LITTLE ROCK Hunters may voice their opinions about hunting regulations and seasons at one of 11 public meetings across the state Tuesday, Jan. 8.

The meetings are part of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's annual hunting regulations process. They are held to give hunters and other interested parties the opportunity to make comments and proposals for the 2008-2009 hunting seasons.

Comments may be verbal or written. Written comments may be submitted at one of the meetings or mailed to the AGFC, Hunting Regulations Proposals, 2 Natural Resources Drive, Little Rock , AR 72205 . Comments can also be made on the AGFC website at http://www.agfc.com/hunting/public-meeting.aspx <http://www.agfc.com/hunting/public-meeting.aspx> . The deadline for comments is Jan. 31.

The 11 meetings will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. AGFC personnel will make an initial presentation and accommodate those wishing to speak. Visitors may arrive and leave at any time during the meeting. Meeting sites and AGFC office telephone numbers are:

Jonesboro, Huntington Building Annex, 900 West Monroe, (877) 972-5438.

Pine Bluff, Governor Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center,1400 Black Dog Road, (877) 367-3559.

Camden, Camden Fairview High School Auditorium, 1750 Cash Road, (877) 836-4612.

Hope, Fair Park Community Center, Fair Park Drive, (877) 777-5580.

Hot Springs, National Park Community College Auditorium, 101 College Drive, (877) 525-8606

Fort Smith, AGFC Regional Office, 8000 Taylor Avenue, (877) 478-1043.

Russellville, AGFC Regional Office, 1266 Lock and Dam Road, (877) 967-7577.

Fayetteville, University of Arkansas Pauline Whitaker Animal Science Arena, 1335 West Knapp, (877) 967-7577.

Calico Rock, AGFC Regional Office, Highway 56 North, (877) 297-4331.

Little Rock, AGFC Central Office, 2 Natural Resources Drive, (800) 364-4263.

'Talkin' Outdoors' contest winners announced

LITTLE ROCK Winners of KARK Channel 4's "Talkin' Outdoors at the Corner Cafe" were announced last week on the popular outdoor show.

Winners included:

Jesse Runyan of Gurdon won the fishing package that included a 12-foot LegendCraft flatbottom boat complete with trailer and 8-horsepower Mercury motor provided by H & W Marine plus $1,000 worth of fishing tackle from Academy Sports and Outdoors.

Ogene Beggs of Plainview won the Watchable Wildlife package. The package includes a Sony digital camcorder and accessories along with a sony Digital still camera from Bedford Camera and Video and $1,000 worth of camping equipment from Gander Mountain . Also included are a pair of 8X42 Vortex Razor Binoculars and accessories from Wild Birds Unlimited.

Skeet Morse of Conway won the hunting package that includes a Remington Model 7 rifle and Remington Model 1100 12-gauge shotgun donated by Harmon Outdoors and Sporting Gear of Benton, a 24-gun Colonial Liberty gun safe donated by Hunters Refuge of White Hall and $1,000 worth of hunting apparel from Fort Thompson Sporting Goods of Sherwood.

Linda C. May of DeWitt won the grand prize package that included a customized camouflaged EZ-GO golf cart hunting buggy complete with lift kit, mud tires, gun rack and winch donated by Mid-State Golf Cars of Bryant. Rounding out the package is a 61/2x 10-foot trailer donated by BigTex Trailers of Benton.

In order to be eligible for the contest, viewers submitted a postcard with their name, address and telephone number. One winner was drawn each week for a one-year combination hunting and fishing license. Grand-prize winners were announced Dec. 1.

"More than 25,000 postcards were submitted during the contest period," Talkin' Outdoors host Steve 'Wildman' Wilson said. "With prizes totaling approximately $15,000, we are indebted to our generous sponsors. Their cooperation allows us to provide only the best prizes for our large audience of outdoor enthusiasts. These supporters help us promote a love and appreciation of Arkansas and all its natural wonders."

"Talkin' Outdoors at the Corner Cafe" airs Saturdays at 9 a.m. on KARK. For more information on the show go to www.talkinoutdoors.org.

TIP hotline available for

cell phone users

LITTLE ROCK AT&T and Alltel cellular phone users in Arkansas have a direct line to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's TIP program. A special phone number in the AT&T and Alltel wireless system can be used to turn in poachers.

AT&T customers can dial #TIP (847) or Alltel customers can use *TIP (*847) for turning in poachers. The number is an acronym for "Turn In Poachers." Alltel minutes used on the hotline will not be charged against the user's cell phone minutes. AT&T customers will have minutes charged against their cell phone usage.

The calls will be routed into the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's radio room. The TIP line will be answered 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year and all calls are kept confidential.

New manager joins White River Wildlife Refuge

DEWITT Dennis Sharp, formerly refuge manager of Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge in Ullin , Ill., is now manager of the White River National Wildlife Refuge in DeWitt.He began his new duties on Nov. 12.

"We welcome Dennis back to the Southeast," said Sam D. Hamilton, Southeast Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service."He has 17 years of valuable experience with the Service, and his accomplishments in reforestation and wetland and river hydrology restoration will benefit White River National Wildlife Refuge."

Prior to his position at Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Sharp was refuge manager at the Central Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Marksville , La .That complex includes Grand Cote and Lake Ophelia National Wildlife Refuges.He also has served as deputy project leader at Central Arkansas Refuge Complex in Augusta , helping to oversee Cache River and Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuges.

"I'm excited and honored to have the opportunity to return to Arkansas as the manager of White River National Wildlife Refuge," said Sharp. "It is certainly one of the jewels in the refuge system and is located in one of the most resource rich areas in the country."

A native of Mount Vernon, Ill., Sharp holds a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's in wildlife biology from Murray State University in Kentucky.Prior to joining the Service, Sharp worked as a wildlife biologist and as a wildlife supervisor at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Land Between the Lakes.

Established in 1935, White River National Wildlife Refuge hosts the largest concentration of wintering mallard ducks in the Mississippi Flyway.The 160,000-acre refuge is located in Desha, Monroe , Arkansas and Phillips counties.Ninety of the lower 100 miles of the White River are located within the refuge's boundaries.More than 150,000 visitors annually enjoy nature trails, fishing, hunting, boating and wildlife observation and photography at the refuge.

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