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LEGAL NOTICE
The regular monthly meeting of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be held beginning at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, August 20, 2026, at the Arkansas Game & Fish Headquarters located at 2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205. At that time, regulations and business pertaining to the operation of the Game and Fish Commission and other fiscal and administrative matters will be considered and acted upon. Additionally, Committee meetings attended by Commissioners and agency staff members will be held throughout the day on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Arkansas Game & Fish Headquarters located at 2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205. All interested persons are invited to attend these meetings.
The Commission meeting on August 20th will be live-streamed and a link for easy viewing access will be available on the agency website. Please visit the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website at https://www.agfc.com for additional up-to-date details as the meeting dates draw closer.
Items on the agenda for the August 20, 2026 meeting will include discussion and/or adoption of proposed regulations that previously were considered at the July 15-16, 2026 Commission Meetings, plus consideration of various Hunting and Fishing Regulations and regulations pertaining to the Enforcement Division of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, including but not limited to:
• Game Animal/Bird Bag Limit (Code 04.01) - Restores the overarching game animal and bird bag limit regulation that was previously deleted inadvertently during the 2026 regulations cycle. The updated code explicitly makes it unlawful to take or attempt to take more than the bag limit of any game species set by the Commission (as detailed in Addendum Chapter A1.00).
• Firearms Prohibited While Archery Or Crossbow Hunting (Code 06.05) - Clarifies that carrying a firearm while archery or crossbow hunting is not strictly prohibited if the individual is in legal possession of the firearm, adding a specific exception that the firearm must not be used, or intended to be used, for hunting unless it is a legal method of take for an active open season.
• Firearm Restrictions On WMAs (Code 20.02) - Clarifies/adds that carrying a firearm on a WMA is not strictly prohibited if the individual is in legal possession of the firearm, adding a specific exception that the firearm must not be used, or intended to be used, for hunting unless it is a legal method of take for an active open season.
• St. Francis River Permit Unit Proposal - Establishes the St. Francis River Permit Unit as a new, designated zone within the St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA to manage waterfowl hunting via a daily permit draw system. As proposed, permit hunts are scheduled for 7 days a week; however, there may be consideration prior to final approval to modify the rule to include one or more rest days each week. The associated code changes supporting this proposal include:
o Waters And Submerged Lands Within Or Adjacent To WMAs Included In WMA Zones (Code 02.06) - Clarifies that the public’s right to navigate by vessel or engage in other lawful recreation unrelated to hunting or fishing on a navigable river remains unaffected by this permit requirement.
o Structures And Personal Property On WMAs (Code 20.06) - Ensures that properly permitted structures and personal property (including vessels) navigating or moored within a WMA are not deemed unlawful under this code, provided their design and primary use are not to aid in taking wildlife.
o Migratory Waterfowl Hunting Access Time Restrictions On WMAs (Code 24.01) - Clarifies that these WMA regulations do not restrict navigational boating access or other lawful non-hunting and non-fishing activities on navigable waters of the state within WMAs.
o Hunting From Duck Blinds Prohibited On WMAs And Commission-Owned Or Controlled Lakes (Code 24.06) - Extends daily duck blind removal requirements and restrictions to permit holders within permit-required areas, requiring that duck blinds and associated hunting equipment be removed from the St. Francis River Permit Unit within 1 hour after daily shooting hours end.
o Waterfowl Hunting Permit Requirements On Certain WMAs (Code 24.10) - Formally establishes the St. Francis River Permit Unit boundaries as a designated zone on the navigable portion of the river, mandating that a daily drawn Waterfowl Hunting Permit is required to hunt within this zone. Drawn permit holders will be assigned to specific, designated locations within the permit-only unit based on an official Commission public use map. It also restricts unpermitted hunters from hunting within 150 yards of these locations or anywhere within the unit, while explicitly preserving public rights by stating that no permit is required for non-hunting activities or to navigate by vessel through the unit to reach outside areas.
For public comment and updated information on these proposals, please visit the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website at https://www.agfc.com/regulations/.
All persons wishing to be heard on these subjects should submit comments in writing to this office before the start of the August 20, 2026 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 to this office on or before August 10, 2026. Copies of any proposed rules or regulations may be obtained at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission main office and at www.agfc.com, or through a written request mailed to the address below.
If you need assistance to participate in this public meeting due to a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact AGFC’s ADA Coordinator in Human Resources at 501-382-3813 at least three (3) business days prior to the scheduled meeting to request an accommodation. Every reasonable effort will be made to meet your request.
