A Celebration of All Things Hunting and Fishing
G overnor Asa Hutchinson proclaimed Sept. 18-25 Hunting and Fishing Week.
West Memphis’s Tilden Rogers Lake was chosen for Catch The Celebration Hunting And Fishing Event. Saturday morning was cool and drizzly and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission had stocked the lake with 1,000 catfish.
The only problem was the lack of fishermen. There were only about 20 folks trying to catch supper. The AGAF were well represented with 5 fishery biologist to offer free bait, information, and help young fishermen to bait hooks and take the fish off the hook. No prizes were given for the first and most fish. The AGFC folks were disappointed with the low turn out. This was not well published. Only a blurt on FaceBook. A few signs around town would have let people know of the event.
There was not even a sign in the park and around the lake.
If the event occurs next year, it would help to let fishermen know about the event. The lake needed to be restocked and the fishing should be good until it is stocked later with trout. Marion Recreation Complex was also stocked but there was no fishing event.
September 22 is an important date for almost everyone.
It is the first day of fall and the start of cooler weather.
In fact, the weatherman says the temps will be in the 70s and a low in the mid 50s.
Saturday, September 25, is also the first day of archery season that lasts until the end of February 2022. The first Arkansas archery season was in the mid 1950s and lasted for a week and only bucks could be taken. That is a far cry from the modern archery season generous bag limits. The AGFC has done a wonderful job of managing our deer herd.
Teal season is open but there has been only a few good reports. The largest population seems to be in the Sunken Lands near Trulot.
Canada geese are legal with a limit of 5 per day. Waterfowl hunting requires both state and federal duck stamps, HIP license, plugged guns, and steel shot. Teal shooting hours start at sunrise rather than 30 before sunrise.
Remember that snakes and mosquitoes are both easy to find.
Fishing remains slow to poor in most of our lakes with the exception of catfish.
Catfish seem to be hungry all year! The upcoming cool will greatly improve the fishing.
The fish tend to fatten up for the winter and the fishing can be outstanding. Many fishermen are also hunters and fishing takes the back seat until hunting season is a memory. Then it’s hurry up warm weather and the spawn. Fall is a wonderful time of year to take the kids to the woods and make some wonderful memories. Take plenty of pictures and send them to Papa Duck. I can’t put the kid’s first squirrel or deer in the paper unless you send it to me. Lakeside Taxidermy is ready for the start of hunting season. Bring your trophies in for beautiful mounts, fast service, and reasonable prices. If there are trophies still in the freezer, bring them to Lakeside before the fall rush starts.
Papa Duck Lakeside Taxidermy 901-482-3430 jhcriner@hotmail.com
Mike Houston poses with an 11-point bow kill from last year on State WMA. Arkansas’ 2021 archery season opens Saturday.
Photo by John Criner
John Criner
Outdoors Columnist
