AGFC hears license change proposals

Oct. 1, 2023

Randy Zellers

Assistant Chief of Communications

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Director Austin Booth gave Commissioners the first reading of two regulations changes concerning Arkansas hunting and fishing licenses at a special virtual meeting held Thursday.

The first regulation change proposed was an extension to the recently passed Resident Natural State Lifetime Combination License and Permit available to Arkansas residents aged 10 and under. The license, which gives its recipients the privileges associated with a Resident Combination Sportsman’s License and Permit, Arkansas state duck stamp and Arkansas trout stamp for life, is available for $500. Initially, 500 of these licenses were to be sold per fiscal year, but the regulation change proposed today would increase that cap to 1,000 licenses available for purchase each fiscal year.

The second regulation change proposed at Thursday’s meeting would create a 30-day Nonresident WMA Waterfowl Permit for a $200 fee. Nonresident hunters may purchase this new 30-day permit or one or more of the existing 5-day permits. The 30-day permit will be valid for all available dates (first nine days of regular duck season; Dec. 27 through Jan. 5; and Jan. 21-31). The permit also offers a cost savings to nonresident waterfowl hunters who intend to hunt on WMAs during all of these days.

These regulations will be available for public comment for the next 30 days before being voted on in a special Commission meeting scheduled in October. Comments may be provided via email at askagfc@agfc.ar.gov.

A recording of the meeting is available at on the AGFC’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6IdON3YciU