The Arkansas Fish and Game Commission has proposed extensive updates to the state’s general hunting, miscellaneous wildlife, and general fishing regulations, which it will consider at its April 20-21, 2022, meeting. Interested Arkansas residents and visitors who hunt and fish in Arkansas are encouraged to review and comment on the proposal.
Of the 111 proposed changes, four pertain to the use of dogs and are not controversial:
- Proposal 14 would, among other changes, prohibit the use of dogs during reserved field trial events in reserved compartments of the Camp Robinson Special Use Area (SUA) EXCEPT those dogs participating in the field trial. It also clarifies that breeds other than Beagles may also be trained to run rabbit.
- To open opportunity for additional users and address overuse by some professional trainers, Proposal 15 would clarify the number of dogs allowed for training in Compartment 5 to of the Camp Robinson SUA, from four dogs to two dogs in any one vehicle.
- Proposal 30 would allow the use of dogs for squirrel hunting on Bearcat Hollow Wildlife Management Area (WMA) after the first nine days of modern gun deer season. This change is intended to make the Bearcat Hollow regulations consistent with the rules for federal WMAs in the area.
- Proposal 87 would create a specific rules to implement the existing Game Bird Shoot-to-Kill Permit and Retrieving Dog Shoot-to-Kill Permit. The new rules will preserve existing restrictions that are part of the current permits, and restrict the number of bird kept at any one time to 100.
Click here to view the full proposal.
The Fish and Game Commission will consider these proposals at its April 20-21, 2022, meeting. The American Kennel Club (AKC) encourages everyone wishing to be heard on these subjects to submit comments in writing before the start of the April 21, 2022, meeting (preferably by 4:30 p.m. on the day before). Any request to make an oral presentation at the meeting should be submitted in writing on or before April 11, 2022. Copies of any proposed rules or regulations may also be obtained at www.agfc.com, at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission main office, or through a written request mailed to:
Austin Booth, Director
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
Game & Fish Commission Building
2 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
For more information, you may also contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.