arkansas wild

March/Apri l 2011 Arkansas Wild | 1

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 1WILD

Spring Break that won’t Break the Bank

talkintraSh

’

Turkey Time

Spring turkey SeaSon

green Farming in the natural State

our ConServation

iSSue

GRAzInG OzARks

2 | Arkansas Wild March/Apri l 2011


www.ecark.orgwww.ecark.org

With apologies to Kermit the Frog, it is easy being green if

you’re a member of the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas,

because we’ve been at the forefront of the renewable

energy movement for decades. Long before “green

power” became a household phrase, the cooperatives

began a commitment to develop hydropower along the

Arkansas River.

We have invested $330 million in the last 20 years to

develop three hydropower plants that provide low-cost,

clean energy to nearly 490,000 Arkansans. In addition to

those plants, we own five other generation facilities and

co-own three more. These natural gas and low-sulfur

coal plants meet or exceed federal environmental

requirements.

Being GREEN Is Easy

As we continue to look for innovative ways to provide

Arkansans with environmentally sound power resources,

we are asking for your help. New technology and additional

renewable energy sources will be developed; however,

these energy sources are costly. To support this effort, we

are offering a GreenPOWER program so you can contribute

to the development of additional renewable energy

resources.

For more information or to sign up today, log on to www.ecark.org/greenpower.


ON THE COVER

TABLE OF CONTENTSForested Wetlands – For Waterfowl and So Much MoreBy Andi Cooper, Ducks Unlimited

Mindful GardeningBy Suzanne Langley

Talkin’ TrashBy Mary Smith and Nao Ueda, Audubon Arkansas

Strut Your StuffBy Emily Griffin

Felsenthal National Wildlife RefugeBy Zoie Clift, Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

Grazing the Green Ozark HillsBy Kat Robinson and Grav Weldon

Arkansas’s Affordable Spring Break IdeasBy Jill Rohrbach, Kerry Kraus, Kim Williams and Zoie Clift, Arkansas

Department of Parks and Tourism

Worth A Thousand Words

Calendar of Events

News Briefs

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36

42

44

46

article on page

20

14

8

Cover photo by National Wild Turkey Federation

28


Hot Springs has so many great things to do all year long, we

don’t care what you call us. Just call 1-888-SPA-CITY or visit

hotsprings.org to plan your trip to America’s First Resort.

AW/11

Bike City.

Spa City. Fish City.

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HSAP 16690 AR Wild.indd 1 12/28/10 10:40 AM


CONTRIBUTORS

AndreA “Andi” Cooper is a native Mississippian and has a Master’s degree from Mississippi State University in Wildlife and Fisheries Science. Cooper currently holds a position with Ducks Unlimited’s Southern Region in Ridgeland, MS as a Communications Specialist. While she’s not working, Cooper enjoys bird watching, deer hunting, outdoor photography, woodburning, camping, and wondering the woods with her dogs, Jake and Ziva.

A.C. “CHUCK” HArALSonSerVeS is chief photographer for the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism. A 32-year veteran of the Department, Haralson travels the state capturing images of Arkansas’s scenic natural beauty and historic treasures, travel attractions, cities and regions, outdoor and cultural activities, festivals and special events. His work has appeared in National Geographic Traveler, National Geographic Discovery, Better Homes and Gardens, Women’s Day, Camping Life, and Backpacker, and in major newspapers including the New York Times, Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times. And, throughout the years, Haralson’s work has appeared in high profile, prestige pieces like the 2006 Picture Arkansas coffee table book. He’s now the proud grandfather of one-year-old grandson, Wyatt.

KAT roBinSon is a food and travel writer out of Little Rock. She writes Tie Dye Travels, her syndicated personal blog about her travels and dining experiences in Arkansas and the American South. She also writes Eat Arkansas, the blog for food lovers for the Arkansas Times. Kat appears bi-weekly on The Dave Elswick Show on KARN Newsradio 102.9fm and monthly on KARK 4 News at Noon. She’s also a hamburger correspondant for Serious Eats, a travel and chef profile writer for 2njoy Magazine and a contributor to Lonely Planet and Food Network Magazine. In her spare time, she just manages to keep up with her two year old daughter Hunter with the help of her husband, Paul.

nAo UedA is the Outreach Coordinator for Audubon Arkansas. In 2006, she co-founded an environmental organization and helped organize the first ever green expo in Arkansas. As the Outreach Coordinator for Audubon, Nao coordinates grassroots efforts regarding policy work for Audubon. Nao studied International Studies at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In her spare time, Nao raises chickens, ducks, and bees in downtown Little Rock.

MArY SMiTH Prior to joining Audubon Arkansas, Mary was the director of environmental education policy for the National Audubon Society. Before that, Mary served as Special Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Education. Mary has worked as an administrator and teacher for over 23 years in Arkansas schools. Mary holds a B.A. and M.A. in English, and a M.Ed. in Gifted and Talented Education and now serves as the Director of Education for Audubon Arkansas.

GrAV WeLdon is a photojournal-ist with a penchant for catching the strange and absurd. His work has appeared in several local and regional publications, including 2njoy Magazine, Deep South Magazine, Serious Eats and Lonely Planet. He is an adjunct instructor at the University of Arkansas Fort Smith where he teaches 3-D ani-mation. When not working for the university or on assignment, Grav photographs life in rural Arkansas and constructs abstract 3-D com-puter generated artistic images.

SUzAnne LAnGLeY, owner of Seine Marketing Communications, returned to life as an independent consultant in 2008 with the goal of utilizing skills and experiences from a full and varied career to aid programs and organizations with a conservation mission or operational goals addressing sustainability. Langley’s most recent work in conservation has included three years as a development professional for National Audubon Society in Arkansas and Mississippi, coordinating outreach projects focusing on water quality and litter, and working with trade associations and nonprofits on sustainable operations. She learns lessons in conservation daily at her small farm dedicated to native warm season grasses in Hudsonville, MS.


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The Mississippi River Alluvial Valley (MAV) historically contained a vast complex of wet-land habitats providing ecosystem functions and wildlife values of incalculable worth. It was once a nearly 25-million-acre forest interspersed with cypress-tupelo brakes, scrub-shrub swamps, and seasonally-flooded wetlands. Sadly, today only about 20 percent of the original forest remains, and natural flooding has been reduced 50-90 per-cent. But the MAV continues to be of vital impor-tance to migrating and wintering waterfowl, and remains the most important wintering area for mallards in North America. In many places, only remnant patches of bottomland forests remain, yet these forested wetlands are needed by water-fowl and other wildlife for survival.

DU, via the Southern Regional Office, and in cooperation with many state and federal agencies, private corporations and private landowners, offers a full range of conservation programs in the MAV. Nearly all of DU’s accomplishments in the MAV have been through partnerships with other conser-vation interests, but DU is a leading partner in delivery of

many of these programs. DU has a full staff of biologists, RS/GIS analysts and engineers that work in tandem on a variety of wetland restoration, enhancement, development, protec-tion and evaluation and monitoring projects.Within the MAV, DU focuses on conservation programs that emphasize long-term protection of flooded native emergent vegetation and forested wetlands. DU has a long history of working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and all state agencies in the region to develop, re-store or enhance wetlands on public lands that will provide foraging habitat in perpetuity. DU’s conservation easement program targets permanent protection of existing tracts of privately owned forested wetlands and other valuable forag-ing habitats that flood naturally. Finally, DU has formed a partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to deliver a large percentage of the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) in the MAV.

CONSeRVe The BeST Some important bottomland hardwood areas remain in the MAV. A few of these are publicly owned, such as White River National Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas. Other remain-ing forested wetlands are held in private ownership. Ducks Unlimited works to protect these privately held tracts by

Forested WetlandsFor WaterFoWl and So Much More

BY ANDI COOPER, DUCKS UNLIMITED

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accepting conservation easements or donations of land from landowners. Under a conservation easement landowners exchange certain devel-opment rights and agree to maintain the land’s wildlife habitat values to receive tax benefits from the federal government while retaining land ownership, including the use of the land for recre-

ation or economic gain. Such easements provide protection to important forested wetlands in perpetuity, remaining with the land regardless of changes in ownership. DU’s easement program focuses on the best remaining habi-tat, often linking blocks of publicly owned forested wetlands with those of private landowners to increase the contiguous forested area. Larger areas of forested wetlands are particu-larly important for interior-dwelling or area sensitive bird species like wood thrushes and for larger, more transient species like black bears.

ReStoRe the ReSt Restoration of forested wetlands is an important aspect of DU’s work in the MAV. DU has worked in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to deliver thousands of acres of Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), a federally funded program that is part of the Farm Bill. WRP is uniquely suited to the MAV with its empha-sis on restoration of wetland hydrology and bottomland hardwood forests. Much of the work completed under WRP provides foraging habitat for waterfowl that is protected via perpetual conservation easements.

WRP pays landowners to retire marginal, flood-prone farm-land. Landowners typically provide a perpetual easement to the NRCS in exchange for a one-time easement payment and payment of restoration costs. WRP often enhances the land’s value as waterfowl habitat, and, by extension, provides the landowner with improved duck hunting op-portunities.

Under WRP, restoration activities include reforestation with a suite of bottomland hardwood tree species, particu-larly heavy-seeded species such as cypress and Nuttall, water, willow and overcup oak. the species mix is deter-mined by careful consideration of the site’s elevation, the degree to which it floods and other factors that influence which species are suited to the area.

DU’s role in WRP is related to reforestation and restoration of hydrology. DU’s biologists work with the NRCS to com-plete tree-planting activities, and DU’s engineers design levees and water-control structures to restore hydrology on the sites.

RAFt CReek WiLDLiFe MANAgeMeNt AReA

As recently as 2000, a 4,100-acre parcel of land near Georgetown, Arkansas was considered marginal farmland because of its susceptibility to winter-spring flooding. Instead of fighting Mother Nature, the property owners decided to convert their land to uses more compatible with the frequent flooding. Specifically, they sought to restore bottomland hardwood forests and seasonally flooded wetlands. After a little probing, they discovered a means to their end – The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP).

In addition to wanting to restore the forested wetlands through WRP, the owners were interested in selling their property to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) to preserve and improve these precious lowlands for waterfowl and public enjoyment. Ducks Unlimited – recognizing the enormous value of this landscape – helped facilitate the purchase, and the Steve N. Wilson/Raft Creek Wildlife Management Area was born.

Because of volunteer commitment and that from DU, NRCS, AGFC and others, this site is on its way to becoming one of the greatest waterfowl Mecca’s in Arkansas. Following purchase of the property, NRCS and DU quickly went to work surveying and designing several wetland complexes. Because sustainable wetland restoration requires far more than planting appropriate tree species, DU staff invested considerable time and labor conducting topographic surveys to identify subtle elevation changes on the landscape.

NRCS and DU biologists and engineers used survey results to develop restoration features, including more than 35,000 feet of levees, 40,332 cubic yards of excavation, 790 tons of rock riprap, and more than 480 hours of topographic enhancement. This massive restoration effort ensured water delivery and management capabilities in 3 separate units to provide critical habitats for migrating and wintering waterfowl.

Following hydrologic restoration, Ducks Unlimited also reforested 506 acres of bottomland hardwood forest on Raft Creek WMA. Over 150,000-bottomland hardwood seedlings were planted by hand! Additional restoration at Raft Creek WMA, including continued development of seasonally flooded wetland units and bottomland hardwood forests has since been completed. In addition to the inherent ecological benefits of this effort, and much to the delight of waterfowlers, public hunting is permitted 4-days per week at Raft Creek.

“WRP is a vitally important program that enables resto-ration of forested wetlands

of value to waterfowl, other wildlife and people at a scale

that is truly meaningful,” Craig hilburn, DU manager

of conservation programs for Arkansas, said. “Largely

because of WRP, NRCS is one of DU’s greatest partners in

wetland restoration.”

“Ducks Unlimited’s expertise in wetland restoration has been instrumental in helping the NRCS make WRP a successful and highly sought Farm Bill program in the MAV” says Mike Sullivan, NRCS state conservationist in Arkansas.

WRP is offered nationwide, but its greatest impact has been in the MAV, where DU has partnered with the NRCS and private landowners to restore approximately 231,000 acres.

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Taken together, WRP in the states of Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi alone constitute the single largest bottomland forested wetland restoration effort anywhere in the world.

“WRP is a vitally important program that enables restoration of forested wetlands of value to waterfowl, other wildlife and people at a scale that is truly meaningful,” Craig Hilburn, DU manager of conservation programs for Arkansas, said. “Largely because of WRP, NRCS is one of DU’s greatest part-ners in wetland restoration.”

FoR THe DUCkS“Forested wetlands such as the bottomland hardwood wet-lands of the MAV are ideal habitat for wintering waterfowl in that they provide not only food resources, but also thermal and isolation cover,” Hilburn said. “All of those are key elements in ensuring winter survival and healthy birds for spring migration and successful nesting.”

Hunters know that timber hunting is best on clear morn-ings accompanied by cold north winds. Under those condi-tions, mallards predictably seek out forested wetland habitat to gain a thermal advantage. Put simply, they seek out a windbreak just as any of us would do given a choice be-

tween freezing in a penetrating, cold winter wind or slipping behind a row of trees to avoid the wind and create a slightly warmer environment.

Such winter weather conditions develop in the Deep South after passage of cold fronts, which, during active winter

weather patterns, can occur every three to four days. The lower temperatures and higher wind speeds that occur post-front are a cue for mallards to seek out habitats where they can minimize energy use related to weather exposure.

The other unique feature that forested wetlands provide for wintering mallards is pair isolation habitat. Mallards and other species of ducks form pair bonds in fall and winter. By January, most females have chosen a mate. As with most duck species, there tends to be a surplus of males in the mallard population. Unpaired males continue to seek mates aggressively, so much so that they may inter-rupt the daily activity pattern of females, perhaps limiting the time females can spend feeding. This, in turn, may cause females to be leaner, decreasing their fitness for both winter survival and reproductive success in the spring. Thus, there is strong pressure for females to pair early in winter as it allows them to feed more and maintain larger fat reserves because the male defends the female from unpaired males.

To further reduce interference, pairs often seek out pair-isolation habitat. Wetlands with lots of cover offering small, especially remote areas where pairs can be isolated from unpaired males allow the pairs to maximize time spent feed-ing or resting to build or conserve fat reserves for periods of inclement weather or future migration activities.

“Because mallards have evolved to use forested wetlands in winter for food, for refuge from post-frontal winds and cold temperatures, and as places to seek refuge from unpaired birds that may interfere with daily activities, it is crucial that we ensure these habitats are available,” Hilburn said.

BeyoND DUCkSThe forested wetland ecosystem historically found in the MAV provided substantial habitat not only for waterfowl, but also for a unique array of other wildlife. Rivers in the MAV at one time provided habitat for some of the most diverse, abundant freshwater mussel populations on the continent. Today, due to alterations in hydrology and increased sediment loads from agricultural lands, several mussel species in the MAV are endangered or have become extirpated or extinct.

The complex of forested wetlands, sloughs and rivers still supports over 60 species of fish, many of which have sport or commercial value. The life histories of many species are intricately related to the natural hydrology of the system. For example, some species key on peak riverine flood flows to stimulate spawning activities, whereas others use flooded forests as nursery habitat. Timing and duration of winter and spring flooding are important influences on fish popula-tion dynamics.

The forests of the MAV also supported diverse resident and migrant birds in addition to waterfowl.

Several species of neotropical migrant passerines, wood-peckers and raptors historically had population centers in

BAyoU BARTHoLoMeW CARBoN oFFSeT PRoJeCT

In a cooperative effort with a private landowner and Power Tree Carbon Company, Ducks Unlimited created Bayou Bartholomew Carbon Offset Project in Lincoln, Drew and Desha counties, near White River National Wildlife Refuge. The property is surrounded by mature bottomland hardwood forests and serves as important wintering grounds for several species of waterfowl.

Because the area contains large tracts of marginal agricultural lands much better suited as forested wetlands, the Delta region is considered by many to be ideal for carbon sequestration projects. Trees grow relatively fast in the region due to a proper mix of temperature, precipitation and soil conditions. Thus, the Delta is an ideal site for production and storage of large amounts of carbon. Restoration projects in this region are vital to protecting a crucial corridor of wildlife habitat and the biodiversity of the region, as well as creating an additional carbon sink.

Through the Bayou Bartholomew Carbon Offset Project, DU reforested 400 acres of marginal croplands that are permanently protected under a conservation easement. The 100-year project is estimated at a total biomass carbon and emission avoidance of 477 short tons of CO2 Equivalent.


the MAV. Among these were many area-sensitive species such as the cerulean warbler and Swainson’s warbler, which likely occupied much of the northern and entire MAV respectively. Currently they exist only in a few isolated, large remnants of forest. Area-sensitive species are those that are relatively intolerant to habitat fragmentation. They require larger contiguous areas of their preferred habitats to maintain populations.

The Carolina parakeet, once a resident of much of the MAV, is extinct. The swallow-tailed kite, an area-sensitive raptor that once occurred well into the mid-MAV, now is restricted as a breed-ing bird to the Atchafalaya Delta in the extreme southern portion of the MAV. The future of these remaining popu-lations is uncertain, but restoration efforts like those of Ducks Unlimited and its partners are making the outlook more promising - one acre at a time.

As with birds, several species of mammals have suffered population declines or extirpation as a result of landscape-scale changes to the forest of the MAV. The panther has been extirpated from the MAV for several decades. The Louisiana black bear, a subspecies of the American black bear, is a federally listed endangered species whose decline is directly linked to deforestation and fragmen-tation. The future of this subspecies may well depend on our ability to reforest and reduce fragmentation within its range.

Forested wetlands in the MAV also provide habitat for at least seven species of bats. Bat populations have never been well monitored, but some species in the MAV appear to rely extensively upon large, hollow cypress trees for nursery habitat, and some may be area sensitive. Bats share their requirement for such trees with black bears. It is very likely that bat populations in the MAV were nega-tively affected by conversion of forest to agriculture, though to what degree remains unknown.

Ecological Goods and ServicesTo secure the future of waterfowl, DU is working to protect the bottomland hardwood forests that currently exist and to restore forests on frequently

flooded cropland. But there are far more benefits to restoring forested wetlands than providing critical waterfowl habitat. These same for-ested wetlands improve water quality, reduce flood risks, reduce soil erosion and nutrient runoff, recharge ground water supplies, sequester carbon, and provide crucial habitat for myriad species in addition to waterfowl. As a whole, these benefits are often referred to as “ecological goods and services” or “ecosystem services.”

How much are the ecosystem ser-vices from wetland restoration worth to society as a whole? Researchers from Duke University and USGS at-tempted to answer that question by putting a dollar figure on just three of the ecosystem services provided through restoring forested wetlands in the MAV. The study determined that restoration projects through WRP have led to improvements in nutrient retention, greenhouse gas reduction and waterfowl recreation with a social

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welfare value of $3,545 - $3,670/acre/year. This annual benefit is greater in one year than the total expenditure of the program, including the payment to the landowner and a cost-share on the restoration! Now that is a great return on taxpayer investment.

DU’s work to restore, protect and enhance waterfowl habitat results in improved ecosystem services that may qualify as environmental “credits” that can be sold in a voluntary trad-ing market. Trading programs have been established or are emerging for several environmental issues such as green-house gas emissions, water quality, wetlands protection and mitigation banking.

As a leader in habitat restoration and conservation in the MAV, DU is involved in several of these environmental markets. One of these is compensatory wetland mitiga-tion. Using landscape level conservation planning, mitiga-tion projects can be located where they have the greatest potential to replace wetland functions impacted by activities permitted by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. DU acquires fee title, gains approval from federal and state agencies and restores the wetland habitat which generates credits that can be sold to developers.

Another emerging market is terrestrial carbon sequestra-tion, which is based on the natural processes through which plants extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and utilize it to make energy and form organic plant tissue. The growth of trees, which creates woody material above and below ground, is the most obvious example of carbon sequestration. Trees can literally store tons of carbon quickly and for long periods of time.

Considerable data exist that indicate reforestation of margin-al, frequently flooded agricultural lands with native bottom-

land hardwood tree species in the MAV can result in seques-tration of more than 350-400 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents per acre of land over a 60-80 year forest rotation.

“By conserving and restoring bottomland forests in the MAV, DU can address the habitat needs of waterfowl today, pre-vent winter habitat from becoming limiting to populations in the future, and simultaneously help mitigate the impacts of development and climate change,” Hilburn said.

THE OTHEr GrEEN: OUTDOOr rECrEATiONProviding habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife also cre-ates the opportunity for hunters, anglers and other outdoor recreationists to enjoy them. Each year participants in outdoor recreation spend billions of dollars on hunting and fishing licenses, firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, binoculars, scopes, assorted outdoor apparel, lodging, fuel, meals and groceries. These purchases help support thou-sands of businesses.

According to the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, expenditures by the 34 million sportsmen and –women who hunted and fished in 2006 directly supported 1.6 million jobs; provided $25 billion in federal, state and local tax rev-enue; and generated $192 billion for the nation’s economy.

According to the USFWS 2006 Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated recreation, more than 1.4 mil-lion people participated in wildlife-associated recreation in Arkansas, and wildlife-related recreation brought $2.09 billion to the Natural State in that same year. And waterfowl hunters have plenty of economic clout. in Arkansas alone, waterfowl hunting supported 2,505 jobs and generated more than $124 million in total economic output!

Photo by Ducks Unlimited

Tupelo Slough, pictured here, offers good isolation habitat provided by forested wetlands.


Photo by Ducks Unlimited

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ature is an inspira-tional and patient teacher for Arkan-sans who long for beautiful outdoor spaces and abundant gardens. A walk through a naturally occurring landscape demonstrates how well native trees, wildflowers and ground cover prosper in just the right amount of shade and

sun, regardless of rainfall amounts and with no mainte-nance. Nature’s garden is quite sustainable.

Practicing sustainable gardening and landscaping for some means a very natural approach that does no harm. For others, sustainable gardening represents a well-planned approach to matching plants and environment, adopting a gardening calendar, buying local, and install-ing efficient features and systems. All sustainable garden-ers can agree a mindful approach to developing outdoor space saves money, time and precious natural resources.

Much of my time is spent with neighbors who share large landscapes in a rural area home to native warm season grasses, wildflowers and other native plants and trees we cultivate with the goals of providing habitat for declining grassland bird species and protecting the headwaters of a nearby river. My neighbor Tom, a retired botanist, and his wife Jane use native plants in their inviting yard con-sidered a model for enjoying beauty and abundance while achieving a conservation goal. In short, we do very little to our lawns and fields and let nature take its course.

My rural escape is much different from the yard I enjoyed in midtown Little Rock until just four years ago. Still, in that small area, I was able spend time in two outdoor rooms, plant shady trumpet vine on a pergola to the de-light of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, incorporate native stone paths in shady areas, repurpose an existing irriga-tion system for minimal use, and make the most of the canopy of a large pecan tree.

The Mindful ApproAchMany of my Little Rock afternoons were spent just sitting in a lawn chair watching and listening and dreaming of that first design I would implement. With a similar

Nchallenge at my new duplex just blocks away, I’ve decided against a DIY-project and to work with a professional who has built his career “watching and listening” and can help me realize my ambition of low impact development featur-ing native resources.

“Whatever your goals are, planning is essential,” says Rick Penor of Picture Perfect Grounds. “It’s gratifying to install a yard that’s instantly beautiful, but more times than not, homeowners incur additional landscaping costs by re-planting and changing designs because they plant for the moment. You need to consider how you want to use your outdoor space, select proper plant materials, and think about how your yard will change as it matures.”

Our planning process for the yard at the duplex is taking advantage of: existing features, grasses and trees that can be incorporated in the design; natural drainage for placement of well-mulched beds; native stone and plants; design for no/low maintenance and energy consumption; a perme-able parking pad to help with drainage; and, an order to the work that results in a successful venture while avoiding costly “do-overs.”

Sequence for SucceSSRick has introduced me to considering the landscaping plan by seasons that is proving to be a valuable planning tool (see some of his suggestions in the Planning Ahead Calendar). Knowing to “hardscape” and plant/prune trees in January and February, clean and mulch beds in March and April, install perennials and natives by early May, and plan for leaf removal/mulching in November will ensure the best outcome. I’m already a big fan of gardening journals to track how new plant and tree species thrive in your yard; and, if you are gardening for wildlife, when to expect pollinators (bees, butterflies, Hummingbirds) and migrat-ing birds. One year of a good gardening journal begins to provide a map for your custom calendar, three to four years incorporates the variations that nature brings.

The BeST of ArkAnSASThe Natural State is home to a wealth of three components essential to my plan so featuring natural resources should be easy and more cost-efficient.

NATIVE STONE. Picture Perfect Grounds is best known for their work with native stone. “Flat rock, boulders, slate, river rock, stack are all ‘local’ to Arkansas,” says Penor. “We have better success with properly-installed natural stone borders versus steel edging which allows grass to grow over

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and under into beds. The short-term expense of stone versus edging may seem pricier, but long-term native stone is a cost-effective, more sustainable solution.”

WATER. My plan focuses on taking advantage of natural water flow from rainfall, keeping gutters clean to fill rain barrels, and correcting a poorly drained backyard by adding value and a new feature with a permeable parking pad. “We’re fortunate to still enjoy adequate water resources year round in most of Ar-kansas,” Penor adds. “Waterfalls that self-regenerate by using a catch basin are growing in popularity and some of our clients are incorporating holding tanks, rain barrels and linking gutter and drainage systems to their design. Efficient systems on timers can help conserve water. “Irrigation systems should be thoroughly inspected when placed back in service each spring to make certain sprinkler heads are operating properly and not blocked by mulch or plants,” he says. “Avoid wasting water by matching your system to your lawn – if you only need to water five feet, use a five-foot sprinkler head.” He encourages homeowners to follow municipal guidelines for the best times to water, but admits he typically waters just a bit earlier.

Careful consideration of yard design, plant material by location, and maintaining landscaping and systems for optimum beauty and efficiency can save money and precious resources. Seasonal differences may apply to your location. Courtesy of Picture Perfect Grounds.

JAnuARy-FEbRuARy• Planttrees• Prunemostbloominganchorshrubs• Trimornamentalgrasses,perennials• Removeleavesfromlawn• Cleangutters• Addcompost,leaves,manuretobedsandgarden• Plananareaforwildlife–hummingbird,butterflygardens• Separatenativeplantswhiledormant• Beginagardeningjournalandbuildacalendarspecifictoyouryard

MARch-ApRil• Cleanplantbeds• Addressmulchneeds:remove/add• Clearperennialandbulbbedsofdebris• Plantnewperennialsandannuals(bewareoflastfrost!)• Thatchgrassyourselforscheduleprofessionaltoaeratelawn• Cleanoraddwaterfeatures• Checkirrigationsystemsforoptimumperformance• Preparerainbarrels–cleanscreens,begincollectingwater• Installlighting(gosolar!)beforeaddingplantmaterialtobeds

MAy-JunE:• Maintainlawn• Trimshrubs• Installoutdoorkitchens,livingareasforgreatfallArkansasweather• Cleanoraddfirepit,outdoorfireplace• Plantnewnativesforfallmigration,pollinators• Marknativeplantswhileinbloomforeasiermaintenancenextwinter

July AugusT• Installsod• Checkirrigationsystemforefficiency,controlwaste• PlanforFall:plantingtrees,addingperennials?• Greattimefordesigning,planning• Trimannualsandperennialsforsecondburstofblooms• Thinkingcompostbinorarea?Researchandinstall

sEpTEMbER-OcTObER• Plantwinterbloomingbedplants• Addbulbs–tulips,daffodils• Rainyseasonsonoirrigationworries!• Makephotographs• Reviewgardeningjournalandbeginyourcalendarfornextyear

nOvEMbER DEcEMbER• Leafremoval,cleangutters• Winterizeirrigationsystems,waterfeatures• Drainrainbarrelstopreventfreezedamage• Coverfishanddecorativepondstoprotectfromleaves• Planttrees

Planning ahead Calendar

plAnT, TREE spEciEs. New hybrid species offer gardeners longer, more and better blooms, but remain unproven by the test of time. Native plants and trees predictably provide year-round blooms, fragrance and landscaping solutions because of their successful adaptation to their ecological niche*. Penor sometimes uses River Birch, a tree native to Arkansas, in areas that hold water versus installing drains because the root system thrives on moist soil thereby eliminating excessive moisture. Several Arkansas nurseries specialize in native plants and trees, and some large retailers now offer a selection of these species that are better adapted for regional success, require no/low maintenance, and are preferred by pollinators and insects critical to healthy gardens and lawns.

high hoPes, low imPaCtPlanning and working with a professional landscaper has in-spired me to dig deeper, pardon the pun, into learning more about plant species, water use and conservation, and how to make the most of existing features and plants. I’m also heeding the advice of a friend’s mother who says, “I just pay attention to nature. You rarely see a budding oak tree that has been frost-bitten!”

*To learn more about native plants, read “Bringing Nature Home,” by Douglas W. Tallamy.

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The Who Is Dreykus Lowe. When Lit-tle Rock Central High School student Dreykus volunteered with Audubon Arkansas in the Fourche Creek wet-lands, he found all matter of floating trash. That prompted him to go check out Lake Maumelle, central Arkansas’s main drinking water supply.

When he visited Lake Maumelle, his first reaction was “YUCK!” Trash lit-tered the shore. It floated in the water. The mess was smelly, ugly, and harm-ful to wildlife. The most shocking part? People in central Arkansas drink water from the lake!

“It showed a lack of respect for people to litter in drinking water that has to be shared,” Dreykus said.

He recruited his friends, Jessica Lock-heart (Mills High School), Amber Ray (Central High School), and Charlie Voellers (Episcopal Collegiate), to do something about it. Together, the students started picking up trash at Lake Maumelle. They then recruited Bryant High School students Megan Matthews, Emily Smith, and Leah Chancellor and began producing edu-cational videos about trash, pollution, and recycling—a project they called Talkin’ Trash.

Some of their videos urge people to stop making garbage in the first place by recycling paper, electronic waste, and other materials. Other videos remind people to stop littering and to pack their lunches in reusable containers. Bryant students tackled Styrofoam in school cafeterias and promoted waste-free lunches.

Disney recognized their efforts and awarded their project the second place in their international green initia-tive competition, Friends for Change. Dreykus and his friends will also be featured in Audubon Adventures, an award-winning environmental education program used in classrooms and after-school programs across the nation.

Dreykus and his friends challenged other Arkansas schools to join their efforts in talking about trash. The response was overwhelming. Over twenty videos and trash projects have been developed by schools across the state. Schools include Mountain Pine, Dardanelle, Springdale, Lonoke, Greenbrier, Horatio, Greenland, Hot Springs, Lake Village, Nettleton, Syl-van Hills, Foulk, and Watson Chapel. Students from University of Arkan-sas at Little Rock, Hendrix College, University of Central Arkansas, and Henderson University played roles in joint videos. Audubon Arkansas rec-ognized the outstanding videos at the National Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST) Conference held Hot Springs in 2010, and will recog-nize new winners in March 201l.

The Talkin’ Trash crew plans to keep making videos. As they proudly declare, “Trash! It’s a dirty word, but somebody’s gotta talk about it!”

To view Talkin’ Trash videos, visit http://www.youtube.com/user/Ar-kansasAudubon.

Want to start a talkin’ trash project at your school? contact Mary sMith, Director of eDucation, auDubon arkansas at (501) 244-2229.

Nobody likes it. There is trash in the water, trash on the road, trash in my neighborhood. We all think somebody should do something about it.But who?

Talkin’ Trash

WhaT Can You Do abouT Trash?Did you know that everyday in the United States we generate about 5 pounds of trash per person? That amounts to 230 million tons of waste that go to our landfills each year! By taking steps to reduce trash at home and at school, we can protect our water and the environment.

bY Mary sMith & nao ueDa, auDubon arkansas

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Step 1: Don’t traSh, recycle! Americans recycle about 33 percent of all trash. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, only 13 percent of water bottles are re-cycled. Recycling is one of the easiest things we can do to divert trash from landfills and our water bodies. Contact your city sanitation service for information on how, where, and what to recycle.

Regional solid waste management districts hold special recycling days for things that are not typically collected such as electronics, paints, and household chemicals. Contact your regional solid waste management district to learn when and where next special recycling days will be held.

Step 2: reuSe anD reDuceForget Stryofoam. Switch to reusable items! Individual containers and other one-use products may be convenient, but many of them end up in landfills and our water bodies. Find ways to incorporate reusable items such as stainless steel water bottles, sturdy cloth shopping bags, and reusable lunch bags. Use reusable sandwich and snack containers instead of plastic bags. Carry reusable utensils and say “No, thanks” to dispos-able ones. In the kitchen, use cloth napkins and ceramic dishware instead of paper.

Step 3: Shop Smart & reDuce WaSteBuy products in bulk to save money and reduce packaging. When shopping, look for items with little or no outside wrapping. If you need to pur-chase paper products, look for those made out of recycled materials or ones that are biodegrad-able. Buy products made from recycled plastics.

By shopping smart, recycling, and using reusable products, we can all do our part in reducing trash and protecting our water bodies.


BY EMILY GRIFFIN SpRING tuRkEY huNtING tIpS aNd tRIckSThe challenge and excitement of a spring turkey

hunt is addictive. When you hear that gobbler call out and watch him strut right in front of you, it’s hard to contain yourself!

A wild turkey’s senses are extremely keen. The slight-est noise or movement will send your gobbler running in the opposite direction. Experienced hunters know calling the turkey closer to you will guarantee a shot within range.

Because of a turkey’s keen senses, it’s important that the hunter covers him/herself from head to toe in camouflage. It may seem excessive, but a camo suit, just won’t cut it. Camo gloves, hats, masks, shoes, and even camo socks are recommended. Look for cam-ouflage that matches the area and season you will be hunting in. Patterns with hints of green mixed in blend in better as new leaves begin to bud out during spring. Controlling movement is also very important, regard-less of how well you are camouflaged.

Good calling and knowing when to call often are criti-cal keys to success in turkey hunting. Hunters typically imitate hens to call a gobbler into gun range.There are a number of calls hunters can learn. The National Wild Turkey Federation’s website (nwtf.org) has audio clips of the calls, including: a cluck, purr, cluck and purr, putt, tree call, fly down, assembly call, plain yelp, kee kee run, gobble, and owl hoot. By listening to these calls, and learning to imitate them, you are sure to call your gobbler right into range.

When approaching a turkey, use the terrain to your advantage. Stay behind hills, thickets or other features that will screen your movements. Walk as quietly as possible in the leaves, and don’t break any sticks.

Once you get a bird working to you, get your gun up on your knee pointed in his general direction with the stock against your shoulder. When a gobbler finally walks within range (inside 40 yards), wait until he steps behind a tree or other obstacle to move your gun. When he reappears, aim carefully at his head/neck junction, and then squeeze the trigger. When a gobbler struts, the neck (spinal column) is compressed and the head is often partially hidden by feathers, making for an even smaller target. If the gobbler is strutting, wait until he extends his neck to shoot. A clean, one-shot kill should be the goal of every hunter.


Wild turkeys were abundant during the 1800s in Arkansas, based on reports by early explorers and settlers. Early Arkansans hunted turkeys for food on a year-round basis, but over-exploitation combined with habitat destruction decreased turkey numbers.

By the early 1900s turkeys had been eliminated from large areas of the state. With the formation of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in 1915, regulations protecting turkeys were imple-mented, but turkey numbers continued to decrease. Turkeys

probably reached their lowest point in history during the 1930s.

The AGFC initiated many efforts to restore turkeys. Hen turkeys were made illegal to harvest in 1918; state game refuges were set up in the 1920s, and pen-raised wild turkeys (many raised at state game hatcheries) were released as early as the 1930s. None of these early efforts resulted in restoration of turkeys on a statewide basis.

In a mid-1940s survey of Arkansas game animals, an estimated 7,000 turkeys remained in Arkansas, mostly in the Gulf Coastal Plain and along the Mississippi River. Large areas, including most of the Ozarks and Ouachitas, had no turkeys left.

Amendment 35 to the state constitution in 1944, which restructured the AGFC, called for the restoration of native wildlife species, including wild turkeys. Wildlife managers realized that wild turkeys, rather than pen-raised birds, were needed to restore popula-tions. Cannon-netting techniques in the early 1950s enabled wildlife managers to catch wild turkeys in large enough numbers to efficiently restock depleted areas.

Many stocked turkeys were captured on Brandywine Island near West Memphis in the 1960s and 1970s. This effort has re-sulted in turkeys being restored to almost all suitable habitats in Arkansas, with present populations estimated at around 125,000 turkeys.

History of tHe eastern Wild turkey BY arkansas Game and fisH Commission

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At the time the NWTF was established, there were only 1.3 million wild turkeys. Today that number stands at more than seven million birds throughout North America, thanks to the efforts of state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members and partners.

While wild turkey restoration is nearing completion, the NWTF still has much work to do. Across North America, supporters are working to enhance habitat for wild turkeys and other wildlife while providing hunters with more opportunities and access to public and private land.

The Wild Turkey Country Habitat Conservation Program is designed to help private landowners, industry partners and wildlife agencies conserve wildlife habitat and improve hunting opportunities.

