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AGFC changes

4K views 20 replies 20 participants last post by  jccduck 
#1 ·
Got this off another site. It ran in the paper this week. Looks like we may be in for a lot changes:

LEGAL NOTICE
The regular monthly meeting of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be held beginning at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, March 20, 2008 at the Little Rock Office Complex, #2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205. At that time, regulations and business pertaining to the operation of the Game and Fish Commission and other fiscal and administrative matters will be considered and acted upon, and all interested persons are invited to attend. A briefing with Commissioners and agency staff members will be held the afternoon before -- Wednesday, March 19, 2008 -- at 1:00 p.m. at the Little Rock Office Complex, #2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205, and all interested persons are invited to attend.
Items on the agenda for the March 20, 2008 meeting will include adoption of proposed regulations previously considered at the February 21, 2008 meeting, plus amendments to various Hunting and Fishing regulations and regulations pertaining to the Enforcement Division of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, including, but not limited to:
1. 2009 Statewide General Hunting Regulations and WMA Seasons -- General hunting regulations for 2009 including, but not limited to, game seasons, bag limits, geographic zones, wildlife management areas, weapon restrictions and other manner-of-taking-game requirements for deer, elk, turkey, bear, and fur bearing animals. General hunting regulation changes also include, but are not limited to:
• Revise codes to eliminate one-deer bag limit during the statewide youth hunt and on WMAs that have a special youth hunt;
• Revise codes to increase number of doe quota permits in Deer Zones 3, 6, 7, and 8;
• Revise Deer Zone 4 description;
• Revise codes to enlarge Elk Zone 4;
• Revise codes to increase number of days elk can be hunted in Elk Zone B and restrict the harvest of bulls to one per individual landowner;
• Revise codes to increase the elk quota in Elk Zone B and close hunting elk at 1:00 pm each day;
• Revise codes to declare non-residents ineligible for public land elk permit;
• Revise codes to close Turkey Zones 1, 2, and 7, plus certain Wildlife Management Areas to fall gun turkey hunting;
• Revise codes to open Turkey Zone 5B, plus St. Francis National Forest WMA to fall gun turkey hunting;
• Revise codes to change fall turkey gun season dates in open zones and WMAs;
• Revise codes to ease experience requirements for applicants that previously have held Wildlife Rehabilitation Permits either in AR or other states, and for persons qualified as certified wildlife rehabilitators through the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council;
• Revise codes to require Wildlife Rehabilitators in-training to obtain an apprentice permit;
• Revise codes to eliminate requirement that Wildlife Rehabilitators be vaccinated against rabies to treat raccoon and coyote;
• Revise codes to require annual renewal of Wildlife Rehabilitation Permits;
• Revise codes to extend furbearer trapping season statewide, including on WMAs;
• Revise codes to create free resident furbearer trapper permit for persons trapping fur bearing animals during the regular season, except persons who trap nuisance wildlife on their property in accordance with nuisance wildlife regulations;
• Revise codes to require non-residents to obtain a Non-resident Furbearer Trapper Permit and no longer require non-resident hunters to obtain an additional permit;
• Revise codes to clarify the language regarding use of snares for fur bearing animals on land;
• Revise codes to allow fox to be taken during furbearer hunting season subject to certain firearm restrictions;
• Revise codes to extend dates of coyote hunting season;
• Revise codes to clarify use of traps for fur bearing animals along roadways;
• Revise codes to add exception for taking nuisance migratory birds in accordance with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations and allow taking of nuisance migratory birds without a state permit;
• Revise codes to delete unnecessary exception regarding certain uses of trapping equipment on WMAs;
• Revise codes to modify southern boundary of Bear Zone 2 to coincide with the southern boundary of Deer Zone 13;
• Revise codes to change archery bear season dates in Bear Zone 2;
• Revise boundary of Bear Zone 5;
• Revise codes to allow live-trapping of falconry birds from a vehicle and along roadsides, and allow flying/hunting falconry birds from a vehicle and along the road;
• Revise codes to restrict importation of cervid carcasses, parts and products other than "boneless meat'';
• Revise codes to require deer camp members to check deer or turkey immediately upon returning to camp;
• Revise codes to require deer camps in Deer Camp Program to maintain written records of deer stored in coolers and ice chests;
• Revise codes to prohibit refusing of inspection by a wildlife officer of ice chests, game bags, game vests or any device that can reasonably contain wildlife;
• Revise codes to remove from Point System for Hunting and/or Fishing Violations the "double assessment of points'' requirement for committing a violation on a WMA;
• Revise codes to include mule and bicycle restrictions on all Natural Area WMAs;
• Adopt new codes providing terms, conditions and restrictions under Mobility Impaired Access Permit;
• Replace existing code with new code prohibiting hunting from roads on all WMAs;
• Revise codes restricting use of boats and boat motors on WMAs to limit uses on Bayou Meto WMA during archery deer hunting, small game hunting, and duck season;
• Revise codes to close area on Bayou Meto WMA to all trespassing during certain hours (except in designated parking areas and boat launch ramps) during duck season;
• Revise codes to change number of days for modern gun deer hunt on Camp Robinson Special Use Area;
• Revise codes to remove requirement for horseback riders to sign-in on Camp Robinson SUA;
• Revise codes to change number of days for mobility impaired hunt on Choctaw Island WMA;
• Revise codes to allow bobcat, fox and coyote to be taken subject to certain firearm restrictions during open seasons on all Commission-owned WMAs where otherwise not prohibited;
• Revise codes to change number of days for muzzleloader permit hunt on Dr. Lester Sitzes, III Bois d' Arc WMA;
• Revise codes to allow hunters to participate in other open hunting seasons during elk permit hunts on Gene Rush and Buffalo National River WMAs;
• Revise codes to change number of days for fall turkey hunt on Harold E. Alexander Spring River WMA;
• Revise codes to re-open Harris Brake WMA to rimfire rifles for hunting;
• Revise codes to implement mobility-impaired modern gun permit hunt for deer, and revise deer seasons for muzzleloader, modern gun youth hunts on Hobbs State Park Conservation Area;
• Revise codes to increase deer bag limit on Holland Bottoms WMA;
• Revise codes to change number of days and increase hunting opportunity for deer permit muzzleloader hunt on Holland Bottoms WMA;
• Revise codes to increase deer bag limit on Hope Upland WMA;
• Revise deer seasons for muzzleloader and modern gun permit hunts on McIlroy Madison County WMA;
• Revise codes to remove hunting restrictions for Quail Habitat Restoration Area, and extend quail and rabbit hunting opportunity on Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA;
• Revise codes to implement deer permit youth hunt on Prairie Bayou WMA;
• Revise codes to change number of days of fall turkey hunt on Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA;
• Revise codes to change opening and closing dates and times for mobility-impaired muzzleloader/shotgun deer hunt on Trusten Holder WMA;
• Revise codes to implement bonus doe tag for mobility-impaired hunting on Trusten Holder WMA;
• Revise codes to implement youth modern gun deer hunt on Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge (Farm Unit);
• Revise codes to implement youth modern gun deer hunt on Cache River National Wildlife Refuge (Farm Unit), plus change the number of days for quota modern gun deer permit hunt and muzzleloader deer hunt on Cache River NWR (Farm Unit);
• Revise codes to change dates of modern gun deer permit hunts on Felsenthal NWR;
• Revise codes to change dates of modern gun deer permit hunt, and implement requirement that a doe must be harvested and checked before a second buck can be harvested on Pond Creek NWR.
2. Residency Requirement for Hunting and Fishing Licenses -- Amend "resident'' definition to adopt standard 60-day residency requirement for 65-Plus Lifetime License, Resident Disabled License, and $1,000.00 LSP License.
All persons wishing to be heard on these subjects must submit comments in writing to this office on or before March 12, 2008. Copies of any proposed rules or regulations may be obtained at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission main office or through a written request mailed to the address below.
SCOTT HENDERSON, DIRECTOR
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
Game & Fish Commission Building
#2 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
49271665f [49271665]
 