DOUG SCHOENROCK, DIRECTOR
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
Game & Fish Commission Building
2 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
611139f
The regular monthly meeting of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will be held beginning at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, August 20, 2026, at the Arkansas Game & Fish Headquarters located at 2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205. At that time, regulations and business pertaining to the operation of the Game and Fish Commission and other fiscal and administrative matters will be considered and acted upon. Additionally, Committee meetings attended by Commissioners and agency staff members will be held throughout the day on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Arkansas Game & Fish Headquarters located at 2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock, AR 72205. All interested persons are invited to attend these meetings.
The Commission meeting on August 20th will be live-streamed and a link for easy viewing access will be available on the agency website. Please visit the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website at https://www.agfc.com for additional up-to-date details as the meeting dates draw closer.
Items on the agenda for the August 20, 2026 meeting will include discussion and/or adoption of proposed regulations that previously were considered at the July 15-16, 2026 Commission Meetings, plus consideration of various Hunting and Fishing Regulations and regulations pertaining to the Enforcement Division of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, including but not limited to:
• Game Animal/Bird Bag Limit (Code 04.01) - Restores the overarching game animal and bird bag limit regulation that was previously deleted inadvertently during the 2026 regulations cycle. The updated code explicitly makes it unlawful to take or attempt to take more than the bag limit of any game species set by the Commission (as detailed in Addendum Chapter A1.00).
• Firearms Prohibited While Archery Or Crossbow Hunting (Code 06.05) - Clarifies that carrying a firearm while archery or crossbow hunting is not strictly prohibited if the individual is in legal possession of the firearm, adding a specific exception that the firearm must not be used, or intended to be used, for hunting unless it is a legal method of take for an active open season.
• Firearm Restrictions On WMAs (Code 20.02) - Clarifies/adds that carrying a firearm on a WMA is not strictly prohibited if the individual is in legal possession of the firearm, adding a specific exception that the firearm must not be used, or intended to be used, for hunting unless it is a legal method of take for an active open season.
• St. Francis River Permit Unit Proposal - Establishes the St. Francis River Permit Unit as a new, designated zone within the St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA to manage waterfowl hunting via a daily permit draw system. As proposed, permit hunts are scheduled for 7 days a week; however, there may be consideration prior to final approval to modify the rule to include one or more rest days each week. The associated code changes supporting this proposal include:
o Waters And Submerged Lands Within Or Adjacent To WMAs Included In WMA Zones (Code 02.06) - Clarifies that the public’s right to navigate by vessel or engage in other lawful recreation unrelated to hunting or fishing on a navigable river remains unaffected by this permit requirement.
o Structures And Personal Property On WMAs (Code 20.06) - Ensures that properly permitted structures and personal property (including vessels) navigating or moored within a WMA are not deemed unlawful under this code, provided their design and primary use are not to aid in taking wildlife.
o Migratory Waterfowl Hunting Access Time Restrictions On WMAs (Code 24.01) - Clarifies that these WMA regulations do not restrict navigational boating access or other lawful non-hunting and non-fishing activities on navigable waters of the state within WMAs.
o Hunting From Duck Blinds Prohibited On WMAs And Commission-Owned Or Controlled Lakes (Code 24.06) - Extends daily duck blind removal requirements and restrictions to permit holders within permit-required areas, requiring that duck blinds and associated hunting equipment be removed from the St. Francis River Permit Unit within 1 hour after daily shooting hours end.
o Waterfowl Hunting Permit Requirements On Certain WMAs (Code 24.10) - Formally establishes the St. Francis River Permit Unit boundaries as a designated zone on the navigable portion of the river, mandating that a daily drawn Waterfowl Hunting Permit is required to hunt within this zone. Drawn permit holders will be assigned to specific, designated locations within the permit-only unit based on an official Commission public use map. It also restricts unpermitted hunters from hunting within 150 yards of these locations or anywhere within the unit, while explicitly preserving public rights by stating that no permit is required for non-hunting activities or to navigate by vessel through the unit to reach outside areas.
For public comment and updated information on these proposals, please visit the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website at https://www.agfc.com/regulations/.
All persons wishing to be heard on these subjects should submit comments in writing to this office before the start of the August 20, 2026 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 to this office on or before August 10, 2026. Copies of any proposed rules or regulations may be obtained at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission main office and at www.agfc.com, or through a written request mailed to the address below.
If you need assistance to participate in this public meeting due to a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact AGFC’s ADA Coordinator in Human Resources at 501-382-3813 at least three (3) business days prior to the scheduled meeting to request an accommodation. Every reasonable effort will be made to meet your request.
DOUG SCHOENROCK, DIRECTOR
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
Game & Fish Commission Building
2 Natural Resources Drive
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
611139f
Refcode: #611139
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