Arkansas Game & Fish temporarily closing Wildlife Management Areas for wild hog control
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Officials said the Arkansas wild hog population is leading the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to close some Wildlife Management Areas in February and March in an effort to eradicate the animal.
AGFA officials said the operations will be by air to facilitate hog control efforts. The flights will take place during the day in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services.
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Officials said specialists will shoot hogs from the air using a USDA helicopter. Officials added the operation hopes to remove as many feral hogs as possible.
Affected WMAs will be closed for one or two days to allow for flight operations. Officials did not give specific closure dates since operations depend on the weather. Officials said if access to the WMA is restricted, AGFC and partnering agency staff will be on-site to maintain road and access closures.
AGFC Feral Hog Program Coordinator Ryan Farney said, 'These targeted control efforts are essential to reducing feral hog populations and protecting the long-term health and sustainability of our wildlife management areas.'
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The WMAs that will be temporarily closed include Cut-Off Creek WMA, Seven Devils WMA, Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA, Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA, Trusten Holder WMA, George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto WMA, U of A Pine Tree WMA, Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA, Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek WMA, Big Lake WMA and McIlroy Madison County WMA.
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