arkansas du news a r k a n s a s d u v o l u n t e e r n e ... · future for waterfowl across the...

spring event

season. I hope I

have the opportunity to visit with

many of you in my travels to your

events. If you have any concerns or

questions feel free to call or e-mail

me, and I will do my best to see

that your needs are met.

Matt Robinson

Arkansas State Chairman

I am honored to be serving as your

new Arkansas Ducks Unlimited

State Chairman. For those of you

who were able to attend state

convention this past February in

Little Rock, I hope you were as

pleased as I was! It was a great time

with family and friends, honoring

our success and a time to reflect on

our hardworking volunteers.

2014 is already off to a great start,

and I have a feeling we are going to

have a record-breaking year in

Arkansas. I've already attended

several great events and believe this

year's merchandise is a huge hit and

will help us increase bottom lines

across the state.

I encourage all of you to register

and attend the DU National

Convention in St. Louis. The

deadline is fast approaching, and

rooms are filling up quickly. If you've

never been to a national

convention, now is the time to get

in on the fun. There will be team-

building outings, informative

meetings and more. Information can

be found in this newsletter and on

the web at convention.ducks.org.

Also, work is underway on the

2015 Arkansas DU 365 Day Gun

Giveaway. Distribution will begin

the first week in May, and we will

get calendars to the district

chairmen to pass out as we did last

year. This giveaway has proven to

be an easy, fun and quick way to

add underwriting dollars to help

your events succeed.

I want to thank each and every one

of you for all your hard work - past,

present and future. I know together

as a team we can achieve the goals

we have set for this year. I am

looking forward to a successful

Glenn Pollard of Searcy has been

selected as the Arkansas Ducks

Unlimited Sponsor Artist of the

Year. The 2014 Sponsor print

entitled “Reydell Hole” features

mallards dropping into President

Dunklin’s favorite waterfowling

spot. The overall size of the

print is 29” x 22”.

Every paid Arkansas Bronze

Sponsor and above will receive a

copy of the print and the new

2014 Sponsor license plate.

State Chairman’s Corner INSIDE

THIS

ISSUE:

Chairman’s

Corner

1

Arkansas Sponsor

Program

1

State Convention

Highlights

2-3

President George H.

Dunklin, Jr.

4

Scenes from National

Convention -

Portland, Oregon

5-6

2014 National

Convention -

St. Louis, Missouri

7

2014 Arkansas

Greenwing Camp

8-9

Upcoming Events 10

AR DU 365 Day Gun

Giveaway

11

DU President’s Elite

& Top 100 Chapters

12

AR DU on Facebook

& Photo Contest

13

Arkansas DU

Super Raffle

14

Arkansas

Conservation Report

15-

16

Arkansas DU

BRAGGIN’

BOARD

17-

18

Tag Your Ride 19

WANTED:

DU Chapters in

Your Town

20

“Reydell Hole” - The 2104 Arkansas DU Sponsor Print

Arkansas DU News S P R I N G 2 0 1 4 A R K A N S A S D U V O L U N T E E R N E W S L E T T E R

2014 Arkansas Sponsor Program

http://www.ducks.org/events/National-Convention

Arkansas DU State Convention

P A G E 2 A R K A N S A S D U V O L U N T E E R N E W S L E T T E R S P R I N G 2 0 1 4

William Hamill (L) presents the State Chairman's badge to Matt Robinson

The Hamill Family Packed house for Duck Bingo

The Master at Work: BINGO BOB!

The Frank Appleberry Legacy Greenwing Project is announced.

Congrats to the Appleberry Family for a well deserved honor!

Arkansas Ducks Unlimited State Chairmen:

William Hamill (2012-2013) and Matt Robinson ( 2014-2015)

Award Time in the Rock!


