By RANDY ZELLERS
Ark. Game & Fish Comm.
Commissioners with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission approved changes to Arkansas's Nonresident Waterfowl Wildlife Management Area Permit at last week's regularly scheduled meeting in Jonesboro. The changes are an attempt to provide additional hunting opportunity to residents during waterfowl season on AGFC-controlled public lands.
With the changes, the annual Nonresident Waterfowl WMA Permit has been eliminated, leaving only the 5-day permit as a purchasing option for nonresidents who wish to hunt a WMA for waterfowl. The five-day permit is specific to a single WMA, which the buyer will choose at the time of purchase.
Nonresidents will be allowed to purchase six such permits per waterfowl season, and the price has been increased from $25 to $30.50.
Commissioner Bobby Martin of Rogers stated that it is important to keep in mind that this change is meant to be an adaptive regulation.
"Understanding the management challenges we have, particularly in regard to our issues with the health of our flooded hardwoods, it's important that we visit this issue every year," Martin said.
Outgoing Chairman Fred Brown of Corning agreed with Martin.
"We don't know from one year to the next what weather and other conditions may affect our waterfowl areas," Brown said. "We may need to change it, tweak it or keep it the same depending on what is learned each year going forward."
In his last scheduled meeting as chairman of the Commission, Fred Brown was praised by many staff and commissioners alike for his example of leadership and courage during his term.
"This is a very bittersweet moment for me," said Commissioner Steve Cook of Malvern. I have had the opportunity to stand behind and beside this man during my time here. He is a brother and a mentor to me, and our communication will never stop."