For hunters across North America, the fear of losing hunting land to development is real. Every day we read about new housing or industrial developments springing up in undeveloped areas.

There’s good reason to fear! Wildlife habitat is being converted at the astounding rate of 9 square miles per day.

To conserve wild turkeys and preserve our hunting heritage, there has to be land where wild turkeys and other wildlife can thrive and where sportsmen can hunt. An NWTF habitat conservation program, Wild Turkey Country, is helping protect this land.

Wildlife Habitat Preservation:

By National Wild Turkey Federation

there are three main ways Wild turkey Country protects wildlife habitat:

1. Conservation easements–A voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a qualified conservation organization in which the landowner agrees to restrict the type and amount of development that may take place on their property. Conservation easements can provide substantial tax breaks for private landowners. 2. land donations–A gift of land or real estate from either cor-porations or private individuals. If the gifted land is not wildlife habitat, the NWTF will sell it and use the proceeds to protect critical wildlife habitat elsewhere. If the land does provide quality habitat, the NWTF may convey it to an appropriate wildlife agency or resell the property with a conservation easement in place. 3. bargain sales–A bargain sale is a combination of a purchase and a property donation. The NWTF pays a landowner a percentage of the value of the property and the landowner then donates the remaining value to the NWTF. The donated value may be considered a charitable contribution and is tax deductible.

The program works directly with NWTF chapters, agency partners and industry partners to protect wildlife habitat and to acquire — from willing sellers — land for public use. Wild Turkey Country also works directly with private landowners to protect property from development through conservation easements.

For more information on donating a conservation easement or on the NWTF’s Wild Turkey Country program, contact Joel Pedersen at (800) THE-NWTF or by email at [email protected].

Wild Turkey CounTry HabiTaT ConservaTion Program

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Turkey Hunting RegulationsSeason Opens April 16

Only shotguns (10 gauge and smaller) and archery equipment (including crossbows) may be used to hunt turkey. Shot larger than No. 2 common shot is prohibited.

Shooting a turkey from a boat is illegal.

Turkeys may only be taken from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.

Firearms must be unloaded and cased while being transported by boat at night (from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise).

Turkeys may not be hunted with the use of traps, nets, snares, hooks, explosives, dogs or live decoys.

Hunters may not posses electronic or mechanically powered calls.

Releasing domestically reared tur-keys into the wild is illegal.

Capturing wild turkeys or collecting their eggs is illegal.

For more information on spring tur-key season, visit agfc.com.

EasTERn Wild TuRkEy scientific name: Meleagris gallopavo

Habits and Habitat: Turkeys need a variety of habitats close to each other to fulfill their seasonal requirements. In late spring and summer, open areas with leafy vegetation offers bugging habitat for poults. In fall and winter, woodlands offer food and shelter. In early spring, woodlands with interspersed open areas and thick ground cover are essen-tial for breeding displays and nesting habitat.

Habit: Male turkeys (gobblers) use their gobbles to announce to hens that they are the dominant bird in the area. Often, they can be found getting into gobbling matches with any other turkeys in the area. They also will sound off to any loud noise, including thunder, train horns and car doors slamming.

description: The wild turkey is separated into six recognized subspecies. Arkansas is home to the Eastern subspecies.

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The Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge is one of over 500 National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) spread across the U.S. Though there are many, refuges have a reputation as America’s best kept secret. “I think the biggest misunderstood concept is that they even exist,” said Bernie Petersen, Project Leader of the South Arkansas Refuge Complex, which includes the Felsenthal, Pond Creek, and Overflow National Wildlife Refuges. “People know all about National Parks but don’t seem to grasp the understanding that we also have a Na-tional Wildlife Refuge System.”

Refuges belong to the people and are entrusted to those who work for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to manage for the benefit of wildlife. “No other nation has a system that is dedicated to this kind of action and is still available for the public to use and enjoy,” said Petersen.

Felsenthal NWR is located around five miles west of Crossett. Established in 1975, it is crisscrossed by a system of lakes, rivers, creeks, bayous and sloughs. These water resources are dominated by the Ouachita and Saline Rivers and the Felsenthal Pool.

Primarily the refuge was established for wintering water-fowl habitat, endangered species, and outdoor recreation. But wildlife is key. “Our priority mission above all else is putting the needs of wildlife first, not people, and that may be some of the reason why we are not as well known,” said Petersen.

However, there is plenty for visitors to do there. Fishing is available year round and sport fishing is a top activity. Hunting is also a draw and is managed via quota hunts of white-tailed deer and turkey.

FELSENTHAL NATIONAL WILdLIFE REFUgE

BY Zoie Clift, ArkAnsAs DepArtment of pArks AnD tourism


“National Wildlife Refuges are wild places and sometimes that doesn’t always attract the masses,” said Amanda Wilkin-son, Visitor Service Specialist for the South Arkansas Refuge Complex. “We are taking a great initiative to try and change that. We are trying to connect people to nature and appeal to not only the hunters and fishermen but also the birdwatchers, wildlife enthusiasts, kayakers, hikers, etc…”

Felsenthal NWR lies within the Mississippi Flyway so the potential for birding is big. Hundreds of species of birds are known to nest in the area. One famous one is the endangered Red-cockaded woodpecker and the refuge has the highest den-sity of this species in the state.

According to Petersen, the diversity of natural resources here also stands out. “We have rivers, bottomland hardwoods, up-land pines and hardwoods, endangered species, prairies, just an incredible array of natural resources all on one large 65,000 acre refuge,” he said. “We are a major stop over point for wa-terfowl during the fall and spring migration and a major stop over for neotropical migrants, so much so that we have been named an Important Bird Area by Arkansas Audubon.”

Petersen said there are also actions underway to improve the refuge. “We are looking at trying to improve the timber resources on the refuge by supervising the way we manage the water for this area,” he said. “We want to ensure the beautiful and bountiful resources we see here today will be here for our children’s children to enjoy. We have also really stepped up our environmental education effort to get our youth more involved with outdoor activities. We are also always looking at ways to improve access for our visitors.”

“This is a place set aside for wildlife, we invite you to come explore, enjoy and snoop around all you like,” Petersen con-tinued. “This refuge is your refuge, as it is all of America’s refuge. Get involved with it, help maintain it and definitely enjoy it.”

Visitor numbers to the refuge ring in at around 400,000 per year. If you are interested in checking out Felsenthal, there are primitive camping areas (no facilities) available on site. Refuge Access permits are required for all users and Quota Hunt permits are also required. For news and updates, tune your radio to 1620 AM or follow the refuge on Facebook at South Arkansas Refuge Complex. For more details visit www.fws.gov/felsenthal/ or call 870-364-3167. A visitor center is also lo-cated at the South Arkansas Refuge Complex at 5531 Highway 82 West in Crossett.

There are nine other NWR’s in Arkansas. These include Bald Knob NWF in Bald Knob; Big Lake NWR in Manila; Cache River NWR in Augusta; Holla Bend NWR in Dardanelle; Logan Cave NWR in Siloam Springs; Overflow NWR in Wilmot; Pond Creek NWR in DeQueen; Wapanocca NWR in Turrell and the White River NWR in DeWitt.

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sight of the buffalo but not the sound -- the reverberation of their heavy hooves on the winter-drawn turf, the clearly audible breathing all asserting the pres-ence of these majestic animals right here, right now.

“We use only passive means on them. It cuts down on the stress in their lives,” L.C. was saying. “Cattle prods

are not allowed through the gates. We have no problem whatsoever. We rotate pasture and give them treats.”

I reached for my pen to take some notes and realized my hand was

covered in buffalo mucus. I started to wipe my hands on my jeans but L.C.’s sister Sheila clucked at me and offered a handful of paper towels. I took them gratefully but shrugged at the sugges-tion I was messing up my pants. I was working. It was expected. Besides, it’s not every day you get buffalo spit on you.

Ratchford Farms is about six miles northeast of Marshall. When you drive up it doesn’t look like much, just a small house and shed that may or not have a few buffalo in the yard.

L.C. introduced me to a good part of his family—three of his four sisters, his mother and a niece—before we headed out to investigate the farm. Along the way he shared a dialogue about the farm, the buffalo and other livestock and what he’s hoping to ac-complish here.

GrazinG the Green

Ozark hills

L.C. Ratchford hollered as he stepped out into the pasture behind his house. His cowboy boots thumped quietly in the dusty shorn grass as he wandered towards the back end of the rise. For a few moments, it was quiet.

“C’mon… buffalo!” he called again, and there was the sound of distant footfalls, heavy but hurried. And they came running, around 20 buffalo appearing over the rise in the hill, galumphing and huffing their way across the yard to the fence where we stood waiting with food pellets, “treats” they looked for as they snorted the ground, that they found in my outstretched hand with long, giraffe-like black pointed tongues.

“Get your hand on out there, it’s okay,” he prodded me, and I held my hand closer. The buffalo huffed into my hand and about inhaled one of the pellets, continuing to flick at my hand for another moment after the food was gone. I was surprised by how small its teeth were in that mas-sive wooly horned head.

L.C. was beaming. “They’re so much harder to farm than cattle. Buffalo are still wild animals, not domesticated, no matter how they look. They’re very territorial.”

“They’re very friendly,” I comment-ed, still a little overwhelmed by the beasts. I had been prepared for the

“C’mon, buffalo!”

organic farming

BY KAT ROBINSON & PHOTOS BY GRAV WELDON

L. C. RATChfORD


BY KAT ROBINSON & PHOTOS BY GRAV WELDON


The estate is substantial -- a recently con-structed plantation-style home atop Moss Mountain that looks like it’s been there a century or better; organic vegetable gardens carefully maintained; a rose garden as beauti-ful as one would expect in a romance novel and views of the Arkansas River that take your breath away. But the working farm is also home to a new effort to preserve poultry from our past.

P. Allen Smith has teamed up with the Heritage Poultry Conservancy to promote the return of heritage birds. These aren’t some dreamed up breed from a science lab; they’re actual breeds raised by our grandparents’ generation that have been overlooked for the convenience of commercial birds bred specifi-cally for certain consumer-friendly products.

I met Danny Williamson with Good Shepherd Turkey Ranch back in October at Moss Moun-tain Farms. The Conservancy had brought out some of the birds housed on the land to show guests at a Farm to Table event. The chickens were large birds, very full-bodied and with some of the prettiest plumage I’ve seen. Some came up to my knee, tall strutting birds with an almost ancient raptor-like gleam in their eye.

Williamson’s been doing this a while. “I was raised on a farm where we grew our own chickens for both egg and meat consump-

tion...it was a way of life for me. After high school I fell away from agriculture as I thought I was tired of the farm life, 15 years ago I met Frank Reese (from Good Shepherd Poultry Ranch) and started working with him on his farm and fell back in love with the farm and the birds. I now do it because I feel an obligation to carry on these genetics of poultry so they can be handed down to the next generation.”

But why work hard to bring back these old breeds and take the sort of care the Heritage Poultry Conservancy targets? “The terms ‘organic‘ and ‘free range‘ do not hold water anymore. Organic simply means that the bird was raised on organic feed and organic ground, it does not say anything about how the animal was treated or the fact that a com-mercial ‘organic’ chicken is unable to move around because of its obesity. Free range sim-ply means the bird has access to the outdoors, it doesn’t mean that it can or will go outdoors. Heritage Poultry is free ranged on pasture. These birds can run and chase bugs. They love to catch the wind and fly.”

Williamson says the birds do not receive hor-mones or antibiotics, and that they receive a special feed mix formulated just for them.

The birds can vary widely in size and shape. For instance, while the chickens we encoun-tered at Moss Mountain Farm were far larger

than the average commercial grade Cornish rock cross, birds such as the New Hampshire could be two thirds the size of the commercial bird. Heritage birds also tend to mature at a slower pace than birds meant for commercial consumption. Williamson says it’s a notice-able difference. “These birds will have a much richer, deeper fuller flavor. This comes from their ability to exercise and create muscle mass, and from being able to eat greens.”

But what does P. Allen Smith and Moss Mountain Farm have to do with the Conser-vancy? “We share a common bond, the love of these Heritage Poultry and the importance of preserving these genetics,” says William-son. “As with any farm, being able to get genetics on other farms helps secure their future. If there were a disease outbreak or a weather catastrophe were to occur in an area, the more spread out the genetics are onto reliable farms the better chance you have to avoid in of these issues.”

So essentially the breeding stock kept at Moss Mountain Farm are the potential Adams and Eves of each breed kept there, should some-thing go tragically wrong in the poultry world. Separated from stocks on other farms, these birds will be the go-to for genetic lines should something akin to a poultry epidemic happen.

