Arkansas Out-of-Doors July/August 2011

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Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August - 1

JULY/AUGUST 2011

T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E A R K A N S A S W I L D L I F E F E D E R AT I O N • A F F I L I AT E D W I T H T H E N AT I O N A L W I L D L I F E F E D E R AT I O N

VOL 39

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Permit 128 Russellville, Ark. 72801

NO 4

An End to Dog Days Photo by Ethan Nahté

2 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August 2011

Arkansas Wildlife Federation 75th Anniversary Celebration 1936-2011 I want to welcome you all to the Arkansas Wildlife Federation 75th Anniversary and our Annual Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet, co-sponsored by the Arkansas Wildlife Federation, Heartland Community Bank and our many other corporate sponsors.

Tonight’s guest speaker is Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel. Mr. McDaniel is an avid conservationist and sportsman. We’re happy that he could attend tonight’s event.

The conservation awards are given to the people, organizations, agencies, and businesses that have gone the “Extra Mile” for conservation, fish, and wildlife in Arkansas. The Arkansas Wildlife Federation is proud to have the privilege of recognizing them for their many contributions.

Since 1936, the Arkansas Wildlife Federation has been this state’s conservation leader. Proper management of Arkansas’ natural resources remains our primary goal, along with education of our youth and the general public. Tonight’s award recipients understand what it takes to protect and manage

our Natural Resources. They have put their interests into action for conservation. We want to recognize them for their dedication, tenacity, and the sacrifices they have made to “Keep Arkansas the Natural State”.

As we consider all the successes of the past 75 years and the many accomplishments of Arkansas Wildlife Federation, I would like to remember all of those that came before me and the legacy they left for future generations.

I feel very humbled to be a small part of all the accomplishments those before me have achieved. I would also like to remind you that

National Wildlife Federation is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year and the World Wildlife Federation is 50 this year.

Most AWF members are sportsmen and women who enjoy the out-of-doors and our natural resources. They also appreciate what Arkansas has and understand the need for proper management of these natural resources.

They are concerned about the future of hunting, fishing, trapping, preventing habitat loss, and endangered species. This is why most people get involved with AWF, because they care.

The Arkansas Wildlife Federation is a nonprofit organization that is supported only by your contributions and membership. All the money donated to AWF stays in Arkansas.

The Arkansas Wildlife Federation has been, and will continue to be, “Your Voice for Conservation Issues”.

I would like to say it has been an honor for me to work with all of you and see the benefits of our work for fish, wildlife, and our natural state.

Thank you all for your support,

Wayne Shewmake, President-AWF

Arkansas Wildlife Federation Mission Statement

To promote conservation, responsible management and sustainable use of Arkansas’ fish, wildlife, habitat, natural resources and outdoor recreational opportunities through education and advocacy.

This is the 75th Anniversary for the Arkansas Wildlife Federation.

The pin you see above is a covenant collector's pin. Not many organization can or will be able to say that they have been in business for 75 years.

This year to encourage you to become a member and help support AWF our mission of conservation and protecting fish, wildlife, and our natural resources in Arkansas.

We will give one of these pins to each paid member, along with a membership card. You can also purchase an extra pin for $10 plus shipping.

To get your pin, make sure you renew your membership today, or become a member now and continue to receive our newspaper. We would appreciate your membership support.

President - Wayne Shewmake 1st VP - Ellen McNulty 2nd VP - Larry Hillyard Treasurer - Gary Bush Secretary - Lucien Gillham

Arkansas Wildlife Federation 9108 Rodney Parham Rd. Suite 101 Little Rock, AR 72205

Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August 2011 - 3

AWF Committee Provides Recommendation

by David Carruth A common question we hear at the Arkansas Wildlife Federation is, “Well, just what do you do?” We can talk about our latest education project such as landowner workshops on conservation or wildlife art contests or even lawsuits in which we become involved. However, a cornerstone purpose of the Federation has to do with appointments to various boards and commissions; particularly state commissions, that deal with wildlife.

AWF was founded based in large part over concern that wildlife was being managed politically and not with sound wildlife science. In 1936 the Federation was formed to provide a unified voice for Arkansas’ sportsmen. Shortly thereafter, AWF successfully pushed for the Game and Fish Commission to become constitutionally autonomous from the legislature. With his power of appointment of Commissioners, the Governor is the only one who can affect the direction of the Commission.

Because of its role in empowering the Game and Fish Commission with autonomy, AWF has long been interested in who was appointed to the Commission and frequently recommended names of qualified candidates. However, beginning last fall, AWF took a more active role in seeking out candidates for appointment. Our efforts were rewarded with the naming of Steve Cook to the Commission in late July.

In the fall of 2010, president Shewmake appointed a group of AWF board members to an ad hoc committee. The committee’s purpose was to look around the state for names of potential Commissioners, inquire into their qualifications as a Commissioner and interview those whom the Committee felt would advance the mission of the Game and Fish Commission and Arkansas’ sportsmen and women. In order to insure as inclusive a process as possible, the Committee invited other conservation organizations to participate. These included such

Commission approves resident lifetime military licenses

LITTLE ROCK – During last week’s (May, 2011) monthly meeting of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, commissioners approved several resident military retiree and resident disabled military veteran licenses and permits. The licenses will be available July 1.

The licenses range in price from a $35.50 lifetime combination license down to a $5 lifetime trout stamp. Military retirees who are at least 60 years of age and residents of Arkansas are eligible for the resident military retiree lifetime license and permits. Arkansas residents who are totally disabled military veterans qualify for the resident disabled military veteran licenses and permits.

The licenses and permits are being offered to recognize the sacrifices that have been made by the state’s military retirees and disabled veterans.

organizations as Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy to name a few.

The first step was to come up with a list of names and evaluate them as candidates.

Appropriately, none of the Committee members could be named as a candidate. One of the criteria used was to look throughout the state and not just in one geographical area. Other criteria were the business acumen of a candidate and their civic involvement. Initially, 7 candidates were identified.

Eventually, this list was narrowed to 4. These 4 candidates were interviewed by delegates from the Committee to determine their qualification and perspective on the role of a Commissioner.

On April 8, 2011, a delegation from the AWF Committee met with Governor Beebe and presented him with 4 names for his consideration.

While the appointment is solely at the discretion of the Governor, we at AWF would like to think Mr. Cook’s appointment is more than coincidence. Whether it is or not, AWF should actively participate in bringing forth qualified candidates for all boards and Commissions in Arkansas that have an impact on wildlife and conservation. This takes people willing to commit the time, energy and resources to serve on committees such as this Game and Fish Commissioner Committee.

Arkansas is blessed not only with abundant wildlife and habitats but people who know, use and understand these great places. It is the Federation’s place to insure that the names of qualified candidates are submitted to the Governor for consideration.

So, what does AWF do? We make sure the system works as it should for wildlife conservation. Care to join us?

[Editor’s Note: AWF received a letter from Gov. Beebe shortly after Mr. Cook’s appointment thanking Mr. Carruth for AWF’s nomination.]

In other business, the Commission: • Approved a proclamation by Gov. Mike Beebe to start Free Fishing Weekend at noon, June 10, and end at midnight, June 12. Licenses will not be required for fishing in Arkansas during that period.

• Approved a $23,210 expenditure to complete improvements to the access road to the new trap range at the Fred Berry Conservation Education Center on Crooked Creek.

• Approved a lease for the temporary location of the AGFC Northeast Arkansas Regional Office in Jonesboro. The temporary office will be in the old Federal Aviation Administration building at the Jonesboro Municipal Airport. The lease is for 15 months while a new office building is under construction on the grounds of the Forrest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center. If the new office building is completed before the end of the 15-month lease, the AGFC will not be required to fulfill any remaining time on the lease.

• Approved changes to the Commission’s committee procedures. The changes included restructuring the Commission’s seven standing committees to five standing committees.

• Approved a minute order delegating authority to the AGFC director for administrative and emergency decision-making.

Taking a Look Back 1990-2000 ~Past AWF Presidents~ 1991 Price Holmes, Newport 1992 Richard Mason, El Dorado 1993 Richard Mason, El Dorado 1994 Richard Mason, El Dorado 1995 Robert Apple, Dardanelle 1996 Charles Self, Camden 1997 Charles Self, Camden 1998 Howard Robinson, Mansfield 1999 Jim Reynolds, Greenwood 2000 Jim Reynolds, Greenwood 2001 W.D. Haynes, M.D., Little Rock

TNT Outdoors is a group of men and women that love to hunt and fish.

We film DVD's and work towards keeping the habitat in Arkansas the best it can be for years to come. Learn more by visiting us at www.tnt-outdoors.com or email at tyler@tnt-outdoors.com www.rollingthundergamecalls.com 501.425.0299 • facebook.com/tntprostaff

4 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August 2011

Trail Tales

by Johnny Sain

Howdy! I was thinking I’d start this column off with a proper introduction. You already know my name but I think it would be good if you knew a little something about the guy sittin’ at the keyboard.

I live in Dover, a little town in the River Valley of Arkansas and right at the southern edge of the Ozark Mountains. I was born in nearby Dardanelle and have never lived more than a thirty minute drive from my birth place, I guess I’m what you’d call a local. Right now I’m pursuing a writing career. I have a column in the Newton County Times, I contribute to About...the River Valley Magazine and, as you can see, I’ll be writing a column and some articles for Arkansas Out-of-Doors.

I’m married to a wonderful, beautiful woman and have two daughters, ages 10 and 16. I love my God, my family,

my friends and my country, but what I hope that you can see in my musings on the pages in front of you is a deep love for our natural world. That statement may appear a bit strong to some but it really doesn’t even get close to conveying how I feel about it. It goes beyond appreciation and enjoyment and runs right to the core of who I am. Just the fact that you’re reading this publication let’s me know that you probably feel the same way.