Top Event Efficiency Awards

Texarkana Membership

Hot Spring County Membership

Independence County BBQ

Jacksonville Membership

Marion Sponsor Banquet

Casscoe Poker Event

Springdale Sponsor Banquet

Greenwood Poker Tournament

Jacksonville Golf Tournament

Benton County Golf Tournament

Independence County Golf

Black River Greenwing Day

Paragould Greenwing Fun Day

Top Area Chairmen Awards By District

District 1 - Steve DeLancey &

Jerry Stamps; Springdale

District 2 - Bill Couch; Independence Co.

District 3 - Danny Barr; Black River

District 4 - Micha Gairhan; Four Rivers

District 5 - Ryan Davis; Arkansas River Valley

District 6 - Barry Wolfe; Cypress Bayou

District 7 - Irwin Burton; Marion

District 8 - Greg Knowles; Texarkana

District 9 - Jeremy Gilbert; Grant County

District 10 - John Mark Goings; Central AR

District 11 - Bailey Dickson; Stuttgart

District 12 - Cody Strickland; Calhoun Co.

District 13 - Troy Meaux; Delta

Top Achievement Awards

Top New Miscellaneous Event – Springdale July Gun

Raffle; Steve DeLancey & Jerry Stamps

Top New Re-Start Membership Event – South

Mississippi County; Todd Warhurst & Jimbo Bishop

Top % Increase Membership Event – Arkansas State

University; Weston Cissell

Top % Increase Sponsor Event – Arkansas River Valley;

Ryan Davis

Top Miscellaneous Event – North Little Rock Hooters

Event; Pat Mahan

Top Greenwing Event – Paragould Greenwing Fun Day;

Tom Smalling & Derek Exum

Top Dollar Sponsor Event – Arkansas River Valley;

Ryan Davis

Top Diamond Event – Springdale July Gun Raffle;

Steve DeLancey & Jerry Stamps

Top Dollar Membership Event – Benton County;

Craig Wall & Marcus Necessary

Arkansas DU chapters from across the state racked up on awards at both the State Chairman’s Awards Luncheon and Saturday night banquet during

state convention weekend in Little Rock. Here are the awards presented for fundraising during 2013:

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR - Brandy Robinson

Awards presented by DU Board Members Steve Cook (L) and Vince Callahan

CHAPTER OF THE YEAR - Arkansas River Valley

DISTRICT CHAIRMAN

OF THE YEAR - Kyle “Odie” Peters

ZONE CHAIRMAN

OF THE YEAR - Irwin Burton

AREA CHAIRMAN

OF THE YEAR - Ryan Davis

George H. Dunklin Jr. Elected President of Ducks Unlimited


Arkansas rice farmer and life-

long conservationist, takes on

organization’s top volunteer

position.

During Ducks Unlimited’s annual

National Convention in Portland,

Oregon, the organization’s leaders

proudly welcomed 30-year

volunteer, George H. Dunklin Jr., of Humphrey, Ark., as DU’s 42nd

president. Dunklin succeeds John

Newman, who now serves as

chairman of the board.

“I am honored and humbled

beyond words to become

president of Ducks Unlimited,”

Dunklin told convention attendees

gathered in Portland, Ore. “So

many great leaders helped bring me

to this place in my conservation

career, and I am determined to

make them proud during my

presidency. And far beyond that, I

am committed to continuing to

grow and shape this great

organization, strengthen our bonds

as Team DU and reach or exceed

all our goals over the next two

years.”

Dunklin’s plans for his presidency

include ensuring the ongoing

success of DU’s fundraising event

system, building on the more than

13 million acres of habitat

conservation work, growing DU’s

youth and education program to

recruit and train tomorrow’s

conservationists and working to

meet the objectives laid out in the

organization’s national business

plan.

“Bringing up our next generation

with a deep appreciation for

waterfowl and habitat is essential

to ensuring a strong future not only

for Ducks Unlimited but also for

the health of our entire continent,”

Dunklin said. “My wife, Livia, and I

made sure we passed on our dedication to conservation to our

three daughters – Megan, Hillary

and Lauren – who are all Legacy

Greenwing DU members. I

encourage everyone to do the

same for their children and

grandchildren starting today.”

