. For more information contact Gary Boyd at (870) 946-9430 or g.tboyd@futura.net.
Feb. 6
, 2010
- Central Arkansas Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Banquet, 5 p.m., Robinson Center in Little Rock. For more information call Betty Thornquist at (501) 516-0439
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