AGFC Conducts Open House Workshop in Heber Springs
In an effort to engage hunters and landowners in the fight against chronic wasting disease (CWD), the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) will host an open house workshop in Heber Springs on September 12. This meeting, held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Heber Springs Community Center, will focus on the latest regulations and practices for managing CWD in deer. The workshop is one of two scheduled for September, with the second taking place on September 17 at the ASU Cooper Alumni Center in Jonesboro.
The meetings aim to educate hunters and landowners about the expanding CWD Management Zone, which now includes Cleburne, Mississippi, and Sharp counties. Craighead County has also been added to the management zone following the identification of a CWD-positive case. AGFC State Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Jenn Ballard emphasized the importance of this engagement, stating, “We’re eager to engage with hunters and landowners as we prepare for the fall season.”
Both meetings will start with an introduction and a presentation explaining CWD, its transmission methods, and the role hunters can play in preventing its spread. The meetings will also provide opportunities for attendees to discuss the Deer Management Program and ask questions about CWD.
The AGFC is actively monitoring CWD, a neurological condition deadly to species within the deer and elk family. The commission stresses that there is little evidence to suggest it can be transmitted from animals to humans. By hosting these open house workshops, the AGFC hopes to mobilize the hunting and landowner communities to join in the efforts to mitigate CWD and protect Arkansas’ wildlife.
