As February brings another Arkansas duck season to a close, hunters are packing up decoys and deciding which ones will return to the spread next fall. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) is asking hunters to consider donating worn or unused duck and goose decoys to its decoy adoption program. Now in its sixth year, the program has recycled more than 8,000 plastic decoys.
Eric Maynard, assistant chief of education for the AGFC said many donated decoys are cleaned, repaired and primed before being stored at AGFC nature centers, where they are used in decoy-painting classes to teach participants about Arkansas waterfowl species and conservation. Decoys still in usable condition are refurbished and prepared for continued use in the field.
Students in an AGFC decoy painting class match the plumage of a common goldeneye (left), redhead (center) and mallard (right) on their donated art canvases. AGFC photo.
The program also redistributes nearly new decoys to youth organizations such as FFA and 4-H. In addition, donated goose decoys, calls and other hunting equipment are used in AGFC mentored hunts and provided to participants to help them get started in the sport.
Donations can be arranged by contacting Eric Maynard at eric.maynard@agfc.ar.gov to schedule a drop-off.
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