Arkansas Out-of-Doors March/April 2011

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Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011 - 1

MARCH/APRIL 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 2

Center of Bryant Home of the 74th Annual Governor's Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet

2 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011

The Times They Area Changing

We have been very busy putting together plans for this year’s 75th anniversary event on August 27th. My self being in my early 60’s, it is difficult to visualize what Arkansas might have looked like at the beginning of AWF in 1936 and AGFC was getting organized. I do know that it had to be hard on sportsmen and women in Arkansas.

I realize that this was also a hard time for Arkansas wildlife.

Arkansas was in a depression at the time and wildlife was getting scarcer each year.

Arkansas had their own species of elk and buffalo that had already disappeared in the mid-1800’s. According to AGFC, Arkansas’ deer herd had also dwindled to less than 1,000 deer in the state in the early 1900’s.

AWF was a big influence on the sportsmen

and women of Arkansas when Amendment 35 came up for a vote and encouraged voters to support this amendment. This changed everything for the outdoorsmen and made it hard for some people to survive in the hard times during the depression. I was not born until after World War II, but my mother, born in 1911, had told me about the hard times she had trying to feed the family, and the lack of wildlife she remembered not seeing. I grew up in a small town along the Caddo River and got to do a lot of fishing, but don’t remember seeing a lot of wildlife. I do remember seeing my first deer when I was 14 and I spent a lot of time in the country.

As I have talked to other gentlemen who are much older than me, we learned that back in the old days it was a long time between seeing a deer and harvesting one. Most wildlife had a very low count in Arkansas during this time.

It is a because of the sportsmen and women who supported and respected the AGFC that helped restore Arkansas habitat and wildlife we enjoy today. It is a great thrill for me to go out in the fall into the Ozarks and hear the bugle of a bull elk, or in

the spring time and hear a turkey gobble. It makes me proud to be an outdoorsman. It is because of the people who have lifted their hands in support of AWF that we have the rights to hunt, fish and to watch wildlife in Arkansas. AWF continues to support AGFC and its employee’s for the hard work they do for all Arkansawer’s which brings us today’s opportunities to show our support for fish, wildlife and their habitat.

This is why AWF is working on the Bearcat Hollow Project in the Ozarks and the LOVIT Trail in the Ouachitas. We would appreciate your support to AWF by getting involved or by making a donation. These projects take a lot of work and a lot of money to continue the effort to conserve fish, wildlife and their habitat. We want to leave a legacy for our children and grandchildren to see and enjoy the fish and wildlife we have enjoyed for many years.

Please show your support by donating time and or money to AWF today. Contact us at arkwf@sbcglobal.net or by phone 501-2249200 to help.

–Wayne Shewmake, President AWF

It's important to be aware of your carbon footprint as it has direct impact on the enviroment. If you don't already, start recycling today and be more green.

This is the 75th Anniversary for the Arkansas Wildlife Federation. The pin you see above is a covenant collectors 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 and or 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.

Also I know times are hard for most everyone, it is also hard for AWF. So if you want to continue to receive our newspaper, we would appreciate your membership support.

For those that chose not to renew there membership, we will discontinue mailing out the AOOD newspaper to you in the near future. AWF regrets this discussion but we have to pay for the editing, printing and mailing of the paper. We will be glad to send it to anyone that wants it by email, just send us your name, address and email address and we will add you to our growing email list.

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

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

Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011 - 3

National Wildlife Federation 75th Annual Meeting April 14-16, 2011 Washington, D.C.

By Jim Wood, AWF Representative

This year’s 75th National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Annual Meeting was held at Hyatt Regency Hotel with 45 state affiliate representatives attending along with delegates from Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands. Officers from Canadian Wildlife Federation also attended. Jim Wood was Arkansas Wildlife Federation (AWF) representative and AWF president Wayne Shewmake was Alternate.

I travel about two times each year to NWF Annual Meeting and Corps Reform Network meetings. My 7:00 am scheduled departure time from Little Rock this trip, with an 11:00 am arrival, was like numerous past trips. Aircraft had mechanical problems---cancelled. Departure became 10:00 am, and after a charming layover in Atlanta, D.C. arrival was 4:00 pm and timed perfectly to miss my first meeting.

D.C. weather was somewhat nasty, plenty of rain and the damaging storm front that came through AR earlier made it up to the nation’s capitol. I began representing AWF to NWF twelve years ago when D.C. was a rather laid back community, visitors could casually move around the nation’s capitol; a fun place to visit. Over this time though, thanks to Homeland

Security, every federal building and museum, regardless how insignificant, requires security screening much like you see at Little Rock airport. Long lines of spring break youngsters were standing in the rain waiting to be screened.

Six new resolutions were passed at this 75th Annual Meeting: Gulf Coast Restoration, Environmental Protection for Offshore Drilling, Climate Change/Endangered Species, Eliminating Plastic Checkout Bags, Evaluating Ecosystem Services, and Uranium Mining.

Regional roundtable discussions of current issues are a part of NWF Annual Meetings. Our region includes AR, LA, MO, OK and TX. Also, an interesting learning workshop included discussion about ballot measures, success and failures. AR sportsmen have been involved in two, Amendment 35 and 1/8 cent Conservation Sales Tax. It is notable that other states have tried similar ballot measures without the success enjoyed by AR and MO. Yell County Wildlife Federation member Sammie Johnson donated his hand carved bottlenose dolphin on an Arkansas cedar base for the silent auction and raffle. Top bid was $55.

All proceeds go back to states to fund NWF affiliate minigrant programs.

Texas Conservation Alliance was recognized as NWF “Affiliate of the Year.” Like many state affiliates, including

David Carruth, Jim Wood, NWF President & CEO Larry Schweiger, and Wayne Shewmake AR, for several years TX needed to rebuild their local club affiliate base. Last year they acquired 48 new local affiliate clubs, a remarkable accomplishment. It’d be great if Arkansas folks could do the same here in the Natural State. Contact the AWF office at 501-224-9200 or arkwf@sbcglobal.net for more information on how you can start an affiliate for adults or youth and help support Arkansas’ natural resources.

PAST CONSERVATION AWARD RECIPIENTS 1973

Conservationist of the Year: Richard

Taking a Look Back 1973 - 1981 ~Past AWF Presidents~

S. Arnold Water: Richard Sniegocki Education: James E. Miller Soil: Dr. Hartzel C. Dean Wildlife: &rew H. Hulsey Forestry: Search Wilcoxon, Jr. Communications: Martha Gillham Youth: Tommy Papasan Conservation Organization: Scott County - Ouachita Wildlife Association Wendell Beaver Award: St. Joseph's Hospital of Hot Springs

Outdoor Life Conservation Award:

Dr. Rex Hancock 1974

Conservationist of the Year: Singer

Furniture Company

1973 Bob Ed Pevehouse, Fort Smith

Communications: Garner Allen

1974 Bob Ed Pevehouse, Fort Smith

Forestry: Arthur P Cowley

1975 Henry Meyer, Cherokee Village 1976 Henry Meyer, Cherokee Village 1977 Col. Robert A. Norman, Hot Springs 1978 Col. Robert A. Norman, Hot Springs 1979 Nesbit Bowers, Pine Bluff 1980 Robert A. Pierce, Little Rock 1981 Nesbit Bowers, Pine Bluff

Education: Robert A Pierce Water: Susan A Kleihauer

Wildlife: Dave Donaldson Youth: Michael Taylor

Soil: Swiss Family Vineyards, Inc.

Conservation Organization: Hot

Springs Wildlife Federation 1975

Conservationist of the Year: Miss Lily

Peter

Wildlife: Joe D. Scott

Education: Mrs. Harold Utley Forestry: Owen A Smith

Communications: Bill Whitehead, Sr. Water: Earl T. Peebles

Legislative: Olen D. Hendrix Youth: Ricky Carson

Conservation Organization: Polk

County Wildlife Federation 1976

Conservationist of the Year: Ozark

Society

Wildlife: R. A Nelson youth: Frank Ballew

Forestry: John Archer

Education: Ruth G. Wade Wildlife: Dr. Henry Robinson Water: Log Cabin Democrat Organization: Nimrod-Blue Mountain Resident Office, US, Corps of Engineers Communications: E.C. "Ernie" Deane Hunter Safety: Charles W Sumner 1979 Conservationist of the Year:

Kaneaster Hodges, Jr.