My earliest memories involve the outdoors in general and wildlife in particular. I think my grandpa had a cane pole in my hand before I could walk. He made sure that every day I came over to my grandparent’s home there was some sort of critter in an old jar that I could look at. That’s where it all started; cane pole, fence lizard, garter snake and such.

But enough about me, let’s talk a little bit about all the wonderful wild things and places in the Natural State. Let’s talk about the ferocity of a smallmouth bass hooked and fighting in a cool mountain creek, in water so clear you’d swear it was air were you not standing in it. Or maybe we can talk about how the steady crunch of leaves on a frosty morning in November grabs your attention like nothing else in this world. We can talk about how the definition of silence is demonstrated on a bone chilling winter night in the middle of the Ozark National Forest, only broken by the haunting

AGFC looking for reports of trumpeter swans LITTLE ROCK – The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is asking the public to help with a project by reporting trumpeter swans "summering" in Arkansas.

As part of the Mississippi Flyway Council’s Trumpeter Swan Migration Experiment, 49 trumpeter swans were released in Arkansas during the winters of 2008, 2009 and 2010. This experiment attempts to re-establish historic swan winter migrations south into Arkansas and other southern states from the swans breeding areas in northern states.

Karen Rowe, the AGFC’s Bird Conservation Coordinator, said she is pleased that the majority of the released swans have returned north during the breeding season and many of them have returned to winter in Arkansas. "We have found that a number of our released swans have stayed in Arkansas during the summer and we want to identify and track these birds. We are interested in gathering information on these "summering" swans in order to evaluate Photo by Wayne Shewmake the progress of this experiment and track the habitat preferences of these birds," she explained.

AGFC is asking the public to report sightings of summer swans and when possible, include the collar color and alpha-numeric code on the swan collars. Each of the translocated swans is fitted with a neck collar that bears a unique letter-number code. Rowe says binoculars or a spotting scope are often needed to read the neck collar identification code. "Reports that contain the collar letter and number are extremely valuable because they enable us to track a particular swan, not just across Arkansas, but throughout its journey up and down the Mississippi Flyway. We really appreciate the observers’ efforts to obtain these important but difficult to read neck collar I.Ds." Observers should note the exact location of the swan, using a GPS when possible, and report the location, the collar color and alpha numeric code to Rowe at krowe@agfc.state. ar.us or by using the link to the AGFC survey form at http://www.agfc.com/species/Pages/

call of a great horned owl. Then we can discuss how there is no sound on Earth like the gobble of a lusty tom on a cool April morning, and no more welcome sight after a long cold winter than the blooming dogwoods and purple redbuds.

If you’re anything at all like me, these are things that you just can’t get enough of and the reasons that you support the Arkansas Wildlife Federation.

This is the natural heritage that has been handed down to us and this is the heritage that we must protect to pass along to our children and their children. It’s something that in this day and age is often an afterthought in the quest for more things and more money but as I’m sure you’ve already realized it is utterly priceless.

As I mentioned before, this is our heritage. While threats are seemingly popping up everywhere, public awareness and the resulting solutions are catching up. This awareness and these solutions are in large part due to you and your fellow conservationists.

I hope that the words I put in this publication entertain and inform but what I really want them to do is inspire. Inspire you and your families to “get out there,” enjoy all of the awesome things that our state, the Natural State, has to offer so that you too will fall in love. But then, if you’re reading this then you probably already have.

TrumpeterSwanRestoration.aspx. Observers without internet access can report their sightings by calling toll free 877-873-4651.

Before European settlement, the breeding range for trumpeter swans encompassed over half of North America, including the northern portion of Arkansas. Commercial harvest of the birds for feathers, skins and meat extirpated trumpeter swans from almost all of North America by the late 1800s.

Reintroduction efforts have restored trumpeter swans to portions of their former breeding range. Today, approximately 5,000 trumpeter swans live in the Midwest area of the United States. Trumpeter swans may form pair bonds as early as their second summer, but typically do not breed until they are 4-7 years old. Trumpeters migrate in family groups and prefer to feed on aquatic vegetation.

Trumpeter swans are the largest birds native to North America. Adult males measure 57 to 64 inches long and weigh around 25 pounds. Adult females range from 55 to 60 inches and weigh approximately 20 pounds. Their wingspans can approach 8 feet, and they fly with their extremely long necks outstretched.

[You may remember that AWF had a hand in helping reintroduce & release these beautiful birds. Magness Lake (near Heber Springs), Little Red River and Holla Bend National Widlife Refuge are three areas to see Trumpeter Swans in Arkansas.]

Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August 2011 - 5

10 Most Important Things AWF Has Accomplished

By Jim Wood

1. In 1945 AWF secured signatures to submit Amendment 35 to Arkansas voters where it passed and made AGFC independent of political interference.

2. Helped raise money to purchase land for Lake Conway, the first AG&FC fishing lake. In 1952, a monument was built to honor the AWF for it's part in founding Lake Conway.

3. Established an annual Conservation Achievement Awards Program sponsored by Sears Roebuck Foundation to recognize those who have made notable efforts to improve fish, wildlife and other resources.

4. Successfully supported a federal/private land swap that enlarged upper White River National Wildlife Refuge by approximately 40,000 acres.

5. Through persuasion, was successful in convincing Gov. Pryor to veto Bell Foley Dam, thereby preserving the free flowing Strawberry River.

6. Joined with Dr. Neil Compton and Ozark Society to successfully prevent two dams on Buffalo River which preserved the free flowing stream and led to its designation by Congress as the Nations first National River.

7. Joined with Dr. Rex Hancock and Citizens Committee to Save the Cache River in successfully stopping Corps of Engineers from destroying the Cache River waterfowl resource and led to creating Cache River National Wildlife Refuge. Dale Bumpers is the first Arkansas governor to threaten to call out the National Guard to stop a Corps of Engineer project.

8. Successfully persuaded Senator Bumpers to support a private/ federal land swap which led to creating the 34,000 acre Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Arkansas.

9. Have successfully challenged gravel mining and water quality issues on Crooked Creek and other pristine Ozark streams.

10. Through AWF's local affiliates, generated support across Arkansas in 1994 for the 1/8% Conservation Sales Tax.

JULY/AUGUST HISTORY 1936: 75 Years ago - At the forks of the road in front of the post office at Caddo Gap, is the bronze figure of an Indian nine feet in height, mounted on a tall pedestal of native stone. The Indian has his right hand raised, giving the friendship sign, but history tells a different story. The inscription on the marble tablet in the face of the pedestal reads: DeSoto 1541-A.D. Here DeSoto reached his most westward point in the United States. Here was the capitol of the warlike Tulu tribe of Indians who fiercely fought DeSoto and his men. Relics found in this vicinity suggest the romance of past centuries about which history will ever be meager and incomplete.

Arkansas State History Commission, 1936

The monument, built in 1936, was a WPA project initiated by Attorney Osro Cobb of Little Rock (formerly of Caddo Gap) after he had been appointed by the President of the United States to serve on the Arkansas State Relief Commission.

During the planning stage of the monument, Cobb and Colonel John R. Fordyce of Hot Springs (Vice Chairman of the National DeSoto Commission created

by Congress to research Hernando DeSoto's explorations) had professionals transcribe and research DeSoto's journals, which had been kept by the three scribes accompanying him. It was determined to the Commission's satisfaction that Caddo Gap was the most westward point in DeSoto's expeditions and that he and his forces were defeated by the Indians after a three-day (bloody) battle.

Carol Griffee edited Cobb’s autobiographical Osro Cobb Of Arkansas: Memoirs of Historical Significance (1989)

1936 History • July 13-14: Peak of July 1936 heat wave: Wisconsin, Michigan & Indiana all set new state records for high temperature. At Mio in northern Michigan, it soars to 113°F (45°C).

• July 16: 1st x-ray photo of arterial circulation, Rochester, NY • July 17: The Army of Africa launches a coup d'état against the Second Spanish Republic, beginning the Spanish Civil War. • July 29: RCA shows 1st real TV program (dancing, film on locomotives, Bonwit Teller fashion show & monologue from Tobacco Road & comedy) • August 1: The 1936 Summer Olympics open in Berlin, Germany, and mark the first live television coverage of a sports event in world history.

• August 9: Jesse Owens wins 4th gold medal at Berlin Olympics • August 10: 120°F (49°C) at Ozark, Arkansas (state record) • August 12: 120°F (49°C), Seymour, Texas (state record) • August 12: Demo baseball game at 1936 Olympics in Berlin, world beats US, 6-5 • Aug 12th: Diver Marjorie Gestring is youngest Olympic gold medalist (13y 268d) • August 13: Jesse Owens wins the 100-meter dash at the Summer • August 14: The U.S.A. men’s basketball team wins the first Olympic basketball tournament in the final game over Canada, 19-8.

• August 24: Franklin D. Roosevelt gives FBI authority to pursuit fascists & communists • August 30: Franklin D. Roosevelt attends the dedication of Thomas Jefferson’s head at Mount Rushmore.

6 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August 2011

Gordon Bagby AGFC Education Specialist Central Arkansas Nature Center

Early Migratory Birds Seasons Released

As summer winds down, most sportsmen and outdoors enthusiasts are looking forward to spending more time in the woods and on the water. Remember to practice safety first as you enjoy Arkansas’ wonderful natural resources.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has released the early migratory birds seasons. They can be found online at www. agfc.com. Each migratory bird hunter must complete the Harvest Information Program while purchasing a license. The Commission will hear proposals on spring turkey season from its Wildlife Management Division in September. After a month of accepting public comments, the Commission will vote on the proposals in October. Please take advantage of this opportunity to voice your opinions.