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#9 ·
• Revise codes to extend furbearer trapping season statewide, including on WMAs;
• Revise codes to create free resident furbearer trapper permit for persons trapping fur bearing animals during the regular season, except persons who trap nuisance wildlife on their property in accordance with nuisance wildlife regulations;
• Revise codes to require non-residents to obtain a Non-resident Furbearer Trapper Permit and no longer require non-resident hunters to obtain an additional permit;
• Revise codes to clarify the language regarding use of snares for fur bearing animals on land;
• Revise codes to allow fox to be taken during furbearer hunting season subject to certain firearm restrictions;
• Revise codes to extend dates of coyote hunting season;
• Revise codes to clarify use of traps for fur bearing animals along roadways;


Wish I had some more detail on some of these. Depending on what they actually do I don't think I'm going to like some of them.


I wish the Arkansas Trappers Association would have quit pushing for the fur trappers permit. They think they can get more political clout but I think it's just going to prove how few of us there really are.
 
#16 ·
• Revise codes to extend furbearer trapping season statewide, including on WMAs;
• Revise codes to create free resident furbearer trapper permit for persons trapping fur bearing animals during the regular season, except persons who trap nuisance wildlife on their property in accordance with nuisance wildlife regulations;
• Revise codes to require non-residents to obtain a Non-resident Furbearer Trapper Permit and no longer require non-resident hunters to obtain an additional permit;
• Revise codes to clarify the language regarding use of snares for fur bearing animals on land;
• Revise codes to allow fox to be taken during furbearer hunting season subject to certain firearm restrictions;
• Revise codes to extend dates of coyote hunting season;
• Revise codes to clarify use of traps for fur bearing animals along roadways;


Wish I had some more detail on some of these. Depending on what they actually do I don't think I'm going to like some of them.


I wish the Arkansas Trappers Association would have quit pushing for the fur trappers permit. They think they can get more political clout but I think it's just going to prove how few of us there really are.
I couldn't agree more, I wish I knew more about them. Probably just more rules that are going to make things more difficult.
 
#17 ·
Originally Posted by quax : Got this off another site. It ran in the paper this week. Looks like we may be in for a lot changes:


• Revise codes to require deer camps in Deer Camp Program to maintain written records of deer stored in coolers and ice chests;





This will be a PIA for camps.
It could have been alot worst. Some of the PTB wanted to make it like it is for waterfowl to where you had to leave it in tack & only field dressed while in camp leaving proof of sex & species & not even be able to quarter it up or bone it out so it could be put it cleaned in a cooler or ice chest! The only way it could have been completely cleaned was either take it to a proffesional processing location in the area or take it home if they had had their way! At least it can still be handled in camp this way with a little extra paperwork!
 
#19 ·
Im glad to see some of em myself.

It almost makes you think that some of em might be reading this site since alot of this stuff has been discussed here. :wink:

I especially like easing restrictions on coyotes and furbearers.

Anything that can be done to thin down some of those fawn, rabbit, quail, and turkey poult eatin'/nest robbin' creatures is fine with me. :thumb:
 
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