Record number of elk killed in 2012 hunt

Friday, March 22, 2013

A record 44 elk were killed during the 2012 hunting seasons, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologist Wes Wright told commissioners during Thursday’s monthly meeting in Little Rock.

A total of 20 bull elk and 24 antlerless elk were killed during the 2012 hunting seasons in September and October near the Buffalo River. The previous record was 38. Since 1998, when elk hunting began in Arkansas, 376 have been killed (195 bulls, 181 antlerless).

Wright said a recent survey found at least 620 elk on public and private land, up from the 453 counted during the previous survey.

In other business, the commission:

Elected Commissioner Ron Duncan of Springdale vice chairman to fill the previously vacant position.

Heard a proposal for general hunting dates for the 2013-14 seasons. The season dates will come up for vote at the April 18 commission meeting.

Heard a proposal for amended trout and turtle regulations.

Approved up to $2.7 million to repair and renovate Dam No. 3 at Jim Hinkle Spring River State Fish Hatchery at Mammoth Spring. The dam maintains the hydraulic head and provides the water supply to sustain trout production for the hatchery.

Approved a budget transfer to move $50,000 in marine fuel tax money from the Kingfisher Lake Access Road project to the Sunlight Bay Access project on Nimrod Lake.

Approved a land swap involving 43 acres owned by the commission southeast of the Interstate 440-U.S. 165 interchange and two tracts of land owned by the city of North Little Rock that total 54 acres. The exchange would allow greater fishing and recreational use of Faulkner Lake. The commission approved a budget increase of $7,500 for an environmental inspection and real estate closing costs related to the trade.

Approved a budget transfer of $102,500 from the commission’s Brinkley Regional Office to survey Upper White Oak Lake. This is the highest-priority land survey in Fisheries Division projects, and would identify commission property to help implement the agency’s land-use policy.

Approved a budget increase of $748,019 in the Wildlife Management Division for the completion of Wetlands Reserve Program projects on Bell Slough Wildlife Management Area ($$120,050), Frog Bayou WMA ($61,967) and Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek WMA ($565,992). The programs are funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service through a 100 percent cost-reimbursement process, resulting in no cost to the commission.

Approved a budget increase of $60,000 to supplement funds earmarked for complete removal of duck hunting blinds on Big Lake WMA and St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA.

Sports, Pages 23 on 03/22/2013