Malvern Online

AGFC hears proposal to change 2023-24 waterfowl season dates

Speical to the MDR

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Thursday heard the first reading of a proposal to shift the first segment of the 2023-24 duck season from the current season structure to one that opens the weekend before Thanksgiving.

Specklebelly, Canada and Light Goose seasons will also change with this modification, as will the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt and Special Active Duty Military and Veteran Hunt.

The proposed waterfowl season dates are:

Duck, Coot and Merganser — Nov. 18-26, Dec. 9-23, Dec. 27-Jan. 31

White-fronted Goose — Oct. 28-Nov. 10, Nov. 18-26, Dec. 9-23, Dec. 27Jan. 31

Canada Goose — Sept. 1-Oct. 15, Nov. 18-26, Dec. 9-23, Dec. 27-Jan. 31

Snow, Blue and Ross’s

Goose Season — Oct. 28Nov. 10, Nov. 18-26, Dec. 9-23, Dec. 27-Jan. 31 Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt — Dec. 2 and Feb. 3

Veteran and Active Duty Military Waterfowl Hunt — Feb. 3

The Commission also heard the first reading of clarifications to current regulations. The first clarification will set the Arkansas Highway 360 bridge as the boundary for the 10-inch minimum length limit for harvesting crappie on Lake Erling. The second clarification will amend the existing definition of a “resident” in the AGFC Code of Regulations. This change will clarify that people enrolled as full-time students outside of Arkansas can qualify as a resident if they were an Arkansas resident at the time of enrollment and that nonresidents who are enrolled as full-time students at a college or university in Arkansas who reside in the state during the school year may also qualify as a “resident” in regard to AGFC regulations.

All of today’s proposed changes will be open for public comment for the next 30 days. The Commission is expected to vote at its April 20 meeting. Comments may be submitted via email at ASKAGFC@ agfc.ar.gov.

During his address to the Commission, AGFC Director Austin Booth announced two initiatives: the creation of a new AGFC Advisory Council and the introduction of a conservation income tax credit to be submitted to the Arkan

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2023-03-18T07:00:00.0000000Z

2023-03-18T07:00:00.0000000Z

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