AGFC reinstates two-day veterans waterfowl hunt, considers new turkey season zones

BISMARCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Thursday unanimously approved a minute order to increase the annual Veterans and Active Duty Military Waterfowl Hunt to two days during its regularly scheduled meeting at DeGray Lake Resort State Park.

The hunt will be two consecutive days, the maximum allowed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and will run concurrently with the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt, Feb. 7-8, 2026.

The Veterans and Active Duty Military Waterfowl Hunt was two days when it was instated in 2019, but was reduced to a single day last season. After many public comments, the Commission restored the two-day hunt to increase participation in both the veterans hunt and the concurrent youth hunt.

The Commission also heard the first reading of a proposal to increase the penalties for disorderly conduct while hunting or fishing, spurred by recent events on a few of the state’s more popular wildlife management areas. If passed, the penalty for Code 5.37: Obstruction or Harassment of Hunting, Fishing or Trapping Activities and Public Disorder would be increased to a Class 4 violation if physical confrontations occur and a Class 3 violation without physical confrontation.

An additional regulation change proposal was made to increase penalties for Code 20.27: Reckless and negligent boating on WMAs and NWRs. A third regulation change would alter the administrative hearing process to prevent anyone convicted of violating Code 5.37 from having their license and access revocation period reduced by half (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

The Commission heard the first reading of a proposal to divide the state into five turkey zones, offering a slightly earlier opening day in the southern portion of the state. If passed, the zones would have the following season structure:

• Zone 1: Opening on the Monday closest to April 17 and running for 21 days.

• Zone 1A: Opening on the Monday closest to April 17 and running for 9 days.

• Zone 2: Opening on the Monday closest to April 10 and running for 21 days.

• Zone 2A: Opening on the Monday closest to April 10 and running for 9 days.

• Zone 3: Opening on the Monday closest to April 3 and running for 21 days.

Youth hunts for Zones 1, 1A, 2 and 2A would occur on the weekend one week before their opening day. Zone 3 would have no youth hunt. The Commission is expected to vote on the proposed waterfowl and turkey regulations changes at their scheduled meeting June 19.
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Deputy Director Ben Batten presented this year’s Free Fishing Weekend Proclamation to the Commission, which was ratified by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Thanks to the governor’s proclamation, anyone, resident or nonresident, may fish without a license or trout permit from noon June 6-midnight June 8. All daily limits and other fishing regulations will remain in place, but anglers will not need to purchase a license to fish these days.

Free Fishing Weekend began more than 30 years ago in an effort to increase fishing throughout the nation by removing the barrier of license cost to prospective anglers.

“Although Arkansas’s resident fishing license is one of the lowest in the country and has not increased in decades, we still want to remove any barrier we can to get people on the water,” Batten said. “We’re very appreciative of Gov. Sanders continuing this great tradition and we look forward to another successful Free Fishing Weekend this June.” (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION)

Commissioners voted unanimously to construct a plaque and place it at the recently completed courtesy dock at Spillway Bay Access to DeGray Lake in memory of the late James “Rooster” Arnold, who was a proponent of tournament bass fishing in Arkansas and one of the driving forces behind the establishment of the courtesy dock.

Commission Vice-Chair Anne Marie Doramus said, “If you are a bass angler anywhere in Arkansas, you’ve heard of Rooster. I think it’s great that we’re taking the time to recognize him for his contributions to angling, and I’m excited to see the continued development of this area at DeGray Lake to better serve tournament anglers at this incredible lake.”
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In his report to the Commission, AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock thanked the Commission for their trust in selecting him for the position and took a special moment to thank former Director Austin Booth for the path he forged during his tenure and Interim Director Chris Racey, who worked diligently to keep the AGFC on track during the selection process.

“Chris grabbed the tiller at a critical time and helped lead the organization for the last few months,” Schoenrock said. “As one of my first official actions, I’m honored to let you know that I’ve asked Chris Racey to be my chief of staff, my wingman, enabling his continued dedication to this great organization.”

Schoenrock, who officially started in his role as AGFC director this week, spoke about the expansive amount of work the AGFC’s staff completes to conserve and improve Arkansas’s wildlife and fisheries habitat and increase hunting, angling and outdoor recreation satisfaction throughout the state.

