East Arkansas wildlife areas closed Feb. 18-29

MONTICELLO – Four eastern Arkansas wildlife areas will be temporarily closed Feb. 18-29. Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA, Cutoff Creek WMA, Trusten Holder WMA and University of Arkansas Pine Tree Experimental Station WDA will be temporarily closed while the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services, in cooperation with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, conducts aerial operations aimed at reducing feral hog populations on the areas.

To provide safety for the public and comply with USDA regulations, access will not be allowed during ongoing operations. Varying weather and site specific conditions will not allow for specific dates of the closures. The closure dates allow some flexibility to take advantage of resources over large contiguous tracts of habitat. In the event that access to the WMA is restricted, AGFC and partnering agency staff will be on-site to maintain road and access closures.

The aerial operations are the result of planning and coordination of multiple partners, condensed into several days of actual operations. The AGFC, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and USDA APHIS would like to thank the public in advance for their patience and understanding while these activities are underway and apologize for any inconvenience related to the operation.

For additional information, please contact AGFC Wildlife Division Assistant Chief Luke Lewis at 501-223-6350 or APHIS State Director Robert Byrd at 501-835-2318.