To provide the public access to land for hunting and other outdoor oriented recreation by maintaining and operating infrastructure on wildlife management areas.objective 1 project adirectly maintain…

This $10,331,088 Formula Grant award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) supports the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission's efforts to operate and maintain 132 wildlife management areas (WMAs) across the state.

The key objectives of the grant are to: (1) directly maintain and operate infrastructure on 62 state-owned WMAs to allow public hunting and other outdoor recreation by June 2025; (2) directly manage and enhance habitat on 132 WMAs, including 62 commission-owned sites, to support wildlife populations and public recreation by June 2025; and (3) directly maintain, operate, and manage 132 WMAs for wildlife management and public access by June 2025. The grant is expected to help maintain consistent hunter success rates, support sustainable wildlife populations, and enhance the capacity for WMA management, research, and monitoring to improve habitat conditions and outdoor recreation opportunities.

To provide the public access to land for hunting and other outdoor oriented recreation by maintaining and operating infrastructure on wildlife management areas.objective 1 project adirectly maintain and operate infrastructure on 132 wmas at which most maintenance and operation activities will occur on 62 state owned wmas to allow public hunting and other outdoor recreation by june 30 2025.objective 2 project bdirectly manage and enhance habitat on 132 wmas of which habitat work will be conducted on 62 commission owned wmas to allow public hunting and other recreation by june 30 2025.objective 3 project cdirectly maintain and operate and manage 132 wmas for wildlife management and public access by june 30 2025.expected outcomesproject athe WMA system provides public hunting opportunities and a relatively consistent hunter success rate by controlling the annual harvest of game species through adaptive regulations on bag limits season dates and harvest methods. The utilization of these areas by the public for other wildlife oriented recreation will be maintained at levels consistent with the demand for such uses and which are compatible with the primary uses of hunting and fishing.project BBY continuing the habitat program the WMA system will provide enhanced habitat for native and migratory species and improved outdoor recreational opportunities. The habitat program will help maintain a relatively consistent hunter success rate by supporting wildlife populations at sustainable levels.project cequipment acquired under this project will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of WMA management and the performance of research and monitoring and technical assistance. Consequently the increased capacity to perform these functions will help improve habitat conditions and public hunting opportunities as well as other outdoor recreation.intended beneficiariesgeneral publicsubrecipient activitiesnone