Joe Mosby: More dove hunting this fall, winter

There will be more dove hunting in Arkansas this fall and winter. The dates aren't set yet, but the season will likely run 70 days instead of the 60 in past years.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission heard the dove report from Doyle Shook, chief of wildlife management, in its meeting Thursday at Lake Village. The meeting was the final one for Commission Chairman Freddie Black, who lives in Lake Village.

Shook said the information on the 70-day dove season has been received from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service although all the parameters of the early migratory bird hunting seasons have yet to come from federal authorities.

Shook said his staff suggested a two-segment season instead of the usual three segments of recent years since there are 10 more days to work with. He offered segments of Sept. 5-Oct. 18 and Dec.5-Jan. 1. Some of the commissioners indicated they may want the latter segment to run deeper into January.

The daily limit on doves will be 15, Shook said.

The commissioners will set dove, teal and other early migratory bird seasons at their July meeting.

Something new is coming up in the field of migratory birds, Shook said.

He proposed that Arkansas issue three permits for capturing peregrine falcons in the wild for use in the sport of falconry.

Peregrine falcons are handsome, fast-flying birds of prey. They are present in Arkansas but not in large numbers.

Just not anyone can get a permit and run out to grab a peregrine. A stiff set of requirements must be met, including passing a written examination. Then the person must be qualified with a general or master class falconry permit, not an apprentice class. Only "passage," first year, peregrines could be taken. The birds could be taken only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays Setp.1 through Jan. 31.

On another issue, the commissioners took the suggestion of Fisheries Chief Mike Armstrong to let research take place on turtles before considering reducing or closing the commercial take of turtles in Arkansas.

Earlier this year, a group of organizations headed by the California-based Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the Game and Fish Commission to stop commercial gathering and selling of turtles.

Armstrong said about 2,600 e-mails demanding Arkansas stop the turtle trade were received, but he added that most were a form letter apparently stemming from an Internet site.

Armstrong said, "We don't anticipate recommending any restrictions on turtle harvesting. We will work with the Arkansas Department of Health on health issues associated with turtles. We will participate with conservation organizations and commercial turtle people on these issues."

Commissioner Craig Campbell of Little Rock commented, "We need to do this on our terms and not something out of San Francisco, Calif."

Armstrong presented several suggested changes in fishing regulations and outlined some disagreements that have recently developed with a proposal to expand the trout catch and release area on the North Fork River. He said more study on this was needed.

With Black's term ending June 30, The commissioners elected Brett Morgan of Scott as their new chairman and George Dunklin of DeWitt as vice chairman.