As a reminder, everyone 16 and older born after 1968 must complete a hunter education course. The only exceptions are for those who already possess a hunter education card from another state and those who have purchased a Deferred Hunter Education License for the current year. A list of hunter education classes is posted at www.agfc.com, and classes are added as instructors contact the agency. We are always searching for more instructors to accommodate the demand, so I invite Arkansas Wildlife Federation members to consider volunteering to help. You can find an application at www.agfc.com or you

may contact Joe Huggins, Hunter Education Coordinator, at 877-847-2690 or email jghuggins@agfc.state.ar.us.

Governor Names New Commissioner Governor Mike Beebe named Steve Cook of Malvern as the newest commissioner of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission on July 29. He replaces Craig Campbell of Little Rock. Cook will serve a seven-year term through July 1, 2018.

“Steve was imbued with a philosophy of conservation as a young man, and has never wavered from his dedication to that cause,” Gov. Beebe said. “I am confident that he will work to protect fish and wildlife and their habitats for both current and future generations.”

Cook is a member of several conservation organizations and has been very involved in Ducks Unlimited for over 30 years. He previously served as DU’s Arkansas state chairman and currently is a regional vicepresident.

Several previous AGFC commissioners praised Cook and expressed confidence in him. “He’s going to be a peacemaker, and he can bridge with different groups,” said former commissioner Dr. Lester Sitzes of Hope. “He understands wildlife conservation like few others do.”

Upcoming Events at Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center • Finally, the center will host numerous special displays and activities for National Hunting and Fishing Day on Saturday, September 24, from 9:30 – 3:00. Conservation organizations, taxidermists and wildlife officers will have displays and answer questions from visitors.

Flycasting instruction, kids’ casting practice, interactive shooting practice for youth, and knife making demonstrations will be among the activities. It will be a busy day filled with interesting materials and activities and best of all, it is free. As with all AGFC nature centers, hunting and fishing licenses are always available for purchase if you need to renew yours.

Please join us for this special day!

• Bring the little ones to the program series Lil' Wild Ones at 2 p.m. on the second Saturday of the month.

Join us as we explore the wildlife and habitats of Arkansas through nature stories and handson activities! **These programs are recommended for children age 4 - 8 years old.** Registration is not required. There is no fee for this program thanks to your support of the 1/8 Cent Conservation Sales Tax. For more information about this event, please contact Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center at 501-907-0636.

The Central Arkansas Nature Center is centrally-located in the River Market District of Little Rock. It has been open since December 2008. Admission is free at all AGFC nature and education centers thanks to funding from Amendment 75 of 1996. Each center has a variety of programs and special events which are listed on the Education calendar at www.agfc.com.

Leftover garden seeds can help attract deer this fall LITTLE ROCK – How is your vegetable garden doing these days? Probable answers are not good, lousy, it’s dried up and dead or – if you are fortunate – fair.

Prolonged hot weather and lack of rain have taken a toll on Arkansas gardens, but cheer up. Deer season is coming in a few weeks.

Your leftover vegetable seeds can help with deer. Plant them, and the deer will come, maybe, just to check out the new green growth or to take a few bites. Fall favorite food for Arkansas deer is acorns.

This is true year in and year out, according to wildlife biologists with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Young, green vegetable plants, even if they haven’t fruited and filled out, can draw attention from deer. Many, perhaps most,

gardeners have odds and ends of seeds left from last spring’s planting.

Plant them on the edge of your wildlife food plot, if you have one, and this will remove the temptation to use those old seeds next year. Germination will be lower then, and a gardener will likely be ahead to buy fresh seed for planting in 2012.

Till a strip or a patch near your deer stand, and sow the seed. Forget about neat rows and just broadcast the things. You are not planting a crop to be cultivated. You are throwing out a little potential deer food.

What kind of seed? It doesn’t much matter.

Turnips planted in the fall are often nibbled on by deer. Young, tender beans and peas draw attention. Who knows about watermelon, cantaloupe, squash, beets, carrots? A deer may take a taste of any of these.

Yes, conditions at present are not conducive for vegetable gardening, but the goal is not something for your dinner table.

It’s for a deer attractant. Plant the surplus seeds and surely nourishing rain will come – sometime.

UPCOMING EVENTS Adult Natural History Workshops

Presented by Arkansas Audubon Society Saturday – Sunday, September 24-25 Ferncliff Camp, Little Rock, Arkansas Many workshops to choose from.

For more information and for registration forms, email Eric Sundell: esundell42@gmail.com or call 870723-1089. Download a registration form: http://www.arbirds.org/

Log A Load For Kids

(Charity Event for Arkansas Children’s Hospital) Saturday, September 24 Russellville - Williamson Boys & Girls Club Come meet Smoky Bear For more information contact AFA Communications Director Anna Swaim: aswaim@arkforests.org

3rd Annual Outdoors Expo Saturday, Sept. 24; 8am – 2pm Nashville City Park, Nashville, AR Events & Activities Include: • Kid’s Fishing Derby • Car, Truck & Rusty Relics Tractor Show • Boat Dealers • ATV Dealers • Primitive Bow Making • Game Camera Photo Contest • Monster Whitetails of Arkansas • Squirrel Dog Demonstrations

• Dutch Oven Cooking Demonstrations • Kid’s Casting Contest • Daisy B. B. Gun Shoot • ATV Safety • Geocaching Treasure Hunt • Turkey & Duck Game Calls • & more!

For more information or to apply as a vendor, contact the Nashville City Park: (870) 845-7405

Bearcat Hollow Project

Friday – Saturday, Sept. 23-24 Lurton, AR – Ozark Highlands AWF Members & Volunteers can camp out or show up on Saturday to do a variety of nature conservation opportunities at Bearcat Hollow Contact: Wayne Shewmake – 479-2292298 or wayne093 @centurytel.net AWF Office – 501-224-9200 or arkwf@ sbcglobal.net

AWF Quarterly Meeting

Saturday – Oct. 8 10am – 2 pm Witt Stephens, Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center 602 President Clinton Ave. Little Rock, AR 72201 Meet in Classroom Open to the Public Please RSVP by Oct. 5

Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August 2011 - 7

New Eagle Scout and His Conservation Project

by Johnny Sain Fourteen-year-old Aaron Hudson of Russellville has been working closely with the Corp of Engineers on a project to help make some areas of Sweeden Island Park more accessible for public use. His planning and work was the last rung on the ladder in his quest for the elite title of Eagle Scout.

It all started with the help of Miles Johnson, a Corp of Engineers employee as well as a Boy Scout leader. The Corp needed to make some repairs and clean-up at Sweeden Island State Park (Atkins, AR – Pope County), but with funds being short they needed a cooperative effort with a like-minded organization. This was a perfect fit with the need for a prospective Eagle Scout to propose, design, and implement a plan to benefit the community. Aaron was quick to accept the challenge and get to work.

As stated before, the burden of planning, managing, and implementing fell squarely on the shoulders of Aaron and the rest of Troop 214. The first stage of the plan was to clean up an old road that had been gated off due to neglect.

“There were head-high weeds and limbs lying all over the road,” stated Aaron. “We divided up into two groups and each started at opposite ends. We just worked till we met in the middle.”

The troop received some support from local business with Walmart providing drinks and Little Caesar’s providing lunch for the boys on the work day.

The work done by Aaron and his troop will be a benefit to wildlife habitat. After the cleanup the Corp of Engineers has plans for a controlled burn in the area. The burn will help to generate new plant growth, particularly the native grasses and shrubs.

Ultimately the area will again be usable for camping and group functions. The next phases of improvement will be tackled by a few more upcoming Eagle Scout hopefuls.

“This is just the first step,” Aaron explained. “The other guys coming up will design their own plans and then the troop will all work together to get them done. I know that restroom repair is at the top of the list of things to be done.”

Troop 214 is involved in many other habitat improvements. Last winter the troop helped drop trees and brush for fish habitat. The boys have built and installed several wood duck nesting boxes and planted saplings on the shores of Lake Dardanelle.

For more information about the Boy Scouts of America and all that they do you can visit their website at www.scouting.org.

If you love wildlife, nature and keeping Arkansas as natural as can be, then why not help by becoming a member of the oldest non-profit conservation organization in The Natural State. For as little as $25 a year you can become a member of Arkansas Wildlife Federation.

That's an average of $2.08 per month; only 7¢ a day.

Help us to conserve wildlife, forests, waterways and wetlands for our children and our children's children for years to come. Fill out the membership form in this issue or contact AWF: arkwf@sbcglobal.net or 501-224-9200 to become a member today.

Firing range opens in Batesville BATESVILLE – The newest public firing range in Arkansas officially opened its doors June 11. The Independence County Firing Range near Pfeiffer will be known as the Paul H. "Rocky" Willmuth Sport Shooting Complex. The complex was named after

Willmuth, who was instrumental in securing funds to build the facility at 3600 N. St. Louis St., a few miles north of Batesville.

The shooting complex was cooperatively developed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Independence County and the City of Batesville. Total cost of the project was about $203,000.

The facility is a three-field combination skeet/trap range with a static archery range.

The complex is fully supervised and open to the public. It will be the site of Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program events, as well as club trap and skeet competitions.

8 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August 2011

Critters of the Night Spotlight

by Sarah Chronister & Johnny Sain

On July 15 and 16th, 2011, Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge hosted their first ever “Critters of the Night Spotlight” Event. This event was held to educate youth and their parents on the nocturnal wildlife that reside on the refuge, and also to bring awareness of the refuge to the community.

“We were just trying to think of a way to get more kids out of doors and enjoying nature,” commented Sarah Chronister, co-developer of the program. Chronister and fellow Arkansas Tech senior Quinton Glover, both employed by Holla Bend for the summer came up with the idea when asked by Refuge administration to find a way of increasing public awareness of the refuge.

