Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 21

Thread: AR Hunters want later season

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Wateree, South Carolina
    Posts
    48,811

    Default AR Hunters want later season

    Arkansas Waterfowl chief says hunters want later duck season

    by Bryan Hendricks
    April 10, 2022

    Luke Naylor, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's waterfowl program coordinator, says there are solid reasons to start duck season after Thanksgiving.

    "Most duck hunters would like to see a later starting date for duck season," Naylor said. "We did three different surveys in 2008, 2010 and 2012. I know that information is old, but if anything, public opinion has shifted more in favor of a later opener."

    For the 2022-23 duck season, the commission's waterfowl management staff has proposed a 60-day season with three segments that will run Nov. 19-27, Dec. 10-23, and Dec. 26 - Jan. 31, 2023. The youth/veteran seasons will be Dec. 3 and Feb. 4, 2023

    For the 2023-24 season, the staff proposed a 60-day season with three segments that would run Nov. 25-Dec. 3, Dec. 9-23, and Dec. 27-Jan. 31, 2024. A designated youth season would be Feb. 3-4, 2024. A designated veteran's hunt would be on Feb. 4, 2024.

    According to public input tabulated from the commission's website, agfc.com, 50% of hunters favor starting the season in the first week of December, Naylor said. Meanwhile 20% favor starting the third week of November, and 20% favor starting the fourth week of November.

    "With statistically valid objective input, a majority of duck hunters, sometimes a substantially larger majority, want it [duck season] to start later," Naylor said. "This is a step forward for duck hunters in Arkansas who are clearly telling us what they want. We have very strong reasons to propose that."

    Starting duck season later is consistent with water management goals on wildlife management areas, Naylor said. Because the commission wants to delay flooding public green tree reservoirs, a later start will not detrimentally affect public land hunting because water is likely to be scarce.

    "We're purposely pushing back when people should expect to see flooding on these areas," Naylor said. "These dates will allow public and private land hunters to come in line with GTR [green tree reservoir] management coming forward to give us a little breathing room."

    Because of the calendar arrangement in 2023, the third segment will start two days after Christmas, Naylor said. It will probably start the day after Christmas in subsequent years.

    Also, starting the season later will allow ducks a little extra time to settle in the state comfortably before they experience hunting pressure, Naylor said.

    Biological considerations about starting the season later are irrelevant. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is responsible for managing migratory waterfowl, weighs those factors when establishing duck season frameworks. State agencies are essentially tasked with maximizing hunter satisfaction.

    Naylor emphasized that if the regulations pass, the 2022-23 season will follow the traditional schedule.

    "Because of the long tradition of past opening dates, we formally say we're going to delay this for a year," he said. "We're giving 18 months notice so hunters can adjust their schedules."

    An interesting exchange occurred between Jeremy Wood, the commission's turkey program coordinator and members of the commission over a proposal to reduce the annual turkey bag limit to one gobbler. The limit is currently two.

    Wood asked the commission where they got that idea because it did not come from the wildlife management division.

    Commissioner Stan Jones of Alicia said many accomplished turkey hunters that have contacted him support reducing the bag limit. Jones said he would defer to Commissioner John Neeley of Camden because of his greater depth of turkey knowledge.

    "I've had lot of good turkey hunters say that going to one bird is taking away hunting opportunity," Neeley said. "Statistically, only 10 or 11% of the annual harvest is a second bird taken by hunters. Going to a one-bird limit is not going to move the needle much, but it will take away some opportunity."

    Brad Carner, the commission's chief of wildlife management, said that turkey reproduction has responded positively to the current season structure. Carner said that it would be a step backward if the commission opens spring turkey season earlier after a couple of good reproductive years.

    "I don't want to get two years down the road, see improved reproduction and succumb to pressure to move the season earlier," Carner said.


    https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/...season/?sports

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Gobbler's Knob, GA/ Bamberg,SC
    Posts
    21,442

    Default

    30 days of January . Take it or leave it.
    F**K Cancer

    Just Damn.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Posts
    1,502

    Default

    So they just want it to start later and not actually run later into February?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    greenville
    Posts
    1,550

    Default

    AR hunters may be some of the whiniest people on earth.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Lexington, SC
    Posts
    14,522

    Default

    I assume the Feds say it has to end in Jan?
    Quote Originally Posted by ecu1984 View Post
    Steelin' Ducks is the KRT of suppressors and such.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Wateree, South Carolina
    Posts
    48,811

    Default

    Correct. With yute day exceptions...

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Sc
    Posts
    1,353

    Default

    But but but, every year as soon as we get out the woods and stop shooting at them everyday they show up. If we could only get a few more days I know we could kill them.
    I don't belive in miracles, I rely on them.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Johnston
    Posts
    22,409

    Default

    What we really need is a couple few years of 3 & 30 to weed some of these stupid MFers out.....
    Quote Originally Posted by Mars Bluff View Post
    Only thing we need to be wearing in this country are ass whippings & condoms. That'll clear up half our issues.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    2,625

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Steelin' Ducks View Post
    I assume the Feds say it has to end in Jan?
    The USFWS has determined pair bonding is taking place by the end of January. The season will never stay open later.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Gobbler's Knob, GA/ Bamberg,SC
    Posts
    21,442

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by FEETDOWN View Post
    What we really need is a couple few years of 3 & 30 to weed some of these stupid MFers out.....
    Only been saying it for decades. You want to hunt somewhere in Nov and Dec ?? Go where their season is open. Roads are open and flights leave every day.
    F**K Cancer

    Just Damn.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
    Location
    Wateree, South Carolina
    Posts
    48,811

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by FEETDOWN View Post
    What we really need is a couple few years of 3 & 30 to weed some of these stupid MFers out.....
    That and 30/3 reduces pressure in ways that most don't get.

    I saw my first hummingbird on the feeder and a bull stud mounter woodcock yesterday. It was 31 degrees this morning. Woodcock season must be extended!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    SC
    Posts
    24,411

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by FEETDOWN View Post
    What we really need is a couple few years of 3 & 30 to weed some of these stupid MFers out.....
    ^^^^this



    Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2003
    Location
    SC
    Posts
    24,411

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Gregory View Post
    The USFWS has determined pair bonding is taking place by the end of January. The season will never stay open later.
    They are wrong on that. Wood ducks on my pond are laying well before the end of Jan.

    Sent from my moto z4 using Tapatalk

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Columbia, SC
    Posts
    47,894

    Default

    ^agree
    Ugh. Stupid people piss me off.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Charleston
    Posts
    18,402

    Default

    Hey toofdork, did you grab your new avatar off the innerweb?

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Columbia, SC
    Posts
    47,894

    Default

    i did
    bc glenn is mean
    Ugh. Stupid people piss me off.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    SC
    Posts
    7,444

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by FEETDOWN View Post
    What we really need is a couple few years of 3 & 30 to weed some of these stupid MFers out.....
    Mic drop. Close thread
    .
    80-20 Genaration

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Lexington, SC
    Posts
    14,522

    Default

    So the season will open the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
    Quote Originally Posted by ecu1984 View Post
    Steelin' Ducks is the KRT of suppressors and such.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    SC
    Posts
    7,444

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Posts
    2,625

    Default

    That's not going to change the fact that the flyway is shifting west.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •