Arkansas passed the first non-resident game law in the United States in 1875. Thirteen years later, Arkansas lawmakers passed a law to ban game and fish exports, a jab at market hunters. Four years later, Memphians continued to complain about Arkansawyers not wanting them to come into their state, kill the wildlife, and export it.Continue reading “Today in Arkansas Wildlife History: April 28 Non-Residents Beware”
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Today in Arkansas Wildlife History: April 27…Outdoor Health!
The notion that engaging in outdoor activities is beneficial for one’s health is not a new concept. In several cases in Arkansas, health resorts in multiple locations across the region touted hunting and fishing as part of their exercise and restorative regimen. If the patient/client could participate in the rigors of hunting, for example, itContinue reading “Today in Arkansas Wildlife History: April 27…Outdoor Health!”
Today in Arkansas Wildlife History: April 26
Today is a follow-up from yesterday and the DeRossitt Bill. This is the bill that barred railroad and express companies from shipping game from the state, a move that angered many non-residents who owned land in Arkansas and hunted there. They wanted to be able to ship their harvests back home. However, the ban wasContinue reading “Today in Arkansas Wildlife History: April 26”
This Day in Arkansas Wildlife History: April 25
THE DEROSSITT BILL (1903): St. Francis County representative Frank W. DeRossitt took the floor and explained the bill. It contained both the stricter non-exportation law (along with more considerable fines for the shipping companies) and the non-resident prohibition law that the Arkansas State Sportsmen’s Association thought most critical; it also listed new seasons for someContinue reading “This Day in Arkansas Wildlife History: April 25”
This day in Arkansas Wildlife History: April 24
In 1889, the Arkansas legislature passed a law that forbade anyone to ship game and fish from Arkansas. Several non-resident sportsmen, who together owned thousands of acres of Arkansas land and water, became extremely angry over this new law. They claimed that they owned the land and therefore, the animals and fish that lived onContinue reading “This day in Arkansas Wildlife History: April 24”
This day in Arkansas Wildlife History: April 20
On this date in 1844, the Van Buren newspaper, Arkansas Intelligencer, carried coverage of a debate between former President Martin Van Buren and Kentucky lawmaker Henry Clay over squatters on public lands. During his argument, Van Buren included his opinion of game laws. He claimed that God had given dominion to humans over the animalsContinue reading “This day in Arkansas Wildlife History: April 20”
Today in Arkansas Wildlife History: New Game Laws in 1941
Today in Arkansas Wildlife History: Still Paying Bounties For Predators April 18, 1929
Arkansas has a long history of paying bounties on predators. Wolves numbered so many that settlers complained that they could not raise domestic animals. Wolves, coyotes, bears, panthers, and other predators killed many sheep, pigs, and cattle. Therefore, the Territory of Arkansas, the State of Arkansas, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission all offeredContinue reading “Today in Arkansas Wildlife History: Still Paying Bounties For Predators April 18, 1929”
Today in Arkansas Wildlife History: Chicot County Game Law Falls
Arkansas had a long history of passing laws that pertained to one county and not others. Representatives for Chicot County had passed a non-resident hunting license law that required anyone who did not reside in Chicot County a fee to hunt there. Drew County Representatives submitted a bill that removed the Chicot County law onContinue reading “Today in Arkansas Wildlife History: Chicot County Game Law Falls”
Arkansas Wildlife History 