Dunklin’s father planted these very

seeds of conservation and

stewardship in his son’s mind while

he was growing up in Pine Bluff,

Ark., duck hunting on Arkansas’

Grand Prairie. “My dad would

constantly tell me that we did not

own this land, but we were simply

the tenants for the short time that

we’re here,” Dunklin said. “It’s our

responsibility to leave the land

better than we found it – a

philosophy that still rings true for

me today.” Dunklin carried these messages of

stewardship forward into his many

careers over the years. Following in

the footsteps of his father and his

grandfather, L.A. Black, Dunklin is a

well-known, third-generation

Arkansas rice farmer and a strong

advocate for rice agriculture in the

region.

In 1983, Dunklin purchased what is

now the popular Stuttgart

waterfowling destination, Five Oaks

Lodge, and began shaping and

managing the land for waterfowl

and other wildlife. After years of

habitat conservation commitment

across Arkansas, through rice

agriculture and his work at Five

Oaks, Dunklin was appointed by

Gov. Mike Huckabee to a seven-

year term on the Arkansas Game

and Fish Commission in 2005.

“George is the very model of not

only a DU volunteer but the finest

order of waterfowl and wetlands

conservationist,” said DU CEO

Dale Hall. “He has made

conservation his life’s work and is

committed to ensuring a strong

future for waterfowl across the

continent. He sees the big picture

and the importance of conserving

not only waterfowl habitat in his

home state, but critical prairie

breeding grounds to the north and

Gulf Coast wintering areas to the

south.”

Dunklin has built a lasting legacy

within the Ducks Unlimited family,

beginning as a grassroots volunteer more than three decades ago.

From there, he moved through the

ranks to become Arkansas state

chairman, an at-large member of

DU’s board of directors, senior

advisory vice president for

conservation and finally the

organization’s first vice president

before becoming president. He is

also a DU major sponsor and a

member of Wetlands America

Trust, the foundation arm behind

Ducks Unlimited.

“When I met past DU President

Herman Taylor in 1983, I’d been a

DU member since I was 16, but

hadn’t been a true volunteer yet. I

didn’t understand what the

organization was doing for us and

for waterfowl,” Dunklin said. “Mr.

Taylor explained to me the

importance of what Ducks

Unlimited was doing to support

conservation and how truly crucial

waterfowl and wildlife habitat was.

He changed my life.”

Dunklin has reinforced his commitment to Ducks Unlimited

many times throughout the years,

including when he was selected in

2009 as the Budweiser

Conservationist of the Year. This

award allowed Dunklin to select

DU to receive a $50,000 grant

from Budweiser and the National

Fish and Wildlife Foundation to

support a conservation project at

Bayou Meto Wildlife Management

Area, a popular public

hunting area east of Pine

Bluff.

“In a modern society that

wants instant gratification,

DU must continue our

message that the only true

pleasure is one that will have

positive benefits long after

we’ve departed this world. I

can think of no better way to

accomplish this than through

conservation,” Dunklin said.

“It’s not just about the ducks

– it’s about what each of us

can do for the land, the

resources, our outdoor

heritage and the family and

friends we share it all with.”

George H. Dunklin Jr., 42nd President of Ducks Unlimited

2013 National Convention


The DU National Convention is a great time to celebrate our accomplishments

with friends. We encourage you to attend DU’s 77th National convention in St.

Louis. We are proud to have President Dunklin leading our great organization!

