Hobbs Trails Seasonal Closures
June 16th, 2005 by Administrator
Proposal Calls For Seasonal Closures Of Hobbs Trails
ROGERS — A public hearing on a proposal to close hiking trails at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area during deer and turkey hunting season is on the agenda for Thursday’s Arkansas State Parks, Recreation and Tourism Commission meeting in Mountain Home.
Park Superintendent Mark Clippinger said if the proposal is passed, the Pigeon Roost, Shaddox Hollow and multiuse trails will be closed during the park’s five-day modern gun deer season and the five-day muzzle-loader deer season.
The proposal calls for closing the trails until noon during spring turkey season. The season usually runs through most of April and the first part of May.
Commissioners will meet at the Comfort Inn, 1031 Highland Circle in Mountain Home at 8 a.m. A public hearing on the Hobbs proposal is on the agenda to be held at 3 p.m.
Those who cannot attend may comment by e-mail to sandy.burch@arkansas.gov.
Shaddox Hollow and Pigeon Roost trails have been open during hunting seasons for several years. The multiuse trail isn’t finished, but is scheduled to open in late summer or early autumn, Clippinger said.
Hobbs, at nearly 12,000 acres, is Arkansas’ largest state park and the only one where hunting is allowed.
Clippinger said the commission made a motion during a meeting last year to leave the trails open, but prohibit hunting within 100 feet of a trail. Clippinger said the commission rescinded the motion after receiving complaints during a 30-day comment period.
The Historic Van Winkle Hollow Trail, scheduled to open in about two weeks, will not be closed under the proposal. The one-half mile trail is on an area small enough that signs can be erected to keep hunters away, Clippinger said.
Commissioners will discuss building a 4-mile trail on a section of the park that is already closed to hunting. If built, that trail will remain open because it is on land where hunting is off limits
By Flip Putthoff
The Morning News