Hot off the presses (from last Friday, July 18th)

Duck Season Proposal Calls for 60 Days, Nov. 22 Opening

Luke Naylor, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission waterfowl program coordinator, recommended dates for the 2008-09 waterfowl season at the Commission's monthly meeting Thursday morning. The eight-member G&FC Comission will vote on the dates in the August meeting.

Naylor's recommended dates for the 60-day duck season are Nov. 22 through Dec. 1, Dec. 6 through Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 through Jan. 25. The annual youth hunt dates would be Jan. 31-Feb. 1.

Naylor proposed that a third wood duck be added to the daily limit, set at six total; eliminating a set number of shotgun shells for youth hunts on the Wildlife Management Areas; and extending hunting time allowed in the WMAs for all hunters from noon to 1 p.m.

Other items suggest by Naylor were increasing the mallard hen limit from one to two a day, and the possibility of removing the ban on spinning wings. Naylor indicated neutrality on the matter, which has been controversial among hunters since the ban was instituted three hunting seasons ago. Arkansas' efforts, the commission hoped then, would influence surrounding states to also ban spinning wing decoys, but none have followed suit.

A 16-day teal season was proposed for Sept. 13 through Sept. 28. Suggested dove season opening day was Saturday, Sept. 6. Labor Day is Sept. 1.

In a side note, new Commission chairman Freddie Black suggested that Arkansas hunters voice their opinion on the spinning wing decoy ban before the next Commission meeting, in mid-August.