The children happily loaded a trailer stacked with hay where they sat watching and waiting for wildlife to be seen.

The hay ride took them around the refuge while volunteers, such as David Chronister and Bobby Boswell, spotlighted

along roadsides and fields. Wildlife that was spotted included White-tailed Deer, Opossums, Armadillos, Bats, and even a Raccoon. Along the way, the children and their parents stopped, looked, and listened for the animals that prowl the night. The children even got to hear the howls and yips of coyotes in the distance. The rides lasted about 1.5 hours, and were enjoyed by everyone involved. The children were especially delighted as they received flashlights for themselves, along with goody bags packed with information about Holla Bend NWR. “Sarah and I were asked by refuge director Durwin Carter to find a way of letting people know about all that the refuge has to offer. It’s amazing to me but there are some people living just down the road from Holla Bend that don’t really know what the refuge is about.” Glover is a Parks and Recreation major and along with Chronister, the next generation of environmental and wildlife management.

Chronister has plans for more public interaction with Holla Bend, “Quinton and I are hoping to make this a seasonal event, having a tour or event in the spring, fall, and winter as well. Kids today just seemed to be detached from the natural world, we think that getting them excited about nature is a good investment for all of us and for the environment. It all starts with awareness.

“The response to this event was fantastic,” beamed Chronister “we had a total of forty people for the two nights combined. This really lets us know that the interest is there, people just weren’t aware of what the refuge is. Some of these kids have never seen a wild animal except on T.V.” The Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for

the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 97-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 546 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing.

Holla Bend NWR is located about five miles southeast of Dardanelle, Arkansas. From Dardanelle, take highway 7 South to State Highway 155 East and go about four miles to the refuge entrance. Once you enter the refuge the office/ visitor center area is about half a mile down the road to the right. The refuge office phone number is (479)229-4300.

Educating Our Youth Can Depend On You

by Joe Huggins “The hunter climbed into his stand, which was approximately 30 feet off the ground, with a plan of spending a day archery hunting for deer and enjoying the sights and sounds

the natural state has to offer. After watching a couple of small bucks in his area, the hunter dozed off, waking up five hours later on the ground. His injuries included fractures to his pelvis, tail bone, and chipped vertebra.”

Each year, thousands of Arkansans hit the woods and the water in search of that big buck, a limit of ducks, a limit of fish, or just for the fun of being outdoors. Unfortunately, some of these trips end in tragedy. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is committed to increasing safety for hunters and boaters. It is required for those hunters born on or after January 1, 1969, to successfully complete a hunter education course before taking to the woods. It is also required that those born on or after January 1, 1986, to successfully complete a boating education course before operating any motor boat.

Both of these programs depend heavily on volunteers to conduct classes. Maybe this is a

way that you can give back to the youth of this state. Volunteers are always needed and you can do this by meeting some simple requirements.

Each volunteer is required to have completed the appropriate student course for which they would like to volunteer. For example, you would need to have completed a student boating education course to volunteer as a boating education instructor. Also, each person is required to complete a volunteer instructor application for the program of

their interest and a background check form, as well as attend a mandatory three (3) hour instructor training course conducted by AGFC employees.

To find more information and to print an application to volunteer for either or both of these programs, visit our web site at www.agfc.com. This is an easy way to pass on the tradition to future generations and help to insure safe and ethical practices in the outdoors.

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Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August - 9

High School Fishing World Championships

by Johnny Sain The sweltering days of July 21-23 were the dates for the High School Fishing World Championship fished at Lake Dardanelle. One hundred and six boats from around the country launched at Dardanelle State Park, among those competitors were 44 teams of Arkansas anglers. Schools from as far away as Arizona, Colorado, and Massachusetts were among those represented.

The High School Bass tournament circuit is orchestrated by Mark Gintert, National Youth and Conservation Director for TBF (The Bass Federation). Gintert provided some insight for the TBF and the High School Fishing World Championship.

“The TBF is the oldest and largest grass roots fishing organization in the United States with about 30,000 members in 46 states and Canada. We have three main areas of focus; youth, conservation and fishing. About two and a half years ago we set out to come up with a program aimed at getting kids involved in fishing and it’s evolved into this. The championship is the carrot on the stick for these kids, something to really get them excited about fishing. This is our second year and we have a 48% increase in participation so I think it’s working.”

The program is deeper than just a fishing trip however as Gintert explained, “We wanted something for those kids that weren’t into athletics or music. A lot of the kids involved in the high school fishing program weren’t involved in anything else. Now instead of spending their time in front of a video game or getting into trouble they’re out on the water.”

Students must earn their right to fish as well and Gintert doesn’t cut any slack, “The students have to maintain a high grade point average. We actually had a couple of kids that came here and didn’t meet the grade requirements, I gave them some assignments and had them turn those in last night. Of course every case is different, one student was out of school for a few months due to an accident and we made some concessions there but we want the fishing to help motivate them about education.”

The final day of competition came down to the top seven teams based on weights from the previous two days of fishing. When the dust settled the team of Thomas Chambers and Brandon Koon finished on top with a weight of 19-8. Both walked away with scholarship offers of $4000/year, renewable for up to 4 years from Bethel University in Tennessee, spots on the Bethel Varsity Fishing Team, $500 gift cards from Cabelas, new laptops and two huge trophies. The two anglers will represent High School Anglers with an invitation to fish the 2012 ACA Collegiate National Championship out of a custom wrapped Ranger boat. They will be competing against the top college anglers in the nation at this event.

High School World Champions Arizona Bass Busters Thomas Chambers & Brandon Koon

2nd Place World High School Champions Kendall Goates & Cody Chessher Dover Arkansas

3rd Place World High School Champions Kristopher Queens & Chelsey Queen Brandy High School NC

10 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August 2011

THIS IS WHY WE CALL IT

Arkansas Wi Photos by Ethan Nahté & Susan Chesser

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12 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August 2011

Team from Arkansas Tech studies butterfly and moth population RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (August 11, 2011)-A survey housed in the Arkansas Tech University College of Natural and Health Sciences is studying butterflies and moths in the state of Arkansas like never before.

According to Dr. Eric Lovely, associate professor of biology at Arkansas Tech, the Arkansas Butterfly and Moth Survey “will contribute to a deeper understanding of the biodiversity of these insects across Arkansas.”

Lovely serves as director for the Arkansas Butterfly and Moth Survey, while Jim Ettman is curator for the project. Ettman is a retired naturalist and lifelong butterfly and moth hobbyist.

Their objectives include describing the variety of butterflies and moths in Arkansas, recording changes in their distribution and population patterns and then relating any changes to possible environmental shifts.

“Butterflies and moths have been shown to be excellent indicators of environmental changes, but first you must have a baseline of the species that occur in the region,” said

C l i m at e I still believe

By Geneva Boyer

Ettman. “Only then can you monitor changes that take place in the biodiversity of these insects. The survey’s collection of butterflies and moths has value. Its greatest value, however, lies in the data.”

Lovely and Ettman were prompted to start the project five years ago because Arkansas lagged behind surrounding states in the study of butterflies and moths.

“While much has been recorded about the 150 or so butterfly species in this part of the country, Arkansas is almost a black hole on the map,” said Lovely. “The number of different moths that occur in Arkansas may reach into the thousands, but little has been published or even known about them.”

Initial success convinced Lovely and Ettman to seek an expansion of the Arkansas Butterfly and Moth Survey. They found additional storage space for specimens, developed additional funding for research projects and increased the number of suitable sites. One of their goals is to develop a Web

site that would provide interested persons with access to the data collected during the survey.

Lovely and Ettman say the primary resource needed by the Arkansas Butterfly and Moth Survey is people.

“We invite professional and amateur butterfly and moth enthusiasts to participate in the survey,” said Ettman. “Participation can include donation of specimens, species identification, field collecting or help in the development of the survey Web site. This is important work. Butterflies and moths provide us with factual data than can help us understand our changing world.”

Persons interested in participating in the survey can reach Lovely by phone at (479) 498-6077 or by e-mail to elovely@atu. edu. Contact Ettman at (501) 242-3791 or ettman@netzero.net.

Visit www.atu.edu/biosciences to learn more about the study of biological sciences at Arkansas Tech.

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Call me naïve, Call me out of my mind Call me idealist Call me stupid, or blind Because I believe When the world falls apart When a victory turns sour When we’re back at the start When people betray Those they don’t even know And they haven’t the right Yet they’re given the go When you want to say yes It will all be all right But you know you’d be lying So you purse your lips tight When the people around you You thought that you knew Quote the media at you And you scream it’s not true But it catches inside you And won’t leave your throat So you smile politely And go get your coat Because you’d rather leave Than argue your case ‘Cause it just isn’t worth it And it isn’t your place But I tell you it is And I tell you to stay Because if we all do Then maybe one day Those things I believe That the truth will prevail That justice will win And corruption will fail Will actually happen And we’ll actually succeed If we don’t choose to follow But instead choose to lead

Tick Diseases

Reader Commentary by Carol Smythe-Kaufman

Just the thought of a crawling tick makes me itch. The nasty, and I do mean nasty little creatures, do more than make us itch, though.

When I was young, we thought nothing of getting several of them on us when we went into the woods. Other than watching for a local infection, nothing more was really thought of it. I bore a scar on my left eyelid for many years from a terrible bite I received when I was five years old. It eventually faded.

But, the trauma of that nasty tasting medicine still made me leery of ticks.

Ten years ago I watched a coworker’s husband struggle for his life. It seemed more a battle of death than life after receiving a single tick bite while photographing wildlife on his farm one day. An artist by trade, he had never thought much of getting one here or there. He survived two heart resuscitations and weeks that stretched to agonizing months on the ventilator and in ICU before making a recovery. Diagnosis - ehrlichiosis,

a tick-borne disease caused by infection with bacteria of the genus Ehrlichia. That was the very first time in my life I had ever seen such a simple little thing take down such a seemingly healthy man.

