White River National Wildlife Refuge
Southeast Region
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Hunting Special Hunts

White River National Wildlife Refuge, the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, and the Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation are proud to announce two special hunts that will be taking place at Cooks Lake during the 2009 hunting season. The following is a list of logistics and deadlines that apply to each event. Please read them carefully and if you have any questions contact Matt Conner at 870-282-8249.

Youth Deer Hunt
Dates of this event: December 5th – 6th

Due to an unprecedented early flood season, we have postponed the drawing for the Youth Hunt at Cook's Lake . Currently the river level gauge at Saint Charles is 26.7 feet and Zone 661 closed to deer hunting when the level reached 23 feet and will not re-open to deer hunting until the level falls below 21 feet. Cook's Lake unit adheres to the same flood closure as Zone 661 (referred to as the “North Unit”), therefore the Youth Hunt is currently cancelled. However, we will make every effort to have the hunt should the level fall below 21 feet as recorded by this website: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lzk/html/whitervr.htm .

 

Until the level falls below the re-opening stage, and the projection shows the river staying below flood closure stage, we will not draw names for the hunt. We encourage you to check the gauge levels and if the level does not fall below 21 feet by November 24 th , the hunt will not occur. November 24 th is the last possible day we could draw the names and still have time to conduct an orientation prior to the hunt. All of us at the refuge hope this hunt can occur, but the reality is the river will control the final outcome of this hunt.

Deer Hunt for the Mobility Impaired
Date of this event: December 11 th -13 th

This event is scheduled for December 11 th , 12 th , and 13 th . To qualify applicants must be mobility-impaired. Mobility-impaired is defined as a permanent physical condition that severely impairs your mobility, which requires the assistance from a wheelchair, braces, crutches, or other similar aids of mobility. Applicants must also provide a letter from a physician to verify the applicant's physical condition that severely impairs their mobility without proper assistance. The level of impairment must be stated in a letter to verify the extent of the applicant's condition. The physician's letter must be on an official letterhead with the physician's original signature. To apply for this hunt contact Matt Conner at White River National Wildlife Refuge for an application. Applications must be postmarked by August 15, 2009.

Bear Season Closed on all Refuge Lands

General Hunt Regulations

 
Last updated: November 4, 2009