President Dunklin addresses the convention

delegates and attendees Ducks Unlimited leaders attend a reception for Livia & George H. Dunklin Jr.

at the historic Heathman Hotel in Portland, OR

The Dunklin Family

Wanda Morrison, Brandy Robinson, Jennifer Anderson & Cyanne Hamill

Cyanne and William Hamill

2013 National Convention


Sights from the 76th Ducks Unlimited National Convention

2014 Arkansas Greenwing Conservation Camp


Nineteen campers attended this year’s

Arkansas Greenwing Camp hosted at DU

President George Dunklin’s Five Oaks Duck

Lodge near Stuttgart. The camp is

sponsored by Arkansas DU and the

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to

provide youths the opportunity to learn

about waterfowl, their habitat needs and

their annual life cycle. The importance of

habitat conservation is a focus of the camp, with particular emphasis on Arkansas’

wintering habitats. Waterfowl hunting

traditions and hunting’s role in conservation

are also discussed. Campers attend the

camp at no cost, and enjoy several activities

including waterfowl identification and

dissection, wood duck box construction,

classroom instruction on waterfowl ecology

and management, duck banding, waterfowl

hunting, firearm safety, retriever training,

duck calling, and much, much more!

This year’s class was composed of 12 boys

and 7 girls. The 2014 camp participants

were: Skylar Brasher of Paragould, Anna

Cunningham of DeWitt, Alex Davis of

Searcy, Cody Doyle of Weiner, Kurtlyn

Givens of Arkadelphia, Halen Layne of

Blytheville, John Lytle, Jr. of White Hall,

Richard Mooney of El Dorado, Nathan

Phillips of Hope, Riley Poor of Almyra,

Justin Prine of Jonesboro, Taylor Rainey of

Jonesboro, Sidney Sizemore of Monticello,

Drake Smith of Walnut Ridge, Hunter Smith

of Stuttgart, Kayle Stewart of Heth, Parker

Sutton of Pocahontas, Tessah West of

DeWitt, and John Whitaker of Monticello. Nominations are currently being accepted

for the 2015 Arkansas DU Greenwing

camp, to be held February 5-8. Please

submit your nominations for girls or boys

(ages 15 -17) to your local committee, or to

our State Greenwing Chairman Keith

Futrell at 870-926-8446. Applicants must

be nominated from local chapters, and must

be 15 -17 years of age at the time of the

camp.

We thank the staffs of Five Oaks Duck

Lodge, the Arkansas Game and Fish

Commission, Arkansas DU and the

Arkansas DU volunteers that donate their

time each year to mentor these young

campers.

x

2014 Arkansas DU Greenwing Camp Participants and Counselors

x

GREENWINGS The Future of Arkansas

Ducks Unlimited!

2014 Arkansas Greenwing Conservation Camp


x

x

x

x

Retriever Demonstrations Duck Calling Instruction

Sampling for Invertebrates

Wood Duck Box Construction

Waterfowl Hunting

Alex Davis of Searcy (center) - 2014 Top Camper

Spring Events in Arkansas

P A G E 1 0 A R K A N S A S D U N E W S S P R I N G 2 0 1 4

Be sure to attend one of these great events near you!

Bring a friend and introduce someone new to DU and wetland conservation!

Chapter

Name: Chapter City: Type of Event: Date of

Event: Contact Person: Contact Phone: Location of Event:

Howard / Pike County Nashville Membership Banquet 4/4/2014 Robbie Stavely 870-845-6345 Eagles Lodge

Wildlife Farms Casscoe Casscoe Poker Event 4/4 - 4/5/2014 Matt Robinson 501-412-8055 Wildlife Farms

Cabot Cabot Membership Banquet 4/10/2014 Mel Hall 501-626-8425 Cabot National Guard Armory

Grant County Sheridan Membership Banquet 4/12/2014 Jeremy Gilbert 870-917-5695 New Grant County Fairground Building

Springdale Springdale Membership Banquet 4/12/2014 Mark Bowen 479-422-8287 Springdale Civic Center

Crawford County Van Buren Sponsor Banquet 4/15/2014 David Martin 479-806-7761 Sisters Gourmet Bistro

University of Central AR Conway Membership Banquet 4/17/2014 Patrick Mann 501-339-7392 Knights of Columbus

