St. Francis Lake Waterfowl Draw Opposed by Trumann Mayor

AGFC Cites Crowding as Trumann Mayor Pushes Back on Sunken Lands Hunt Draw

TRUMANN, Ark. — Trumann Mayor Jay Paul Woods is urging the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to reject a proposed drawn-permit system for waterfowl hunting on part of St. Francis Lake, while the commission says the system is intended to address hunters’ concerns about crowding and hunting pressure during duck season.

The proposal would establish a draw unit on roughly 1,000 acres of the 30,000-acre St. Francis Sunken Lands Wildlife Management Area. The proposed area spans just under 5 miles along the portion of the St. Francis River known as St. Francis Lake.

The commission heard the first reading of the proposal July 16. Woods submitted a letter opposing the plan Thursday as the agency continued accepting public comments.

How the Proposed Draw Would Work

According to AGFC, the draw would operate similarly to waterfowl permit hunts on 10 other wildlife management areas. Unlike some permit hunts limited to certain days, locations at St. Francis Lake would be available through drawings seven days per week during the regular duck season.

Hunters would apply for a specific day about a week in advance. Applications would be accepted from Thursday afternoon through Sunday night for hunt dates beginning the following weekend.

Permit winners would be assigned marked locations and allowed to bring three hunting companions. Each four-person party would be required to remain on public land within 150 yards of its designated location.

AGFC said the number of locations has not been finalized. The agency said the decision would be based on safety, distance from private property and area boundaries. Traditionally popular hunting locations would be prioritized for inclusion.

The commission said the proposal was developed in response to continued concerns from hunters about crowding and pressure on wildlife management areas during duck season.

Woods Cites Tradition and Investment

Woods said he is not a duck hunter but has hunted most other game throughout his life. He said his opposition is based on fairness, practicality and what he believes is best for people who have used the area responsibly for decades.

“The St. Francis has long been more than simply a place to hunt ducks,” Woods wrote. “It is part of the culture and heritage of Northeast Arkansas.”

Woods said generations of local families have gathered at the Sunken Lands during waterfowl season and passed along lessons about conservation, firearm safety, ethics and respect for the outdoors.

He also pointed to the money hunters have invested in boats, motors, decoys and mobile floating blinds. Woods said hunters made those investments after earlier regulations ended the use of permanent blinds.

Under the proposed draw, he argued, hunters who have spent thousands of dollars complying with previous regulations could be unable to use their equipment when they are not selected.

“It would replace a long-standing tradition of public access with one based largely on chance,” Woods wrote.

On Friday, Woods told NEA Report he also had concerns about how these changes could impact the local economy.

Some Objections Not Reflected in AGFC Release

Woods also opposed limiting waterfowl hunting to four days per week. The proposal outlined by AGFC, however, says draw locations would be available seven days per week during the regular duck season.

Woods further described a proposed limit of four hunters per vessel. AGFC’s release describes a four-person hunting-party limit — the permit holder and three companions — but does not describe it as a vessel occupancy restriction.

The mayor also supported allowing hunters to moor registered floating hunting platforms and leave decoys in place throughout the season. AGFC’s release does not mention proposed rules requiring the removal of floating blinds or decoys.

It was unclear whether those portions of Woods’ letter addressed an earlier version of the proposal, separate regulatory language or concerns about how the draw system could operate.

Navigability and Public Access

Woods also questioned the commission’s authority to restrict registered vessels on the St. Francis River, which he described as a federally recognized navigable waterway.

He cited a 1980 Arkansas Supreme Court ruling concerning recreational use of navigable waterways and argued that AGFC should not regulate vessel use beyond what is reasonably necessary to regulate the taking of wildlife.

The AGFC proposal applies to waterfowl hunting within the designated public hunting area. The agency’s release does not propose restricting general boating or fishing on the river.

Woods argued that making hunting access more difficult could work against the commission’s efforts to recruit new hunters and could prevent younger generations from developing the same connection to the area.

“My own son learned to duck hunt because a close family friend invited him to hunt the St. Francis as a young boy — not for a single lottery-selected day, but over multiple seasons,” Woods wrote.

The commission is accepting comments at regulations@agfc.ar.gov. Comments will be compiled for consideration at the commission’s Aug. 19-20 meeting in Little Rock, when a vote on the proposed regulation is expected.