LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a new lottery system for waterfowl hunting in the St. Francis Sunken Lands Wildlife Management Area.
Hunters will now need to pay a $5 application fee for a chance to secure one of 25 designated spots available along a roughly four-and-a-half-mile stretch of the popular hunting area. Drawings will take place seven to 10 days before each hunt date. Successful applicants will be allowed to bring up to seven additional people to their designated spot for hunts lasting up to four days.
The new system also requires hunters to remove their personal property, including hunting blinds, within one hour of the end of legal shooting hours for their selected hunt period.
The St. Francis Sunken Lands is one of only a few locations in Arkansas where a permit lottery will determine access for waterfowl hunting. Wildlife officials say the lottery is part of an effort to improve hunter experiences and manage resources effectively.
However, not all hunters are supportive of the change. John Stuckey, a duck hunter from Trumann, argued that the 1,000-acre section of the Sunken Lands has historically accommodated over 150 hunting groups per day, far more than the 25 groups permitted under the new system.
Stuckey also expressed concerns about the financial impact of the rule, noting that the $5 lottery fee adds to existing costs associated with hunting licenses, equipment, and blind construction. He said the uncertainty of being selected through the lottery could discourage participation.
“Nobody’s wanting to do all that and spend all that money with no guarantee,” Stuckey said. “They may not even hunt at all.”
The lottery system is set to be implemented in the upcoming hunting season. Further details and applications will be managed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.