Communications: Arkansas Ecology

Legislative: Congressman Ed Bethune

Legislative: Mrs. Carolyn Pollan

Education: William L. Fulton

Center

Water: Richard Broach Education: Ken Ropp

Conservation Organization: Citizen's

Committee to Preserve the Cadron 1977 Conservationist of the Year: Arkansas Gazette Legislative: Wayne Hampton & Jill Under Wildlife: J. Paul Smith Youth: Miss Tenna Engl& Forestry: Rodney A. Peterson Education: Thomas L. Foti Soil: Mr. & Mrs. Sam G. Konecny Air: W.B. "Bill" Hunter Water: Hal O. Lee Communications: John R. Preston Special Awards: Plants: Dr. Delzie DeMaree Conservation Organization: Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation Wendell Bever Award: Harold E. Alex&er 1978 Conservationist of the Year: Jane E. Stern Legislative: Senator Dale Bumpers Forestry: Mr. & Mrs. E. Taylor "Tates" Phillips Youth: Wade Taylor

Youth: Gus Pace

Jr. Wildlife: Robert A. Norman Forestry: Dr. Morriss Henry

Organization: Ozark Society

Conservation Committee

Hunter Safety: Wayne R. Hogan

Communicator: Dr. Frank Reuter

1980

Conservationist of the Year: The Ross

Foundation

Communications: Jefferson Wildlife Education: R&y C. Frazier

Wildlife: Mrs, James Gulley Youth: Hank Jeffcoats

Water: Dr. Robert E. Babcock

Conservation Organization: Languille

Community 4-H Club 1981 Conservationist of the Year: Dale Bumpers Wildlife: George M Purvis Water: Edgar O. Short Youth: Doug Pufahl Organization-Pulaski County Audubon Society Forestry: James H. Francis Education: Arkansas Audubon Society Ecology Camp Communicator: Jerry Dhonau Hunter Safety: Terry Horton

4 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011

Arkansas Wildlife Federation and the Bearcat Hollow Cooperative Habitat Project - Phase I

By Wayne Shewmake

Arkansas Wildlife Federation (AWF) has committed to a very important project that is of interest to everyone who enjoys the outdoors.

AWF attended a meeting back in February of 2010 to learn more about cooperative habitat projects, presented by National Forest Foundation (NFF) and the Ozark National Forest biologist. The meeting included the U S Forest Service, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, National Wild Turkey Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Arkansas Forestry Commission, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Univ. of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service, The Nature Conservancy, U S Fish and Wildlife Service, Arkansas River Valley Audubon Society, AWF and several other organizations.

The Bearcat Project was set up by the Ozark National Forest to be a cooperative habitat project. The project is located in the Ozark Highlands, an area that contains one of the largest contiguous remnant systems of oak woodlands, forest, and savannas in the United States. Over 150 endemic species call the Ozarks home. Since 2000 the red oak borer has impacted 1.5 million acres in the Ozarks, which has left few residual oak trees. Over 40% of the terrestrial species viability concerned on the Ozark NF utilizes open habitats, and all of the aquatic species are directly impacted by these changes. Historically, large ungulates such as elk and bison had a significant effect on the ecosystems, but they were extirpated during the 1800s.

A strategy to address these issues was developed through a collaborative effort that included experts from 14 different Federal, State, and Local agencies as well as conservation organizations. There are 2 primary focuses on this project: First, thin stands in areas that were identified as more open forest habitats and prescribe burn on a rotation of 3 to 5 years at the landscape scale.

Second, construct openings in the Wildlife Emphasis Management Area as described in the Revised 2005 Forest Plan.

In 2006, Arkansas/Missouri Pine Oak Woodlands Partnership designed a 320,000 acre project in order to connect smaller restoration projects across administrative boundaries.

This Consolidation of projects would better coordinate efforts and utilization of funding and personnel resources. To date the US Forest Service has completed 128,085 acres of restoration thinning and/or prescribed burning and construction of 68 acres of openings in the project area. AGFC has completed 1800 acres

of thinning, 5700 acres of prescribed burning, and 400 acres of opening maintenance. Areas that have been thinned and burned on the 3 to 5 year rotation have increased species richness for plants by as much as 5 fold. Two research projects have shown an increase in abundances for both small mammals and avian populations in this area.

The U S Forest Service is looking to expand both the aquatic and terrestrial restoration activities over the next ten years.

For the aquatics, the primary focus will be on improving Best Management Practice structures on existing roads, decommissioning roads/trails in poor locations, constructing new trails to better manage off-road motorized and non-motorized forest users, repair culverts affecting fish migration and improving stream crossing. Priority watersheds will be ones that contain Federally Endangered or Species of Viability Concerns.

The project monitoring will be designed to utilize existing protocols and monitoring programs. The USFS, Nature Conservancy and Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission developed and ecological monitoring program to determine the effects of restoration activities and the success of restoration projects. Fish will be monitored in at least three of the major drainages using

BEARCAT HOLLOW

Location: Turn off state highway # 7 at Lurton, AR, onto state highway # 123 (going toward Mt. Judea) onto Hampton Road. Hampton Road turns into USFS road # 1200. Follow USFS #1200 to USFS road #1205 to USFS road # 1201. It all runs alongside Richland Creek Wilderness Area. There you will see several open habitats areas.

the forest sampling protocols to determine any changes in fish assemblages, Arkansas Tech University, and AGFC will monitor stream dryness and stream flows. Arkansas River Valley Audubon Society will establish bird plots and determine changes in avian communities using R8 bird protocols.

The Arkansas Wildlife action plan is a comprehensive strategy that identifies wildlife issues, species of concern and management recommendations. Primary management objectives for the Ecoregions are habitat protection, habitat restoration and improvements. The Plan standards are designed to protect rare communities and other sensitive habitats and will meet the objective for habitat protection. 60% of the project should be in woodlands with more open conditions; currently there is less than 3% in woodlands. This project will increase woodland habitat by a least 12% and to maintain these habitats over time.

Arkansas Wildlife Federation will play a major part in this project. We received a grant from the National Forest Foundation to help with the project. The area is located south of the Gene Rush WMA and Buffalo National River where ongoing comprehensive habitat improvement programs have already resulted in quality habitat for an Arkansas elk herd, deer, quail, turkey, black bear, prairie warbler and small mammals as well as improvements in the aquatics quality.

AWF’s part included: 1. River Valley Audubon Society performed needed field support to complete bird monitoring in the Bearcat Hollow Project area.

2. Early seral habitat and open-land management, by mowing, fertilizing and applying lime to fields.

3. Removal of old range fence in 2 former pasture systems.

4. Installation of a gate to control vehicular access onto fields.

5. ATU Fisheries & Wildlife Society volunteers removed trash along Richland Creek, within the Bearcat Hollow Project.

AWF has completed the 2010 habitat improvement project by using volunteers.

Together we put in 577 man hours and $ 24,288. Our plans are to again apply for grant money from NFF and work on Bearcat Hollow Project 2011-2012. We are asking for anyone interested in volunteering please contact AWF. “The National Forest Foundation, chartered

by Congress, engages America in communitybased and national programs that promote the health and public enjoyment of the 193-millionacre National Forest System, and accepts and administers private gifts of funds and land for the benefit of the National Forests.”

AWF is looking for volunteers to help with the hands-on work to be done on the Bearcat Hollow Project as well as other projects. We are working to conserve fish, wildlife and there habitat for future generations.

If you or your club would like to help with this project please contact AWF: Arkansas Wildlife Federation 9108 Rodney Parham Rd., Suite 101 Little Rock, AR 72205 Ph. 501-224-9200 arkwf@sbcglobal.net

Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011 - 5

MARCH/APRIL HISTORY 1906: 105-years-ago, Conservationist & Presidential Medal of Freedom winner Dr. Edgar Wayburn was born in Macon, GA. Wayburn was a physician who served 5 terms as president of the Sierra Club & is credited for saving more wilderness & park land than any citizen. He died in 2010 at the age of 103.

