AGFC expands CWD zone, open house workshops scheduled

JONESBORO — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will host two meetings in September to familiarize hunters with some new regulations for the upcoming deer season and update hunters on chronic wasting disease regulations in Cleburne, Craighead, Mississippi and Sharp counties, which were all added to Tier 2 of the AGFC’s CWD Management Zone earlier this year.

Craighead County was the only county added to the CWD Management Zone where a positive-CWD case was found, but new positive cases near the borders of the other three counties necessitated the expansion of CWD regulations in those counties as well.

The two open-house meetings will be held at:

• Heber Springs Community Center (201 Bobbie Jean Lane, Heber Springs, AR) from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 12.

• ASU Cooper Alumni Center (2600 Alumni Blvd., Jonesboro, AR) from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 17.

Both meetings will begin with an introduction and brief presentation on what CWD is, how it is transmitted and ways hunters can help slow its spread.

Once the presentations are complete, hunters are encouraged to stay and visit with biologists and staff from the AGFC’s Enforcement, Wildlife Management, Private Lands Habitat, and Educationon a variety of topics ranging from regulations to the Deer Management Assistance Program, conservation education efforts and other research projects being conducted by the AGFC. AGFC Research Division staff will also be available to show hunters how they can have their deer tested for CWD free of charge using a network of drop-off testing containers and taxidermists throughout the state.

“We’re really looking forward to these opportunities to talk with hunters and landowners to help kick off the fall season,” Dr. Jenn Ballard, state wildlife veterinarian for the AGFC, said.  “We want to make sure we answer all their questions about CWD, but we’ll also have staff on hand to talk about the new seasons and our expanded Deer Management Assistance Program. Hunters are so important for our state. We really can’t manage deer or challenges like CWD without them.”

Visit www.agfc.com/cwd for more information on chronic wasting disease and the AGFC’s network of CWD testing drop-off locations.

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CUTLINES:

FLYER
The AGFC will host two in-person open house events to update hunters on CWD and deer hunting regulations for 2024.

OPEN HOUSE
In addition to a brief presentation, information booths staffed with experts will be available for one-on-one assistance and conversations.