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+--- Thread: Floods force emergency closure of turkey hunts (/showthread.php?tid=407074)
Floods force emergency closure of turkey hunts - FishNews - 04-10-2008
LITTLE ROCK - Continued high water throughout east Arkansas has forced the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to close spring turkey seasons on many public hunting areas in the impacted region.
As of Tuesday, April 8, turkey season will be closed on the following areas:
Choctaw Island WMA until the Mississippi River gauge at Arkansas City falls below 29 feet.
Trusten Holder WMA until flood water recedes below 143 feet msl at the Norrell Lock and Dam on the Arkansas/White River Shipping Canal.
Dave Donaldson Black River WMA until the Black River gauge at Corning falls below 9.5 feet.
St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA until the St. Francis River gauge at Oak Donnick falls below 215 feet msl.
The White River National Wildlife refuge will be closed for the entire spring turkey season.
The permit turkey hunt on Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA has also been cancelled.
All three turkey permit hunts on Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA will be evaluated on a weekly basis.
The April 12-14 permit hunt has been cancelled.
The status of the April 18-20 hunt will be determined on April 14, and the April 25-27 hunt will be determined on April 21. No permit turkey hunts will be conducted on Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA until the Black River gauge at Black Rock falls below 19 feet.
The AGFC will send letters to each permit holder on a weekly basis, informing them of the status of these hunts.
All permit holders of cancelled hunts will be given refunds of their permit payment and have their preference points restored.
The AGFC has delayed these decisions as long as possible to monitor water levels and minimize necessary closures. All turkey hunters are urged to use extreme caution if accessing a flooded area by boat. Unusually swift currents and floating debris can cause an unfortunate boating accident. All hunters accessing their hunting area by boat are urged to wear their life jackets at all times while on the water.
The AGFC also reminds hunters that it is illegal to hunt turkeys from a boat or other floating device. It is also illegal to take or attempt to take wildlife, including turkeys, fleeing from a flood.