Baiting wildlife illegal on Lake Conway 

MAYFLOWER — As hunting seasons continue throughout The Natural State, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission would like to remind people that baiting wildlife on the exposed lakebed of Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir is illegal.

“We’ve placed signs at all major access points to the lake, but there are a lot of people who may try to walk onto the property from neighboring land, so we want to make sure people know that baiting is illegal on the lake,” Steven Fowler, regional wildlife supervisor in the AGFC’s Mayflower Office, said.

Federal migratory laws prohibit anyone from hunting waterfowl anywhere that they have placed, exposed, deposited, distributed or scattered salt, grain or other feed that could lure or attract waterfowl to, on or over. Additionally, Arkansas state law prohibits the use of such bait on any wildlife management area to take any wildlife. Although the lakebed of Lake Conway is not technically included in the AGFC’s wildlife management area system, it does provide some limited hunting in the form of archery deer hunting, small game and waterfowl.

“We’ve seen some bait piles out on the lake, and whether they’re for wildlife watching or hunting, they may cause some issues especially as we get into duck season,” Fowler said. “Some hunters may want to hunt some of the water remaining in the lake, and the placement of such bait would put them in violation of federal law.”

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CUTLINES:

YELLOW SIGN
Although Lake Conway’s lakebed is not technically a WMA, it does offer some public hunting opportunities but baiting is not allowed. AGFC image.

GREEN SIGN
Signs have been placed at all major access points to Lake Conway to alert hunters and wildlife watchers that baiting is illegal on the exposed lakebed during Lake Conway’s renovation. AGFC photo.