White River National Wildlife Refuge Seeking to Expand

                                                                                                                      by Jim Taylor

Habitat loss of our forests remains the biggest threat to hunting opportunities and wildlife populations in Arkansas.  Here is your opportunity to voice your support for expansion of White River National Wildlife Refuge.

Establishment of our White River Refuge   by President  Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 5, 1935 continues to serve as a shining example what it means to preserve these unique areas. Today the refuge is enjoyed by wildlife enthusiasts of all types.

As noted this is not a federal land grab. It is simply allowing the refuge to purchase land from willing sellers near the refuge.  Now, with funds from duck stamps sales and excise taxes from the sale of guns and bows, the refuge would like to buy additional lands near its borders.

The Refuge has put forth the following Press Release:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service invites you to share your input about a proposal to increase the size of the acquisition boundary for surrounding White River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Land purchases for the refuge can only be made within its approved acquisition boundary. If approved, the acquisition boundary for White River NWR would increase by 125,349 acres and the new acquisition boundary would encompass 297,806 acres in Desha, Monroe, and Phillips Counties, Arkansas, and Bolivar County, Mississippi. Once this new "acquisition boundary" is approved the refuge could buy land from willing sellers.

Proposed Project Schedule

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August 2012 - May 2013: Preliminary information-gathering meetings with government agencies and public officials and key partners within the proposed expansion area. COMPLETED

May 2013 – June 2013: Public scoping period, including three public meetings. -COMPLETED

July 2013: Develop Draft Land Protection Plan and Environmental Assessment along with associated NEPA documentation for Public review and comment.- IN PROCESS

August/SEPTEMBER 2013: Public comment period, including possible public meeting.(As of Aug 5th dates have not yet been established)  

September - October 2013: Develop final Land Protection Plan and Environmental Assessment along with associated NEPA documentation.

Winter 2013-14: Decision by the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

If approved, the Service will draw funding for this land acquisition primarily from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. These are not derived from traditional tax revenues, but are collected from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps, entrance fees from certain national wildlife refuges, and import duties on arms and ammunition (Migratory Bird Conservation Fund), and from the sale of offshore oil leases (Land and Water Conservation Fund). The money is intended for land conservation.

Arkansas's Most Productive Public Deer Lands

                                                                                                                  by Jim Taylor

The Arkansas Arkansas Game and Fish commission has  reported that  210,000 deer have been harvested so far during the 2012/2013 deer hunting season.  This surpasses the record held since the 1999/2000 season when 194,192 deer were harvested.   These are combined numbers for all methods of deer hunting. 

So this season was good, but what was Arkansas's most productive public hunting area?  I analyzed the year-to-date deer harvest data from Arkansas's 132 wildlife management areas(WMA) and national wildlife refuges(NWR)  for the 2012 season.  Rather than  just looking  at the total number of deer taken,  I compared each wildlife management area's deer harvest numbers to the total area within the WMA to arrive at a “harvest per square mile” ratio. This enabled me to find the true producers among Arkansas's  public deer hunting lands.

To make the data more manageable, I focused on popular  WMA's and NWR's that had checked  at least 100 deer during the 2012/2013 season thus far.  (Through the first week of January 2013) I then ranked/sorted  them  in order of the most productive deer producers in the chart below.  This is a more accurate  method of comparing deer hunting  productivity  than just looking at the total number of deer taken.   For example, a hunter might be initially impressed with the 1,112 whitetails bagged on  White River National Wildlife Refuge, until you consider its vast expanse.   The 250 square miles within the boarders of  White River National Wildlife Refuge produced a deer harvested per square mile ratio of 4.4.   This harvest ratio places the refuge in the  number 8 ranking on our list of  top deer hunting lands in Arkansas.

Like it has for the previous two seasons, the primitive weapons only area of  Trusten Holder  reigns supreme again as Arkansas's most productive public land for deer hunting.  At 10.6 deer harvested per square mile Trusten Holder  is 56% more productive than the newly established Moro Big Pine Natural Area WMA, the number 2 spot on this years list, and a whopping 141% more productive than the popular White River NWR.    

