Hunting on the national forests: safety tips, regulations

When hunting this fall and winter, hunters are reminded to be safe and follow state and federal hunting laws:

Ozark-St. Francis national forests (Arkansas)

Remove hunting stands from the forest at the end of the hunting season.

Ouachita National Forest (Arkansas and Oklahoma)

Hunting stands may be erected for up to 14 days at a time and must be moved to another location more than 200 yards away if the hunting trip continues. All stands must have the owner’s name and address permanently affixed. Remove stands from the forest at the end of the hunting season.

Overall safety

• Unload firearms before crossing a fence or climbing a tree.

• Do not transport loaded firearms in any type of vehicle.

• Never fire at any sounds, movements or colors.

• Be one hundred percent certain of your target before you fire.

• Hikers should wear at least one article of hunter orange viewable from all directions such as a hat, jacket or vest. Cover your backpack with orange.

• Horseback riders should wear a hunter orange vest and helmet cover. Use a hunter orange vest or rump sheet on your horse.

• Dogs should wear hunter orange or other visible color on a vest, leash, coat, harness or bandanna.

• Avoid wearing white or tan during deer season. A glimpse of white clothing by a hunter in a forest could easily be mistaken for the tail of a deer.

In addition to state and federal game and fish laws, the following regulations apply to USDA National Forests:

Camping

Designated camping facilities are available. Some campgrounds require a fee. Undeveloped campsites are first come/ first served basis and cannot be reserved. Undeveloped campsites may be occupied for no more than 30 consecutive days. Developed campsites may be occupied for no more than 14 consecutive days. Camping or operating/parking motorized vehicles is not allowed in wildlife openings or food plots.

Leaving a campfire unattended or allowing it to escape is prohibited (The party responsible for allowing a fire to escape could be liable for suppression and damage costs.)

Removing any forest product without permit or contract is prohibited. Gathering firewood that is dead and down for camp use is allowed.

Damaging or removing a natural feature or other property of the U.S. is prohibited. This includes any vegetation, road, soil, timber, structure or artifact. (The possession or use of metal detectors within a prehistoric, historic or archaeological site is prohibited.)

Constructing roads or structures (including tree stands) without authorization is prohibited. Portable tree stands are allowed but must be removed by season’s end. (The Ouachita National Forest requires all tree stands to be moved within 14 days of their original placement.)

Baiting game species is prohibited. Discharging a firearm or other implement capable of taking human life on or across a Forest Service road or within 150 yards of a campsite, residence or occupied area is prohibited.

Vehicles

The Ouachita and Ozark-St. Francis National Forests have designated systems of roads and trails for public motor vehicle use. Any road or trail not classified for motorized vehicle use is closed. Operating any motorized vehicle on a road posted as closed, closed by an earthen mound, gate or other object, or not designated for motorized vehicle use in official Forest Service maps is prohibited.

Maps of designated routes are available at Ouachita at http://www.fs.usda.gov/ouachita or Ozark-St. Francis at http://www.fs.usda.gov/osfnf or any Forest Service office.

Abandoning personal property or littering (including dumping sewage) is prohibited. Sanitary dump stations are located at Blanchard Springs, Cedar Lake, Lake Sylvia, Lake Wedington, Little Pines, Long Pool and Shady Lake recreation areas.

Interfering with the use of a road, trail or gate is prohibited. This includes placing a campsite, vehicle or other structure in front of a gate or open road.

Possessing an alcoholic beverage is prohibited. This includes possessing an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, or while in the act of hunting.

Who needs a permit?

Any party providing commercial outfitting or guiding services on National Forest land for profit or nonprofit must have a permit. This includes businesses that use National Forest lands adjacent to federal lands. Contact the nearest Ranger District office to the activity or visit www.fs.fed.us/ passespermits/ for more information.