1911: 100-years-ago, the moving-in process began at the Arkansas State Capitol building. It would be another 4 years before the building was completed over a 16-year-period. Official proceedings began in January, 1911 with the meeting of the first assembly in the new capitol. The State House (now the Old State House Museum) served as the first capitol building for Arkansas.

1936:

Historian David Levering Lewis, a Little Rock, AR native, was born in 1936. Lewis won two Pulitzer Prizes for biographies of civil rights activist & sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois.

March 1: The Hoover Dam is completed.

March 4: First flight of the airship Hindenburg.

March 5: Spitfire makes it’s 1st flight (Eastleigh Aerodrome in Southampton) March 7: Hitler breaks Treaty of Versailles, sends troops to Rhineland.

March 8: The first stock car race is held in Daytona Beach, Florida.

March 9: Babe Ruth turns down Reds to make a comeback as a player.

March 19: Ursula Andress, Swiss actress (Dr. No, Casino Royale, What’s New Pussycat, Fun in Acapulco, and Clash of the Titans) was born.

March 24: Detroit Red Wings beat Montreal Maroons in 16 mins & 30 seconds of 6th period Stanley Cup game lasts 9 periods (176 mins), ends 1-0.

March 26: Mary Joyce ends a 1,000 mile trip by dog in Alaska.

April 3: Boxer Al Carr KOs Lew Massey in 1 punch, :07 of the 1st round (shortest boxing bout with gloves).

April 5: Tupelo, Mississippi virtually annihilated by a tornado, 216 die.

April 6: Tornado, kills 203 & injuring 1,800 in Gainesville Georgia.

April 10: John Madden, NFL coach (Oakland Raiders)/sports commentator (CBS, FOX) was born.

April 11: Stanley Cup: Detroit Red Wings beat Toronto Maple Leafs, 3 games to 1.

April 20: 40th Boston Marathon won by Ellison Brown of RI in 2:33:40.8.

April 23: Singer/Musician Roy Orbison (“Pretty Woman,” “Only The Lonely,” “Crying,” and “Blue Bayou”) is born in Vernon, Texas.

One of the many reasons that tourists, campers, hikers, hunters and fishers come to Arkansas is for its natural beauty. Sometimes that natural beauty needs help and protection. That’s where the Arkansas Wildlife Federation comes in. We are the state’s oldest non-profit conservation organization and we have worked hard to conserve the things that help make Arkansas a great state.

For as little as $25/year you can become a member of AWF. That’s an average of $2.08/ month; 7 cents/day to help the Natural State maintain its natural habitats and native species. Isn’t Arkansas worth a couple of bucks a month to you?

Help AWF to conserve our wildlife, wetlands, woodlands and waterways for our children and our children’s children. Donate or become a member today.

Simply fill out the form located in this issue of Arkansas Out-ofDoors or contact AWF: arkwf@sbcglobal.net or 501-224-9200.

Another Successful Weekend at Bearcat Hollow

By Clay Spikes

The weekend of April 29-30, 2011 brought further progress is continuing forward at the Bearcat Hollow Cooperative Project in the Ozark National Forest. Dennis Daniel from NWTF, Wayne Shewmake (AWF), Ethan Nahté (AWF), Randy Bradbury (AWF) and myself gathered on Lookout Mountain, near the 23-acre site of Round Hill on Friday night. After good fellowship and a windy night of camping, we were ready for work on Saturday morning.

Our objective for the weekend was to add woody debris to five newly created wildlife ponds located within the project area. These wildlife ponds are beneficial not only for the elk for wallows and the deer for drinking water, but provides sustainable habitat for reptiles and amphibians. Adding woody debris, or logs and brush tops, to a pond may sound odd but is very important to help establish macroinvertebrate populations for the frogs and amphibians to forage on. By creating a viable insect level in the foodchain, we hope to benefit the wildlife that feed on these organisms and allow for a bottom-up effect that will support many animals.

While there, we got the pleasure of seeing a salamander (probably a Western slimy salamander-Plethedon spp.) and a small box turtle near the ponds. Adjacent to the pond on Round Hill is a small frog pond teeming with hundreds of large tadpoles. Hopefully all of these species will benefit from our efforts of improving water quality and aquatic habitat diversity, an important overall objective for the project.

Waterfall by Wayne Shewmake

Another effort that was occurring while we were there was the herbicidal treatment of the 23-acre site, which was implemented to target and remove the non-native grasses that are present in the fields in order to make way for the planting of native species that were once present in these areas. The Bearcat Hollow Project is a good way to improve and restore a portion of Arkansas’ wildlife and enjoy the weekend with good company.

See more photos of Bearcat Hollow and the progress at http://www.facebook.com/ ArkansasWildlifeFederation/

In Memorium David & Terricia Mosesso have made a Memorial donation in memory of Freddy King, Sr. (Searcy, AR) Michael Isaacson has made a Memorial donation in memory of Melvin Griffin (Jonesboro, AR) A.W. Callan, Jr. has made a Memorial donation in memory of A.W. Callan, Sr. (Fort Smith, AR) and designated his gift to use for the promotion of Fish and Quail.

6 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011

Come Celebrate With AWF!

By Ethan Nahté

You have probably received an e-mail, seen a flyer, article or an ad for Arkansas Wildlife Federation’s huge 75th anniversary event – the Annual Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet. Did you know that we are the oldest non-profit conservation organization in Arkansas? Did you know that we are the same age as our parent organization National Wildlife Federation? The event will be held at the new Center of Bryant at Bishop Park, located at 6401 Boone Road in Bryant, Arkansas. This year will be our biggest yet and will have a lot more to offer than last year’s event.

The morning of August 27th begins with a FREE 2-hour fishing derby, 8 am – 10 am, for kids 12 and under. Arkansas Game & Fish Commission (AGFC) is supplying the fish to stock the pond. Contestants will be required to bring their own fishing gear. There will be an official weigh-in for this event. Anyone wanting to fish afterwards is more than welcome to cast a line.

If that weren’t enough, the Caddis fishing group, as well as AWF’s own director-at-large Jeff Belk, will be giving demonstrations throughout the day on how to fly fish for both youth and adults. The first demo is tentatively scheduled for 11 am.

Other demonstrations planned but waiting for confirmation will include turkey calling, duck calling & elk bugling; hand-making of longbows; educational hands-on science demonstrations with microorganisms and more entertaining

AWF Attends Spring Festivals

by Al Wolff

Arkansas Wildlife Federation has been busy making public appearances. In March, Jamie Lewis Hedges, Director of Outdoor and Environmental Experiences, invited AWF to participate at the GaiaLuna Festival

Earth Ball by Ethan Nahté

events still in the works. Bring some extra cash for vendors selling drinks, kettle corn and other items.

We’re also welcoming vendors this year. The Center of Bryant has 3 basketball courts. One of the regulation-size courts will be open to the general public for only $2.00/person.

The vendor area is open from 11 am – 4 pm. Children ages 16 and under get into the vendor room for free with a paid adult admission. A couple of the vendors already confirmed are National Wild Turkey Federation and AGFC’s Stream Team as well as their aquarium. Swing by the AWF booth for information on upcoming projects, membership and volunteer opportunities or to buy tickets for the banquet. If you are interested in becoming a vendor please contact the AWF office for information. There is no charge to be a vendor but there are some stipulations. The big bonus is that vendors will get a certain number of tickets for the evening’s banquet.

We’ll be opening the doors for the banquet at 5:30 pm and serving a delicious dinner beginning at 6 pm. What’s in the chow line? How about fried quail, smoked Cornish hens, pork shoulder, chicken tenders and fixin’s. There will be an exotic table for wild game or unusual dishes. We’re also planning a couple of non-meat dishes for vegetarians or those on a restricted diet. There will be coffee, tea and water. Sorry, no alcohol allowed on property.

Despite the cost of gas and groceries going up all around the nation, we’ve kept our banquet ticket prices the same as last year’s price - $35/couple or $20/single. Tickets can be

on the University of the Ozarks campus. The event was held April 9 at the demonstration campground, a wooded area that is comprised of walking and biking trails as well as a pond.