				Deer Harvest
	2012/2013 Harvest Report	Acres	Harvest	Harvest/sq mi.
	Trusten Holder WMA	8173	136	10.6
	Moro Big Pine Natural Area WMA	16000	169	6.8
	Cache River NWR	54000	568	6.7
	Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA	19184	166	5.5
	Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA	17524	146	5.3
	Howard County WMA	26000	193	4.8
	Fort Chaffee WMA	66000	462	4.5
	White River NWR - South Unit+ NORTH	160000	1112	4.4
	Felsenthal NWR	65000	445	4.4
	Dave Donaldson Black River WMA	21150	141	4.3
	Lafayette County WMA	16739	110	4.2
	Poison Springs WMA	17604	115	4.2
	Scott Henderson Gulf Mountain WMA	16739	105	4
	Pond Creek NWR	27000	164	3.9
	Big Timber WMA	37742	204	3.5
	Lake Greeson WMA	38000	144	2.4
	Bayou Meto WMA	33832	120	2.3
	Casey Jones WMA	83832	297	2.3
	Sylamore WMA	150000	496	2.1
	Mount Magazine WMA	120000	318	1.7
	Winona WMA	160000	326	1.3
	Buffalo National River WMA	97730	186	1.2
	Muddy Creek WMA	146206	214	0.9
	Cherokee WMA	105313	144	0.9
	Caney Creek WMA	85000	95	0.7
	Piney Creeks WMA	180000	191	0.7

New Arkansas Game and Fish Iphone App.

Arkansas Game and Fish I-Phone App

The Arkansas Game and Fish has shown it is on the cutting edge of technology with its release of  a new I-phone app makes it easy to get the AGFC news,  season dates, bag limits, WMA locations and check your game with your I-phone.   The app was free and easy to install. 

 
One of the neatest things about the app is the "Near Me" tool that will provide you a list of nearby public hunting areas from your current location.  This is a handy tool when visiting in-laws on the other side of the state where you may be less familiar with the local hunting opportunities.  You can request a list of public hunting areas  within 10, 20, or 50 miles of your current location.
 
In my particular part of the state,  Fort Smith,  the program displayed 5 public hunting areas's within 20 miles.  That is a lot of hunting opportunities. Once you select the area  you would like to go visit the program provide you  the website, phone number, and will map the driving directions  for you from your location.  I did notice that though the list included our National Forests the glaring absence of  our  local National Wildlife Refuges from among the list was puzzling.

The program is new and the links often simply point the the AGFC web site (season & dates)  I'm hoping that it will expand its mobile formatting in the future.  But so far it's a great start that put our agency ahead of other state agencies and I'm proud to have it.

For Additional Information Visit this Link - AGFC I-Phone APP

by Jim Taylor


 

New Respect for Game and Fish Enforcement Officers

by Jim Taylor

AGFC Officer Michael Neal's Truck took over 15 rounds
from the killers guns.

A traffic stop by two West Memphis, Ar police officers would unleash a story of horrific proportions and unbelievable bravery involving state and local law enforcement officers over the course of the next two hours.

Thursday May 20, 2010, two West Memphis Police Officers, Brandon Paudert and Bill Evans lives ended brutally after being shot during an interstate traffic stop on I-40. Both officers were highly trained drug interdiction specialist who fell victim to a cowardly ambush from a passenger shooting an AK-47. The two heavily armed fanatics fled the bloody scene in a white van, the passenger still firing at the officers lifeless bodies as they drove away. The brutal nature of the killings had brought all branches of law enforcement out if full force. Within 90 mins the villains were spotted and intercepted in a Walmart parking lot in West Memphis by two lightly armed officers of the Crittenden County Sheriffs department, Sheriff Dick Busby and his deputy. As they pulled in front of the van to  force a stop,  they too found themselves quickly overwhelmed in a blazing gun battle by the same automatic weapons that had taken the lives of the two officers 90 mins earlier. The toll now is two dead police officers, a wounded sheriff and critically wounded deputy. Sheriff Busby and his deputy now suffering multiple gun shot wounds are helplessly pinned down behind their patrol car. Their options were limited and time was running out. With the two officers wounded and bleeding badly the outcome looked grim.

Michael Neal, a state Game and Fish officer,  had been following the details on his radio and was already in route to the Wal-Mart parking lot.  As he pulls in he see's what appeared a dire situation. The suspect had just shot two more officer and were about to leave the parking lot. What officer Neal does next is nothing less than incredible. Officer Neal's immediate reaction is to contain the threat and he is determined that there  is no way he is going to let these killers leave that parking lot.  Neal aims his Game and Fish issued pick-up at the killers van and puts the pedal to the metal! Like a Kamakazi fighter taking automatic fire all the way to his target, officer Neal slams his Arkansas Game and Fish Commission issued truck into the driver side of the bad guys van.   It was reported that the impact may have killed one shooter, the elder Kane. It obviously disrupted the shooters and disabled their van and prohibited them from fleeing again. Officer Neal took 15 rounds into his windshield hood and truck. Other police officers arriving at the scene quickly converged on the now crumpled van and dispatched the remaining bad guy with a few precise round.

AGFC Officer Micheal Neal

Michael Neal's incredibly brave action effectively ended the gun battle and probably saved the sheriff and his deputy that day. Officer Neal's weapon of choice, a 2500HD series CHEVY!

New Found Respect.. the next time a game and fish officer asks to see your hunting or fishing license you better say YES SIR and wholeheartedly comply.

