Volunteer opportunities available to improve WMA access March 14

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is opening up opportunities throughout the state to pitch in and help care for the woods, water and wildlife responsible for our nickname, The Natural State. Volunteers are welcome to sign up for specific projects on the following wildlife management areas March 14:

• Big Lake WMA

• Dave Donaldson Black River WMA

• George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto WMA

• Holland Bottoms WMA

• McIlroy Madison County WMA

• Rick Evans Grandview Prairie WMA

• W.E. Brewer Scatter Creek WMA

• Wedington WMA

Workdays on wildlife management areas aren’t a new concept. Local hunters have worked with area biologists in the past to enhance access and even help create wildlife openings. Unfortunately, some bad experiences with overly opportunistic people using those days to cut new openings in greentree reservoirs and later staking a claim on public areas they had cleared and preventing anyone else from using some of these spots forced the AGFC to shut down these large-scale opportunities. Even then, many local groups have worked directly with area managers to organize cleanups and help where they could. After talking with many public land hunters and conservation groups, the AGFC reinstituted work days on a trial basis in 2024, and the program has slowly expanded since.

“The workdays are much more deliberate and supervised now,” David Luker, assistant chief of the AGFC’s wildlife management division, said. “We absolutely want people to take pride in the area where they hunt and fish, but we have to have boundaries to ensure all people later using those areas have the same opportunities.”

Mary Beth Hatch, chief of the AGFC’s Education Division, says the opportunities are ideal for high school students looking to meet volunteer requirements for community service under the LEARNS Act, and do it for a resource they love and enjoy.

“It’s pretty common for Arkansas high school students to hurry home from school to get to the woods for a late afternoon hunt on public land,” Hatch said. “Having put in some sweat equity on those same areas will help instill some pride in those hunters long after they graduate. If you are going to volunteer, do it with something you already love.”

The opportunities aren’t only for students. All ages are encouraged to sign up and attend one of the work days nearest them.

“We have a list of locations where you can sign up and let us know what sort of equipment you may be able to bring,” Luker said. “If you have a chainsaw, weed trimmer or other item that may be useful, please let us know on the signup sheet. ATVs and other larger equipment may also be able to be used, but we need to know ahead of time so we can be efficient, safe, and minimize any impact from the use of those tools. I know we had one group last year who asked if they could bring a Bobcat to help clear boat lanes. It’s not off the table, but it requires a little more planning to ensure that we’re not causing more harm than good.”

Visit www.agfc.com/education/volunteer/wma-work-days to sign up for a work day near you.

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