Many bands performed on a stage, there was a morning yoga session with Jessie Gibson of SnerQ Yoga Studio, John Pennington of Arkansas Earth Day Foundation (AEDF) gave a short lecture and Ozarks’ Chaplain Rev. Nancy Benson-Nicol spoke on “Spirituality & Nature.”

Lauren Ray, Ozark Outdoors student coordinator, said, “The event [served] as an official kick-off for the new Ozarks Outdoor and Environmental Experiences program.”

In addition to AEDF & AWF, The Sierra Club, Buffalo National River Partners, Ozark Outdoors (University of the Ozarks club), members of the University’s Shooting Club, and the University’s Planet Club also participated. AWF President, Wayne Shewmake, and Acting Executive Director, Ethan Nahté, represented AWF at the event.

Speaking with Mr. Pennington lead to AWF being invited to participate at the Arkansas Earth Day Festival in North Little Rock on April 23 at the North Shore Riverwalk. It was an extremely windy day and many of the booths were constantly chasing down their displays and even their canopies or tents.

Thankfully there were plenty of large rocks along the banks of the Arkansas River, only a few feet away, which were put to much use.

bought in advance from any board member, through the AWF office or at the AWF booth in the vendor room.

Before the dinner attendees can sign up for door prizes and look at all of the great items for the silent auction. Last year’s auction included many interesting pieces of art, jewelry, woodcraft items, weekend getaways and more. We’re still accepting donation items for the auction. If you have something to donate, not only will you be able to write it off on your taxes but you could get passes to the banquet. Once again, contact the AWF office for details.

7 pm is the beginning of the ceremonies. AETN’s John Philpot, host of Arkansas Outdoors, will be entertaining the audience as master of ceremonies. There is still time to nominate someone who you feel has gone the “extra mile” in conservation. Look for the nomination form in this issue and get it sent in by June 15, 2011. AWF plans to award a dozen or more outstanding recipients for their conservation efforts. We would love for you to be there to applaud them for their work.

All money raised at the banquet from the ticket sales, silent auction, sponsorships & donations will be used for education and conservation programs. 100% of the money raised stays in Arkansas. Remember, AWF is a nonprofit 501 c (3) conservation organization and depends on donations, memberships and grants, not tax dollars. Speaking of, AWF would like to thank the Center of Bryant and our co-sponsor, Heartland Community Bank, for kindly providing us with use of the facility. You can contact our office at 501-224-9200 or at arkwf@sbcglobal.net/. We’re also at http://wwww. facebook.com/ArkansasWildlifeFederation/.

See you at the banquet…and bring your appetite!

The Arkansas Earth Day Festival was a large event that involved many grassroots organizations, energy companies, face painting for kids, tie-dye t-shirt making, rock climbing, and live bands that performed on a totally solar-powered stage. Some booths had animals for petting zoos or for educational purposes. Despite the blustery wind, it was a relatively nice day and gave us the opportunity to speak with many people of all ages who were unaware of AWF. Once again, Shewmake and Nahté operated the booth and

Notice This Ad?

spoke with attendees.

AWF has many other events that we plan on attending around the state. If you would like to volunteer to help out and spread the word, contact the AWF office about opportunities to work a shift. It generally gets you into the events for free and you’ll have time away from the table to look around and mingle.

If you are on the board for an event and would like to invite AWF to be a part of your program, please feel free to contact us and let us know what you have in the works.

So do other readers, so why not support the AOOD and advertise in our publication!

Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011 - 7

Mr. Shewmake Goes To Washington

By Wayne Shewmake, AWF President

This was my first experience going to National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) Annual Meeting.

NWF formed in 1936 so it is their 75th anniversary, same as Arkansas Wildlife Federation. NWF’s annual meeting was in Washington D. C., my first trip to the nation’s capital.

Jim Wood is AWF’s representative and Gayne Schmidt is AWF alternate, but Gayne had something come up last minute that prevented her from going, so she asked if I would go in her place. Jim and I both flew up there but not together since I had to make my reservation later. I left home about 2 am to get to the airport to catch my plane by 7 am. With all of the Homeland Security it takes a while to get through security nowadays. My plane left on time and I got to Washington D. C. about 2 pm and to the hotel about 3:40 pm, just in time to rush around and get to my first meeting for newcomers that was to end at 4 pm. So I rushed around and got upstairs to the meeting room as they were dismissing the room, so I was late for my first meeting.

The next morning I got up early to do some sight seeing? We were staying at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, which is about 1 ½ blocks from the White House. I grabbed my camera and walked very fast toward the capital; the cherry blossoms were blooming and were very beautiful. I got to the capital and there were not many people there, so I thought I could get some pictures. I started on the back side of the capitol and walked around to the front. I was amazed at the large variety of trees that were around the capital building. There are trees from around the world ranging from very large to just plants. It was everything I had seen on TV and I was very impressed with how pretty the lawn and trees were.

I got around front and was enjoying my visit when my cell phone rang. It was Geralyn Hoey, NWF Regional Representative for Arkansas, Missouri & Louisiana, telling me I was supposed to be in the Opening General Session. I ran back to the hotel just in time for her to tell me Jim was there so I could relax and just observe what was going on.

From there it was to the Conservation Resolutions Session, which I was on the “Support for Eliminating Plastic Checkout Bags” committee. Jim Wood was the chairman for this committee. It was a very good discussion and we made it through the meeting with a few changes to the resolution as written.

Then it was on the Regional Roundtable Meeting, which included AR, LA, MO, TX, and OK. We discussed what each affiliate would like to see NWF do to help and to support affiliates. It was also a very good discussion in which I learned a lot from what the other affiliates were involved in and what help and support they needed.

From there it was on to the Closing General Session. Finally the meetings were over and dinner time. Geralyn and Steve Bender, NWF State Reps, took Jim, I, and other affiliate members from their regions out to a very nice restaurant named Monocle on Capitol Hill. It was a high dollar restaurant to say the least but Geralyn and Steve picked up the tab for us. It was a very good meal and, best of all, we were able to discuss things going on in our states and our involvement with issues that affected our organization.

We also got to visit with the other affiliates members and I learned a lot from them on how they operate within their states. For me this is time needed for newcomers to learn from others, and I did pick up a lot of good information that I hope AWF can work on in the near future.

Saturday morning, 8 am “Collaborative Learning Workshops Crafting Powerful Messages” and pulling the curtain back on “Ballot Measures,” both very informative workshops. Then there was the “Service Project, planting trees at the NWF Refuge, Patuxent, MD.” It was pouring rain that morning and Jim and I decided not to attend, not wanting to get wet. We decided to visit the Smithsonian Museum. We caught a taxi and were dropped off right in front of the Museum of American History. The Smithsonian Museum is free, just got to get through the homeland security. Even though it was raining there was a large crowd there. We didn’t stay there long and went to the Museum of Natural History.

Keep in mind, these building are close together and we were walking between them. Jim had been here several times before so he was somewhat familiar with them. It was lunchtime by then and we decided to go to the American Indian Museum to eat lunch. They have exotic foods and foods from other countries you can try. Jim and I both tried the American Indian buffalo meal, which was good.

After eating lunch we came out of the museum and I could see the top of our hotel, about ¾ of a mile away. We tried to catch a taxi but none were coming by, so we decided to just walk. We made it back all in one piece, but soaking wet because the rain never let up.

That evening we had the Awards Reception, which started at 5 pm and the Awards Dinner started soon after. The Awards Dinner room was crowded. It was a very good program to be involved in. NWF put on a very good program and presented several awards to individuals and groups who had gone the “Extra Mile” to help conserve our nation’s wildlife and wildlife habitat. I was very pleased with the work and the accomplishments the award winners had done to receive their awards; it was outstanding.

This trip, as well as the NWF Annual Meeting, was very informative and a learning process for me.

I appreciate all the hard work that NWF workers have done to present such an outstanding program.

I would like to say thanks to Jim Wood for his help, support and guidance in showing me the way through my first NWF Annual Meeting. It was a trip I will never forget and will appreciate for a long time. I would also like to say a special thank you to Geralyn Hoey, our NWF Representative for her help. I could not have done all that needed to be done without her help.