Jacksonville Jacksonville Trap Shoot 4/19/2014 Matt Robinson 501-412-8055 Jacksonville AGFC Youth Shooting Club

Benton County Rogers Greenwing Day 4/19/2014 Marcus Necessary 479-531-2627 Cabela's

Central Arkansas North Little Rock

District 10 Crawfish Boil 5/8/2014 Matt Robinson 501-412-8055 Blue Rock Gun Club

Arkansas River Valley Russellville Family Night 5/10/2014 Ryan Davis 479-970-7804 Hughes Community Center

Central Arkansas North Little Rock

Special Needs Greenwing Event 5/10/2014 Brian Minchew 501-920-3120 Blue Rock Gun Club

South Mississippi County Osceola Heritage Musicfest 5/16 -17/2014 Todd Warhurst 870-822-1203

Osceola Courthouse Square (Hwy. 61)

Jacksonville Jacksonville Millican Golf Tournament 5/19/2014 Matt Robinson 501-412-8055 Southern Oaks

North Little Rock

North Little Rock Hooters Spring Event 6/3/2014 Pat Mahan 501-743-6154 Hooters of North Little Rock

National DU St. Louis National Convention 5/28 - 6/1/2014 Bob Butler 501-837-1530 Hyatt Regency

Arkansas DU Casscoe AR State Leadership Conference 6/6 - 6/7/2014 Bob Butler 501-837-1530 Wildlife Farms

Union County El Dorado Sponsor Banquet 6/12/2014 Bubba Robertson 870-866-8034 St. Mary's Episcopal Church

Independence County Batesville BBQ Contest

6/20 - 6/21/2014 Bill Couch 870-307-9599 Riverside Park

Arkansas DU 365 Day Gun Giveaway

P A G E 1 1 A R K A N S A S D U V O L U N T E E R N E W S L E T T E R S P R I N G 2 0 1 4

The inaugural Arkansas DU 365 Day Gun Giveaway

calendar program was a tremendous success. A big

THANK YOU goes out to all the chapters and volunteers

that sold calendars in 2013. We also want to thank

everyone that purchased a calendar for a chance to win a

gun each day in 2014. Winners are posted daily on both

the Arkansas DU webpage (www.ar.ducks.org) and the

Arkansas DU 365 Gun Giveaway Facebook page.

Here are some of the highlights from the

AR DU 365 Gun Giveaway calendar sales:

10,000 calendars printed

9,379 calendars cold

$468,495 gross sales

$140,226 expenses

$25,978 cost of DU guns alone 61 Arkansas DU chapters sold calendars

$30 per calendar sold credited back to AR

DU chapter events for underwriting

Top Chapter in Sales: Arkansas River Valley

Over $288,000 was credited toward AR DU

chapters based on their sales!

The 2015 calendars will be available to chapters in May.

THANK YOU to Fort Thompson Sporting Goods in Sherwood for

distributing firearms for the gun giveaway.

Daily winners are posted on both the Arkansas DU website

(above) and the Arkansas DU 365 Day Gun Giveaway Facebook

page (right). Like us - a Yeti cooler given away at 10,000 likes!

http://www.ducks.org/arkansas

https://www.facebook.com/ArkansasDu365DayGunGiveaway

DU Names Top 100, President's Elite Chapters


Ducks Unlimited recently

announced the 184 volunteer

chapters across the nation

being honored with Top 100

and President's Elite standings

this year. The Top 100

designation is reserved for the

top 100 chapters raising up to

$100,000 in grassroots income

for DU's conservation mission.

Chapters raising more than

$100,000 are recognized with

the President's Elite award.

Awards are based on 2013

calendar year fundraising.

Arkansas was represented

well with chapters in the both

the President’s Elite and the

Top 100. Congratulations to

all on your extraordinary

efforts! Each chapter will

receive a special Webley &

Scott O/U 20 gauge shotgun

to use at their 2014 events.

