AGFC opens opportunities to help improve WMA access 

LITTLE ROCK — Hunters and other outdoors enthusiasts can help the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission make their favorite wildlife management area a bit more accessible for this hunting season by signing up for one of the AGFC’s designated WMA workdays this September.

“We have dedicated groups of hunters who take personal pride in the WMAs they frequent, and many have expressed interest in coming out to help with some of the tasks required before opening weekend,” David Luker, AGFC assistant chief of wildlife management, said. “WMA workdays were done years ago, coordinated by certain area managers, and we’re in the process of bringing them back. We’ve had a lot of people from the public asking how they can help improve their local hunting area, and this is one of the best ways to do that.”

According to Luker, most of the work needed is in cleaning up trash and clearing trails and boat lanes on WMAs.

“We see a lot of windthrown trees in some of our bottomland hardwoods, and quite a few cross traditional access routes for foot traffic as well as boat traffic,” Luker said. “We clear what we can, but with most of our staff covering multiple WMAs, clearing all of those trees, in addition to all the other work they must coordinate, can be more work than one or two people can do before seasons begin. Letting volunteers help clear designated obstructions allows staff more time to focus on wildlife openings and other habitat improvements on the WMA.”

Any volunteer wishing to join a workday can find sign-up forms to participate at www.agfc.com/workdays. Six WMAs are hosting events; four on Sept. 13 and two on Sept. 20.

“These days really are the result of many members of the hunting public speaking up to offer their help, and we really appreciate their willingness to put in some hours to make our hunting areas even better,” Luker said. “We’re fortunate to have so many Arkansas hunters who want to work alongside us to benefit everyone who uses public land.”

Upcoming Workdays:

Sept. 13

• Big Lake WMA

• Dave Donaldson Black River WMA

• Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA

• Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA

Sept. 20

• W.E. Brewer Scatter Creek WMA

• George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto WMA

Visit www.agfc.com/workdays for more information.

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CUTLINES:

FOUR VOLUNTEERS
Fifteen volunteers arrived at the Long Bell Access at George H. Dunklin Bayou Meto WMA during last year’s WMA workday to help clear boat lanes. AGFC photo.

OPEN LANE
One of the most popular boat lanes at Bayou Meto was cleared last year with the assistance of volunteers during the WMA workday there. AGFC photo.