UPCOMING EVENTS War Eagle Days Friday - Sunday, June 3-5 Withrow Springs (near Eureka Springs) Contact Corey Lacey clacey@audubon.org e-Day Festival 2011 Sunday, June 5 11 am – 3 pm Historic Downtown Farmer’s Market Hot Springs, AR www.hotspringsgreen.org Crooked Creek Clean-up Sunday, June 5 Departure Time @ 1 pm Start @ Kelly Slab – End @ Yellville City Park Contact Mike Tipton michaeltipton@centurytel.net Ben Levin benlevin00@hotmail.com 3-Day Camp – Lake Dardanelle State Park Wednesday – Friday, June 8-10 9 am – 4 pm daily $65 registration fee includes lunch, snacks & all materials for the activities, crafts, programs and more. Registration deadline, June 1 Register @ Lake Dardanelle State Park Visitor’s Center, e-mail: lakedardanelle@arkansas.com or fax 479-890-3670 Kid’s Fishing Derby Saturday, June 11 Registration – 8 am Fishing begins – 9 am For 15 and under Quarry Park below Norfork Dam Free to kids and adults. Food will be provided for everyone and all the kids will win a prize with the overall winner receiving a special prize. Volunteers needed: Fish Marshals, registration personnel, cooking assistants, prize giver and general host.

Contact Joe Salisbury trout548@aol.com 870-321-2456

AWF Quarterly Meeting

Saturday, June 25, 10 am – 2 pm Center of Bryant @ Bishop Park Contact Ethan Nahté arkwf@sbcglobal.net 501-224-9200

74th Annual Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet

Saturday, August 27 Kid Fishing events begin @ 8 am Vendor events - 11 am – 4 pm Awards Banquet – Doors open @ 5:30, Dinner @ 6:00 Center of Bryant @ Bishop Park Contact Ethan Nahté arkwf@sbcglobal.net 501-224-9200 AEEA Presents Flying WILD An Environmental Education Workshop with a Focus on Migratory Birds Monday, June 27, 2011 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Botanical Garden of the Ozarks 4703 N. Crossover Road Fayetteville, Arkansas 72764 Contact Brad Robertson info@arkansasee.org (501) 773-1107 Lee Creek Clean-up Saturday, September 10 9 am – 1 pm Devil’s Den State Park Contact John Pennington jhpennington@uaex.edu

Adult Natural History Workshops - Presented

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

For more information and for registration forms, email Eric Sundell at esundell42@gmail. com or call 870-723-1089.

Download a registration form: http://www.arbirds.org/

8 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011

Grave Decisions

By George Sorvalis Water Protection Network, Coordinator

The Corps of Engineers last night (May 3, 2011) activated the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway - a roughly 130,000 acre, 3 to 10 mile-wide, floodway inside a 56-mile-long ‘frontline’ levee along the Mississippi River and a 36-mile long setback levee. There is a 1,500-foot gap where the 2 levees would come together down river, to allow the floodway to drain back into the Mississippi River. This gap also allows the Mississippi River to back into its floodplain providing exceptional (and now unfortunately rare) wildlife habit.

To activate the New Madrid Floodway, the Corps fills in pre-drilled holes with explosives and literally explodes the levee at Birds Point, just south of Cairo, IL. The floodway is designed to divert 550,000cfs from the Mississippi River during a “project flood” (defined as the maximum flood with a reasonable chance of occurring) to relieve pressure on the entire flood control system, and reduce flood heights regionally in Cairo, Il and other nearby towns.

The New Madrid Floodway is one of four floodways that the Corps designed into the Mississippi Rivers and Tributaries Project (MR&T) – the entire flood control system that Congress authorized in 1928 following the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. The MR&T levee system extends along the

Mississippi River all of the way from the bootheal of Missouri to the Gulf of Mexico affecting a 35,000 sq. mile project area.

Use of the New Madrid floodway has always been controversial and this time around is no exception if you’ve been watching the news coverage. Yesterday was only the 2nd time in history the floodway has been used by the Corps.

The first time was in 1937, and at that time, a handful of the 3,000 residents that inhabited the floodway had to be forcibly removed by the National Guard to protect workers working to breach the levee to activate the floodway.

Today, there are roughly 200 inhabitants in the floodway engaged in agribusiness mostly producing soy beans.

The federal government has compensated floodway inhabitants by purchasing flowage easement to flood their land, and the government is required to compensate landowners within all of the MR&T project floodways who would be subjected “to additional destructive floodwaters that will pass by reason of diversion” from the Mississippi River. However as we have seen, using the floodway is never an easy thing to do, whether you are talking about flooding 3,000 people in 1927 or flooding 200 people today.

In 1937 when the Corps last activated the floodway, Maj. Gen. Edward Markham, Chief of Engineers testified before the House Committee on Flood Control that, “I am now of the opinion that no plan is satisfactory which is based upon deliberately turning

Water Protection Network

By Jim Wood, AWF Representative WPN Steering Committee

Corps of Engineer Reform Network (CRN) was originally so named at its 2002 beginning following a June 2-4, 2000 Greening the Corps Workshop in New Orleans. This Workshop was followed with an organizational meeting in Potomac, MD on November 30-December 1, 2010 with sixty-five delegates in attendance.

After consulting with the now one hundred eighty-eight (WPN) national, regional, state and local organizations, the delegates settled on changing the name to Water Protection Network (WPN). George Sorvalis from National Wildlife Federation (NWF) serves as coordinator.

California has eighteen organizations with the WPN collaborative, the highest number of the one hundred eighty-eight different members.

Arkansas has a total of nine. Except for annual meetings, WPN business is conducted through e-mail messaging/information sharing, etc. and monthly conference calls.

At the 2002 Potomac meeting Mona Shoup, from Houston, remarked, “…CRN will pursue information sharing smart approach. We find that helping sportsmen, anglers and other members help themselves battle bad Corps projects and wetland destruction still works to encourage public involvement nine years later.”

Gen. Robert Flowers, Chief of Engineers Civil Works in 2002, met in St. Louis with CRN in 2004 and, a year later, in D.C. CRN chose St. Louis to commemorate the 200 Year Anniversary of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Flowers suggested CRN change CRN’s name to “Transforming the Corps of Engineers.” Referring to his 2001 White Paper, he stated, “…the corps absolutely must change.” He commented that early in his career while stationed at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO he was well acquainted with Arkansas’ White River where he enjoyed many weekend fishing trips.

The Network’s new strategic plan continues focusing upon reforming the Corps away from their current “make-work,” build-

floodwaters upon the home and property of people, even though the right to do so may have been paid for in advance.”

Just yesterday in a Mississippi River Commission statement announcing the operation of the floodway, Maj. Gen. Michael J. Walsh, Commander of the Corps’ Mississippi Valley Division stated, “Making this decision is not easy or hard – it’s simply grave – because the decision leads to loss of property and livelihood – either in a floodway – or in an area that was not designed to flood.”

So the question is how do we avoid putting people, whether it be 3,000 in 1937 or 200 today, intentionally in harm’s way?

One way is to treat the Mississippi River and its floodplain better. Continued manipulation of the River by navigation and agribusinesses throughout the Mississippi and Ohio basins to “get the water off the fields” as fast as possible has continued to increase flooding risks yearby-year, decade-by-decade, leading to this kind of situation. The 1927 flood took months of sustained and unyielding rain to bring both Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to flood stage.

Today’s flood has already exceeded the 1927 flood at the Cairo gage, and it only took a matter of days.

Maintaining the Mississippi River floodways as unencumbered floodways is critical. Will post disaster recovery funds be made available to the remaining inhabitants in the floodway to move out of the floodway?

Or maybe even a more urgent question is what federally-subsidized projects are being proposed that would exacerbate flooding risks in the floodway.

The St. John’s Bayou / New Madrid Floodway Project, a Corps proposal to close that 1,500 ft. gap at the bottom of the floodway in order to intensify agriculture production in the floodway, is a looming threat to wildlife habitat, public safety and a waste of tax dollars. Any attempts to revive this project as part of the post-disaster response should be strongly resisted.