The LifeboaTP. Allen Smith’s Moss Mountain Farm is Noah’s Ark to Heritage Poultry Farmers


P. Allen Smith’s Moss Mountain Farm is Noah’s Ark to Heritage Poultry Farmers

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He’s had this dream to run this farm all his life, but when he graduated from high school he left out and went to welding school, spending 24 years as a contract welder, saving and investing his money so he could eventually get back to Mar-shall and acquire the land he needed for his venture. His welding back-ground has served him well. All of the fencing around the 400 acre homestead is his work, including steel fencing around the pastures where the buffalo roam and veritable miles of barbed wire strung tight between recycled highway sign posts. The 10 foot tall, 20 foot square corrals he’s built on the site are made from recycled oil field pipe; the retaining pen where he can work on the animals constructed from reclaimed I-beams and highway guard rail.

It’s a beautiful expanse, patched to-gether over the years with purchases of one tract of land at a time. The original homestead spanned a valley running a mile and three quarters long. There Otis and Marge Ratchford, L.C.’s parents, started farming in 1957. They

planted strawberries, corn, green beans, whatever they needed. The couple and eventually their six children worked the land by hand. “I worked it just as much as he did,” said Marge, speak-ing of Otis and the old farm. “We had tomatoes, cane for molasses, we had to raise everything for our own food.” They had chickens, ate their own eggs, drank milk from their cows and baled their own hay. About all they couldn’t get was flour and fuel.

They’ve always had cattle. L.C.’s great grandfather served in the Civil War for the South. After the war he drove a herd of cattle from Georgia all the way to Searcy County and settled down. “We worked real hard on our herd, built it from Holsteins and Jerseys,” Marge told me.

“The family idea has always been to keep good cows and buy good bulls,” L.C. added. The family has worked more than 150 years to foster the traits

they wanted—lower birth-weight calves so that the cows can calve without as-sistance, good marbling to the meat, a good disposition and an optimum prime weight of 1000 to 1200 pounds.

About three years ago, L.C. started receiving interest from buyers for spring-fed cattle.

The bulls they buy today are Angus, to create an Angus-cross that are sturdy, mellow and disease free. The cattle and all the livestock on the farm go back to L.C.’s philosophy. “The whole idea of our farm is no stress— don’t hurt the animal. And we try to be green as possible.”

Being green means not using chemi-cal pesticides, filler feed products or wasteful practices. L.C. manages to take care of all three problems with his approach to grass seeding and insect control.

“Clover and Bermuda seed goes into the feed. The clover, being a legume,takes nitrogen from the air and puts it back in the soil. The Bermuda is good


feed. By feeding the seeds to the animals those seeds come through in the ma-nure—the best fertilizer in the world.”

L.C. has lime brought out onto the fields by an 18-wheeler load once a year. It’s spread out . Because the seed is in the feed and the cattle def-ecate everywhere, there’s no need to bring in a crew to seed the farm each year. Lime breaks down the organic matter and kills certain parasites. The way the feed and the lime are laid out there’s no risk of chemicals getting into the runoff water.

Ah, that water. “Spring-fed” isn’t just a catchy turn of phrase, it’s the basis for a new approach to chemical free, healthy livestock.

Thee rush for food pellets over, the buffalo slowly grazed and huffed a bit here, grouping and ungrouping across the space.

“We don’t use any steroids or hor-mones on the buffalo. See what’s

happening over there?” L.C. asked, pointing at a smaller enclosure with a trough. There were bars that prevented the adults from entering. “The babies are able to get in there and eat this granola that’s just like what you and I eat,” he told me. He showed me a bin that contained the product, a mix of oats and corn and tiny ground food pellets. The adults are pasture-fed most of the year, and when the grass is gone they’re fed locally grown grass hay.There’s another trough a bit further out from the house. In it are natural miner-als—sea salt, selenium and the like. “That preparation is out there for them to select the minerals they need. They choose what they need to take in.”

And of course there’s the water. In turns, the buffalo would head over to the side of the pen and drink from a large concrete trough full of clear water. “All the watering stations on the land are gravity-fed spring water… and this one has a water heater in it that keeps the water warm throughout the winter. By drinking warm water, they warm up from the inside. They

don’t take in as many calories to stay warm, and they’re healthier for it.”

“More water also means they flush more toxins from their system,” L.C. continued. “It’s all about high quality water sources. You wouldn’t drink standing water, you’d drink the good stuff. They like the good stuff, too.”

Eleven live springs on the property make that possible, along with a great deal of piping to take the water to stations set up throughout the land. All the animals benefit from it—the buffalo, the cattle, the emus and the llama too.

The buffalo herd housed here is nine to ten years old. Unlike cattle, buffalo bulls take six to seven years to reach maturity. Buffalo cows won’t have their first calves until they’re three but


over the course of their lives (up to 35 years) they could calve 30 times.

But they are dangerous, which is why they can’t be raised like cattle. “Buffalo have no natural predators but man. They can kill a bear. They can kill a coyote or a dog. They are wild ani-mals,” L.C. reiterated.

A couple of males took off after each other on one side of the field, two males fighting for a little dominance. Their skirmish included running and bumping against each other… and that was about it. They settled what-ever it was they were arguing over and came back, huffing out in that way all these buffalo tended to do, like kids trying to see who could get the bigger plume of steam drop from their lips on a very cold day.

“Thing about buffalo is that they’re a long term venture,” L.C. continued. “They have long lives and they’re big and strong. You can’t just raise them like cattle.”

There are about 50 head of buffalo at Ratchford Farms. This is a breeding farm. Most of the animals here ensure that there will be a fine selection of buffalo to breed from in the future. Ratchford also uses meat from other farms he’s networked with, who fol-low the same practices of all-natural feed, spring water and low-stress for the animals.

We went over to check out another enclosure. Four animals share this acre— three emu and a llama named Brown, who came up and ate from my hand. All of these animals were rescued and live a calm, quiet life on Ratchford’s farm. “I’d like to get

a couple of ostriches, too,” he men-tioned as Brown daintily nibbled feed out of my hand.

After an inspection of the pen area and a stop in a field of cows, we headed out towards the old home-stead.

We traveled up a steep hill to the back side of the property, where more highway-post and barbed wire fenc-ing was tucked into high grass. “We keep this wild for wildlife like bob-white quail, turkey and deer,” L.C. said. “We’re really selective about the trees we harvest—we only take a few

and we use a lot of the dead wood for firewood. There’s no clear-cutting here.” Up on top we came across a small pond. “It’s water for the cattle and the wildlife, and there are fish in there for the raccoons and such.”

Heading back down the hill and up the next one, we came over a ridge where about half the cows were lay-ing on their briskets, relaxing in the blowing mist. There were calves frol-icking on the ridge—and across the way on the next ridge, L.C. spotted another cow—a white cow with liver colored spots. “I think she’s done had her baby,” Madge said.


“Can you see it?” L.C. asked.

We drove around to the other ridge—and there just inside the edge of the woods stood this cow and her hours-old calf, white with black spots, with large ears and umbilical cord showing.

“Ugly!” L.C. joked. Everyone in the SUV commented about how cute the newborn was—but as L.C. pointed out, only the purely black ones get the top dollar at market. This calf may be more than half Angus, but he won’t sell as one.

The beef, buffalo and elk (which is raised on a farm in Missouri because of the rules about raising elk in or near the Buffalo National River) are distributed in three states—Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma—by Ratch-ford and a couple of others. It’s still a small operation with just three vans delivering fresh meat, sausages and jerky to around a thousand locations in the area, but he hopes one day it will grow.

So he question is, is there really any difference in flavor between beef raised com-mercially and Ratchford’s spring-fed beef? I didn’t have to wait for the opportunity to give it a try. When we ar-rived back at the main house L.C. took to the grill while the sisters pulled out salad, baked potatoes, rolls and des-sert. I was ogling the straw-berry shortcake, a recipe from Madge’s family that ran back to the Civil War, when he came through and delivered a steak to me.

The color was nicely brown with a good char on it from where the meat had sat on the grill. It had lovely reddish notes to it. I sliced in and found a nice pink throughout the meat, a perfect medium rare. And the flavor? There was something pleasantly mellow about the beef, how it took a little smokiness from

the cooking and notes of grapes and fruit from the homemade wine mari-nade L.C. had used. It was a very good steak.

Thing is, it’s the sausages, jerky and snack sticks Ratchford Farms is best known for. They’re well thought out treats, nicely seasoned according to their flavor (mild, spicy and teriyaki) and sell well for the traveler and sportsman. If you’ve spent anytime outdoors in Arkansas and have frequented bait shops, convenience stores or sporting good locations, you’ve probably seen these prod-ucts.

We sat around for a little while after dining, sharing stories about family pets and people we knew in com-mon in the area. The Ratchfords are a comfortable bunch, and it’s no wonder they were named the Searcy County Farm Family of the Year back in 2009. I found I wouldn’t have minded staying a bit longer, but I had a long trip back. I look forward to making their acquaintance again.

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Geocaching Along the Great River Road – Why not hunt for treasure during spring break? Using clues and coordinates, geocaching provides fun for all ages and the thrill of finding the elusive cache. Grab your young “pirates,” your hiking boots and your GPS and head to Arkansas’s Great River Road for a geocaching escapade! The modern-day scavenger hunt promises hours or days of fun! The scenic byway runs along eastern Arkansas’s border along the historic Mississippi River and offers wonderful opportunities to experience Arkansas’s Delta. The 25 Arkansas Great River Road caches will take you to notable historical sites in Blytheville, Osceola, Wilson, Tyronza, West Memphis, Horseshoe Lake, Forrest City, Brinkley, Marianna, Helena-West Helena, Trenton, St. Charles, Arkansas City, Rohwer, McGehee, Dumas, Pickens, Jerome, Lake Village and Eudora. Along the way, experience some of the best barbecue, catfish and home cooking at diners, bistros and restaurants along the Great River Road. Whether you’ve got two days or just a couple of hours, log a few caches along the Great River Road.

Pine BluffFor some affordable fun in The Natural State for spring break, head to Pine Bluff! Check out the Delta Rivers Nature Center, featuring exhibits on the natural history of the Arkansas Delta; a 20,000-gallon aquarium filled with native fish; and live turtles, snakes and alligators. The Arkansas Railroad Museum is home to Engine 819, the mighty locomotive built in Pine Bluff in 1942. The museum features a full-scale railroad depot and a variety of railroad memorabilia. The Arts and Science Center of Southeast Arkansas offers hands-on exhibitions for kids,

ArkAnsAs’s AffordABle

Spring

sTorY & PHoTos BY Jill RohRbach, KeRRy KRaus, Kim Williams and Zoie clift, ArkAnsAs DepArtment of pArks AnD tourismideAs


live productions throughout the year, acting classes and theatre camps for kids, and works by local, regional and national artists. The Pine Bluff/Jefferson County Historical Museum offers visitors a glimpse into Pine Bluff’s his-tory, including exhibits on the Civil War and World War II, antique dolls, and farming implements from the past. The museum is located in a restored Union Station train depot. Learn more about the famous musicians, writers, and performers who called Arkansas home at the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame. See memorabilia including musi-cal instruments, costumes, personal items and gold records of some of Arkansas’s native sons and daughters who took the world by storm! If you feel like doing a little fishing, check out Saracen Landing, located along the banks of Lake Saracen in downtown Pine Bluff. The $4.2 million park facility offers public fishing access and boat launch access. It’s also home to special events throughout the year, includ-ing the Pine Bluff Farmers Market. And don’t miss the cool fountain that shoots water 40 feet into the air!

Lake ChiCotA former main channel of the Mississippi River, Lake Chicot is the largest oxbow lake in North America. The lake and its environs are one of the state’s top-rated birding areas. Lake Chicot State Park, located on the northeastern shore of the 20-mile-long lake, offers cabins, campsites, a marina, boat rentals, levee tours and barge tours of the lake for sunset and wildlife viewing. The visitor center interprets the area’s history and natural resources through exhibits and programs. Bicycles and pedal boats are available for rent. On Ark. 144, eight miles northeast of Lake Village. For more information visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com or phone 870-265-5480.