President’s Elite

Benton County

Top 100

Springdale

Stuttgart

Find us on Facebook!


THANK YOU to everyone who has liked the Arkansas DU Facebook page. Arkansas DU was the first state to surpass

10.000 likes on their DU Facebook page! Let’s keep the momentum going & share the page with your friends:

https://www.facebook.com/ArkansasDucksUnlimited. Stay tuned, because new giveaways will be announced soon!

The 2015 DU Calendar Photo contest was a hit, with well over 100 photos being submitted for inclusion in next year’s calendar.

Just some of the great photos are in the group below. Photo submissions are now being accepted for the AR DU Braggin’ Board.

https://www.facebook.com/ArkansasDucksUnlimited

Statewide Super Raffle Tickets on Sale


The 2014 Arkansas DU Super

Raffle tickets are on sale. The

winner will receive a brand

new Yamaha Viking EPS 4x4!

For only a $5 chance, you can

be entered into the drawing.

One winner will be drawn on

June 7th at our annual

Arkansas DU Leadership

Conference at Wildlife Farms.

You do not have to be present

to win. Contact your local

committee for your chance at

this winner-take-all prize. Get

your ticket today!

Last year’s Super Raffle winner Ryan Davis, and son Wyatt (age 2) of Dardanelle check out their new Grizzly Yamaha and

other items included in the package. Ryan had the 4-wheeler shipped to Mike Johnston Yamaha in Russellville.

This year’s winner can have the Viking shipped to the Yamaha dealer nearest their home.

2014 Arkansas DU Super Raffle: Yamaha Viking EPS!

____

____

Ducks Unlimited • Southern Region 1

CONSERVATION UPDATEArkansas sits in the heart of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley — the most

important wintering area for mallards in North America! To help fulfi ll the needs for migrating and wintering waterfowl, DU has improved more than 200,000 acres of waterfowl habitat across Arkansas. DU’s conservation priorities in Arkansas are the protection, restoration and enhancement of forested wetlands, moist-soil vegetation and fl ooded agricultural crops, with an emphasis on rice.

DU conservation staff work closely with state and federal agency partners to improve wetland habitat for waterfowl and waterfowl enthusiasts. DU’s restoration work includes enhancements on the majority of Arkansas’ public wetlands, many of which are open to hunting. Recently completed projects include restoration work at Dixie Farms and Bank of Brinkley hunt areas on Cache River National Wildlife Refuge. Future work is planned for Frog Bayou, Bell Slough, Ed Gordon Point Remove and Raft Creek wildlife management areas.

Private lands managed for waterfowl also provide important resources for ducks. DU staff work closely with Arkansas rice producers to encourage winter fl ooding of fi elds for ducks and geese, and our partnership with the rice industry continues to grow stronger each year. In Arkansas, DU holds perpetual conservation easements on more than 32,500 acres of important habitat for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent wildlife. Th ese easements permanently protect the natural resource values of these properties while allowing the landowner to retain ownership.

DU will continue to build strong partnerships with public agencies, private landowners and other non-governmental organizations to ensure the future of waterfowling in Th e Natural State for generations to come.

ARKANSASS TAT E R E P O R T 2014

PART OF THE AMERICA’S RIVER INITIATIVE

FUNDRAISING UPDATE

Volunteer fundraisers are the heartbeat of Ducks Unlimited, and Arkansas has some of the best. Arkansas boasts more than 24,000 members, including nearly 2,000 volunteers who hosted 118 events and raised more than $1.3 million to support DU’s conservation mission in 2013. One new fundraising eff ort that had great results for the ducks was Arkansas DU’s inaugural 365-Day Gun Giveaway.

It all began at the 2012 state convention, when a challenge was put forth to Arkansas volunteers to create the raffl e aft er learning about a calendar gun giveaway in another state. Arkansas state chairman elect Matt Robinson worked with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission and local photographers to secure images for use in the calendar and found a printer to take on the project. Fort Th ompson Sporting Goods in Sherwood agreed to handle and process all the guns for the event. A gun list was prepared that included everything from assault rifl es to handguns with an average value per gun of $548.