A better way forward may be to let the New Madrid Floodway remain open to the Mississippi River and become a floodplain again. Doing so would reduce flood risks to upstream towns by allowing the Mississippi River to spread out again instead of being confined through the main levee channel, create recreational opportunities from new fish and wildlife habitat created by the new wetland, and it would capture pollutants like nitrogen which would benefit the health of the Gulf of Mexico.

As our nation faces increasing flooding threats from climate change, increasing land use, navigation structures, and other factors, we should start embracing a growth policy that allows “Room for Rivers” -- retreating from their floodplains rather than continuing to develop upon them. To do so would avoid having to make the “simply grave” decisions to turn waters loose on our fellow citizens.

at-all-cost, dredge, fill and drain wetlands policy to a broader non-structural, restoration solution to water challenges. WPN’s broader approach also sets up new active local Policy and Grassroots Committees.

After battling five years, and thanks to Corps Reform champions, Senators Russ Feingold (Wisconsin) and John McCain (Arizona), congress passed the new Water Resource Development Act 2007 mandating: modernizing Corps project study procedures and guidelines; mitigation at time project is built; automatic guidelines that trigger independent peer review of study analysis and assumptions. Congress declined to pass the fourth proposal to review de-authorizing outdated projects in the now $60 billion Corps authorized, but unfunded, backlog.

It is interesting to look back at how a few Yell County Wildlife Federation (YCWF) duck hunters began a partnering process leading to now one hundred eighty-eight WPN member groups, WRDA 2007, and a smarter approach to representing sportsmen interests before the Corps of Engineers.

YCWF submitted the proposed Resolution 3 titled “Water Resource Management” at

Arkansas Wildlife Federation’s August 25, 1995 59th Annual Meeting. Robert Apple was President and the AWF representative was Ralph Gillham. They helped to get Resolution 3 passed at NWF’s 1996 Annual Meeting in West Palm Beach, FL. In 2001, through coordination with David Conrad, NWF Water Resource Specialist, and NWF Regional Officer F.G. Courtney; I developed and successfully presented AWF’s Resolution we titled “Reforming the Corps of Engineers” to NWF at the annual meeting in D.C. in 2001. Thanks to NWF leadership, “Reforming the Corps of Engineers” continues. It is notable in David Conrad’s NWF Staff Commentary he reflects many WPN member opinions still shared today with, “This Resolution expands a call to Congress to form a National Water Resource Review Commission to consider whether management of the nation’s water resources should continue as a military activity.“ A front burner issue sportsmen continue to debate.

The new URL for the Water Protection Network is http://www. waterprotectionnetwork.org/.

George Sorvalis the Coordinator of the Water Protection Network, a coalition of hundreds of organizations from around the country working to ensure water projects and policies and environmentally and economically sound.

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Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011 - 9

Collaboration of the Arts Announces Winners

by Ethan Nahté

Arkansas Wildlife Federation joined forces once again for a second year in a row to help support and promote the Collaboration of the Arts, a contest open to all Arkansas school children from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Begun by Creative Ideas, this is their fifth year putting on this contest showcasing the talents of Arkansas’ youth.

The winning art was displayed at the River Market on Friday, May 13 at a free public event. This year’s theme was “Arkansas Wildlife” and featured many great pieces of work with a variety of art mediums featuring Arkansas birds & mammals. Fiftythree winners were chosen from nearly four hundred submissions.

The event was began with emcee Chris

Mayland introducing Creative Ideas president Sharon Hacker & AWF president Wayne Shewmake. The two handed first place trophies out to the students and took photos with all of the winners in attendance.

All of the winners, 1st place – honorable mention, received ribbons.

The following entertainment included ballet dancers performing to the Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra String Quartet, performance art, the New Life Band, & BURN 24-7, a duo of a guitarist/singer accompanied by a hand drum percussionist.

Many artists were set up showcasing some of their work. A lot of the artists had some very nice pieces included in the silent auction. UCA Professor of Art Bryan Massey, Sr. was at one side of the stage creating a live head sculpture.

The other side featured artist Theresa Cates as

COLLABORATION OF THE ARTS STUDENT CONTEST K-12: Jurors: Bryan Winfred Massey, Sr. Professor of Art University of Central Arkansas Carrie Dyer Assistant Professor of Art University of Central Arkansas Robby Burton Artist/Sculptor Conway, AR

Jurors’ statement: “The amount of work submitted for this year’s 2011 Collaboration of the Arts K-12 Student Art Contest was the largest to date. The quality of the work per grade was overall very well thought out and executed. The jurors selection of the winners in each grade level was based upon the use of the space, use of medium, subject matter, creativity, innovation, exploration, and not solely upon his or her skill or level of talent.”

Kindergarten: 1st Luke Vail: Walking Sticks (Valley Springs School) 2nd Jessica Gibson: On the Lookout (Pea Ridge Elementary) 3rd Luis Montalvo: Friendly Gator (Pea Ridge Elementary) HM Jecenia Garza: The Fish Can Bite Fish Food (Otter Creek Elementary) 1 Grade: 1st Isabella Smith: Hungry Alligator (Pea Ridge Elementary) 2nd Sam Baltzley: The Colorful Eagle (Otter Creek Elementary) 3rd Ava Little: Raccoon (Cooper Elementary) HM Eljah Austin: Bear in the Woods (Pea Ridge Elementary) HM Clay Sebree: Humming Bird (Pea Ridge Elementary) st

2nd Grade: 1st Stephanie Littlefield: Beehive Tree (Valley Springs Elementary) 2nd Jackson Revelle: The Frog of Southern Arkansas (Pea Ridge Elementary)

3rd Dillon Brouse: The Race is On (Pea Ridge Elementary) HM Christian Wiggins: Baby Bobcat (Cabot) 3rd Grade: 1st Isaiah Pruitt: Chipmunk (Pea Ridge Elementary) 2nd Jaylen McGowan: Lily Pond (Agape Academy) 3rd Celine Franke: Raccoon (Pea Ridge Elementary) HM Reggie Swinton: A Fish Eats A Meatball (Otter Creek Elementary) 4th Grade: 1st Braeden Kennedy: Eye of the Wildcat (Pea Ridge Elementary) 2nd Alayna Brown: Deer (Pea Ridge Elementary) 3rd Ashley Henson: Owls (Pea Ridge Elementary) HM Darian Marbley: Arkansas Wildlife (Booker Arts Magnet School) 5th Grade: 1st Sarah Hargiss: Turtle (Pea Ridge Elementary)

she painted on a large canvas.

Afterwards, the art was moved just a few yards down to the Witt Stephens, Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center. The center has generously offered to display the students’ art for approximately six weeks, throughout the remainder of May and all of June. So if

2nd Sidra Hanson: Waiting (Williams Magnet School) 3rd Loren Taylor: Eagles Rule (Williams Magnet School) HM Anthony Hal: Wolf (Pea Ridge Elementary) 6th Grade: 1st Victor Arguett: The Gift of Nature (Kirksey Middle School) 2nd Alie Thompson: The Bright Forrest (Kirksey Middle School) 3rd Steven Depner: Arkansas Wildlife (Kirksey Middle School) HM Ana Maria Marrero: The Beauty of Arkansas (Kirksey Middle School) 7th Grade: 1st Audrey Slunder: Sly Fox (Cabot Jr. High/North) 2nd Sovren Sybrant: Arkansas Wildlife: Past & Present (Randall G. Lynch Middle School) 3rd Robert Davis: Every Hunter’s Dream (Star City Middle School) HM Krissarrin Mayle: Snake in the Grass (Cabot Jr. High/South) 8th Grade: 1st Zachary Maier: Winter Mockingbird (Northwood Middle School) 2nd Sawyer Taylor: When Nature Calls (MacArthur Jr. High School) 3rd Rachel Gaught: Burrowing Owl (Cotter Jr. High School) HM Ashley Anthony: The Lonesome Deer (Benton Junior High)

you’re in the area for Riverfest or strolling through downtown, go see the art. The Witt Stephens location is an educational museum and it’s free. If you can’t make it to the show or the museum, see all the images from the winners at http://www.facebook.com/ ArkansasWildlifeFederation/ .