Ehrlichiosis and Lyme disease, while not always life-threatening, can be obtained more easily than most realize, with simple contact with the feet of the tick coming into contact with an open cut on one’s hand. This is one reason that the most common method of killing ticks, squashing between one’s thumbs, is also a dangerous method to some with lowered immune systems. It is also why tweezers are recommended for tick removal.

While a healthy person may fight off some or no symptoms of tick diseases with only mild discomfort, a select few will either end up in the doctor’s office or in the hospital.

I wish this is where it gets all better. But again, tick diseases mimic so many other things and often people fail to remember tick contact- misdiagnoses are made. It is important to remember to write down on a calendar each and every time you or a family

Heat, blister beetles, perilla mint threat to horses Article submitted by Mary Hightower, U of A Division of Agriculture

Electrolytes and a lightened work schedule are among the tactics Arkansas’ horse owners and barn managers are using to keep their charges healthy during a deadly heat wave.

Excessive heat warnings were in effect until Wednesday evening, with a heat advisory to continue until Saturday night, the National Weather Service said. Highs on Wednesday were expected to exceed 110 and heat indices were expected to be 115 or above.

Ensuring an adequate water supply should be at the top of the high-heat management list for horse owners, Mark Russell, extension equine specialist with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, said Wednesday.

“Horses need lots and lots of water and if they can get under shade and out of the direct sun, that would be a good thing to do,” Russell said. “In the evenings, spray them down with a water hose to give them some way to cool their entire bodies.”

Pat White, executive director of Hearts and Hooves, a therapeutic riding center in Sherwood, said Wednesday: “We have put all of our horses on electrolytes, refill the water troughs more frequently and reduced their physical activity.

“We also monitor for respiration,” she said. “We have one horse that doesn’t sweat, so he comes in at midday or earlier,

Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August 2011 - 13 member receives a tick bite. This will help you if you do end up seeing the doctor for either serious or vague symptoms, such as swollen lymph glands, headache, low grade fever, sore muscles, lethargy, no energy, and rashes of any sort. Untreated tick diseases also can cause miscarriage. Most people are aware that they should look for a red bullseye following a tick bite, but are not aware that this symptom only occurs some of the time, and often can be forgotten and missed. Also, this is only effective when watching for Lyme disease.

A missed Lyme disease diagnosis can be mistaken for multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, and other neurological problems. Other long-term effects of untreated Lyme disease are often mistaken for depression, heart and knee joint problems, palsy, meningitis and encephalitis.

Some have also reported changes in personality, describing problems sleeping and being left alone. Quick treatment is most effective. Untreated, Lyme disease can persist in the body for years.

Babesiosis; a malaria-like parasitic disease caused by Babesia, a genus of protozoa, once referred to as Nantucket disease, is now spreading across the United States. Unfortunately, it does not respond to doxycycline and can be fatal. Generally

is hosed off and stays in his stall under fan until evening.”

Forage, too, is high on the critical list. Like cattle producers, some horse owners are seeing their pastures wither into the dirt. And like cattle, some horses will graze plants they normally ignore.

“Yesterday morning I had a producer come in and he said he had buried three horses for a lady in Nevada County,” said Jerri Lephiew, Ouachita County extension agent for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. “She had perilla mint and didn’t realize it could be fatal to horses.”

Perilla mint, a purple, square-stemmed mint family member, contains a ketone that can cause respiratory failure.

There’s no antidote, and the best defense is to remove the plants so horses and cattle can’t get to them.

Blister beetles are another summertime threat to horses – especially if they are baled up in alfalfa hay, Russell said.

“It’s almost guaranteed that if a horse ingests a blister beetle, it will die,” he said.

Blister beetles have popped up in home gardens in northwest Arkansas and have made appearances in fields in north-central Arkansas. The beetles are narrow-bodied and about three-quarters of an inch long. They vary greatly in color from dark gray or black to yellow with black stripes.

Russell warned horse owners to check all hay to be sure it’s beetle-free.

Ray Vogelpohl of Diamond TR Ranch near the PerryPulaski county line, said training and riding has been suspended.

“They’re hot to start with and you get out there and put a blanket and a saddle on them with a rider weighing 120-150 pounds – they don’t need any of that,” he said.

Vogelpohl said the horses are turned out in grass, which doesn’t reflect as much heat back on to the horses as sand

transmitted by the nymph tick, these bites rarely get noticed. Flu-like symptoms may follow as well as destruction of red blood cells.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever does respond to doxycycline, but should begin dosage within the first five days of symptoms as the disease progresses rapidly. Interestingly, laboratory tests will often show a negative titer within the first seven to 10 days. Notating symptoms and potential exposures will go a long way in preventing death.

Scared? Ticks are serious business. Take the time to check your body, your clothing, socks, camping gear, pets and even your vehicle or camper when you have been in tick territory. Do not wait until you feel a tick bite. Thanks to their saliva, you will not feel their bite. Usually, when you feel one, the little bloodsucker is scurrying up on you.

If possible, wear pants and long sleeves in the woods and tuck the pant legs into your boots. Wear light colored clothing so you can see them. And, get them off of your body as quickly as possible. The medical standard appears to be 24 hours, but personally, I try to keep them down to a matter of hours. Be especially vigilant with children. Test results can take weeks. If your job or hobby keeps you in constant exposure of ticks, mention this to your doctor.

or other surfaces, and the air can circulate freely around the horses.

“The grass soaks up some of the heat and they’ve got shade trees to get under,” he said. “And they’ve got plenty of water.

We have an automated watering system that we check twice a day for leaks or other issues.

“The water fountains are insulated, so they’re about 20-30 degrees cooler than the air temperature,” Vogelpohl said. The horses “get a little boost when they drink that water.”

So far, his grass pastures are holding up, thanks to a pair of much-needed showers in July.

Vogelpohl said he’s altered his routine a little too. “We’re doing what we have to, to make sure the livestock are doing well,” he said, otherwise, “We’re pretty well staying inside.”

For more information on livestock care, visit www.uaex. edu , or contact your county extension office.

Although horses aren't technically wildlife, we have many members of AWF that enjoy horseback riding and trail riding.

14 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August 2011

Crooked Creek’s fishing responding to renovation work

YELLVILLE – Crooked Creek is back.

The fishing on one of north Arkansas’s most heralded streams is on the upswing although not yet to the glory status of a few decades ago. Extensive renovation of the habitat in the Kelley’s Slab area is nearly completion, and more smiles are beginning to appear on anglers going after smallmouth bass and the other Crooked Creek denizens.

The renovation work has been five years in the making. Kelley’s Slab itself was part of the problem. Another issue was the major bank erosion caused by the harmful effects of the 2008 flood.

Crossing at Kelley’s Slab was the only route to the Fred Berry Conservation Education Center, and high water made it inaccessible about 60 days a year, said Steve Filipek, assistant fisheries chief with the Arkansas

Game and Fish Commission. A new bridge solved this.

Kelley’s Slab was a bottleneck to fish travel. Many species moved upstream to spawn but could not get past the concrete barrier and the two culverts that constricted water flow to the point it was too much for the fish to navigate.

David Evans, AGFC Stream Team coordinator for northwest Arkansas, directed the work by AGFC personnel to correct the problems.

Evans said, "We used some trees that were right there, black walnuts. We pushed them into the creek at an angle so the root wads were on the bank and were covered by rock and soil. The tops went into the water. When we surveyed fish in this spot before the work, we found none. After the trees went into the

creek, we found fish around them the same day. The fish came to the trees."

Crooked Creek has an international reputation for smallmouth bass fishing.

Area anglers know there are more than smallmouth to be caught. Largemouth bass, Ozark bass, bluegill, green sunfish, longear sunfish, channel catfish, yellow bullheads and flathead catfish are also found in the creek.

Occasionally, trout come upstream from the White River, and a few black crappie have been found, but these are uncommon, said Marilyn Duran, manager of the Fred Berry Center.

Ken Richards of Just Fishing Guides said current water levels are in the good fishing and floating range with flows at Kelley’s.

"Water temperatures are heating up and smallmouth fishing should be heating up as

Second Arkansas Prescription Drug Take Back Effort Nets Over 3. 5 Tons Of Returned Medications LITTLE ROCK – On Saturday, April 30, 2011, Arkansas law enforcement agencies collected more than 3.5 tons of unwanted and expired prescription medications as part of the second National Prescription Take Back Initiative sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Saturday’s collection totals surpassed the previous statewide take back event by more than 2000 lbs. The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory estimates the 7423 lbs. of medications translates to roughly 10.3 million pills.

On Monday, May 2, the Arkansas National Guard’s Counterdrug Program and DEA transported the medications to Clean Harbors Environmental Services, Inc. in El Dorado. The destruction process was completed on May 3.

“We would like to thank everyone who took time out of their busy lives to return medications Saturday,” said State Drug Director Fran Flener. “Preventing prescription drug abuse begins in our own homes. When people properly dispose of the medications they no longer need, they protect our environment, our children, and their own families.”

Through two statewide take back events, Arkansas has collected close to 6.5 tons of medications. Arkansas’s participation was planned and coordinated by the DEA Little Rock Field Office, the Office of the Drug Director, Attorney General Dustin McDaniel’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Arkansas National Guard, and more than thirty government agencies, community organizations, and public health agencies.