Calendars began to be distributed to volunteers in June at the annual Arkansas Leadership Conference, and sales began. For a bargain $50, the purchaser received a beautiful calendar, a one-year DU membership and a chance to win one of 365 guns. Volunteers across the state sold 9,379 calendars, ensuring a $30 credit per chapter for each unit sold. Th ese credits could be applied to the event of the chapter’s choice, increasing net/net revenue fi gures and improving event effi ciencies across the state. Aft er all expenses were paid, this was an additional $288,317 raised for the state. Plans are already being made for the 2015 giveaway, and calendars should be on sale in May.

Ducks Unlimited • Southern Region2

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTBank of Brinkley Unit - Cache River National Wildlife Refuge

DU recently partnered with Riggs Caterpillar of Arkansas, the Caterpillar Foundation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wetlands America Trust and the North American Wetlands Conservation Commission to restore 40 acres of waterfowl habitat at the Bank of Brinkley Unit of Cache River NWR. Work on this public hunt area involved the construction of earthen levees and installation of water control structures to allow refuge personnel to manage water levels.

Th e habitat at Bank of Brinkley Unit is a mixture of open shallow water with weeds, button bush (better known as buck brush) and willows. Th is diverse assemblage of vegetation not only provides high quality foods that ducks desire, but also important forested areas for protection from predators and extreme weather.

DEVELOPMENT UPDATE Arkansas’s Campaign Committee achieved impressive results in 2013, including 14 new Life Sponsors and 10 upgrades. Clearly the people of Arkansas understand that giving to Ducks Unlimited is the soundest investment they can make for the future of wetlands, waterfowl and waterfowl hunting.

John Riggs IV is one of these dedicated sponsors. Riggs family owns Riggs Caterpillar in Arkansas. Th e company recently provided $50,000 for a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant to support restoration work on the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge. Th is donation was matched by the Caterpillar Foundation, leveraging $100,000 for grant match.

DU completed restoration work on the Dixie Farm, Plunkett Rest Area and Bank of Brinkley units on the refuge to provide water management capability. Th e Cache River National Wildlife Refuge is recognized as a Wetland of International Importance by the RAMSAR Convention and as the most important wintering area for mallards by the North American Waterfowl Management Plan.

“I could not be happier with the restoration work DU is doing in Arkansas. Th is work not only benefi ts hunters and ducks, but more importantly it does so right here in Arkansas,” Riggs said. As an Arkansan, I love giving to a cause I’m passionate about and one which has direct local impact.”

THE AMERICA’S RIVER INITIATIVEThe majesty of the mighty Mississippi River—America’s most iconic waterway—has pulled at the hearts of those who have gazed upon

it since long before our country’s founding. Once a 25-million-acre fl oodplain forest, the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley (MAV) was an extraordinary wetland system with abundant and diverse wildlife. But aft er years of drainage and clearing, only about 20 percent of the original forests remain, and the fl oodplain has been signifi cantly altered.

To address the losses in the MAV, Ducks Unlimited’s America’s River Initiative specifi cally targets areas where lands managed for waterfowl provide crucial migration and wintering habitat for millions of birds traveling the Mississippi Flyway. Th is region boasts some of the best and most storied waterfowl hunting in the country. Th ere is much here to cherish and enjoy, but also much that could be lost without your support of DU’s important conservation eff orts in this region.

By contributing to DU’s America’s River Initiative, you support important waterfowl habitat conservation in the MAV, as well as in the breeding grounds of the Prairie Pothole Region and Western Boreal Forest of the United States and Canada, where the vast majority of birds are hatched. Funding derived from the America’s River Initiative enables Ducks Unlimited to conserve the habitats important to waterfowl that migrate and winter in the valley, as well as to conduct important science, public policy, and outreach eff orts.

