MORO BAY, Ark. – 4-13-25 – Officials at Moro Bay State Park reported encouraging news on Saturday as the Ouachita River appears to have crested at 87.70 feet. The water level, which has risen only a tenth of a foot since the previous evening, is now stabilizing. The crest comes in at two feet lower…
MORO BAY, Ark. – 4-11-25 – Moro Bay State Park this week announced a temporary closure due to rising waters from the Ouachita River, which is currently at 87.00 feet and continuing to rise. According to the park’s statement, the National Weather Service is predicting the river could crest between Sunday and Monday, with an…
LITTLE ROCK — Frog-gigging can be one of the most exciting adventures available for outdoors enthusiasts on a late spring night, but froggers will have to wait a little longer as the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has reset the opening night of the season to June 1, instead of its traditional April 15 opener.…
MORO BAY, Ark. – 4-10-25 – Moro Bay State Park in Bradley County has been temporarily closed due to rising floodwaters from the Ouachita River, according to a public announcement shared Thursday morning. Park officials reported the river had reached 85 feet at the Bay earlier in the day, with a concerning rise of nearly…
LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is still assessing much of the damage from five days of rain and storms that dumped more than 2 feet of water in some portions of The Natural State. The AGFC asks hunters and anglers to exercise additional caution when driving to their favorite turkey hunting…
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas turkey hunters will need to add one more item to their hunting vest this season: an Arkansas Turkey Hunting Tag. The tags and a valid hunting license are required to enable the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to more accurately judge the number of hunters taking to the field in the…
Moro Bay State Park is gearing up for an exciting Spring Break weekend, offering a variety of free outdoor programs for visitors on March 22 and 23, 2025. Activities will include boat tours, wildlife education programs, and a guided nature hike. The weekend’s schedule kicks off on Saturday, March 22, with a boat tour from…
ROGERS — Arkansas anglers have the opportunity to snag the catch of a lifetime this year, but you’ll need to act fast to be a part of the fun. Applications for Arkansas’s new special permit-based snagging season in the water above Beaver Lake will be accepted through March 30 for anglers to reel in one…
HOT SPRINGS — According to the recently released 2024 Year-End Boating Accident Report compiled by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, life jacket wear continues to be one of the largest shortfalls among Arkansas boaters when it comes to enjoying the water safely. Only 20 percent of the 207 individuals involved in boating accidents last year were…
LITTLE ROCK – The last arrow has been launched for the 2024-25 Arkansas deer hunting season, and the tally of checked deer stands at 199,863. Although the raw data still needs to be analyzed, the preliminary results indicate an increase of nearly 4 percent over last year’s final harvest of 192,392. Although 200,000 is a…
LITTLE ROCK — An arctic winter blast followed by spring-like temperatures sends some of us with cabin fever scurrying to load up boats and head for the water. By Kirsten BartlowAGFC Watchable Wildlife Program Coordinator With proper planning, late winter is a great time to paddle in Arkansas – waterfowl season is over, most blood-sucking…
LITTLE ROCK — Valentine’s day isn’t the only big event for birds-of-a-feather this year. The 28th edition of the annual Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up Feb. 14-17, and anyone who wants to join is welcome. Article by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The Great Backyard Bird Count is a joint project of the National Audubon…
MAYFLOWER — The second weekend of December saw the first harvest of quail on Stone Prairie Wildlife Management Area, where habitat work since the land acquisition by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in 2016 has focused on quail restoration. By Jim Harris, Managing Editor, Arkansas Wildlife Magazine James Cheatham of Glen Rose and his father, one…
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism hosted Natural State Day at the Capitol today, showcasing the profound economic, cultural, and recreational impact of the outdoor industry in Arkansas. Attendees experienced exhibits from over 30 outdoor recreation organizations and businesses, highlighting Arkansas’ thriving outdoor economy. Article by Arkansas Department of…
LITTLE ROCK – Several Arkansas wildlife management areas will be closed temporarily to daytime public access for short periods of time during February and March. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services, in cooperation with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, will be conducting aerial operations to facilitate feral hog…
LITTLE ROCK — Thirty juvenile Alabama shad are striking out on a 650-mile journey from the Ouachita River in southwest Arkansas to the Gulf Coast and beyond, and for the first time in history, biologists with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be tagging along. By Sarah Baxter, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission The Alabama…
LITTLE ROCK — When America’s founding fathers affixed a bald eagle to the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, they likely had no idea they were highlighting what would become one of the greatest wildlife comeback stories of all time. Article by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission America’s symbol stood on the…
LITTLE ROCK — Stocking threadfin shad is a relatively new endeavor for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. These tiny, silvery minnows may not be glamorous, but they have a big impact on your favorite sport fish, be it bass, crappie or walleye. They also are somewhat delicate, making them not only difficult to raise…
LITTLE ROCK — Anglers turning the pages of the newly revised 2025 Arkansas Fishing Guidebook, which is arriving at local sporting goods stores this week, will notice a few changes to regulations on the “New This Year” section in the front. Most changes to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s fishing regulations were minor modifications to…
JASPER — Twenty elk were harvested during Arkansas’s 2024 season, including some impressive bulls, according to Wes Wright, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s elk program coordinator. By Jeff Williams Editor, Arkansas Wildlife Magazine Of the 20, 14 were taken on private land and six from public land. Nine were bulls and 11 were antlerless. All nine…
MOUNTAIN HOME – As anglers head out to some of The Natural State’s world-class trout tailwaters for a shot at a trophy trout this winter, please remember to watch out for the many nests (called redds) they’re making as part of their annual spawning run. Unlike warmwater species that prefer a spring-to-summer spawning season, Arkansas’s…