8/8/2007

AGFC continues deer management public input plan

Public scoping workshops set for September

LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will start the second stage of writing a new state deer plan beginning Sept. 20 and ending on Sept. 25.  This second stage will consist of 10 public workshops to be held at various sites around the state.

These workshops will serve as a means to gather public input concerning the draft of the state’s deer plan, according to AGFC deer biologist Cory Gray. “We will have the draft plan ready to be posted on agfc.com by Aug. 31. We ask that all people participating in the September workshops read the draft prior to attending,” Gray explained. The goal is to gather ideas and suggestions from hunters, to be incorporated with wildlife biology essentials into a new Arkansas deer management plan.

Each workshop participant will be given the opportunity to share what they like or don’t like about the draft plan, Gray said. “The draft includes goals with different options related to objectives or strategies. We will ask the public to comment on what options they would like to see implemented and what options they dislike.  These meetings will also be a way to double-check what we heard them say during the June workshops,” he said.

Deer management in Arkansas generates a lot of enthusiasm among the state’s deer hunters. To assist the AGFC in identifying issues involved in a statewide deer management plan, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission formed three statewide Deer Management Advisory Groups in May of this year.

The AGFC divided Arkansas into three sections, based on physiographic characteristics, for this project. Three three sections are: (1) Ozark Mountains, Arkansas River Valley and Ouachita Mountains, (2) Gulf Coastal Plan – south Arkansas, and (3) Delta and Crowley’s Ridge. The groups represent diverse interests and backgrounds.

As they did with the June workshops, the AGFC will again use an outside facilitator to help with administering the public scoping workshops.

The new deer management plan will provide goals and set direction for the management of the state’s deer resource. The final plan approval will be the responsibility of the AGFC commissioners.

The 10 workshops at various points around Arkansas are set-up to allow anyone to put forth ideas and suggestions. All meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. The dates and locations of the meetings are as follows:

City: Harrison
Date: Sept. 20
Location: Comfort Inn Convention Center 
Address: 1210 US Hwy 62/65 North, Harrison, AR  72601   870-741-7676

City: Dumas
Date: Sept. 20
Location: Dumas Community Center
Address: 18 Belmont

City: Batesville
Date: Sept. 21
Location: University of Arkansas Community College Batesville Independence Hall East Creek Side
Address: 2005 White Drive

City: Camden
Date: Sept. 21
Location: Charles O. Ross Center
Address: 746 California Street

City: Jonesboro
Date: Sept. 22
Location:  Huntington Building
Address: Huntington Ave.

City: Hope
Date: Sept. 22
Location: University of Arkansas Community College at Hope, Student Center, Purtle Meeting Rooms
Address: 2500 South Main, P.O. Box 140, Hope, AR71802

City: Brinkley
Date: Sept. 24
Location: Convention Center – Pintail Room
Address: 1501 Weatherby Drive

City: Mount Ida
Date: Sept. 24
Location: Mount Ida High School Cafeteria

City: Little Rock
Date: Sept. 25
Location: Ferndale 4-H Center
Address: No. 1 Four-H Way in Ferndale

City: Ozark
Date: Sept. 25
Location: North Franklin County Fair Building
Address: North 26^th Street