Research and outreach dominate Commission meeting heading into hunting seasons

MAYFLOWER — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission heard a variety of presentations focused on a few of the agency’s many research and outreach programs at their meeting on Wednesday at Camp Robinson Special Use Area. The meeting took place at the SUA clubhouse following a series of field tours on the area to see firsthand the benefits of prescribed fire and forest management for wildlife habitat and forage.

AGFC Fisheries biologist Jeff Quinn gave a presentation on a telemetry project tracking Alabama shad, Arkansas’s only anadromous species. This species of shad travels from rivers and streams in The Natural State through the Caddo and Ouachita rivers to the Gulf Coast. 

“It’s a 600-mile migration route through the Ouachtia, Black, Red and Atchafalaya rivers,” Quinn said. “We’re researching how dams and barge traffic on these rivers affect these fish.”

Shad in the survey were captured and outfitted with transmitters to track their migration. The project is incredibly challenging, as the fish are extremely delicate. 

“I’ve told people that these fish will die if you look at them wrong,” Quinn said. “They have extremely tight tolerances for water temperature and salinity, and they also are extremely susceptible to dying from stress, so the process is very labor-intensive.” 

So far, 73 percent of the fish outfitted with transmitters have been detected, with 43 percent moving along their migration route.

“Only 10 to 16 percent of the fish survived to get past the dams,” Quinn said. “This was the first-ever project on age-zero Alabama shad in the country.”

The Alabama shad project is only one of the many research efforts Quinn has led during his career, and is a prime example of why he was chosen to receive this year’s President’s Conservation Award from the American Fisheries Society. Commissioners and staff took a moment to recognize this achievement during a portion of the meeting as well.

During his report to the Commission, AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock offered a rundown of events from the World Champion Squirrel Cook Off, coming Sept. 13, to the opening of dove season and the early buck-only archery hunt, both beginning Sept. 6.

“September is finally here,” Schoenrock said. “Hunting seasons are upon us, and the slate is full for the AGFC.”

Radio room personnel and game wardens will be working round-the-clock to ensure the safety of hunters and the continued conservation of wildlife during these seasons, and Schoenrock explained how important the addition of body cameras has become in modern law enforcement. 

“It’s not only important in evidence gathering and storage, but it’s an added level of transparency and accountability we offer the public,” Schoenrock said. “It’s also an added measure of safety for our wardens, allowing recorded and real-time video to support them as well as location monitoring so other law enforcement and emergency personnel find them quickly should they require assistance.” 

Deer Management Assistance Program Coordinator Jeremy Brown presented an update on the growth and accomplishments of his program during the last two years. Arkansas now has eight dedicated DMAP biologists through the National Deer Association to deliver on-the-ground deer management to private landowners interested in improving the deer herd and habitat on their leased or owned property. 

“The time that we are relieving from our other private lands biologists throughout the state is time they are able to work with more landowners to deliver wildlife habitat through additional programs,” Brown said. “Last year we had a little over 8,600 biodata records, which was about a 6 percent increase from the previous year. Those records came from 712 clubs representing 1.4 million acres. These numbers are the highest we’ve seen in 11 years.”

In addition to increased manpower, Brown says the program has evolved to accommodate more deer clubs and promote communication between the AGFC and deer hunters to foster stronger relationships and alleviate roadblocks to joining and participating in the program.

AGFC Fisheries Division Chief Tommy Laird updated commissioners on the status of repairs at the Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery, which saw extensive damage during floods in April. 

Laird also gave commissioners a quick update on the progress of the Lake Conway renovation project. The boat lanes have been completely mulched and temporarily marked. Permanent markers will be installed once the lake level rises after the spillway construction is complete. Bids have been received, and the agency is completing the contract with the winning bidder to begin replacement of the spillway in the next few months.

In other business, the Commission: 

• Authorized a budget increase of $163,704 from unobligated AGFC state funds to conduct a cultural resource survey on portions of the Oakwood Unit of Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge. The Commission approved the acquisition of the unit to be added to the AGFC’s wildlife management area system in exchange for a portion of Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA, which will also remain accessible to the public as part of the refuge. The budget increase will be reimbursed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service once the exchange is complete; 
• Approved a revision and reduction in the agency’s official employee handbook;
• Heard a presentation from Maureen McClung, Ph.D., a biology professor from Hendrix College in Conway, with an update on the Monitoring Avian Population Surveys program to keep tabs on bird populations and provide data for studies on a variety of species throughout the nation. Stone Prairie WMA joined the effort in 2020 with 10 netting stations. The stations are enacted and attended eight days per year to capture birds during their breeding and nesting seasons to learn more about the habitat requirements and status of birds on the WMA; and
• Heard a presentation from AGFC biostatistician Chris Middaugh on the agency’s revised research prioritization process to determine agency decisions on research opportunities. 

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CUTLINES:

OUTSIDE TALK
AGFC Quail Program Coordinator Clint Johnson led commissioners on a field tour of quail habitat restoration focal areas during a portion of the September 3 meeting. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

PRESENTING SHAD
Jeff Quinn, AGFC fisheries biologist, presented his recent work on Alabama shad, Arkansas’ only anadromous species. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.

PRESENTING DEER
Jeremy Brown gave a presentation on the growth of the Deer Management Assistance Program, which he coordinates for the AGFC. AGFC photo by Mike Wintroath.