LITTLE ROCK — Mark your outdoor days with the Arkansas Wildlife calendar! The 40th edition will be published July 1, but it’s not too late to get a copy for your kitchen, office, garage or business. If you order a subscription to Arkansas Wildlife magazine (the calendar is the July-August issue) by July 15, the 2024-25 calendar will be…
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Summer travels can land bears in hot water
LITTLE ROCK — As if on cue, a bear sighting near Rock Creek Monday morning reminded everyone that Arkansas is home to the most successful reintroductions of a large carnivore in history. The Natural State’s Bear population is definitely a source of pride for many wildlife enthusiasts here in Arkansas, but it also means the…
It’s a Free Fishing Weekend!
Get the kids and all the family together and enjoy a weekend of free fishing, all on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has proclaimed June 7-9 as Free Fishing Weekend in Arkansas, and anyone (Arkansan or nonresident) of any age may fish the waters of Arkansas without a fishing license…
Apply for a WMA Deer Permit Hunt June 1-July 1
LITTLE ROCK — If you’re looking for a place to hunt white-tailed deer this fall in Arkansas, don’t miss the opportunity to apply for one of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s permit-based deer hunts on a wildlife management area near you. Applications for these draw hunt opportunities are available from 8 a.m. June 1-11:59…
Hatchery derbies highlight Free Fishing Weekend June 7-9
LITTLE ROCK — Families looking for a great weekend getaway next weekend may want to take a look at one of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s four warmwater fish hatcheries on June 8 to enjoy a free fishing derby in one of each hatchery’s ponds. “This is the one time of year the public…
Lake Monticello boat ramps to open Friday
MONTICELLO, Ark. — Anglers looking to fish in one of southeastern Arkansas’s most popular fisheries will once again be able to launch their boats at Lake Monticello’s Hunger Run Access. The city of Monticello will officially open the boat ramp adjacent to the lake’s newly renovated dam this Friday. Kris Nault, regional fisheries supervisor in…
Moro Bay State Park Announces Exciting Summer Events
MORO BAY, Ark. – Moro Bay State Park is gearing up for an action-packed summer with a variety of exciting events and activities for visitors of all ages. Here are some highlights to look forward to: Perch Jerk Fishing Tournament The highly anticipated Perch Jerk Fishing Tournament will take place on July 20, 2024. Registration…
Arkansas turkey harvest continues slow climb
LITTLE ROCK — According to the latest harvest statistics compiled through the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission licensing system, Arkansas hunters harvested 9,335 turkeys during the 2024 annual turkey season, a few hundred birds more than last year. This is the third year in a row of an upward harvest trend. David Moscicki is the…
Big faker: Eastern hognose is Arkansas’s ‘counterfeit cobra’
LITTLE ROCK — Snakes scare a lot of people. According to Web MD, half of the people in the world feel anxious about snakes while 2 to 3 percent of people experience ophidiophobia – a fear of snakes so extreme that it interferes with life. Top photo: The flattened head of a scared eastern hognose…
Commission sets 2024-25 hunting seasons, expands hunting, angling opportunities
EL DORADO — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission passed a host of regulations changes to take effect during the 2024-25 hunting season and 2025 fishing year at today’s scheduled meeting at the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce. The changes, originally announced in February, have received healthy public comment, garnering input from more than 36,000…
1st Annual Hermitage Fire Department Catfish Tournament Fundraiser to draw anglers to Moro Bay State Park
HERMITAGE, Ark. – Anglers are gearing up for the 1st Annual Hermitage Fire Department Catfish Tournament Fundraiser, set to take place at Moro Bay State Park on June 1, 2024. Organized by the Hermitage Fire Department, this event promises an evening of fishing fun while supporting a worthy cause. The tournament welcomes two adults per…
USDA black vulture study taking flight in Arkansas, Missouri
LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and U.S. Department of Agriculture need the public’s help collecting sightings of black vultures outfitted with special tags fitted to their wings. The birds are part of a multi-year study to better mediate conflicts with black vultures. Birdwatchers, livestock owners and landowners are encouraged to report…
AGFC releases the titans at Lake Monticello
MONTICELLO — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is hedging its bets with bringing trophy-class bass fishing back to Lake Monticello with today’s release of roughly 9,000 special fish. These fish are the first segment of a stocking totaling 22,000 Florida largemouth bass from Red Hills Fishery in Georgia that are the offspring of fish…
Leave ‘abandoned’ wildlife where you find it
LITTLE ROCK – Many species of wildlife have their young in spring, and many well-meaning Arkansans regularly call the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to report deer fawns and other young wildlife that look abandoned. But moving these animals can actually cause more harm than good. Most wildlife cannot be with their young nonstop. They…
Flying Fisherman: Dive into aerial angling with the osprey
Springtime and fishing in The Natural State go hand-in-hand. Whether you’re wading a trout stream or jigging for crappie on an oxbow lake, be on the lookout for a migratory raptor that may cause a bit of envy with its fishing prowess. Top photo: Osprey are the only Arkansas raptor that plunge into the water,…
Arkansas youth turkey hunters bag 1,100 birds in two-day hunt
LITTLE ROCK — Thousands of young hunters took to the woods last weekend for Arkansas’s annual youth turkey hunt, taking advantage of a bright, sunny opening morning followed by a moderately cloudy Sunday hunt, and the birds seemed to cooperate in stellar fashion. By the time the pollen settled Sunday night, hunters aged 6 to…
Top tips to get the most from this year’s special youth turkey hunt
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’s turkey season is kicking off with the annual youth turkey hunt April 6-7, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has a few helpful tips to keep young new hunters chasing longbeards instead of asking when it’s time to head to the truck. Initiated in 2004, the annual Arkansas youth turkey…
Build a home that’s ‘for the birds’
LITTLE ROCK — Commercially prepared birdhouses shaped like cabins and decorated like a Hilton may be nice yard ornaments, but many go unnoticed by the songbirds people are trying to attract. The best bluebird houses often are crafted by hand, and rarely take more than a single 6-foot board, a handful of nails and some…
The Great Outdoors Youth Day to celebrate nature and fun in Bradley County May 4th
WARREN, AR – The anticipation is building as Bradley County Park prepares to host the annual Great Outdoors Youth Day on May 4, 2024. Organized by Bradley County 4H and the Cooperative Extension Service, this event promises a day filled with outdoor adventures and memorable experiences. Starting at 9 am, participants can register for the…
Winners announced for 2024 Arkansas Turkey and Quail Stamp artwork
Maylon Rice, a feature contributor for the Saline River Chronicle, recently attended the award ceremony for the 2024 Arkansas Turkey and Quail Stamp artwork winners. His exclusive report provides insights into the talented artists and their captivating works. The 2024 Arkansas Turkey Stamp was claimed by Chris Goins, pictured above third from the left in…
Simmons First Foundation/AGFC partnership clearing new path outdoors for mobility-impaired
LITTLE ROCK — The Simmons First Foundation has joined with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation to sponsor a new initiative to make the outdoors more accessible to all Arkansans. Representatives from Simmons First Foundation donated a check to the AGFF for more than $60,000 to sponsor a new…