Arkansas Game and Fish Commission notes:
22 ARKANSANS GOING AFTER ELK IN DECEMBER PERMIT HUNT

BIG RACK CONTRIBUTED PHOTO George Cochran's trophy kill. His arms are outstretch to show the size.

COMPTON - Twenty-two Arkansans went into the rugged country of the Buffalo River beginning Monday, Dec. 3, to start their hunting of elk.

This is the largest number to be in action in the 10 years of the limited and highly coveted elk hunting permits. The hunt is scheduled for five days, ending Friday.

Two of the permits went to youths, hunters 15 or younger. Winners of the youth permits were Kylan Larsen of Bentonville and Walker Davis of Crossett. Both will be hunting in Elk zone 3, which is mostly the Gene Rush Wildlife Management Area of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. They can take either a bull or an antlerless elk.

This is the sixth year for youth elk permits. The AGFC continues to look for chances to involve and encourage young people of the state to participate in hunting and fishing. To be eligible to win the elk permit, youths must have successfully completed a hunter education course.

Bull Permits: Jim Palmer, Conway, Zone 1; Boyce Brown, Mc- Crory, Zone 2; Josh McCurry, Waldron, Zone 4; John Unwer, Huntsville, Zone 4.

GOOD SIZE CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Lindsey Nixon shows off her trophy kill. This is a large seven-point.

Antlerless Permits: Amanda Adair, Cabot; Jody Swaffar, Quitman; Mike Johnson, Evening Shade, all in Zone 1. Jeremy Brown, Jonesboro; Woodrow Armfield, Yellville;

Michael Alexander, Little Rock, all on Zone 2. Johnnie Tash, Jessieville; Sandy West, Mayflower; John Hintson, Pleasant Grove; Jerry Medley, Bethel Heights; Scotty Rush, Cave City, all on Zone 3. Randy McGrew, Hot Springs; Brian Weaver, Jessieville; Joshua Burns, Bella Vista; Robert Smith, Quitman; Gregory Smith, Sherwood, all in Zone 4.

The applications and permits were free, although a number of applicants send donations earmarked for elk program work. Applications for the elk permits.

GEESE OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARKANSAS WATERFOWLERS

LITTLE ROCK - There's no other way to say it, Arkansas is a duck-hunting state. Geese are plentiful this time of the year, but for most waterfowl enthusiasts, they are definitely secondary to mallards, pintails and wood ducks.

BUCK STOPS HERE CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Billy David and the buck he shot in the back of his Polaris.

But geese offer choices out in the field. If you are seeking ducks and come across geese, there is a choice to be made - get in some shooting or take a chance at coming up empty for the day.

Three major varieties of geese are found in Arkansas this time of the year, and their numbers can be impressive, especially the overabundant snow geese. The snows have white and blue color phases, but they are all the same species. The Ross' goose is a separate species that has the appearance of a small white snow goose.

The rules are general for snow and Ross' geese, too. Twenty is the daily limit, and there is no possession limit. Shooting hours are the same as for ducks.

White-fronted geese are often called specklebellies, and can be mistaken for the blue phase snow geese at a quick glance and from a distance.