The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission heard last week the first reading of additional hunting and fishing regulations proposals for the 2024-25 hunting and fishing seasons.
During the 2024 regulations public comment surveys, commissioners had asked for input on allowing non-semiautomatic firearms capable of using straight-walled centerfire cartridges during Arkansas’s muzzleloader seasons. After the positive response to that question, the commission asked staff to draft a formal proposal to be included in the 2024-25 regulations package.
The commission also tabled a proposal in the regulations package that would have required all dogs pursuing game animals to wear an electronic collar capable of GPS tracking as well as remote electronic correction. The decision to table this regulation change came after commissioners heard many comments through public comment surveys as well as in-person accounts during the last two monthly meetings to work through other options to prevent conflicts between hunters who pursue deer with dogs and landowners who have reported trespassing issues.
Additional changes to regulations proposed at today’s meeting included:
— Removal of restrictions on spinning-wing decoys and motion decoys on Arkansas Game and Fish Commission-owned wildlife management areas.
— Reducing the daily bag limit on mallard hens from two to one per day.
— Modifying the proposed white-fronted goose season to be 69 days and reducing the white-fronted goose daily limit to two per day.
— Removing all size restrictions and daily limits on fishing at Lake Wilhelmina during its planned renovation process, which is expected to begin Aug. 1 and last through late summer 2025.
The commission also heard two modifications to previously proposed regulations changes:
— Increasing the number of nets allowed for holders of a recreational fish netting license from three nets to five nets.
— Maintaining the proposed June 1-December 31 bullfrog season proposal, but retaining the established 18 frog daily limit.
The commission is expected to vote on all regulations proposals, including last week’s proposals as well as those previously circulated through public surveys, at its May 16 meeting, scheduled to be held in El Dorado.