Fitts named new director of AGFC
Dec. 28, 2017
LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission announced today that Pat Fitts will become the agency’s 18th director in its 102-year history. Fitts will replace Jeff Crow, who announced his resignation Oct. 10. The appointment was announced during a special called meeting earlier today and becomes effective Jan. 1, 2018.
New bill may mean renewed nationwide dedication to nongame and game species
Dec. 20, 2017
Rumblings of a new conservation movement have been heard in the U.S. House of Representatives for months. Thanks to bipartisan support from Representatives Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI), the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act has been introduced. The bill proposes to devote additional money to wildlife conservation throughout the U.S., using money from energy development on federally owned land.
Commission hears first reading of regulation concerning carry of handguns for defense while hunting
Dec. 14, 2017
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission heard the first official reading of a regulation change clarifying the carry of handguns for defensive purposes while hunting at its regularly scheduled meeting today.
Biological samples reveal 70 new cases of CWD, no new counties affected
Dec. 6, 2017
Seventy new cases of chronic wasting disease have been found in Arkansas since deer season opened in September, according to samples collected by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists, taxidermists and veterinarians. Although the number of positive cases is high, no samples from new areas of the state have been found so far. The disease has been found in Boone, Carroll, Madison, Marion, Newton, Pope and Searcy counties since September.
AGFC and partners to hold public meeting on forest management practices on Poison Springs State Forest
Dec. 6, 2017
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas Forestry Commission and The Nature Conservancy will hold a special public meeting beginning at 6 p.m. Dec. 12, to present and discuss future changes in forest management. The meeting will be held at the AGFC Camden office at
AGFC seeks help in tracking down elk poacher
Nov. 22, 2017
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wildlife officers are asking for help in tracking down the person responsible for shooting and leaving an elk on Piney Creeks WMA along the Searcy-Pope county line.
Trout regulations adopted on Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters as part of revised management plans
Nov. 21, 2017
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission accepted five changes to trout fishing regulations proposed for the Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters at a special meeting via teleconference today at the AGFC Headquarters in Little Rock.
The proposals are part of ongoing revisions to the formal trout management plans for the two tailwaters. During the last year, biologists have collected creel surveys, biological samples and mail-in surveys as well as held public focus group meetings to determine the best course of action for the trout fishery to meet the desires and expectations of the public. The regulations were presented to the Commission in October, and have been open to public comment for the last 30 days.