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LITTLE ROCK – Some of Arkansas’s best duck hunting spots on public lands have been marred by unscrupulous cutting of "holes" in the flooded bottomlands. Hunters can’t use ‘em, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has ruled. Illegally cut openings on wildlife management areas are off limits to hunting, and they are being marked with red paint and yellow signs on trees surrounding the openings. No matter who cut the trees, bushes and grass to make these openings, they are closed to hunting, the AGFC said. Use them for hunting, and you’re subject to stiff penalties including fines, points toward revocation of licenses and possible confiscation of guns and other equipment. Fines can range from a minimum $100 to a maximum $1,000 plus court costs. "Holes" are bones of contention for Arkansas duck hunters. For generations, waterfowlers have worked the flooded bottomland hardwood areas of both public and private land, setting up and waiting for mallards and other species to come winging through trees to approach within shotgun range. Some hunters believe openings in the woods help to bring in ducks. These natural holes are popular with resident hunters, visitors and also guides who bring clients to them. One result is additional openings have been cut, a practice long prohibited by AGFC regulations. Reports abound of "football-size holes" or "half-acre holes" suddenly appearing on wildlife management areas. Example: Recently, work was completed on Bayou Meto WMA to flood an additional 1,200 acres in the Temple Island section. Wildlife officers flying over the area spotted two fresh, large "holes" cut in the area’s wooded cover. The placing of illegal holes off limits to hunting was one of several actions taken by the AGFC aimed at easing problems of overcrowding and hunter conflicts on management areas. Others including prohibiting guides from taking clients to Bayou Meto WMA, Dave Donaldson/Black River and Shirey Bay-Rainey Brake WMA on Saturdays and Sundays. New restrictions applying to Bayou Meto are a 15-shotgun shell limit for all hunters and a daily bag limit of four ducks. No shot loads larger than No. 2 can be used. Bayou Meto waterfowl hunters again must carry a signed and free permit for the area while they are hunting.

Uploaded: 11/5/2000