The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission approved early migratory bird seasons and heard proposals for the late migratory bird seasons at its monthly meeting Thursday in Little Rock.
Dove season will contain two segments that will run Sept. 1 through Oct. 20, and Dec. 21 through Jan. 9, 2014, respectively. The daily limit will be 15 mourning doves. There will be no limit on Eurasian collared doves
Early teal season will be Sept. 7-22. The daily limit will be six teal.
The commission also approved possession limits that are three times a daily limit. Previously, the possession limit was double the daily limit. A hunter may possess no more than 45 doves and 18 teal.
The statewide early Canada goose season will be Sept. 1-15, and Sept. 21-30 in the northwest zone. The daily limit is two.
Luke Naylor, the AGFC’s waterfowl biologist, also proposed a 60-day duck season with three segments. The proposed segments will run Nov. 23-Dec. 1, Dec. 5-23, and Dec. 26 through Jan. 26, 2014. The youth hunt will be Feb 1-2.
The proposed daily limit will be six ducks, no more of which can be four mallards. No more than two mallards may be hens. The possession limit for ducks and geese is no more than three daily limits.
The proposed seasons for Canada, snow, blue, Ross’ and white-fronted geese will be Nov. 14 through Jan. 26, 2014. The proposed daily limit for Canada and white-fronted geese is two. The proposed daily limit for snow, blue and Ross’ geese is 20 each.
The commission also heard a proposal for an early conservation order on snow, blue and Ross’ geese to be held Oct. 12-Nov. 13. During a conservation order, hunters may use electronic calls and unplugged shotguns. There is no daily limit.
Naylor addressed questions about banning wing decoys at wildlife management areas. He said the AGFC conducted a survey during the 2011-2012 waterfowl seasons in which resident waterfowl hunters were asked if they supported a ban on the devices on WMAs. He said two-thirds of respondents opposed such a ban. Naylor said he does not believe such a proposal is warranted.
In fisheries-related business, the commission heard proposed fishing regulations for 2014. The main proposals include implementing a 10-fish limit for largemouth bass at Lake Columbia, with a daily maximum of one fish exceeding 20 inches; implementing a daily limit of 10 largemouth bass at Lake Hindsville; eliminating the 12-inch minimum length limit on spotted bass at Beaver Lake; and to allow bait fish to be collected at night. Another proposal will allow anglers to keep bream and five channel catfish per day at Lower White Oak Lake.
In other business, the commission approved spending $534,000 to award a contract to Constructors, Inc., to repair Dam 3 at the Jim Hinkle State Fish Hatchery on the Spring River. Dale Gunter, chief of the AGFC’s engineering division, said the repair is necessary to keep the hatchery operating.
Sports, Pages 19 on 07/19/2013