EDITOR’S NOTE: AWF presented Friends of the North Fork & White Rivers with the “Water Conservationist of the Year” Award. The organization helped in 2010 by collecting 120,000 pills and helped to keep them “…potentially out of the hands of youth and waterways.” This exceeded their goals in helping to keep the water healthy. Research is showing the effect of continuous exposure to low levels of medications on the behavior and physiology of fish and aquatic organisms. Drinking water sources from lakes and rivers are placed at unnecessary risk by the unsafe practice of flushing medications and hazardous household waste.

Your Local Healthy Living, Healthy Planet Magazine w w w. N a t ura l Awa kening sM ag .com

well. Water temperatures have ranged from 50 to 61 degrees. When the temperatures stay in the 60-degree range, the fishing should be on."

For fly fishermen, Richards recommends crawdad patterns such as the crazy dad, creek creature, sparkle grub and the simple craw.

Natural colors like green, brown and tan are best, but have chartreuse, black and white handy, Richards said.

The slab has been notched to allow fish travel, Evans said, and additional work is in progress on it. A walk-in access with steps from a parking area down to the creek is being built.

Money to handle the Crooked Creek project included federal stimulus funds.

Commission Sets 2011-12 Hunting Seasons In Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK – Commissioners from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission formally approved regulation changes as part of the 2011-12 hunting season-setting process. One major change increases the statewide deer bag limit from five deer to six deer with no more than two bucks.

Another change eliminates the use of preference points for 2013-14 deer hunting permits. A completely random drawing will be used to select applicants for deer permit hunts. Waiting two years will allow hunters, who currently have preference points, to utilize those points, AGFC wildlife chief David Goad said. "In the interim, no hunters will accrue new preference points," Goad said. "Additionally, all members of party hunt applications that are successfully drawn for a hunt will lose their accrued points even if the permit is not purchased. This will eliminate the problem of super groups attempting to monopolize the deer permit system," he added.

To simplify deer hunting regulations, the Commission voted to remove the prohibition on hunting deer over bait during February. Baiting is allowed in January with only one percent of the deer harvest occurring during that month. Less than one percent of the total deer harvest is recorded during February. Biologists don’t believe that any substantial increase in the February deer harvest will result if baiting is allowed during that month.

This hunting season, deer hunters will be required to display blaze orange or chartreuse on all sides of the exterior of a portable, pop-up type blind. This will only be required on the state’s public lands.

To see a summary of the 2011-12 hunting regulations, visit www.agfc.com.

Season dates for the 2011-12 deer hunting season: Archery – All zones: Oct. 1-Feb. 29.

Modern Gun - Zones 1, 1A, 2, 3, 6, 6A, 7, 8, 8A, 10 and 11: Nov. 12-Dec. 4.

Zone 4: Nov. 12-13.

Zone 5: Nov. 12-13 and Nov. 19-20.

Zones 4A, 5A, 14 and 15: Nov. 12-Dec. 11.

Zones 4B and 5B: Nov. 12-20.

Zones 9, 12 and 13: Nov. 12-Dec. 18.

Zone 16, 16A and 17: Nov. 12-Dec. 25.

A new doe only modern gun deer hunt will be held: Zones 6A, 8A, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 16A and 17: Oct. 31-Nov. 4.

Zones 1, 1A, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 4B, 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 7, 8 and 11: Closed.

Muzzleloader – Zones 1, 1A, 2, 3, 4A, 5A, 6, 6A, 7, 8, 8A, 10, 11, 14 and 15: Oct. 22-30 and Dec. 17-19.

Zones 9, 12, 13, 16, 16A and 17: Oct. 2230 and Dec. 29-31.

Zones 4, 4B, 5 and 5B: Closed.

The statewide Christmas holiday modern gun deer hunt is Dec. 26-28 with two special youth modern gun deer hunts. The first will be Nov. 5-6 with the second Jan. 7-8, 2012.

Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August 2011 - 15

Jones wins high school turkey calling championship

FORT SMITH – D.J. Jones, a senior representing Charleston High School, was this year’s statewide turkey calling competition. The event is sponsored by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Jones started calling turkeys when he was just two-years-old, and was taught by his step-dad, Jim Pollard. This is the second time he has participated in this competition. He is one of the most accomplished youth turkey callers in Arkansas. As the winner of the competition, Jones won an all expenses paid turkey hunting trip, sponsored by the Western Arkansas Nature Center Partners, to western Oklahoma.

Emily Oliver, a senior representing Crossett High School, was the statewide runner-up. This is the third time Oliver has competed in this annual competition and was last year’s champion. Her performance earned her a $300 gift card sponsored by the Arkansas Wildlife Officer’s Association.

Sheldon Robison, a senior representing Mansfield High School, earned second runner-up honors. Robinson won turkey

hunting equipment that included a new turkey hunting vest, decoy, turkey calls and other items from the Education and Information Bureau of the AGFC. Robison has participated in this contest every year since the eighth-grade.

Every year high schools from around the state are invited to hold local turkey calling contests for their students. The winners are invited to compete in the Johnny K. Gossage High School Statewide turkey calling competition. This year the competition was held at Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith.

The four calls used for this year’s competition where the plain yelp of a hen, fly down cackle, cutting of excited hen, plus the cluck and purr. The event was co-hosted by the AGFC, Western Arkansas Nature Center Partners and the Arkansas Wildlife Officers Association. The contest is named after Johnny K. Gossage, a sportsman who loved the outdoors and tragically lost his life in a firearm accident.

Spring Rains and Unprotected Banks Speed Up Soil Erosion

By the U of A Division of Agriculture

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – With spring rains falling across Arkansas, chances are good you’ve seen the erosive force of flowing water – particularly if you live near a creek or river, said John Pennington, Washington County extension agent with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

“The effects of streambank erosion on property can potentially be very costly,” he said. “Prevention is the top solution to the erosion problem, and really only the factor a person can control.” As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – or, in this case, tons of soil.

“Streambanks can be made less susceptible to erosion by maintaining an area of trees, shrubs and grasses – what’s also known as a riparian area,” said Pennington. Riparian is a Latin word that translates into, “of or belonging to the river bank.”

Essentially, riparian areas grab the land and hold onto it. “Roots of trees, shrubs, briars and river cane in the riparian area act as glue to hold soil together and prevent erosion during both frequent flows and occasional flooding,” he said.

That hold becomes weakened when riparian vegetation is over-manicured or removed. So why not just leave riparian areas alone?

“It’s not that simple,” said Pennington.

“Some landowners worry about losing land uses by leaving riparian areas relatively undisturbed,” he said. “But land use will surely be lost if riparian vegetation is disturbed, leaving the streambank unprotected.” Losing land, especially when it means having to stabilize an eroding bank to save a house, shed or building, only compounds costs.

So if you’re a landowner with streambank erosion, what can you do? The best place to start is with a local Division of Agriculture county extension agent, a County Conservation District representative http:// www.uaex.edu/findus/county_offices.htm/, or the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Stream Team: http://www.agfc.com/fishing/ Pages/FishingProgramsAST.aspx#1/ Additional information is available online at http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/ publications/PDF/FSA-5026.pdf, under the publication “Riparian Buffers: Functions and Values.” For more information, visit http:// www.uaex.edu/

Letters To The Editor AWF, Thank-you for inviting my brother, John, and I to attend and participate in the AWF’s annual banquet this year so we could personally observe the Communicator of the Year award given; for the first time in the name of, and to honor, our aunt, Carol Griffee. She would be pleased to know her work was recognized by your fine organization.

Thanks again Mark Griffee

Dear Editor: I appreciate your publication’s interest in pollination and bee health, but I feel that the Editor’s Note in the May/June issue of Arkansas Out-of-Doors deserves a bit of attention.

The note suggests that scientists have proven a link between cell phone usage and colony collapse disorder (CCD) in honey bees. This is a gross exaggeration of the results of a couple of studies that have been conducted on CCD and cell phones.

These studies are not well accepted within the scientific community, and the media attention that they are receiving is ill informed. Some of these studies originate from non-reputable, non-peer-reviewed sources, and even those in scientific journals are thought to be poorly conducted. For example, a recent study published in the journal Apidologie has been severely criticized for its overblown conclusions, but also its experimental design and reliance on non-peer reviewed literature. Cell phones placed within beehives in this study did not cause then to swarm, nor did it induce CCD. These are two very different types of bee behavior, neither of which seems to be caused by cell phone use or electromagnetic radiation. The nature of CCD is still under investigation, and it is unlikely that a singular cause is at play. The decline of honey bees in the US is a serious issue, and one that deserves attention.

Thank-you for your time.

Sincerely, Amber Tripodi The bee study AWF received was an article provided by University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Additional information provided in the article was gathered from 3 scientific news resources, but as mentioned in the above letter, perhaps those resources were not adequate. We all know that a study can be made to fit almost anything, be it pro or con, but appreciate the letter and additional information.

16 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August 2011

Schooling fish action can be exciting and productive LITTLE ROCK – Fishermen have all sorts of favorite moments. A big largemouth bass blowing up the surface on a still morning to grab a topwater bait is one.

Finding a wad of hungry bream that hit your hook as fast as you can bait it is another.

A bunch of slab crappie that suddenly turns on for several minutes, then just as abruptly shuts down is one.

For pure ol’ fun fishing, schooling white bass can be a special moment.

Some anglers make a specialty of this type fishing. Warmer weather is a good time for it, and they may set out with binoculars within reach to look for schooling whites.

Spot a frothing of the surface, and you know the whites are herding and tearing into schools of shad.

The trick is to get within casting distance as rapidly as possible, because the schooling activity may last only a few minutes. One requirement is to have one or more rods rigged and ready for each fisherman in the boat.

The lures can be most anything that imitates a shad. A Little George is a good choice. These tail-spinner lures, sometimes called helicopter lures, are weighted enough to cast far out and they flutter down through the water like an injured or dying shad.

A small, pearl-finish crankbait has worked well for many anglers.

