Last week the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission unanimously approved to change the 2023-24 duck season dates to the traditional opener, the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Commission Chairman Bobby Martin states the change back to the traditional opening season dates stems from a response from public input from many members of the waterfowling community to commissioners and staff during the last year.
Martin states “We did get overwhelming (feedback) to make the change. The thing that I see as encouragingly interesting, one of the big reasons that I think the public, particularly waterfowlers, fought to try to hold it before Thanksgiving was the emphasis and priority around family and young hunters. The fact that so many people hang on to that is a signal that (the traditional opening day) is a legacy of a generation that we do not want to let go of in any way at all.”
Specklebelly, Canada and light goose seasons also will change with this modification, as will the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt and Special Active Duty Military and Veteran Hunt.
The 2023-24 waterfowl season dates are:
Duck, Coot and Merganser – Nov. 18-26, Dec. 9-23, Dec. 27-Jan. 31
White-fronted Goose – Oct. 28-Nov. 10, Nov. 18-26, Dec. 9-23, Dec. 27-Jan. 31
Canada Goose – Sept. 1-Oct. 15, Nov. 18-26, Dec. 9-23, Dec. 27-Jan. 31
Snow, Blue and Rosss Goose Season – Oct. 28-Nov. 10, Nov. 18-26, Dec. 9-23, Dec. 27-Jan. 31
Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt – Dec. 2 and Feb. 3
Veteran and Active Duty Military Waterfowl Hunt – Feb. 3
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI