Hunters can weigh in on potential regulations

Hunters will be able to submit comments through March 15 about a wide range of potential hunting regulations for the 2014-2015 seasons.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is considering 17 new regulations. Most are about deer hunting, but a few address turkey hunting and feral hogs on wildlife management areas. These topics are incorporated in an online survey at the AGFC’s website, agfc.com.

Add a doe to the firearms bag limit in deer management zones 2, 3, 6, 6A, 8, 8A and 10. Currently, hunters may take only one doe in those zones, but surveys indicate there is an overbalance of does. Allowing hunters to kill an extra doe will create more hunting opportunity and help balance buck/doe ratios.

Allow captive wildlife, excluding cervids, which originate within Arkansas and leave the state for fewer than 30 days, to re-enter the state without requiring a veterinary examination.

Allow the AGFC to immediately relocate captive wildlife being given improper care by rehabilitators, being kept in inhumane or in unhealthy conditions. This also would prohibit possession of native wildlife pets by rehabilitators except under certain conditions.

Increase the raccoon hunting bag limit to unlimited for the entire season for public and private lands. The AGFC said having two bag limits within the same season is unnecessarily complicated and difficult to justify, and that an unlimited bag limit will not negatively affect the resource.

Add a deer modern gun permit hunt from Nov. 8-12 on Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA. The AGFC would issue 10 permits for this muzzleloader/shotgun only hunt. Hunters will be able to take two deer, but only one buck and one doe. The three-point rule would apply to bucks. The AGFC said it is necessary to remove some deer from this area. A modern weapons hunt would probably be most effective. Previously the area has been open only to adults for archery hunting. Since 2009, hunters have killed only seven deer on the area.

Move the deer modern gun youth permit hunt to the weekend before the statewide November youth hunt (Oct. 25-26) on Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA.

Make it illegal to discharge or possess fireworks on Commission-owned or controlled property.

Establish turkey permit hunts (three weekends) on Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA. The AGFC said turkey populations have declined on this area and that limiting access to three weekends will reduce pressure on turkeys.

Establish turkey permit hunts (three weekends) on Galla Creek WMA. The AGFC said the turkey population on this area is low, and that limiting hunting access to three weekends will improve the hunting experience and reduce pressure on turkeys.

Establish a five-day muzzleloader deer permit hunt for Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA. The AGFC said hunters do not kill enough deer on this area during the existing suite of permit-only hunts. Adding a five-day muzzleloader permit hunt will help the AGFC meet Sweet 16 WMA harvest objectives and increase hunting opportunities.

Change the minimum antler criteria on Lafayette County WMA from the fourpoint rule to requiring a 12-inch inside spread or 15-inch main beam.

Move the modern gun deer hunt a week later (Nov. 1-5) on Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA. This would accommodate the addition of the five-day permit only muzzleloader hunt.

Add Lake Greeson and Howard County WMAs into the leased land permit system requiring a leased land permit ($40). Mobility impaired hunters hunting during the mobility-impaired permit hunt would be exempt from having to buy this permit. The AGFC leases 92 percent of Howard County WMA and 97 percent of Lake Greeson WMA. The AGFC said that adding them to the leased land system will allow the AGFC to sustain the leased land program as lease fees increase.

Remove the hunter education requirement for youth hunters 6 to 15 years old participating in WMA permit hunts. Youth hunters who participate in WMA permit hunts must be accompanied by an adult mentor. Eliminating the hunter education requirement for these hunts should increase participation in these hunts.

Allow the harvest of feral hogs only during the modern gun bear, deer and elk seasons on certain WMAs.

Prohibit the harvest of feral hogs at any time on certain WMAs.

Close all hunting seasons from Jan. 5-March 31, and prohibit horses and mules from Feb. 1-March 31, on Harold E. Alexander Spring River WMA.