A R K A N S A S R E P O R T 2 0 1 4

Ducks Unlimited conserves, restores

and manages wetlands and associated habitats for

North America’s waterfowl. These habitats also

benefit other wildlife and people.193 Business Park Dr., Suite E, Ridgeland, MS 39157

Phone: 601.956.1936 • www.ducks.org

John Riggs IV talks with contractors about

the construction of the Cache River NWR

restoration projects.

Arkansas State Convention 2014

P A G E 1 7 A R K A N S A S D U V O L U N T E E R

N E W S L E T T E R S P R I N G 2 0 1 4

The annual Arkansas DU State Convention was held in Little Rock.

x

Arkansas DU

BRAGGIN

’

BOARD Legacy Greenwing Peyton Jones (age 9)

with his first duck,

harvested at Hollis Lake.

1

Jack Gray (L); age 7,

with his dad Philip and

brother Garrett on his

first dove hunt.

Kevin Lewey of Forrest City with a magnificent bull elk

taken on his DU - Bird Dog elk hunt in New Mexico!

You’ve got Braggin’ Board rights on him Kevin!

Jarrod Kersey bags a

nice ‘ol tom!

2

3

5

4

Zach Barnett and Trent

Land with an Ashley

County mallard limit.

Arkansas State Convention 2014

P A G E 1 8 A R K A N S A S D U V O L U N T E E R

N E W S L E T T E R S P R I N G 2 0 1 4

The annual Arkansas DU State Convention was held in Little Rock.

x

Submit your photos

to our Arkansas DU

Facebook Page for a

chance to have your

photos posted on the

DU Braggin’ Board!

BINGO BOB’S

GUIDE SERVICE

PH: 501-837-1530

Night trips & giggin’

excursions $100

additional.

Legacy Greenwing Reece

Middleton enjoying a

great duck hunt on

the Black River.

VOTE FOR YOUR

FAVORITE PHOTO!

Send the photo number and

your name to the DU Braggin’

Board Contest on the Arkansas

DU Facebook page. The photo

winner & random voter from

each issue will each receive a

surprise 2014 DU item!

6 7

8 9

10

11

Like Father, Like

Son! Exum family

with 2 great trophies.

John Choate and son, Ross (age 6)

reflect on a memorable hunt.





Ashdown

Augusta

Carroll County

Corning

Crossett

Danville

Des Arc

Dumas

Eudora

Eureka Springs

Felsenthal

Just as ducks need habitat,

Arkansas DU needs chapters. Do

you have friends and fellow duck

hunters in these towns that

would be good candidates to

organize or help out at a Ducks

Unlimited event there?

If so, contact your regional

director or district chairman

and let them know.

Harrison

Helena/West Helena

Huntsville

Lewisville/Stamps

Lonoke

Mena

Morrilton

Perryville

Warren

Weiner

Wynne

WANTED: Ducks Unlimited Chapters

in These Towns!

Ducks Unlimited -

Preserving Arkansas’

Waterfowl Hunting Heritage

Our Mission: Ducks Unlimited

conserves, restores and manages

wetlands and associated habitats for

North America's waterfowl.

These habitats also benefit other

wildlife and people.

Our Vision: Wetlands sufficient to fill

the skies with waterfowl today,

tomorrow and forever.

ARKANSAS DU NEWS

Newsletter for Volunteers

Matt Robinson,

State Chairman

(501) 412 - 8055 or

[email protected]

For questions, comments or to post

an article or photograph in the

Arkansas DU News, email

[email protected].

For complaints, email Bob Butler at

[email protected].

Please forward this newsletter to anyone who would like to become a DU Volunteer.

Thanks for your continued support of Arkansas Ducks Unlimited!

https://www.ducks.org/support-du/volunteer/volunteer-opportunity-local-chapter-volunteer

arkansas du news a r k a n s a s d u v o l u n t e e r n e ... · future for waterfowl across the...

Documents