AGFC changes input policy

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission announced Thursday at its regular monthly meeting that it will not hold public meetings this year to discuss proposed hunting regulations for the 2014-15 seasons, but will take public comments electronically through social media and by mail.

The commission approved the policy Wednesday during its regular work meeting after a presentation by Brad Carner, chief of the AGFC’s wildlife management division. Public input meetings are almost always lightly attended and do not justify the expense, Carner said.

Ron Duncan of Springdale, the commission’s chairman, said he has attended public meetings in Fayetteville at which only AGFC employees were present. Carner said his staff can effectively distribute discussion topics for proposed regulations through a variety of media, and that there are ample venues for the public to comment on discussion topics. Carner said topics will be available for distribution after Jan. 20.

In other business, Grant Westmoreland of Sheridan, on behalf of the Arkansas National Wild Turkey Federation, honored the late Joel Campora as the National Wild Turkey Federation’s 2013 Wildlife Officer of the Year. Campora died May 31 while attempting to rescue citizens from a flash flood in rural Scott County. Westmoreland presented the award to Rebecca Campora, Joel’s widow.

During the presentation, Westmoreland read an article from the Baltimore Sun in 1899 that defined a gentleman.

“Joel certainly meets that definition,” Westmoreland said. “I don’t believe Joel lost his life that night. I believe he gave his life. He wasn’t a supervisor by virtue of his rank, but his fellow wildlife officers looked to him for guidance by virtue of his character.”

In wildlife management business, the commission donated three elk hunting permits respectively to the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, Arkansas Wildlife Federation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The permits will be auctioned in Arkansas to state residents, and Carner said auction proceeds will be used to create and enhance elk habitat and for elk conservation education.

The commission also approved a land exchange at Cut-Off Creek WMA in Drew County with The Price Companies, Inc. The AGFC will trade 242 acres on the southeastern portion of the WMA to Price Companies for four parcels totaling 185 acres within the boundaries of the WMA.

Sports, Pages 27 on 01/17/2014

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