LITTLE ROCK - It’s obvious that Arkansas hunters are an enthusiastic group when it comes to their sport. That was readily apparent as the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission completed its public meeting schedule on proposed 2005-2006 deer season options last Thursday.

The response was huge with over 1,000 hunters and outdoorsmen packing 11 sites around the state. The AGFC hosted the meetings in an effort to give sportsmen a voice in the annual hunting regulations process.

They are held to establish opportunities to generate ideas, concerns, and alternatives on the proposals for revising the upcoming deer season bag limits and season length, AGFC director Scott Henderson said. “We consider public input critical to this process,” Henderson explained. “We held 11 local public meetings around the state and valuable information was gathered at those meetings. We had many, many interested individuals who gave us important public input on what changes they felt would benefit the management of the state’s wildlife,” Henderson explained.

Although the meetings have been completed, the public input process is not over. Written comments may still be sent to AGFC, attn: Hunting Regulations Proposals, 2 Natural Resources Dr., Little Rock, Ark. 72205. The deadline for comments is Jan. 31. The complete list of proposals is also available on the AGFC website at www.agfc.com. Comments can also be emailed to information@agfc.state.ar.us. These comments will be sent to all the Commissioners and will be added into the final comments.