CrowLey’s ridge Parkway NatioNaL sCeNiC BywayCreated by water, wind and glacier action over the past 50 million years, the ridge is a series of tree-covered rolling hills stretching nearly 200 miles, north to south, in the midst of the great Arkansas delta. Geologists proclaim it one of the great natural oddities of the world. Since the arrival of settlers in the early 19th Century the ridge has served as a recreational retreat. Crowley’s Ridge Parkway National Scenic Byway is of only 125 distinct and diverse roads designated by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. From St. Francis to Helena, the route passes by or near the home where Ernest Hemingway wrote portions of “A Fare-well to Arms,” six state parks, a national forest, Civil War sites, historic homes, museums, rich agricultural areas, and the Delta Cultural Center. Activities along the route include lake fishing, picnicking, hiking, geocaching, and boating. Cabins, campgrounds, bathhouses, playgrounds, and visitor centers can be found at the state parks. Jonesboro, the larg-est city on the parkway, has shopping districts, a historic downtown, a civic center, plus Arkansas State University with its public museum, art gallery and convocation center. Jonesboro is also home to the Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center. The center offers self-guided trail walks that allow visitors to see plants and animals in habi-tats ranging from wetlands to prairie to forest. Don’t miss the video explaining the formation of Crowley’s Ridge. The parkway and Crowley’s Ridge end at Helena at the Missis-sippi River. Lodging at hotels and bed and breakfast inns is available. For information about the parkway visit www.deltabyways.com or call 870-972-2803.

story & Photos By Jill RohRbach, KeRRy KRaus, Kim Williams and Zoie clift, ArkAnsAs DepArtment of pArks AnD tourismideas


Buffalo NatioNal RiveR Spring and early summer are the prime times to float the Buffalo National River, although the lower section can be floated year-round. The first stream to receive the designation (1972), the Buffalo flows roughly 150 miles and includes nearly 95,000 acres of public land along its corridor. The river descends nearly 2,000 feet through lay-ers of sandstone, limestone and chert. Hidden away, ready for discovery, are other geologic marvels, springs, caves, waterfalls, natural bridges and box-like canyons, where trails are abundant. Numerous outfitters (for canoeing, rafting, horseback riding and fishing) service the river, and there are several campgrounds, cabins, motels and other lodging op-tions nearby. For more information visit www.arkansas.com/outdoors/canoeing-rafting-kayaking/ or phone 870-741-5443.

aRkaNsas NoRth By NoRthwestA glittering gem of northwest Arkansas, Beaver Lake’s 28,000 acres of clear water attract thousands of water sport lovers, fishermen, hikers and birdwatchers. Campgrounds, resorts, marinas, outfitters, restaurants and shops serve the lake area, which is located in the Ozark Highlands near Rogers, Eureka Springs, Springdale and Fayetteville. Trout fishing on the White River is popular below Beaver Dam. Rogers has a variety of retail stores in its historic downtown district. Brick-paved streets lead to old-fashioned store-fronts filled with unique furniture, antiques and gifts, to cafes, and to the Daisy International Air Museum and the Rogers Historical Museum. Springdale is the place to catch a ride on the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad in a beautiful-ly restored turn-of-the-century passenger car. Its downtown is also home to the Shiloh Museum, which offers Ozark history. The Fayetteville square is known for its colorful gardens, unique shops, and Farmer’s Market that runs three days a week beginning in spring. Just blocks away, Dickson Street is the hip place for shopping, dining locales and tons of live music venues. Completing the scene are symphony concerts and dance and theatrical performances at the Wal-ton Arts Center. For more information on Rogers visit www.rogerslowell.com or phone 479-636-1240. For more infor-mation on Springdale visit www.springdale.com or phone 479-872-2222. For more information on Fayetteville visit www.experiencefayetteville.com or phone 800-766-4626.

euReka spRiNgsHaunted hotels, great food, unique shops, natural springs and homes built on the sides of rock cliffs make up this picturesque town. Nestled in the Ozark Mountains, Eureka Springs’ entire downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s packed with attractions such as gar-dens, caves, an exotic wildlife ranch, live music, and train excursion rides. Unique boutiques offer everything under the sun – antiques, fine art, contemporary and vintage clothing, handmade crafts, fine art and more. A portion of history is uniquely preserved through ghost tours at the Crescent Hotel and Basin Park Hotel, two of the historic hotels. Eureka Springs has been named one of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information visit www.eurekasprings.org or phone 1-800-6EUREKA.

MouNt MagaziNe state paRkNear Paris, the highest point in Arkansas rises from the Arkansas River Valley to an elevation of 2,753 feet. It offers hang gliding, rappelling, rock climbing, horseback rid-ing, camping and hiking. The mountain’s main road has bicycle lanes, and from its eight scenic overlooks visitors can see hundreds of miles of beautiful forested lands and mountains. It is also known for its outstanding butterfly population. A visitor center has an exhibit gallery and gift shop. Thirteen cabins, a 60-room lodge with restaurant and conference center, plus an indoor swimming pool, exer-cise room, and gift shop make it a perfect place to take a break. Nearby, Blue Mountain Lake offers more camping and outdoor recreation. Mount Magazine Scenic Byway leads travelers across the top of Mount Magazine and past the Cove Lake Recreation Area and the Cove Lake Trail. For more information visit www.MountMagazineStatePark.com or phone 479-963-8502.

BlaNchaRd spRiNgs caveRNsRanked among the most beautiful underground discoveries of the 20th Century, Blanchard Springs Caverns is located deep in the Ozark National Forest, 15 miles north of Moun-tain View. It is the only developed cave system operated by the U.S. Forest Service and is open throughout the year. Lighted walkways lead to stunning limestone formations and massive rooms, one as long as six football fields. For the more adventurous, Blanchard Springs also offers guided hikes into undeveloped reaches of the federally protected underground system. Helmets, lights, gloves and knee-pads are provided for the four-hour tour. Reservations are required for the Wild Cave Adventure. (Reservations are recommended, but not required, for normal cave tours.) Blanchard Springs Recreational Use Area provides scenic campgrounds, picnic areas, hiking trails, a massive natural spring and a trout-stocked lake. Located off Ark. 14 near the town of Fifty-Six. For more information visit www.BlanchardCaveTours.com or phone 1 (888) 757-2246.

white RiveR aNd Bull shoals lakeAnother favorite family destination, Bull Shoals has almost 1,000 miles of rugged shoreline. People come to fish, scuba dive, houseboat, water ski, camp, hike and relax. Camping and picnic facilities can be found around the lake. Fish-ing on Bull Shoals is excellent all year with peak action in March, April and May. Internationally famous for its beauty and great fishing, the White River flows through the Ozark Mountains and across the Delta (over 700 miles) before join-ing the Mississippi River. Trout fishing below the dam, which is the fifth largest concrete dam in the U.S., is a major draw. Resorts and full-service marinas are available as are many accommodations and guide services. For more information visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com or phone the Corps of Engineers at 870-425-2700 or the State Park at 870-431-5521.

Buffalo RiveR caNopy touRThis guided zip line canopy tour let’s you experience the flora and fauna that is unique to the Ozark Mountain


hardwood forest. The tour is a system of cables and platforms, wherein the participant “glides” or “zips” through the treetops while connected to the cable via a harness. A large wooden platform serves as a landing base in each tree that you “zip to.” The canopy tour facility was built in accordance with Association of Challenge Course Technology recom-mended guidelines. The tour takes approximately three hours. The total length of the course is the equivalent of about 7.3 football fields, or 2,200 feet long. It consists of seven zips. The elevation ranges from 40 to 60 feet above the ground. Reservations are required. Group discounts and private group tours are available. The tour is located at the Buffalo Outdoor Center in Ponca. For more informa-tion call 800-221-5514 or visit www.buffaloriver.com.

Loco Ropes at ozaRk FoLk cen-teR state paRkLoco Ropes is a multi-faceted treetop adventure with 30-plus challenges on a high wire zip line course. This fam-ily-friendly attraction excites adrena-line junkies and outdoor enthusiasts, alike. Participants swing, zip, and leap from tree to tree. Adventurers will remain safely connected to a cable wire using cutting edge technology. For those looking for an introduction into their adrenaline fueled world, they can try the Flying Pig – Loco Ropes’ dual 300-foot zip lines, named after the historic locomotive. Loco Ropes is located off Ark. 5, 9 and 14 at the Ozark Folk Center State Park in Mountain View. Call 888-669-6717 or visit www.locoropes.com for more information. Cabin reservations can be made at www.ozarkfolkcenter.com.

the VaLLey oF the VapoRs Inde-pendent MusIc FestIVaLLasting from March 20-26 in Hot Springs, this multi-day festival takes place in various venues around town each night. The event attracts bands from around the world and organizers are saying it’s becoming a pit stop for


those making the trek to or from the South by Southwest festival in Austin, TX. For more information visit www.val-leyofthevapors.com.

The 43rd annual Jonquil Festival takes place March 18-20 in Washington at Historic Washington State Park. This three-day festival heralds the coming of spring to southwest Arkansas. Thousands of jonquils welcome crafters, enter-tainers, and visitors to the park. More details can be found at historicwashingtonstatepark.com

Hot SpringSThe First Ever Eighth Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade takes place on March 17 in Hot Springs. The parade is held annually on Bridge Street and includes floats, dancers, belly dancers, the Irish Order of Elvi, Irish Wolfhounds and more. The celebrity grand marshal is John Corbett.

Hot Springs, the boyhood home of former U.S. President Bill Clinton, also hosts a national park, a Thoroughbred racetrack, a 210-acre botanical garden, and a thriving arts community. Fishing, water-skiing, sailing, boating, and scuba diving are popular lake activities. Three area lakes – Hamilton, Catherine and Ouachita – accommo-date water-based recreation, private resorts and two state parks. Oaklawn Park offers live racing from late January to mid-April and simulcast races during the rest of the year. The Tulip Extravaganza takes place at Garvan Woodland Gardens March 21-April 3. Approximately 100,000 vibrantly hued tulips will line the Flowering Border and Camellia Trail. This lavish floral display is one of the most anticipat-ed events of the year for the gardens. Hot Springs and Hot Springs National Park owe their existence to an array of springs that still supply naturally heated water for thermal bathers. The Fordyce Bathhouse, located on famous Bath-house Row, serves as the park’s visitor center. For more information on Oaklawn Park visit www.oaklawn.com or phone 1-800-OAKLAWN; for more information on Garvan Woodland Gardens visit www.garvengardens.org. The Hot Springs Convention and Visitors Bureau provides informa-tion on other attractions and area lakes at www.hotsprings.org or by phone at 1-800-SPA-CITY.

Degray Lake The 13,800-acre lake, about eight miles north of Arkadel-phia, is home to the only resort state park in Arkansas. The lodge at DeGray Lake Resort State Park is on an island accessible via a causeway. The park also includes a golf course, a riding stable, campgrounds and hiking trails. Visi-tors can rent watercraft at the park marina or can launch their own craft for free. Sailing, fishing, jet-skiing, and boat-ing are popular DeGray activities. Also located on the lake are U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recreational areas, most of which have campsites. Iron Mountain Lodge and Marina has fully-equipped lakeside cottages and its own full-service marina stocked with ski boats, party barges, small fishing boats and houseboats. In Arkadelphia, visitors will find a variety of restaurants and, between the town’s two universi-ties, a planetarium, galleries and available theatrical and musical performances. For more information on the State park visit www.degray.com or phone 501- 865-2801. For more information on Corps of Engineers sites phone 501- 246-5501. For more information on Arkadelphia phone the Chamber of Commerce at 870- 246-5542.

Crater of DiamonDS State parkNorth America’s largest diamond (40.23 carats) and more than 70,000 other diamonds have been found in a field southeast of Murfreesboro since farmer John Huddleston discovered the first gems in the field in 1906. Now the eroding surface of a volcanic pipe located about three miles southeast of Murfreesboro is preserved as Crater of Diamonds State Park, the world’s only site where anyone can dig for diamonds and keep what they find. Diamond displays and exhibits detailing the site’s history and geol-ogy can be found in the park’s visitor center. The park also has a campground, a hiking trail, a picnic and play area, and a seasonal “Diamond Springs” water park. For more information visit www.craterofdiamondsstatepark.com or phone 870-285-3113.


Lake OuachitaArkansas’s largest reservoir at 40,000 acres, Lake Ouachita offers fishing for striped and largemouth bass and other sport fish in the midst of outstanding scenery. It is also a popular destination for scuba diving, boating, sailing and water skiing. A number of private resorts with marinas are located on its shores. Lake Ouachita State Park has a marina, rental cabins, campsites and hiking trails and interpretive programs. Numerous U.S. Army Corps of En-gineers recreation areas are also located on the lake, which was formed by the completion of Blakely Mountain Dam in the early 1950s. For more information on the resorts visit www.mtidachamber.com or phone 870- 867-2723. For more information on Lake Ouachita State Park visit www.Arkan-sasStateParks.com or phone 501-767-9366. For the Corps of Engineers phone 501-767-2101.