9th Grade: 1st London Farrar: Hungry Frog (Little Rock Christian Academy) 2nd Hugo Ruiz: Fierce Owl (Caddo Hills High School) 3rd Robert Bobo: Bear Messaging (Caddo Hills High School) HM Bayley Elenzweig: Arkansas Spring/Cardinal (Mt. Saint Mary Academy) 10th Grade: 1st Austin Reed: Free Will (Little Rock Christian Academy) 2nd Jocelyn Madrid: Cougar (Caddo Hills High School) 3rd Arden Ricks: Such a Little Busy Bee (Little Rock Christian Academy) HM Sarah Hutson: Peek-A-Boo (Little Rock Christian Academy) 11th Grade: 1st Ruthie Daniel: Aware (Little Rock Christian Academy) 2nd Grant Williams: Great Horned Owl (Little Rock Christian Academy) 3rd Hayes Riser: Ruddy (Little Rock Christian Academy) HM Brittany Greenwood: Arkansas Bird (Mt. Saint Mary Academy) 12th Grade: 1st Aly Norris: Hoot Hoot (Little Rock Christian Academy) 2nd Catherine Joo: Arkansas Heart (Southside High School) 3rd Carly Strange: Natural Blue (Nettleton High School) HM Audrey Rich: Hide & Seek (Little Rock Christian Academy)

10 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011

Collaboration of Sly Fox - Audrey Slunder

Eye of the Wildcat - Braeden Kennedy

Beehive Tree - Stephanie Littlefield Hoot Hoot - Aly Norris

“Canadian Geese”

by Jessica Miller, 2011 Essay Contest Winner

In the late winter to the early spring, you can sometimes catch an amazing sight. If you wake up early enough you can catch the beautiful geese elegantly swimming across the horizon of the water.

Geese are astonishing creatures to sit and watch and drink a hot cup of coffee. I may never know how lucky I am because I get to see these extraordinary creatures every year. Even though I live in Southwest Arkansas, I am still able to enjoy “Canadian” Geese. Sometimes in the cities you can’t even see what the people in the boondocks can, even though we are in Arkansas.

When you see them land on a still pond or lake the water’s ripples flow out around them like they have done that a thousand times.

Geese are so beautiful

The Gift of Nature - Victor Arguett

and amazing in their own little way. They always travel at least two in a group.

Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you will see a pack of geese in a bundled “V” flying across the sky.

There are several animals or birds in this world, but Canadian Geese are the most remarkable, especially in the backwoods.

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Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011 - 11

the Arts WINNERS Hungry Alligator - Isabella Smith

Free Will - Austin Reed Aware - Ruthie Daniel

Turtle - Sarah Hargiss Walking Sticks - Luke Vail Chipmunk - Isaiah Pruitt

Winter Mockingbird - Zachary Maier

Hungry Frog - London Farrar

12 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011

Lake Ouachita Vista Trail Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

YCWF Holds 47th Annual Quail Banquet

by Ethan Nahté

On the night of Saturday, March 26, the Yell County Wildlife Federation 47th annual Quail Banquet was held. There were over 175 members and guests in attendance with special guests U.S. Congressman 2nd District Tim Griffin, Arkansas State Senator District 4 Michael Lamoureux and Arkansas State Representative District 61 John Catlett.

A complete financial report by Gary Hodges was scheduled for the April 7 meeting. Jerry Crowe did the cooking. The meal started around 6:30pm, followed by the meeting at 7:00.

I was very happy with the attendance, and glad to see longtime members. I was also happy to meet and welcome our newest members.

I would also like to give special thanks to the following. Without their hard work this event would not have happened.

• Dana Edwards and the ladies at LOVES FLOWERS for decorations.

• Ron Cook, Wayne Shewmake, Larry Hillyard and Leon Lane, Sr. for cooking.

• Mary Lou Lane, Karen Shewmake, Virgina Young and Debbie Crowe for serving.

• Andy Thomas and McConnell for bar tending.

• Ed Vestal for auctioneer.

• Frank Wesley, Jerry Crowe, and Gary Hodges for working the front door.

• The Members for helping set up and clean up.

I am sure I missed someone, thanks to everyone.

After completing the trail building for 2011, the Traildogs had a ribbon-cutting ceremony April 15th at Crystal Springs, approximately 10 miles east of Mount Ida, for the newest addition of the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOVIT). Many Traildogs, members of the US Forest Service, Rick Stokes (Corps of Engineers), local businesses that have helped sponsor the trail, the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, members of hiking and nature groups attended the event on a beautiful spring day.

After various representatives of each group gave a short speech about the work, importance and beauty of the trail, Jerry Shields and other members of the Traildogs shared scissors with Gloria Chrismer, USFS District Ranger for the Caddo/Womble Ranger District to cut the ribbon and officially open the sixth leg of the trail. Once finished with the sixth and seventh legs, this will add another 13 miles to the existing 24 miles of the trail curving its way around the beauty of Lake Ouachita. The project is scheduled to be finished in another 4 or 5 years, depending on how difficult the next portion to be worked on in 2012 will be as the volunteers break ground over the top of Little Bear and Big Bear Mountains.

The ribbon-cutting was followed by many of the attendees going on a nice hike through the new section. A large variety of blooming flowers, trees, plants and streams made for some picturesque moments. The vista overlook of Lake Ouachita was also a gorgeous sight. An eagle was seen but was too quick to capture on film.

The April storms have also taken their toll on the trail, but not as badly as some areas of Arkansas have suffered. Jerry Shields said, “Last Saturday (April 30) two of us hiked the entire new section to

By James D. Manatt

LOVIT Ribbon Cutting by Ethan Nahté

assess it for storm damage. All in all we were pleasantly surprised to find only minor tree damage with seven trees downed on the trail. All were deadfalls, no live trees. The most damage was at the first Boulder fjord where the flash flood washed up a large gravel bar in front of the fjord causing the water hydraulics to erode the bank at both ends of the fjord. There was debris at both fjords but nothing dramatic.

“One interesting effect was we were concerned about weeds growing on the open part of the trail on top of the mountain where we encountered very good top soil during construction. After the storm the top soil had been washed from the trail down to the rock base thereby greatly lessening the likelihood of grass taking hold on the trail.

“It is our assessment that one day of maintenance will repair everything but the first fjord which the Corp will help us with when they free up men and machines from other tasks.”

You can find more information on LOVIT by visiting http:// lakeouachitavistatrail.org/. There are also plenty of photos of the trail work and the ceremony to be found at http://www.facebook. com/ArkansasWildlifeFederation/.

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Commission Creates Minimum Age for Harvest of Big Game

LITTLE ROCK – During last week’s meeting of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Commissioners approved a minimum age requirement to harvest and check big game such as deer, turkey, elk and bear. The minimum harvest age for the upcoming seasons is now six.

AGFC wildlife bureau chief David Goad said that many negative comments have been heard around the state concerning youth five and under harvesting big game. “It is possible for a larger frame five-year-old to meet this requirement and some youths may be eight or nine before they can do this,” Goad said. “I feel this will solve the problem and not discourage youth from hunting at the same time,” he added.

This code will serve as a guideline for all AGFC personnel to refer to when asked about youth hunting.

“It would leave no doubt to what a youth must be able to do in order to take big game,” he said.

Youth under the age of six can still go along with an adult and enjoy the experience of hunting, but they can’t harvest big game themselves until they reach the age of six.

The new regulation does not affect youth hunting small game such as squirrels.

Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011 - 13

Dardanelle’s Arbor Day / Earth Day celebration

By Wayne Shewmake

“In April, 1820, acting Arkansas Governor Robert Crittenden and Black Fox of the Cherokee Nation signed a treaty under an oak tree in Dardanelle, bringing peace between the white man and the Osage, Cherokee and Quapaw tribes,” said Wayne Shewmake, a member of the Dardanelle Tree Advisory Board.

The historic tree, now known as “The Council Oak,” still stands in the eponymous park on North Front Street in Dardanelle. It’s one of many notable trees in Dardanelle that prompted residents to apply for “Tree City USA” status through the National Arbor Day Foundation’s “Tree City USA” program.

