The question was anticipated, and sure enough, it arrived. Will the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission extend turkey season because of the flooding?
There is no official word from AGFC at this point, but there are two chances of turkey season being extended slim and none. You may want to put your money on the latter.
I'll ruffle some feathers with this observation, but would you really want to go after a gobbler that is stranded on a bit of high ground surrounded by muddy flood water?
No, the wildlife suffers in times like this even if it survives. And most will survive. Turkey nesting is what will be hard hit if the excess of water continues, and weather folks say it will be around for a while.
There are many years of tradition and quite a few instances behind the Game and Fish Commission's leaving hunting seasons alone despite things like floods, drought, snow, ice and windstorms.
More requests in the past have come up for extended duck seasons than for turkey or deer, and these have not been granted.
The basic factor is the rules are made for "the wise use of natural resources," according to the Game and Fish Commission's mission statement. That is usually interpreted as meaning the critters come first and hunters second. If some situation is not detrimental to the overall health of the wildlife populations, then go ahead and hunt them.
Many years ago, and I won't say how many, the frequent traveling companion had come to Conway for the birth of Child No. 2. I stayed on the job in another town. The expected phone call came at night, and I headed out for the drive to Conway. The Mississippi River was flooded, big time, and the highway for miles closely paralleled the river.
I had to slow down and just creep along because the elevated roadway was choked with deer. They had water on both sides and a couple of feet of grass on the side of each shoulder and the pavement.
It was a memorable sight - hundreds of deer close at hand in the space of just a few miles.
Turkey season opens today. There are no closures in Faulkner County and the surrounding area, but you had better check the latest news items if you are headed to the east, south or southwest somewhere for turkey work.
The turkey hunting closures at present:
The White River National Wildlife Refuge is closed for the entire spring turkey season.
Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Arkansas is closed.
Units One and Three of Cache River National Wildlife Refuge in east Arkansas is closed.
Choctaw Island WMA is closed until the Mississippi River gauge at Arkansas City falls below 29 feet.
Trusten Holder WMA is closed until flood water recedes below 143 feet mean sea level at the Norrell Lock and Dam on the Arkansas/White River Shipping Canal.
Dave Donaldson Black River WMA is closed until the Black River gauge at Corning falls below 9.5 feet.
St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA is closed until the St. Francis River gauge at Oak Donnick falls below 215 feet mean sea level.
* The permit turkey hunt on Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA has been cancelled.
* All three turkey permit hunts on Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA will be evaluated on a weekly basis. The April 12-14 permit hunt has been cancelled. The status of the April 18-20 hunt will be determined on April 14, and the April 25-27 hunt will be determined on April 21. No permit turkey hunts will be conducted on Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA until the Black River gauge at Black Rock falls below 19 feet. The AGFC will send letters to each permit holder on a weekly basis, informing them of the status of these hunts.
All permit holders of cancelled hunts will be given refunds of their permit payment and have their preference points restored, the AGFC said.
