LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AGFC) – For the 18th consecutive year, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission approved a 60-day hunting season for waterfowl. The vote came today during the Commission's monthly meeting.
AGFC Waterfowl Program Coordinator Luke Naylor presented the Commission with the late migratory season proposals. "Habitat conditions were improved or similar to last year in many areas due to average or above-average annual precipitation," Naylor explained. "Continued wet conditions appear to be driving continued good habitat" he added.
Naylor noted that total duck population estimates of breeding waterfowl in the U.S. and Canada were the highest on record. "The total duck population estimate is 49.2 million ducks. That's an 8 percent increase from 2013 and 43 percent above the long-term average," Naylor said.
LITTLE ROCK – A record 44 elk were harvested during the 2012 hunting seasons, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologist Wes Wright told Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Commission.
In 2012, 20 bull elk and 24 antlerless elk were harvested during hunting seasons in September and October in territory near the Buffalo River. The previous record was 38.
Since 1998, when elk hunting began in Arkansas, 376 have been harvested (195 bulls, 181 antlerless). Harvested elk are weighed, ages are estimated and blood samples are taken for disease tests. Elk also are tested for chronic wasting disease.
Wright said a recent survey found at least 620 elk on public and private land, up from 453 counted during the previous survey.
The Commission elected Commissioner Ron Duncan of Springdale vice chairman to fill the previously vacant position.