Michael Kent Neal is a 2001 graduate of Northwest Mississippi Community College. In February, 2008 he became a Wildlife Officer for the Arkansas Game and Fish. Michael is married to Donna Pressler and they are the proud parents of three girls, Kentlee, Kali & Kooper.

New Bowhunter Oriented Online Community Launched

Check out our new Online Community specifically for bowhunters to share photos and videos online.  It's called Bowhunter Chronicles. I'ts a cool, fun and easy to use site.  With Bowhunter Chronicles you don't have to wade through all the teenie bopper stuff on the other social networks.  This one is strictly bowhunting and archery!  Check it out at www.bowpros.net

jim taylor

Game and Fish Comission 2010-2011 Regulation Input Meeting.

by Jim Taylor

The River Valley Nature Center in Fort Chaffee drew a full room of avid hunters as part of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's effort to involve the public in the hunting regulation decision process.  Wildlife Assistant Supervisor Kevin Lynch quickly  reviewed the twenty five "topics of discussion"  and then opened the floor for questions and comments.

Unlike previous Game and Fish public meetings from years past this year had no real controversial  proposals being put forth.  Most were minor in nature or expanded hunting opportunities and found little opposition,  with the exception of the proposal to limit year round feeding.  Several attendees expressed that they wanted to continue their year round  mineral and feeding supplementation for deer.

Shorten The Archery Season?
It was NOT one of the  topics put forth by the Arkansas  Game and Fish Commission but a single attendee did address the meeting with his idea to close archery season after  December 31.  His misguided concern was that bowhunters were taking does that were pregnant in January and February.  I gathered that he thought  bowhunters were hurting next years fawn numbers by unwittingly shooting impregnated does.  First off I suspect most does that were pregnant in January  were probably just "a little bit pregnant" after the mid November rut.  Just my guess.  Secondly I took a quick look at deer harvest method reports over the last few years.  The number of deer that bowhunters  harvest during the entire length of our generous Arkansas bow season  did not equal what gun hunters take  on opening day of modern gun each November.  If I  narrow it down to what archers take in January and February the quantity  we are left with  appears  to be little more than a rounding error when compared to modern gun.  So if this gentleman really wants to increase  fawn numbers in any significant measure he is wasting his time  trying to achieve it through a shortened archery season.   

Two ideas I did like.

1. Expanded squirrel season.  Think "Kids".   Season would start with our current spring squirrel season in May and continue through February.   Granted, at 48 years of age, the July humidity and my repeated education about chiggers and ticks first made me wonder why anyone would want to be out there.  But hey,  there was a time.  I would like to think there are school age hunters, not unlike myself 35 years ago,  who would appreciate any additional opportunities to tote their 22 rimfire to the woods during summer school break.  We kids are just more hardy I guess.

2. Allowing deer hunters with the basic $10.50  license to take their deer with bow or  muzzle loader as well as with modern firearms.   Think "Spouses".  Currently you can only use the single deer tag that comes with the license for modern gun. This proposed rule change would  make it more affordable for those thinking about taking up archery or muzzleloader hunting.  It also would  make it more affordable to take our spouses to deer woods with a bow.

Missed the meeting?  No problem,  until January 30th, 2010  you can still voice your opinion with a quick and easy on line survey from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.  For Online Survey Click Here or for PDF Survey/Comment Form Click Here.

Arkansas Game & Fish Deer Seminar

by Jim Taylor

Deer Program Coordinator, Brad Miller talks with hunters about seasonal foods for Whitetails. Miller and other Game and Fish deer biologist, enforcement officers, and wildlife managers were at the River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith Tuesday Sept 1 to brief hunters on the condition of the states deer habitat, herd health, harvest numbers and regulation changes.

Regarding regulation changes, the coolest change is that deer check stations have been eliminated! To tag a deer this fall you simply make a phone call. (online checking is still available) As in the past you are still required to immediately fill out your tag, note the zone it was killed in but instead of hauling your deer around in search of an open check station, you simply pull out your cell phone and call 1-877-507-4263. You are required to call within 24 hours of harvest. At some point during the call you will be given a confirmation number. The confirmation number is your proof of checking, write it down. Many states surrounding Arkansas are on a similar automated program. "Call in checking" will offer convenience for us hunters while at the same time provide real time harvest data to the Game and Fish Commission.

Dick Baxter, assistant deer program coordinator reported that the 2008 harvest increased again to 184,991 deer of which 7.1% or 13,134 were taken by bow. Click here for 2007-08 Deer Harvest Data

Vigilant hunters carefully noted the varying conception dates or "rut" throughout the state as they were reported by Baxter. Generally starting earlier in the north west part of the state and later as you move to the South East Delta region. (Mississippi alluvial plains rut was Nov 23-Dec 2). I know where I will be Thanksgiving week.