It’s opportunistic fishing. The boat dock operator or bait shop proprietor may tell you, "the whites are schooling early these days," but you just have to get yourself in position and ready to take advantage of the schooling fish if and when you can find them.

Blanchard Springs Caverns Fall – Winter - Spring Schedule Sept. 6, 2010 – March 31, 2012 • All rates subject to change Open

Cost

Accessibility

Group Rate

Dripstone Trail Tour

Yes, yearround; closed Mon. and Tues., Nov. thru March

$10.50/adult, $5.50/ child ages 6-15, $.50/`child ages 5 and under, $5.50 with Interagency Senior/ Access Pass (good for cardholder only)

Wheelchairs need two strong assistants

Yes, for at least 15 people ages 6 and up, with reservations made at least a day in advance (go to www.recreation.gov)

Discovery in the Dark Headlamp Tour (full Discovery Trail closed)

Yes, on Saturdays only at 12:45

$10.50/adult, $5.50/ child ages 6-15, $.50/ child ages 5 and under, $5.50 with Interagency Senior/ Access Pass (good for cardholder only)

No, has nearly 200 stairsteps

No, although reservations may be made at least a day in advance (go to www. recreation.gov)

Wild Cave Tour

Yes, yearround; by reservation only; closed Mon. and Tues., Nov. thru March

$75.50/person; must be at least ten years old; 10-12 year olds must tour with responsible adult

No, very strenuous climbing crawling, sliding tour

No; reservations may be made at least a day in advance (go to www. recreation.gov)

Visitor Information Center, Movie, Exhibit Hall

Yes, yearround; closed Mon. and Tues., Nov. thru March

Free

Yes

n/a

Campground

Yes

Blanchard, $10 per night; Gunner Pool, $7.00 per night

Yes

Large and small group campsites at Blanchard, $1.25 per person per night, available by reservation; call 870-269-3228

Hiking Trails

Yes

n/a

One Accessible Trail at Visitor Info Center

n/a

Syllamo Mountain Biking Trail

Yes

Parking fee

No

n/a

Picnic grounds, swim areas

Yes

Day use fee unless holding a Caverns tour receipt dated that day

Picnic grounds yes; swim area no

Large and small picnic pavilions available by reservation; call 870-2693228

US Forest Service, 1001 East Main Street, Mountain View, AR 72560 Long distance toll free 1-888-757-2246; locally 870-757-2211 Caverns Tour Reservations: www.recreation.gov or call 1-887-444-6777 On the Web: http://www.blanchardcavetours.com

Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August 2011 - 17

Arkansas one of four states in USDA garden initiative By the U of A Division of Agriculture Media Contact: Mary Hightower

LITTLE ROCK – The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture is one of the land grant universities working with Washington State University on the People’s Garden Pilot program, launched Thursday by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The program will serve an estimated 2,800 students attending 70 elementary schools in Washington, New York, Iowa and Arkansas.

In Arkansas, there are eight participating counties with 15 schools, said Easter Tucker, associate professor-nutrition, for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Tucker is the project leader for Arkansas.

They are: • Ashley County: Allbritton Elementary, Noble Lower Elementary • Chicot County: Dermott Elementary, Eudora Elementary, Lakeside Lower, Lakeside Upper • Jefferson County: Oak Park Elementary, Townsend Park Elementary • Phillips County: KIPP Delta Elementary • Saline County: Angie Grant Elementary • Sevier County: DeQueen Primary • St. Francis County: Central Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Stewart Elementary • Union County: Junction City Elementary “We’re excited about this program because it builds on already strong local programs to connect people to the source of their food,” she said. “We are looking forward to working with our educators, volunteers and our state’s schools.”

The Healthy Gardens, Healthy Youth pilot explores the impact of school gardens on learning and on changing student consumption patterns so they make healthier food choices.

“School gardens hold great promise for educating our kids about food production and nutrition,” said Vilsack. “Learning where food comes from and what fresh food tastes like, and the pride of growing and serving your own fruits and vegetables, are life-changing experiences. Engaging kids in our efforts to end childhood hunger and curb childhood obesity is critical if we are going to succeed.”

Iowa State and Cornell are the other partners in the $1 million pilot program authorized under the National School Lunch Act. The schools selected to participate in this pilot come from urban, suburban, and rural communities and have at least 50 percent of their students qualified to receive free or reduced-price school meals The initiative is part of the USDA People’s Garden Initiative that establishes community and school gardens across the nation to help unite neighborhoods in a common effort and inspire simple solutions to challenges facing our country – from hunger to the environment. “Washington State University is a leader when it comes to gardening and garden-based learning, and this important pilot program will make a significant contribution to the development of national models,” said Kevin Concannon, USDA Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. “This program moves us toward our goal of improving the health and nutrition of our kids and communities, and instilling healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime.”

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, FNS, oversees the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs that touch the lives of one in four Americans over the course of a year. Visit www.fns.usda.gov for information about FNS and nutrition assistance programs.

For more information about nutrition education and gardening, visit www.uaex.edu.

Arkansas Wildlife Federation 9108 Rodney Parham Rd. Suite 101, Little Rock, AR 72205 Telephone: (501) 224-9200

Fax: (501) 224-9214

“Your voice for hunting, fishing and conservation since 1936” Arkansas Out-Of-Doors Advertising Agreement Arkansas Out-Of-Doors is the official publication of the Arkansas Wildlife Federation established in 1936, a non-profit, hunting, fishing, and conservation organization dedicated to promoting the wise stewardship of our natural resources. It is a newsprint tabloid publication that is published 6 times per year for the following issues: Jan.-Feb., March-April, MayJune, July-Aug., Sept.-Oct., Nov.-Dec. The publication contains information about hunting, fishing and other outdoor-oriented activities. It also contains articles about conservation. It is mailed near the end of the first month of each issue date to approximately 4500 AWF members and it has an estimated readership of 13,500 to 17,500 people each issue. Those who read this publication enjoy the great outdoor, and they are interested in conservation.

Circle the issue in which the ad is to run: January – February issue, reserve space by Jan. 1. Cameraready art due Jan. 5. Mailing date near the end of January.

March – April issue, reserve space by March 1,

Size

Centerfold Full pg 1/2 pg Horizontal 1/2 pg Vertical 1/3 pg Horizontal 1/3 pg Vertical 1/4 pg 1/8 pg

Dimensions

1-2 ads

3-5 ads (5% off)

6 ads (10%off)

-$400 $225 $225 $165 $165 $145 $35

-$380 $215 $215 $156.75 $156.75 $137.75 $33.25

-$360 $205 $205 $148.50 $148.50 $130.50 $31.50

Color Include One spot color, additional Four color, additional

$$50 $100

$47.50 $95

$45 $90

Charges for covers: Inside front, additional Inside back, additional Back cover, additional

$75 $50 $100

$71.25 $47.50 $95

$67.50 $45 $90

(all sizes listed as Width x Height)

21.5"x11" 10.5"x11" 10.5"x5.5" 5.1875"x11" 10.5"x3.625" 3.5"x11" 5.1875"x5.5" 5.1875"x2.75"

Camera-ready due by March 5. Mailing date near the end of March. May-June issue, reserve space by May 1. Camera-ready art due by May 5. Mailing date near the end of May. July-August issue, reserve space by July 1. Camera-ready art due by July 5. Mailing date near the end of July. September-October issue, reserve space by Sept. 1, Camera-ready are due by Sept. 5. Mailing date near the end of September.

November-December issue, reserve space by Nov. 1. Camera-ready art due by November 5. Mailing date near the end of November.

Advertising layout and space: Advertising may send a slick or a black and white copy of a previous ad, a negative for black and white ads, a color key and four-color separations for color ads, or ads may be sent on a disk on CD (PDF, JPEG or EPS) to the Arkansas Wildlife Federation. We utilize 90-line screen, right reading, emulsion down. The AWF can assist in making the ad for the client. Depending on amount of time to layout ad, there may be additional fees for this.

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Ad confirmed by (print and signature) ����������������������������������������������������

Telephone_________________________________Fax ��������������������������������������

18 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August 2011

July/August 2011 ISSN0884-9145 POSTMASTER: Send form 3579 to: 9108 Rodney Parham Rd. Suite 101, Little Rock, AR 72205

Arkansas Wildlife Federation Officers and Board of Directors August 31, 2010 to September 1, 2011

Arkansas Out-of-Doors

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS WILDLIFE FEDERATION Arkansas Out-of-Doors is published 6 times per year by Arkansas Wildlife Federation, 9108 Rodney Parham Rd. Suite 101, Little Rock, AR 72205. Third Class postage paid at Russellville, AR and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address change to Arkansas Out-ofDoors, 9108 Rodney Parham Rd. Suite 101, Little Rock, AR 72205, or call 501-224-9200.

This is the official publication of the Arkansas Wildlife Federation. Printed matter includes hunting and fishing news, sporting information, articles on pertinent legislation, with special emphasis on environment and pollution problems. All Arkansas Wildlife Federation members are entitled to receive one copy of each issue of AOOD for one year.

Permission is granted to reprint any news article or item printed in Arkansas Out-Of-Doors with credit, please.

Editor ����������������������������������������������������������������� Ethan Nahté Editor in Chief ����������������������������������������� Wayne Shewmake Layout/Design ������������������������������������������Chris Zimmerman ZimCreative Views and opinions, unless specifically stated, do not necessarily represent the positions of the Arkansas Wildlife Federation.

Deadline Information: Unless other arrangements are made with the editor, copy for club news, features, columns and advertising must be in the Arkansas Wildlife Federation office by the close of business (noon) on the 20th of the month preceding publication. Thank you for your cooperation.

