TRUMANN, Ark. — Duck hunters in Trumann are uniting to contest proposed changes from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) that could reshape longstanding hunting practices in sections of the St. Francis Sunken Lands Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

The AGFC has outlined a plan to introduce a draw-based permit system for duck hunters in the area. Key changes under the proposal include limiting hunting parties to four individuals, confining hunters to specific permit-designated zones, capping daily permits at 25 hunters through a lottery process, and requiring application fees for all participants.

According to the commission, the suggested changes aim to enhance hunter safety, addressing complaints received from previous seasons. However, many local residents view the proposal as a threat to cherished community traditions that have endured for generations.

On Saturday, hunters, including families with decades of history in the St. Francis Sunken Lands, gathered in Trumann to strategize against the proposal. Among them was Brian Mooneyham, a Trumann resident, who believes these measures could effectively exclude much of the current hunting community.

“If they implement this draw system, it’s going to eliminate about 70-80% of the regular hunting community that hunts out there every year,” Mooneyham said. He warned that hunters accustomed to spending upwards of 40 or 50 days of the 60-day season on the water could find themselves limited to just two or three days annually under the proposed plan.

The meeting emphasized the importance of engaging the AGFC with logical, rather than emotional, arguments. Several attendees expressed their desire for the commission to collaborate with local hunters to address safety concerns without resorting to restrictive measures. Mooneyham suggested that adjusting the proposed limit to allow six-person hunting parties, rather than four, could represent a more balanced compromise.

Community members at the meeting reaffirmed the area’s tradition of resolving disputes internally, seeking to preserve the self-governed status quo set by generations of hunters. They remain hopeful that direct dialogue with the AGFC will lead to solutions that protect both safety and access.

The commission’s vote on the proposed changes is scheduled for later this month.