Private lands programs exist to help landowners aid wildlife

LITTLE ROCK – Most of the 52,075 square miles of Arkansas’s land surface is privately-owned. For that reason, wildlife management in this state is largely a matter for private landowners rather than state agencies like the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

“Even though we don’t control the access to those private lands, the AGFC is still responsible for managing the wildlife that lives on these lands,” David Goad, Deputy Director for the agency says. “However, the fact that we don’t control the land complicates things a little.”

Goad said one way the AGFC manages wildlife on private lands is passively, through setting season regulations and bag limits for game species. But in recent years, the Commission is taking a more active management strategy for private lands through its extension-type programs.

“We’ve had an Acres for Wildlife program for more than 30 years,” said Goad, “and it’s still an important part of our private lands program. But in recent years, we’ve hired a team of private lands biologists to give landowners more technical assistance in improving wildlife habitat and wildlife populations on private lands.”

Private lands biologists (PLBs) for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission work with farmers, hunting clubs, homeowners and anyone else who desires to increase wildlife potential (both for game and non-game species) on their own land or leased land. The PLBs are familiar with the many habitat-related government incentives available through the Farm Bill and other government programs, including the Wetlands Reserve Program, the Conservation Reserve Program, and the Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program. The PLBs help landowners secure cost-share money through these and other programs for habitat improvements.

In addition, the PLBs are available for on-the-ground consultation with individual landowners. In the typical case, the PLB meets with the landowner and inspects the property, then makes a management plan recommendation based on the landowner’s objectives. PLBs are also available to conduct private lands workshops, geared to landowners in specific counties in their region. They also may provide expertise and advice for the removal or deterrence of nuisance wildlife.

“We encourage private land owners and managers to get in touch with any of our PLBs for advice or assistance,” Goad said. “Arkansas has a lot of good wildlife habitat on private land already, but there’s a lot of room for improvement. Our folks can help.”

Following is a listing of the AGFC’s private lands biologists and other biologists in charge of private lands programs:

Lynn Fair - North Delta Region (Randolph, Clay, Lawrence, Greene, Jackson, Craighead, Poinsett and Mississippi counties), 2920 McClellan Ave., Jonesboro, (877) 972-5438.

David Covington and Stephanie Daniels - Central Delta Region (Cross, Crittenden, St. Francis, Lee, Phillips, Monroe, Prairie, White, Woodruff counties), 1201 North Highway 49, Brinkley, (877) 734-4581.

Ruth Chapman - South Delta Region (Jefferson, Arkansas, Cleveland, Lincoln, Desha, Drew, Bradley, Ashley, Chicot counties), 771 Jordan Drive, Monticello, (877) 367-3559.

Susan Gregory and Charles Self - East Gulf Coastal Plain (Hot Spring, Grant, Clark, Dallas, Nevada, Ouachita, Calhoun, Columbia and Union counties), 500 Ben Lane, Camden, (877) 836-4612.

Nicole Peterson and Eley Talley - West Gulf Coastal Plain, (Pike, Howard, Sevier, Little River, Hempstead, Miller and Lafayette counties), 7004 Highway 67 East, Perrytown, (877) 777-5580.

Jason Honey - Central Arkansas Region (Garland, Saline, Pulaski, Lonoke, Perry and Faulkner counties), 350 Fish Hatchery Road, Hot Springs, (877) 525-8606.

Ralph Meeker - West Central Region (Polk, Montgomery, Scott, Logan, Sebastain, Crawford, Franklin and Johnson counties), 8000 Taylor Road, Fort Smith, (877) 478-1043.

Matthew Irvin - Western Ozark Region (Yell, Conway, Pope, Newton, Boone, Searcy and Marion counties), 1266 Lock and Dam Road, Russellville, (877) 967-7577.

Ted Zawislak - Eastern Ozark Region (Van Buren, Cleburne, Stone, Izard, Baxter, Fulton, Sharp and Independence counties), Highway 56 North, Calico Rock, (877) 297-4331.

Matthew Irvin – Northwest Arkansas Region (Benton, Madison, Carroll and Washington counties), 455 Dam Site Road, Eureka Springs, (866) 253-2506.

David Long, Statewide Private Lands Coordinator and Acres for Wildlife Coordinator - (877)-972-5438. .