Executive Committee President: Wayne Shewmake, Dardanelle 1st Vice President: Ellen McNulty, Pine Bluff 2nd Vice President: Larry Hillyard, Dardanelle Treasurer: Gary W. Bush, Marion Secretary: Lucien Gillham, Sherwood Acting Executive Director: Ethan Nahté MEMBERS-at-Large Jim Wood, Dardanelle Gayne Preller Schmidt, Augusta Board of Directors At Large Dr. John T. Ahrens, Mountain Home Charles W. Logan, M.D., Little Rock Lola Perritt, Little Rock Odies Wilson III, Little Rock Jimmie Wood, Dardanelle Gayne Schmidt, Augusta Bobby Hacker, Little Rock Don Brazil, Little Rock Chrystola Tullos, Rison Regional Directors District 1: --vacant- District 2: Patti Dell-Duchene, Augusta District 2 Alternate: Angela Rhodes, Augusta District 3: Jeff Belk, Fayetteville District 4: Trey Clark, Nashville District 5: Mary Lou Lane, Dardanelle District 6: --vacant- District 7: --vacant- NWF Region: David Carruth, Clarendon NWF Special Projects: Ellen McNulty, Pine Bluff NWF Regional Representative: Geralyn Hoey, Austin, TX President Emeritus and First Lady Emeritus: Bob and Rae Apple, Dardanelle National Wildlife Federation Delegates: Jim Wood, Dardanelle Alternate: Gayne Preller Schmidt, Augusta ADVISOR TO PRESIDENT Ralph Oldegard, Mt. Home Larry Hedrick, Hot Springs Charles McLemore Jr., Bryant

Affiliate Clubs: ATU Fisheries & Wildlife Society Sarah Chronister, President Arkansas Chapter of American Fisheries Arkansas Trappers Association Gary Helms, President - Texarkana, AR Creative Ideas President: Sharon Hacker Little Rock, AR Greene County Wildlife Club Rick Woolridge, President - Paragould Little River Bottoms Chapter, Arkansas Wildlife Federation Vickers Fuqua, President Mike Young, Secretary & Treasurer University of the Ozarks - Clarksville Jamie L. Hedges, Director of Outdoor & Evironmental Experiences Westark Wildlife G. David Matlock, Fort Smith White River Conservancy Gayne Preller Schmidt, Augusta Yell County Wildlife Federation James Manatt, President – Dardanelle Arkansas Wildlife Federation Staff Editor - Ethan Nahté Editor in Chief - Wayne Shewmake Contributing Writers – Wayne Shewmake, Johnny Sain, Jr., Jim Wood, Carol Smythe-Kaufman, Gordon Bagby, Ethan Nahté Contributing Photographers – Wayne Shewmake, Susan Chesser, Ethan Nahté Arkansas Wildlife Federation Address: 9108 Rodney Parham Road, Suite 101 Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 Office: 501-224-9200 Cell: 501-414-2845

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Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August - 19

National Hunting, Angling Groups Applaud Release of Clean Water Guidance WASHINGTON, April 27, 2011 – Some of the nation’s top sportsmen’s organizations – Ducks Unlimited, the Izaak Walton League of America, the National Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership – applaud the administration for taking an important step today to begin restoring Clean Water Act protections to streams and wetlands. These waters provide critical habitat to fish and wildlife, flood control, drinking water and many other benefits.

The proposed guidance issued by the administration would more clearly define which U.S. waters are subject to Clean Water Act protections. This would begin restoring longstanding protections for many of the nation’s wetlands, streams, lakes and headwaters that have been vulnerable to pollution and destruction since the SWANCC (2001) and Rapanos (2006) Supreme Court decisions.

Issuing agency guidance – instructions to staff in the field about how to interpret laws or court decisions – is a well-established practice used by every administration. To ensure transparency and diverse stakeholder participation in the process, the proposed Clean Water Act guidance will be available for public comment and review for 60 days.

Decisions in the two Supreme Court cases and agency guidance issued in 2003 and 2008 jeopardize crucial water resources and wildlife habitat. Taken together, they removed protections for at least 20 million acres of wetlands, particularly prairie potholes and other seasonal wetlands essential to waterfowl populations throughout the country. Intermittent streams that provide critical habitat for fish, especially trout, and feed into the public drinking water systems for more than 117 million Americans also are at risk.

“The importance of this guidance cannot be overstated,” said Steve Moyer, vice president of government relations for Trout Unlimited. “Restoring these lost protections means more habitat in the long run for all the fish and wildlife that sportsmen love to pursue.”

Restoring protections for these waters directly benefits the American people, fish and wildlife, and outdoor recreation, including hunting, fishing and boating. The economic benefits to the United States from these wetlands and streams are staggering.

For example, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that wildlife-dependent recreation in the United States generates $80 billion in hunting and fishing expenditures annually.

The wording of the two Supreme Court decisions left state and federal regulators, landowners and manufacturers confused about

which U.S. waters are protected by the Clean Water Act. “This confusion led to lost protections for some of our nation’s most important waters, which could have significant consequences for wetland conservation, particularly in areas important for breeding and migratory waterfowl,” said Scott Yaich, director of conservation operations for Ducks Unlimited. “Clear guidance could go a long way toward restoring wetland protections important to our nation’s waterfowl and waterfowl hunters.”

“We are pleased the administration has taken this crucial first step to provide clarity to landowners, conservationists and businesses regarding waters of the United States,” said Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “This action has been taken with no expansion of federal reach but simply restoring protections Congress originally put in place. This not only will conserve healthy habitat and water quality; it also will safeguard and support the sporting traditions that tens of millions of Americans enjoy.”

The proposed guidance takes a moderate approach that falls within the limits of the Supreme Court decisions. For example, it generally excludes roadside ditches, gullies or small washes from coverage under the Clean Water Act and does not apply to ponds and other ornamental bodies of water constructed by excavating dry land. Moreover, the proposed guidance does not affect any of the existing exemptions in the Clean Water Act for a wide range of farming and forestry activities, including plowing, cultivating and seeding and the construction and maintenance of stock ponds and logging roads.

“The administration’s proposal is balanced and reasonable,” said Scott Kovarovics, conservation director for the Izaak Walton League of America. “It restores traditional Clean Water Act protections to streams and wetlands while clearly retaining exemptions from the Act for farming, ranching and logging.”

“This guidance reflects a more faithful reading of Justice Kennedy’s pivotal ‘significant nexus’ test for jurisdiction and places clean water programs on more solid legal and scientific footing,” said Jan Goldman-Carter, wetlands and water resources counsel for the National Wildlife Federation. “There is also widespread agreement that a rulemaking is needed to further clarify and restore protections that existed prior to the SWANCC decision for our nation’s wetlands, streams and other waters. This guidance is very encouraging, and we now look forward to a solid rule further clarifying and reinforcing these protections.”

Remembering

Colonel Norman

By Ethan Nahté As we went to press for the May/June issue of AOOD, AWF received a call from the family of former AWF president Colonel Robert A. (Bob) Norman informing us that he had passed away. Colonel Norman, 91 (born: 1919 – died: 2011), of Hot Springs, Arkansas died Tuesday, July 12, 2011 at his home in Cabot, Arkansas. A World War II veteran with combat service in Europe, he retired in 1961 after twenty years active duty. Colonel Norman served as president of AWF from 1977 to 1978 and was a member for many years. He also served as president of the Hot Springs Wildlife Federation.

Give Back Nights

By Ethan Nahté On the Border (11721 Chenal Pkwy., Little Rock) gave AWF an opportunity to participate in their “Give Back Nights” this past July. The concept – send out flyers and e-mails to as many of our friends as possible to come eat on a designated afternoon/ evening and bring a copy of the flyer with them. The total from all the receipts are added up and a percentage is donated back to the participating organization.

Quite honestly, despite all the e-mails that myself and other AWF members sent out, I wasn’t expecting the donation to total more

than $50, but what a surprise when we made over eight times that amount.

On The Border management said, “This amount is better than average. We hope you’ll participate again.”

AWF definitely looks forward to participating once more later on this year. We would also like to thank everyone who went to eat and helped us out.

501.847.7275

6401 Boone Road • Bryant, AR 72022 parkinfo@cityofbryant.com • www.cityofbryant.org/ParksAndRecreation

20 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • July/August 2011

MEMORIAL GIFTS & HONORARIUM Remember Loved Ones "Forever"

You can remember a loved one with a memorial gift or honorarium to the Arkansas Wildlife Federation.

Memorial gifts: If you would like to remember someone who loved wildlife, and the great outdoors of Arkansas, you can make a gift in that person’s name. What a beautiful tribute to their memory. Your memorial gift will continue the work of the Arkansas Wildlife Federation and keep a loved one’s spirit alive through wildlife conservation.

Honorarium Gift: Are you puzzled what to give friends or family members who “have everything?” Will an ordinary gift just not be enough? Then, consider making a donation to the Arkansas Wildlife Federation in their honor and acknowledge their special day, birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, or whatever they are celebrating. Your gift is a special recognition to this individual or family in support of wildlife conservation programs. Gifts of $ 100 or more will receive wildlife print. All donations will receive a tax deductible receipt.

Make a Difference “Forever Memorials or Honorariums” Right Now by Completing this Information Below:

Name of honoree_____________________________________________________________ Name of donor______________________________________________________________

Address____________________________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________________

City_________________________________State_____________ Zip Code______________ City________________________________ State_____________Zip Code______________

Visa_________ Master Card____________ Credit Card #_____________________________________________________________ Expiration Date______________________________

Memorial______ Honorarium_____________ Amount of Gift $______________________ *The Arkansas Wildlife Federation can accept checks, and Master Charge or VISA Credit Cards *

Designation of Gift_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for supporting wildlife conservation! Send to: AWF, 9108 Rodney Parham Rd., Suite 101, Little Rock, Ar. 72205; or call 501-224-9200