Queen WiLheLmina State ParkSitting atop Arkansas’s second highest peak and located on the byway 13 miles west of Mena, Queen Wilhelmina State Park’s lodge accommodates travelers , a restaurant and gift shop. A miniature golf course, miniature train rides and hiking trails, lined with colorful wildflowers in the spring, provide family activities. Guests using the park’s campground often include hikers traversing the 223- mile Ouachita National Recreation Trail which runs through the park. For more information on Queen Wilhelmina State Park visit www.queenwilhelmina.com or phone 479-394-2863.

Ouachita natiOnaL FOreStWithin the 1.8 million-acre Ouachita National Forest (est. 1907) are back roads and hiking trails that provide visitors with an up-close experience of the aged mountains. The forest hosts six wilderness areas (five in AR and one in OK) and two Wild and Scenic Rivers. The Talimena National Scenic Byway winds along the top of Winding Stair and Rich Mountains on its way into Arkansas. Other highlights in the forest include the Ouachita National Recreation Trail, which traverses a lengthy 223 miles across the region, and the Womble Trail, one of the most popular single-track mountain bike routes in the nation. For more information visit www.fs.fed.us/r8/ouachita. For more information on the Talimena Scenic Byway visit www.talimenascenicdrive.com.

LittLe rOck/nOrth LittLe rOckThe big city hosts numerous attractions, including the His-toric Arkansas Museum, the Arkansas Arts Center, the Old State House Museum, the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, and the Museum of Discovery. The River Market District offers fine accommodations, dining and shopping. Heifer Village is a $13.5 million project, an in-teractive global education facility designed as a sustainable and environmentally sensitive building. Adjacent wetlands, which support native species, complement the building’s design. More than 700 mammals, birds, reptiles and am-phibians are on display at the Little Rock Zoo. Don’t miss the chance to ride a one-of-a-kind antiquity, the restored Over the Jumps Carousel, the only one of its kind still in existence and located at the zoo.

You can take your own Black History tour of Little Rock by visiting Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site and accompanying museum across the street, EMOBA-The Museum of Black Arkansans, Testament: the Little Rock Nine Memorial on the State Capitol grounds, and Mosaic Templars Cultural Center.

Across the Arkansas River in North Little Rock, the Arkan-sas Inland Maritime Museum now has a replica of a ship’s bridge just for kids. It contains a combination of controls from an ocean-going ship and a river tugboat. The museum is also home port for the USS Razorback submarine, open for tours. Not far away is the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, complete with interactive exhibits, located on the ground level of Verizon Arena.

The Junction Pedestrian Bridge downtown and the Big Dam Bridge in west Little Rock allow visitors to amble, run, hike or walk from one town to the other. For more information on Little Rock visit www.littlerock.com or phone 800-844-4781. For more information on the Little Rock Zoo visit www.littlerockzoo.com or phone 501-666-2406. For more information on North Little Rock visit www.northlittlerock.travel/ or phone 501-758-1424.

exPLOring natureTwo Little Rock facilities provide visitors with opportuni-ties to discover the complexity and beauty of The Natural State’s natural world. The Central Arkansas Nature Center is located on 3.4 acres in Little Rock, within Riverfront Park overlooking the Arkansas River. Exhibits highlight the role of fish and wildlife management and many of the projects conducted throughout the history of the Arkan-sas Game and Fish Commission. The riverfront location provides many watchable wildlife opportunities within an urban area, including basking water turtles, butterflies and migrating pelicans. A portion of the Arkansas River Trail crosses the grounds offering more options for explora-tion. Beds of native plants found throughout the state are a major part of the landscaping, while the main building includes an exhibit hall, aquariums, a gift shop, a theater and a venue for special educational programs. For more information visit www.centralarkansasnaturecenter.com/ or phone 501-907-0636. The Little Rock Nature Center is an Audubon facility surrounded by Fourche Creek wetlands and the unique soils and plants of Granite Mountain in adjacent Gillam Park. The 2,000-acres available for use of-fer a vast and richly diverse outdoor lab for young people to learn about conservation, restoration, wildlife and plants. Trails designed for a variety of learning experiences surround the Center. For more information visit www.ar.audubon.org/naturecenterlr.html or phone 501-244-2229.

cruiSin’ cOnWayCadron Settlement Park explores frontier Arkansas with a recreated blockhouse, a historical mural, and Cherokee Trail of Tears exhibits. Kiddie Land, a petting zoo, music, antiques and a fudge factory make Pickles Gap Village just north of Conway a great place to visit.


Clockwise From Top: Mardi

Gras in Eureka Springs, Hope

Watermelon Festival, Petit

Jean State Park, Fort Smith Trolley, Elk

Festival in Jasper.


A.C.“CHUCK”HARALSONWorth a Thousand Words: The Photography of

Photographs evoke so many emotions, especially those taken by Arkansas Parks and Tourism’s Chief Photographer, A.C. Chuck Haralson. Over the years, his photography has taken our breath away image by image. On these pages, Arkansas Wild presents a few we hope will simply make you smile.


SPRING BREAKMarch 18 thru 27: We have the cure for your Spring Fever! There will be lots of recreational opportunities this week, including kayak tours, lake tours, astronomy programs, nature programs, hikes, games, crafts, and more. Many are FREE, but some require advance reservations and a fee. Call the park for a detailed schedule. For more information call 501-767-9366 or visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/lakeouachita.

SPRING EQUINOX CELEBRATIONMarch 19: The Plum Bayou Culture built this unique mound complex over 1,000 year ago. Activities at this ceremonial center may have included games, feasts, and other special celebrations. Starting at 4 p.m. participate in a Native American tools and weapons demonstration and use weapons similar to the ones used here so long ago. At 5 p.m. the resident archeologist will make a presentation on how the mounds are arranged to coincide with solar events. Following the presentation, park interpreters will give a guided tour of the mound site to observe the sunset over Mound A. Admission: $4 for Adults, $3 for Children 6-12 years of age and Under 6 get in for FREE. Meeting place: Visitor Center. Event time: 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information call 501-961-9442 or visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/toltecmounds.

SPRING CANOE FLOATMarch 19: Take off from the Little Maumelle boat launch and experience the beauty of spring on this guided 4.5 miles gentle float. See parts of the park that many people don’t get to see. No paddling experience is necessary, but you should be comfortable around water. Fee includes use of boats, paddles, and life jackets. Advance reservations and payment required. Admission: $30 per person. Meeting place: Little

Maumelle Boat Launch. Meeting time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information call 501-868-5806 or visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/pinnaclemountain.

WILDLIFE HIKEMarch 19: You can explore nature at this park because Lake Dardanelle State Park’s diverse habitats sustain many living creatures. Meadowbrook Trail is home to many of these creatures. Join a park interpreter at the amphitheater and discover what animals call this area home. Then head down the trail to see how many creatures you can see or what traces of them we can find. Meeting place: Amphitheater. Meeting time: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. For more information call 479-967-5516 or visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/lakedardanelle.

SCOUT SPAGHETTI SUPPERMarch 31: Come enjoy a delicious plate of spaghetti and help support Boy Scouts and Cubs Scouts of Troop Pack 84. Tickets $8. Carry Outs Only. Event time: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Event will take place at Grand Avenue Untied Methodist Church located at 705 S. Grand Avenue, Stuttgart, AR. For more information call 870-673-6317.

ARKANSAS DUCK CALLING CLASSICApril 1 thru 2: All contests will be held on the Stuttgart Stage. Friday’s Arkansas State Duck Calling Contest (Open to Arkansas residents only). Saturday’s Mack’s Regional Duck Calling Contest and Cache River Regional Duck Calling Contest (Open to anyone 17 years of age and older). All three contests are preliminaries for the 76th Annual World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest to be held in November in Stuttgart, AR. Contact the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce for more information at 870-673-1602.

CALENDAR OF EVENTSSPRING OVERNIGHT HIKING ADVENTUREApril 2 thru 3: Experience the beauty of spring along the Ouachita Trail during this overnight adventure. Guests will need to provide their own backpacking gear and food, the park will provide a guide and shuttle. Advance reservations and payment are required. Admission: $15 per person. Meeting place: Visitor Center. For more information call 501-868-5806 or visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/pinnaclemountain.

MID-SOUTH GOLDEN GLOVES TOURNAMENTApril 7 thru 9: The Mid-South Golden Gloves Tournament includes boxers from West Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Memphis, and Arkansas. The winners of the Open Division will advance to the National Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions. Event place: North Little Rock Community Center. For more information contact Ray Rodgers at 501-225-7998 or via e-mail [email protected] or visit www.goldengloves.com.

2ND ANNUAL GUMBO COOK OFFApril 8: Music and creative competition among local amateur cooking teams vying for prizes in several categories. The competition and festival features live zydeco music from Little Rock’s Greasy Greens and all the gumbo you can handle. Proceeds benefit The Allen School, a nonprofit preschool for children with special needs. Admission: $15; Children 5 and Under are FREE. Event place: River Market Pavilions. Event time: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information contact Tory Lewis at 615-712-1573 or via e-mail [email protected] or visit www.theallenschool.org.

WILDFLOWER WEEKENDApril 8 thru 10: Spend a weekend discovering the colorful heralds of spring. Wildflower walks, talks, and evening presentations all relate to the celebration of wildflowers. Contact the park for a program schedule. Admission: FREE. For more information call 501-727-5441 or visit www.petitjeanstatepark.com.

FREE POST FAMILIE WINE TASTINGApril 9: Come and join Gaston’s White River Resort as we host the bi-annual Post Familie Wine Tasting. The tasting is FREE to the public. Local vendors will also be in attendance. For more information call 870-431-5202 or visit www.gastons.com.

BLOOMS FESTIVALApril 16: Blooms festival celebrates springtime in Arkansas with garden tours, demonstrations, maypole dancing, kids crafts and activities, vendors, live music and delicious foods for purchase. Admission: $10 for Adults, $5 for Children 6 – 12, and Children 5 and Under are FREE. This event will take place at Wildwood Park for the Arts. For more information contact Kristen Vandaveer at 501-821-7275 or via e-mail [email protected] or visit www.wildwoodpark.org.

SPRING CANOE FLOATApril 16: Take off from the Little Maumelle boat launch and experience the beauty of spring on this guided 4.5 miles gentle float. See parts of the park that

Spring is a great time to get out and explore Arkansas’ natural beauty. Find many great outdoor activities here.

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many people don’t get to see. No paddling experience is necessary, but you should be comfortable around water. Fee includes use of boats, paddles, and life jackets. Advance reservations and payment required. Admission: $30 per person. Meeting place: Little Maumelle Boat Launch. Meeting time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information call 501-868-5806 or visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/pinnaclemountain.

GIRL SCOUT ROCKER DAYApril 16: Girl Scouts are invited to earn three of the six rockers designed to fit around their Toltec Mounds Girl Scout Day Patch. Girls will spend the day participating in activities to earn their rockers for Native American plants and uses and Native American games and archeology. Reservations must be made through the Ouachita Girl Scout Council at 501-758-1020. Admission: $4 per person. Event time: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will take place at the visitor center at Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park. For more information call 501-961-9442 or visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/toltecmounds.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SERIES—BLOOMING WEEKENDApril 16 thru 17: Spring is the time for flowers and there are plenty popping up around the park. Guided hikes and nature programs will explore the many blooms in this gorgeous Ouachita Mountain landscape. Contact the park for a program schedule. For more information call 501-844-4176 or visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/lakecatherine.

GREAT ESCAPE WEEKENDApril 22 thru 24: Celebrate spring and the great outdoors at our Great Escape Weekend. Enjoy FREE nature-related walks and other family oriented activities. Petit Jean’s State Park celebration will conclude with an Easter egg scramble for about 2,000 eggs. Admission: FREE. Contact the park for a schedule at 501-727-5441 or visit www.petitjeanstatepark.com.

WITT STEPHENS, JR. CENTRAL ARKANSAS NATURE CENTER CELEBRATIONApril 23: Join us in a day long celebration of our Earth and all of its natural resources. Activities for kids, adults, and families. Admission: FREE. Regular business hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information contact Sarah Baxter at 501-907-0636 or visit www.centralarkansasnaturecenter.com.

PARK CLEANUP DAYApril 23: Celebrate Earth Day by giving back to Mother Nature for all she does for you. Place your mark at Pinnacle Mountain State Park by helping to beautify your favorite central Arkansas green space. Contact the volunteer coordinator at the park for more information. Let’s meet at the Visitor Center and go from there. Event time: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information call 501-868-5806 or visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/pinnaclemountain.

