002.00.07 Ark. Code R. 007

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 10, October, 2024

Rule 002.00.07-007 - DeGray Lake WMA Waterfowl Code Proposals

Wildlife Management Division November 15, 2007

DeGray Lake WMA Waterfowl Code Proposals Approval

Presented by Doyle Shook

DeGray Lake is now classified as a Wildlife Management Area. During the waterfowl regulations process this new WMA was overlooked in being listed in three waterfowl codes.

These codes were presented at the October meeting for consideration and are being presented along with a minute order at this meeting for approval.

Doyle Shook, Chief

Wildlife Management Division

APPROVED DEGRAY LAKE WMA WATERFOWL CODE PROPOSALS

20.02FIREARM RESTRICTIONS ON WMAs. It shall be unlawful to possess any buckshot; rifled slugs, muzzleloaders larger than .40 caliber, center fire firearms or rim fire firearms larger than .22 caliber on any wildlife management area other than during any open modern gun deer, bear or elk seasons. (Ref 06.02, Guns and Ammunition Prohibited During Modem Gun Deer Seasons; and 16.02, Killing Device Restrictions for Bear Hunting and 17.02, Weapon Restrictions for Taking Elk).

(A) Big Lake, Brushy Creek, St. Francis Sunken Lands, U of A Pine Tree Experimental Station, W. E. Brewer Scatter Creek and Wedington WMAs - only shotguns (.410 or larger), with slugs (no buckshot allowed), or muzzleloading rifles (in compliance with Commission Code 07.02) shooting a single projectile only during modem gun season.

(B) Beaver Lake WMA (islands only), Greers Ferry WMA and that part of Trusten Holder including all Corps lands, lying north and east of the center line of the Arkansas River which fall within the area that lies east of the Pendleton Bridge to just south of Dam #2 and those lands west of Tichnor Blacktop and Nady Road - no rifles (including muzzleloading rifles) for any season.

(C) Big Lake WMA - it shall be unlawful to transport firearms in that portion of Ditch 28 within the Big Lake WMA without said firearms having been dismantled or encased.

(D) Harris Brake WMA - shotguns only.

(E) Lafayette County WMA - no buckshot of any size.

(F) Bell Slough WMA - shotguns or rimfire rifles only.

(G) The Farm Unit within Bald Knob NWR, Johnson County WRA within Dardanelle WMA and Wapanocca NWR - muzzleloaders shooting a single projectile only or shotguns with slugs.

(H) Trusten Holder WMA - within the delineated boundaries of the

Arkansas Post National Park buffer zone discharge of any firearm is prohibited.

(I) DeGray Lake WMA - within the delineated boundaries of the

Lower DeGray Lake Waterfowl Rest Area possession of loaded

firearms is prohibited.

EXCEPTIONS:

(1) Private landowners within boundaries of WMAs where they maintain a bona fide residence, within their homes or on their own land where normal agricultural activity is conducted.

(2) Law enforcement officers and Game and Fish Commission employees in performance of their official job duties.

(3) Trusten Holder WMA mobility impaired muzzleloader deer hunters may use shotguns with slugs.

(4) DeGray Lake WMA special hunt permit holders may possess loaded firearms within the delineated boundaries of the Lower DeGray Lake Waterfowl Rest Area during the special hunts.

PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00.

25.01 MIGRATORY WATERFOWL HUNTING ACCESS TIME RESTRICTIONS WITHIN WMAs, SUAs and WD As. It shall be unlawful for waterfowl hunters on Wildlife Management Areas to take or attempt to take waterfowl or remain within or on water-inundated areas or natural/man-made water courses on WMAs after 12:00 noon. EXCEPTIONS:

(A) Migratory waterfowl hunting permitted during the entire day (regular shooting hours) of the last 3 days of the last duck season. Ref: Commission code 12.15 (Duck and Coot Season Restrictions).

(B) In Compliance with 25.02 (Hunting or Trespassing prohibited within Certain WMAs and Lakes).

(C) In accordance with those provisions as listed within Commission Code 12.25 (Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt Restrictions).

(D) All day hunting allowed on Beaver Lake, Dardanelle (except at the McKinnen Bottoms and Hartman Waterfowl Unites), DeGray Lake, Ft. Chaffee and Ozark Lake WMAs.

(E) Navigational boating access unrestricted on natural rivers within WMAs.

(F) In compliance with the Snow, Blue and Ross' Goose Conservation Order (Ref Code 12.20 Snow, Blue, Ross' Goose Season Restrictions).

PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00

25.02 HUNTING OR TRESPASSING PROHIBITED WITHIN CERTAIN WMAs AND LAKES. It shall be unlawful to duck hunt and/or trespass on the following areas and lakes as specified herein:

(1)BIG LAKE - Mallard Lake is closed to hunting. Fishing and non-hunting activities are allowed.

(2)DR. LESTER SITZES, III BOIS D'ARC -Boats are not allowed on the Green Tree Waterfowl area 14 days before waterfowl season opens but are allowed during the regular duck season.

(3)BREWER LAKE - Closed to waterfowl hunting.

(4)CAMP ROBINSON SUA - Closed to waterfowl hunting.

(5)CEDAR CREEK - Closed to waterfowl hunting.

(6)CUT-OFF CREEK - Closed to all trespassing (except in designated campsites, parking areas and boat launch ramps) from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. during duck season. Travel by boat is prohibited on Latin Drain, Firehunt Slough and Third Slough except during high water periods when boating access is possible to the Deep Slough Dam. In this case, boats may be used area-wide.

however, boat motors may only be used on Cut-Off Creek and Deep Slough.

(7)DARDANELLE - Waterfowl hunting is not allowed on that part of Big Spadra and Little Spadra Creeks lying north of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, east of Crawford Street, south of I-40, and west of State Hwy 10. Dogs, hunting or trapping devices are prohibited on Johnson County, Horsehead Creek and Bob Young WRAs.

(8)DAVE DONALDSON BLACK RIVER - No hunting is allowed on Hubble Lake during duck season. Lake Ashbaugh is closed to all hunting. The waterfowl rest area, Brookings Moist Soil Unit and Hubble Lake are open for early teal season. On Lake Ashbaugh and Hubble Lake, only fishing and non-hunting activities are allowed.

(9) DEGRAY LAKE - Loaded firearms are prohibited within Lower DeGray Lake Waterfowl Rest Area except by permitted participants of special hunts.

(10) FROG BAYOU - Waterfowl hunters may not access inundated areas until 4:00 a.m. and must exit inundated areas by 12:00 p.m.

(11) HARRIS BRAKE - Open to waterfowl hunting only Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. All day hunting is allowed the last two days of the last duck season. During duck season, other hunters must abide by same hours and days as duck hunters, except for those trapping and hunting furbearers at night. Only shotguns and archery equipment are allowed for hunting. Harris Brake Lake is open to Canada goose hunting September 1-15, 2007 only.

(12) HENRY GRAY HURRICANE LAKE - Waterfowl hunters may not access inundated area until 4:00 a.m. and must exit inundated areas by 12:00 p.m.

(13)LITTLE BAYOU - Closed to all trespassing (except in designated campsites, parking areas and boat launch ramps) from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. during duck season.

(14)PETIT JEAN RIVER WMA - Waterfowl impoundments are closed to trespass from one hour after sunset until 4:00 a.m. during duck season.

(15)REX HANCOCK BLACK SWAMP - Waterfowl hunters may not access inundated area until 4:00 a.m. and must exit inundated areas by 12:00 p.m.

(16)RICK EVANS GRANDVIEW PRAIRIE - Waterfowl hunting closed on all lakes and ponds.

(17)SHIREY BAY RAINEY BRAKE - The waterfowl rest areas and MSUs (Moist Soil Units) are open to the early teal season

(18)STEVE N. WILSON RAFT CREEK BOTTOMS - Waterfowl hunters may not access inundated area until 4:00 a.m. and must exit inundated areas by 12:00 p.m.

(19) ST. FRANCIS FOREST - Waterfowl hunting ends at noon.

(20)ST. FRANCIS SUNKEN LANDS - The Snowden Field (MSU) levee is open to foot traffic around the north end of the unit to allow access to public lands, the MSUs are open for the early teal

(21) LAKE CONWAY - Closed to waterfowl hunting except on the Pierce Creek and Dixs Creek Bays, waterfowl hunting ends at noon.

(22) LAKE OVERCUP - Waterfowl hunting ends at noon.

(23)CANE CREEK LAKE (Lincoln County) - Waterfowl hunting ends at noon.

(24)U OF A PINE TREE EXPERIMENTAL STATION WDA -North of Hwy 306 closed to waterfowl hunting.

(25)LAKE PICKTHORNE - Closed to waterfowl hunting.

EXCEPTION:

(1) Employees or agents of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in the performance of their duties. PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00.

002.00.07 Ark. Code R. 007

11/26/2007