State: AR

June 5, 2023

Lower Midwest Legislative Sessions Adjourn, CSF Celebrates Victories, Prepares for 2024

Why It Matters: The conclusion of legislative sessions across the Lower Midwest provides an opportunity to reflect on the victories for sportsmen and women secured this year while taking inventory of the remaining challenges and opportunities that await us in the future. While the region did witness significant wins, thanks to the work of like-minded…

Arkansas State Capital. Little Rock.
April 10, 2023

Arkansas Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Continues to Move Priorities Prior to the End of the 2023 Legislative Session

Why It Matters: During the final week of the 2023 Legislative Session in Arkansas, Caucus members  continued to advance legislation designed to promote wildlife habitat conservation, recruit the next generation of sportsmen and sportswomen, and generally support our nation’s time-honored outdoor traditions. As the end of other state legislative sessions continue to draw near across…

February 27, 2023

Feral Horses: When Less is More

Why It Matters: Wild horses (i.e., feral horses, unauthorized livestock etc.) and burros have long been a symbol of the American West, receiving protection from Congress in 1971 under the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act. Under this Act, wild horses and burros were to be maintained in a manner that produces a “thriving ecological…

December 19, 2022

December Came Bear-ing Gifts in South Arkansas

Why It Matters: Any time a new opportunity for hunters to spend time afield is announced, there is unquestionably a conservation success story that can be shared. For black bear hunters in the Lower Midwest, this is particularly true. Thanks to the great work of state fish and wildlife agencies, many of which are primarily…

November 15, 2021

Arkansas Hunters to See Changes and Opportunities for 2021-2022 Seasons

Contact: Chris Horton, Senior Director, Midwestern States / Fisheries Policy Highlights Why it Matters: As hunting season in Arkansas gets going in full swing, waterfowlers on some of the state’s most popular flooded-timber wildlife management areas will see lower water levels as the AGFC tries to reverse significant habitat loss important to ducks. Meanwhile, deer hunters…

May 3, 2021

Arkansas Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Saves Funding for Fish and Wildlife Management in the State

May 3, 2021 (LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS) – On April 29, Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus member Governor Asa Hutchinson signed into law House Bill 1957 (HB 1957), the Arkansas Sovereignty Act of 2021, which seeks to reaffirm second amendment protections within the state. Shortly before the enactment of HB 1957, Governor Hutchinson vetoed a bill with the same title. While both bills were…

April 19, 2021

Arkansas Caucus Passes School-Based Hunter Education Bill

Contact: Chris Horton, Senior Director, Midwestern States and Fisheries Policy Highlights Why It Matters: Hunter education courses are an excellent opportunity to introduce middle and high school students to a variety of topics related to conservation and our outdoor heritage. Further, these opportunities provide educators with an opportunity to introduce students to important concepts like…

November 23, 2020

Arkansas Duck Hunters to Benefit from Farm Bill Conservation Program

Contact: Chris Horton, Senior Director, Midwestern States and Fisheries Policy On November 12, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) announced the state’s first opportunity for waterfowl hunters to enter a drawing for a permit to hunt on 40 private rice fields scattered throughout the state. Eastern Arkansas is widely known for being the number…

August 10, 2020

AGFC Provides Quality Dove Hunting Opportunities

Contact: Chris Horton, Senior Director, Federal Fisheries Policy and Midwestern States The first day of dove season is often a much-anticipated tradition in the South. While the early September opener (first Saturday of the month for Arkansas) is usually met with lingering summer heat and humidity, it’s the first opportunity for hunters to take to…

May 18, 2020

Arkansas: CSF Shoots Down Waterfowl Regulation

Contact: Chris Horton, Senior Director, Midwestern States & Fisheries Policy On May 15, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a letter to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission opposing a proposed change to waterfowl regulations on two of the state’s most popular wildlife management areas (WMAs). The proposed change would require hunters to be off…

April 27, 2020

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Eyeing a Comprehensive Slate of Regulatory Changes

Contact: Chris Horton, Senior Director, Midwestern States and Fisheries Policy On April 23, in a virtual meeting with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) and senior AGFC staff that was streamed live on the agency’s YouTube channel, the Commission completed the first of two meetings to review a long list of regulatory changes to…