AGFC Fighting Turkey Poachers

Arkansas Wildlife Officers have been busier than usual according to Col. Brad Young, former chief of Arkansas Game and Fish Commissions’ Enforcement Division. Young said he’s concerned about the number of violations found in the turkey woods this year. AGFC officers issued 152 citations during this year’s 21-day hunting season. Hunting turkeys over bait was the top violation officers found this year, with an alarming 72 cases being made in 3 weeks. “We had some regions where we found more baited sites than we had officers to sit on and catch the poacher in the act,” Young said. As the turkey population continues to see a decline across many states officers take particular pride in catching these poachers. Each turkey taken against regulatory standards is a turkey stolen from someone working hard and doing it right. More than that, if continued, it will affect generations of hunters to come.