“In my initial interactions with staff in the last three to five days, (they) have shown me that they don’t do this for a job; they do this out of a passion for the resource. I share in that passion, and I’m looking forward to more interactions with this team as we all work together to leave a legacy for future generations to enjoy all that The Natural State has to offer. Friends, thank you. Please get outside, and get outside often.”

(CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

The Commission also:

• Heard from AGFC Fisheries Biologist Sean Lusk about the successful reestablishment of vegetation in DeGray Lake thanks to cooperation from the Army Corps of Engineers and the creation of the “Arkansas cube” (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Heard from AGFC Regional Wildlife Supervisor Griffin Park about the vast improvement of wildlife habitat and development at DeGray Lake Wildlife Management Area (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Heard an update from AGFC Education Chief Mary Beth Hatch about the AGFC’s School of Conservation Leadership Program and the AGFC’s coordination with many partners to develop additional curriculum to be introduced into participating schools throughout the state (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Heard the first reading of a proposed Combination Guide License for an annual price of $350 (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION) to be voted on in June.

• Heard the first reading of an exception to the newly established largemouth bass limit of anglers only being able to keep one fish over 16 inches per day on lakes Barnett, Brewer and Poinsett. If passed in June, the exception would allow bass tournament directors to apply for a waiver as long as they adhere to strict catch-and-release and report their tournament’s success after their fishing day is complete (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Approved a budget increase of $252,000 from federal community-directed funds to continue infrastructure improvements at Shirey Bay Rainey Brake Wildlife Management Area to improve water flow through the WMA’s greentree reservoir and improve the health of the bottomland hardwood trees on this critical piece of public waterfowl hunting opportunity in The Natural State (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to complete a purchase agreement to acquire 205 acres of land adjacent to and surrounded by Petit Jean River WMA (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to negotiate and complete a right-of-way access easement to a portion of Wiggy Bridge Road at Departee Creek WMA to a neighboring landowner so they could access a portion of their private property adjacent to the road (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION ).

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to complete a right-of-way easement with Entergy Arkansas, LLC, adjacent to Wiggy Bridge Road for overhead transmission lines (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to convey a portion of AGFC property along Lake Atkins to resolve a level 2 encroachment to the existing public land buffer around the lake (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to complete a right-of-way easement with Entergy Arkansas, LLC, adjacent to Clinton Road on Camp Robinson Special Use Area in Mayflower to place a utility pole for overhead transmission lines (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Authorized Director Schoenrock to convey a permanent right-of-way easement to Entergy Arkansas, LLC, for the construction and maintenance of power poles along Lake Hogue within Earl Buss Bayou Deview WMA (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Authorized a grant of $25,000 to the Arkansas Prescribed Burn Association to help coordinate habitat management activities on private land throughout Arkansas (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Authorized an inventory removal of a lost 2017 Canon Rebel camera with an original purchase price of $642 and current net book value of $0 (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Awarded retiring game warden Capt. Norman Cornish his service sidearm for more than 30 years of service to the AGFC (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Awarded retiring game warden Capt. Bill Buck his service sidearm for 40 years of service to the AGFC (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

• Awarded retiring game warden Sr. Cpl. Roger Tate his service sidearm for 27 years of service to the AGFC (CLICK FOR PRESENTATION).

A video of today’s meeting is available at the AGFC’s YouTube Channel.

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CUTLINES

MAN AT LECTERN
AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock expressed his appreciation to the AGFC staff and directors before him as he named Chris Racey to continue as his chief of staff. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

MAP
If passed, a proposed turkey season format will have five zones, with three opening days to address hunter satisfaction concerns. AGFC photo. 

DIRECTOR AND COMMISSIONERS
Commissioners and new AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock heard many presentations during the Commission’s two-day meeting at DeGray Lake Resort State Park this week. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

RECIPE FOR TROPHY FISHERY PRESENTATION
AGFC Fisheries Biologist Sean Lusk gave an in-depth presentation on the disappearance and reestablishment of aquatic vegetation at DeGray Lake and its effect on the lake’s largemouth bass population. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.