EASTER EGGSTASYApril 23 thru 24: DeGray Lake Resort State Park is a beautiful place to spend Easter weekend. Nature programs, lake tours, and guided hikes will keep the entire family busy and having fun. Easter morning, join local pastors for a sunrise service. End your special weekend with the kids hunting for hidden goodies left by the Easter Bunny! Contact the park for a program schedule. Admission: Free except the lake tours. Meeting

place: Lodge. For more information call 501-865-5810 or visit www.degray.com.

EASTER WEEKENDApril 23 thru 24: Lake Catherine State Park will have plenty of interpretive programs celebrating spring and will end the weekend with an Easter Egg Hunt at the picnic pavilion area for ages 1-12. Contact the park for a program schedule. For more information call 501-844-4176 or visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/lakecatherine.

OWL PROWLApril 30: Peek into the darkness and discover a world filled with owls. Join a park interpreter on a guided hike along the Arboretum Trail in search of these elusive nocturnal hunters. Advance reservations and payment

required. Admission: $5 per person. Meeting place: Arkansas Arboretum Trailhead. Meeting time: 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information call 501-868-5806 or visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/pinnaclemountain.

KAYAK CAMPOUTApril 30 thru May 1: Join us at Marina Boat Ramp on Lake Ouachita for our popular overnight kayaking adventure. The trip includes meals and evening programs as well as information on the history, geology, and wildlife of Lake Ouachita. Bring your own kayak and supplies or rent them from us. Space is limited, so make your reservations early. Contact the park for more details. Admission: $85 per person. For more information call 501-767-9366 or visit www.arkansasstateparks.com/lakeouachita.


NEWS BRIEFSBear harvest second-highest on recordLITTLE ROCK—They didn’t beat last year’s record, but bear hunters still harvested the second-highest total in the state’s history. More than 450 bears were harvested during the 2010-11 season. During the 2009-10 season, hunters harvested a record 530 bears. The harvest totals were presented to commissioners of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission during a recent monthly meeting

Bear Program Coordinator Myron Means said archery and crossbow hunters took 63 percent of the total harvest.

“It was mostly associated with higher harvest on private land and over bait,” Means said. “Mast failure caused bears to seek baits more than in other years.” Means added that the sex ratio was good and the statewide harvest goal is between 350 and 400 bears each year.

Polk and Scott were the two top coun-ties for bear hunters. In Polk County, 40 bears were harvested, followed by 35 bears in Scott County.

Means said that future considerations for bear season may include: Implement harvest quota by month for bear zone 1. In 2010, the har-vest quota in that zone was reached before modern gun season opened. To provide bear hunting opportunities for gun hunters, a portion of the 200-bear quota may be moved to November.

USDA announces $550,000 available for water conservation projectLITTLE ROCK—U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conser-vation Service State Conservationist Mike Sullivan has set April 15 as the deadline to sign up for an Agricultural Water Enhancement Program project designed to conserve surface and groundwater, and improve pumping efficiency.

“We have $550,000 available for this project and are focusing on counties identified as having a critical ground-water decline by the project’s spon-sors,” Sullivan said. “By monitoring the fuel and water systems on these farms, we hope to improve water conservation and water quality on agricultural working lands in portions of Arkansas.”

The project, managed by NRCS and the White River Irrigation District, allows producers to install fuel and water monitoring equipment on an estimated 300 wells or re-lifts. The project boundary includes all or portions of Arkansas, Clay, Con-way, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Faulkner, Greene, Jackson, Jefferson, Lee, Lonoke, Mississippi, Monroe, Perry, Poinsett, Pope, Prairie, Pulaski, St. Francis, Van Buren, Woodruff and Yell counties.

“We will install devices on farmers’ wells and re-lifts to measure the fuel usage, the water pumped and the engine status,” said Dennis Carman, White River Irrigation District direc-tor. “The information can be used to fine tune the pumping and reduce pumping costs by 10 percent or more in most cases.”

Interested individuals may contact their local USDA NRCS office or call the White River Irrigation District office (870-255-2202) in Hazen for additional information. A map of the area is available at www.ar.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/awep.html.

Area tournaments offer anglers the opportunity to put their skills to the testUpCOmIng fIShIng TOURnAmEnTS InCLUDE:DISABLED AmERICAn VETERAnS AnnUAL BASS TOURnAmEnTdavoutdoors.comApril 2Lake Dardanelle, RussellvilleEvent will include a climbing wall, moonwalk, live band, snacks, mo-torcycle poker run, and more. Open to all anglers. Big bass pay-outs. Pro-ceeds benefit veterans in Arkansas. Admission is free.

21ST AnnUAL WAL-mART Cmn OpEn Buddy Bass Tournament479-452-4143May 21Lake Dardanelle, RussellvilleRegistration is from noon on Friday, May 20, until take-off at 6 a.m. May 21. The tournament is an eight-hour event with weigh-in approximately 2 p.m. The tournament is open to fish with one partner. Admission is $80 per team with Big Bass included.

22nD AnnUAL TRI-LAKES BIg BASS fESTIVALdequeenchamberofcommerce.comMay 28Sponsored by the De Queen-Sevier County Chamber, anglers can fish their choice of De Queen, Dierks or Gillham Lake to compete for over $10,000 in cash and prizes. Early registration is $40. The event is free to spectators.

12Th AnnUAL ARKAnSAS BIg BASS BOnAnzAarkansasbigbass.comJune 24-26Arkansas River, Little RockArkansas’ largest amateur big bass tournament, will be held along 300 miles of the Arkansas River within the state borders. Anglers can choose to fish one, two, or all three days of the tournament. $100,000 guaranteed total prize money will be awarded.

2011 fLW TOUR—fORREST WOOD CUpflwoutdoors.comLake Ouachita, Hot SpringsAugust 10-14Six FLW Tour Majors and four FLW Tour Opens. FLW Tour Majors, which will feature a 150-boat field, are open to professional anglers who enter all six tournaments. Pros fishing the FLW Tour Majors will receive prior-ity when entering FLW Tour Opens and pros that enter all four FLW Tour Opens will receive priority over individual entrants. FLW Tour Opens will also feature a 150-boat field. Complete details regarding registra-tion requirements will be available at flwoutdoors.com or call 270-252-1000.

OThER TOURnAmEnTS InCLUDE:mR. BASS Of ARKAnSASMarch 20-DeGray LakeApril 10-Lake Dardanelle

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May 22-Lake OuachitaJuly 10-Arkansas River, Little RockNovember 4-6-Mr. Bass of Arkansas ClassicFor more information visit mrbassofarkansas.com.

Fishers oF Men-Central arkansas DivisionApril 16-DeGray LakeApril 30-Greers Ferry LakeMay 21-Lake OuachitaFor more information contact Mark Boling, 870-672-9115.Fishers of Men-Southern Arkansas DivisionMarch 19-Arkansas River, DumasApril 30-Lake ChicotMay 21-FelsenthalJune 4, White River, Indian Bay

Fishers oF Men-legaCy tournaMentsApril 2-Lake Chicot May 14-Lake Hamilton

BassMaster WeekenD seriesApril 2-Lake HamiltonMay 7-Greers FerryJune 4-Lake OuachitaAugust 27-28-Champtionship, Lake OuachitaFor more information visit abaproam.com.

Futrell Marine teaM trailMarch 19-DeGray LakeApril 16-Broken Bow LakeMay 14-Millwood LakeJune 25-Classic, location TBAFor more information call 870-845-3122

MeDia Bass, arkansas DivisionMarch 12-Lake ErlingApril 23-Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge LakeMay 14-Millwood LakeJune 18-Lake ErlingJuly 30-Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge LakeFor more information visit mediabass.com.

MeDia Bass, Mississippi river DivisionMarch 19-Ferguson LakeApril 16-Lake ChicotMay 21-Lake WashingtonJune 11-Lake ChicotJuly 16-Ferguson LakeFor more information visit mediabass.com.

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this year’s bear havest is the second highest on record with more than 450 harvested


Arkansas Volunteers Win Top Awards at NWTF ConventionNASHVILLE — The Arkansas State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation received an L.A. Dixon Me-morial Chapter Award during the 35th annual National Convention and Sport Show in Nashville, Tenn. MidwayUSA was the official conven-tion sponsor.

The NWTF recognized the Arkansas State Chapter for winning first place in the membership achievement category for state chapters with 2,000 to 4,999 members. The chapter has been a leader in the NWTF’s chapter system.“We are proud to recognize this out-standing chapter with the L.A. Dixon Award,” said George Thornton, NWTF CEO. “The NWTF’s volunteers and chapters are incredibly devoted to our mission of conservation and the pres-ervation of our hunting heritage. This outstanding chapter is one shining example of how our great volunteers lead the way in communities across North America.”

The L.A. Dixon Memorial awards are bestowed in honor of a man who gave unselfishly during the NWTF’s early years. Dixon founded the North Carolina State NWTF chapter, served at the national, state and local levels and traveled thousands of miles at his own expense carrying the NWTF’s message to all who would listen. The NWTF honors Dixon’s achievements through the L.A. Dixon Memorial Chapter Awards.

Last year, NWTF chapters hosted more than 2,000 Hunting Heritage Super Fund banquets to raise funds for the NWTF’s conservation and outreach initiatives. Dollars raised at these events help fund conservation and outreach projects nationwide through the NWTF Hunting Heritage Super Fund.

Through dynamic partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members have helped restore wild turkey popu-lations across the country, spending more than $331 million to conserve 15.9 million acres of habitat that helps

wild turkeys and hundreds of upland wildlife species including deer, quail, grouse and pheasants.

AGFC wins two important legal casesLITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission won two impor-tant legal battles recently.

The Arkansas Court of Appeals upheld the conviction of Wendell “Dutch” Noe of Lake City March 2. Noe

violated AGFC regulations on captive-raised ducks. The following day, the Arkansas Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit by James Dockery of Little Rock that aimed to prevent the AGFC from using funds it receives from natural gas leases.

Noe previously had been in business raising, shipping and releasing mal-lards in Arkansas and other states, and had refused to comply with state regulations and conditions contained

in a Wildlife Breeder/Dealer Per-mit. Those regulations and permit conditions require keeping captive ducks in enclosed areas and pro-hibit releasing the birds into the wild except under limited circumstances. Noe sued the AGFC in federal courts between December 2004 and 2006, claiming that the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act provided for exclu-sive regulation of duck breeding and shooting activities, and that the more restrictive requirements enforced by the AGFC were illegal.

The federal courts ruled against Noe and upheld the AGFC’s regulatory authority. Noe was later prosecuted in state court in 2007 for continuing his mallard activities contrary to the state requirements. Noe was convicted in district court in St. Francis County and fined, but then appealed to St. Francis County Circuit Court. Following a new trial in March 2010, Noe was convicted once again and fined $2,500. Last week, the Arkansas Court of Appeals rejected Noe’s arguments that U.S.

Arkansas Game and Fish recently won two important legal cases including a case regarding wild-life breading.


treaties entered into with other coun-tries for protecting migratory birds “preempt” the AGFC regulations and affirmed Noe’s criminal conviction. Dockery filed his lawsuit in Pulaski County Circuit Court in 2009 alleg-ing that by entering into natural gas leases on certain wildlife manage-ment areas, the AGFC had violated Amendment 35 to the Arkansas Constitution, which charges the AGFC with the duty to manage, con-serve and restore the state’s wildlife resources. Dockery asked that the gas lease revenue received by AGFC be transferred from the AGFC’s Game Protection Fund to the State Trea-sury’s general fund.

The Supreme Court ruled March 3 that the AGFC had acted within its legal authority under Amendment 35 to the Arkansas Constitution when it entered into mineral leases with natural gas operators, and that the gas lease revenue received by the AGFC cannot legally be diverted from the AGFC Game Protection Fund to the state’s general fund. It also ruled that the agency had properly followed mineral leasing statutes that had been enacted by the Legislature. The Supreme Court also said that any potential diversion of the agency’s gas revenue would be tantamount to a diversion of license revenue, in violation of manda-tory U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations.

In the 6-0 ruling, with Justice Karen Baker not participating, the high court rejected all five points on which Dockery had based his appeal. A final argument, seeking injunctive relief, was therefore moot.

AGFC Director Loren Hitchcock wel-comed the ruling.

“We are very pleased with the Su-preme Court’s decision,” Hitchcock said. “It affirmed that the AGFC had acted within its legal authority under Amendment 35 when we entered into the mineral leases with the natural gas exploration companies. We have granted a portion of these funds to the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality to hire ad-ditional inspectors in the Fayetteville Shale area.”

50 | Arkansas Wild March/April 2011

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MARKETPLACE

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ADVERTISE IN THEARKANSAS WILD MARKETPLACE!

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