Dardanelle has fulfilled its requirement for the designation with an Arbor Day celebration and is beginning its 3rd year recognized as “Tree City USA.” They have placed signs on locations coming into Dardanelle to acknowledge this designation.

“Dardanelle is all about trees,” said Mayor Carolyn McGee, who delivered a proclamation as part of the day’s activities.

Both the Dardanelle Tree Advisory Board and Arkansas Forestry Commission employee’s assisted Dardanelle Elementary School students in planting 2 oak trees in front of their school on April 22. Dardanelle High School Environmental and Spatial Technology Lab (EAST) students passed out trees to over 650 elementary students.

“We need to work on educating our children to understand the importance of trees and the part they play in everyone’s lives,” says

Shewmake. “Trees give us the clean air we breathe, they provide lumber to build homes, and they provide food and shelter for wildlife all very important to a healthy environment.

Did you know the oldest tree is over 7000 years old and is a California Redwood? An average size tree can produce enough oxygen in one year to support a family of 4 with could clean air.”

Dardanelle has one nationally recognized record tree and 6 state recognized record trees, more than any other city in Arkansas.

The “Tree City USA” program, “provides direction, technical assistance, public attention and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in towns and cities that more than 120 million Americans call home,” according to the National Arbor Day Foundation Web site (www.arborday.org). The benefits of being named a Tree City “include creating a framework for action, education, a positive public image and citizen pride.”

“To become a Tree City,” Shewmake said, “a city has to fulfill a set of requirements set by the National Arbor Foundation, which sponsors the Tree City USA program in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.”

The requirements for each city include a tree advisory board, a community tree ordinance and a community forestry program. Observing Arbor Day was the one requirement left to fulfill for Dardanelle to maintain its recognition as one of Tree City USA initiatives.

Ouachita National Forest Motorized Routes To Be Implemented May 9th Hot Springs, AR -- Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs) showing newly designated motorized vehicle routes on the Ouachita National Forest will be available to the public on May 9th. According to Ouachita National Forest Supervisor Norm Wagoner issuance of the maps will officially implement the Forest’s Travel Management Project.

“On May 9th, the maps will be posted on our forest website,” he said. “That will be the official start to implementation of the new route designations.”

He said the public can obtain a map of the area where they travel by visiting their closest Ouachita National Forest Ranger District office or by printing online maps. The online

maps will be configured to print sections that can be taped together resulting in a full size map.

The U.S. Forest Service issued the Travel Management Rule in 2005 which called for each of America’s 155 National Forests to designate a travel system for motorized vehicles, including Off Highway Vehicles (OHVs). The rule was established to limit harmful environmental impacts associated with unregulated OHV use on National Forest land.

For the Ouachita National Forest, the biggest change is that most cross-country travel on an OHV, either on user-created trails or through the open forest area, will be eliminated.

In addition to Mayor McGee’s proclamation at the elementary school’s event, members of the Dardanelle High School EAST lab lead Arbor Day activities at the elementary school, including discussions, coloring and giving each student a tree seedling to take home to plant.

These pine tree seedlings were donated by Arkansas Forestry Commission.

Terry Laughinghouse, the Elementary School principal, said, “…that the school children will name the trees that are planted to show ownership, and care for them.”

Over 650 elementary children came out to observe the planting of the trees in front of their school.

Sandy Williams, who has been the EAST

lab facilitator at Dardanelle High School for nine years, said, “Both observing Arbor Day and becoming a Tree City are important for Dardanelle.”

“Honestly, I just think that if our children can appreciate our Earth, and can appreciate our environment that extends from understanding Arbor Day, we have done something wonderful for them,” Williams said.

We would like to thank Arkansas Forestry Commission, Dardanelle Elementary School, EAST Lab, Dardanelle Tree Advisory Committee, Arkansas Wildlife Federation, and Mayor Carolyn McGee for their help with this program and its success in educating our children on Arbor Day / Earth Day.

“There are approximately 3,300 miles of roads and trails available for the public to use to travel throughout the forest,” said Wagoner. “We’ve worked hard with the public and our partners to provide a good, sustainable system, and I believe we’ve made a great start.”

Options for additional or different routes still exist. Each local Ranger District conducts a variety of environmental reviews and analyses as part of day-to-day business.

Some of these analyses will examine the feasibility and effects of adding or modifying route designations.

According to Wagoner, the public will continue to have an important role to play in future route designations. “I encourage people to continue to work with the district office where they enjoy riding to share suggestions for potential trails or volunteer their group to help the Forest develop and maintain new designated routes.”

In addition to route designations, game

retrieval corridors and seasonal routes are included on the maps. Game retrieval corridors allow large game hunters to use OHVs to retrieve legally downed whitetailed deer and bear within up to ½ mile on either side of some designated routes. About half of the forest is within the ½ mile game retrieval corridors.

Routes that will be seasonally opened during October, November and December, when the majority of big game hunts occur in Arkansas and Oklahoma, are also identified on the MVUM. Existing travel routes at the Wolf Pen Gap Trail Complex near Mena remain open.

Managers are continuing to work with the public and partners to identify a sustainable trail system for the popular OHV area. Forest Service officials will make a decision on routes at Wolf Pen Gap in 2012.

To find the location of the ranger district office nearest you visit www.fs.usda.gov/ ouachita/ .

14 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011

Conservationists Hedge Their Bets on State Elk Plan Reprinted from the Columbia Daily Tribune Sunday April 17, 2011

By Jodie Jackson, Jr.

FREMONT — Ryan Houf scans the vast, rugged landscape of Peck Ranch Conservation Area from the fire tower atop Stegall Mountain with eyes that seem to be connected to his heart. The Callaway County native has a familial fondness for Peck Ranch, spending time there with his father when Larry Houf was area manager of the 23,000-acre wilderness.

Now Ryan, 33, is manager of the area, a post he has held since 2008. He considers Peck Ranch “a quiet piece of heaven. It is the coolest place to work.”

The work has spurred a new level of enthusiasm since October, when the Missouri Conservation Commission officially made Peck Ranch the epicenter of a plan to reintroduce elk to Missouri.

“There,” Houf said, pointing to a patch of green about eight miles from the fire tower.

The spot ­— off-limits to the public — will be home to 34 Kentucky elk starting April 30.

“We have great habitat here,” Houf said. “I think it’s going to become a pretty popular destination spot.”

Peck Ranch was specifically selected as a reintroduction site because of the area’s relative isolation and rugged terrain, said Missouri Department of Conservation spokesman Joe Jerek.

“This is not next to suburbia,” Jerek said.

“This is pretty remote.”

The 346-square-mile restoration zone around Peck Ranch has only 33 miles of blacktop highway within the interior of the zone and fewer roads per square mile than elk areas in other states. All of the released elk will be fitted with radio telemetry collars and microchipped to monitor their movement and habitat use.

Houf’s father introduced fire as a forest management tool at Peck Ranch in the 1980s, slowly redeeming the sun-baked glades, shortleaf pine forests and savannahs to more closely resemble the 23,000-acre area’s appearance 150 years ago — about the time the last herd of wild elk was wiped out in Missouri.

The younger Houf, a 1996 graduate of Fulton High School, is rapidly learning a lot about the much larger cousin of the whitetailed deer.

“I’m not an expert” on elk, he said, laughing. “I’m going to become one, I’ve got a feeling.”

Calls are already coming in to the Peck Ranch headquarters and to the Department of Conservation office in nearby West Plains

from people asking whether the elk have arrived and the best times to see them.

“There’s a lot of public interest,” Houf said.

Some 310 people attended public forums about the elk plan that the Conservation Department hosted in Van Buren, Ellington and Eminence last year. Staff collected 137 comment cards, showing a 5-to-1 measure of support among attendees who filled out cards. During a statewide, threemonth comment period in the summer, the department received 2,704 comments, with 4-to-1 approval of the plan. A majority of residents who responded in Carter, Shannon and Reynolds counties were also supportive.

Not all of the interest in elk is positive. In rural Dent County, 30 miles northwest of the border of the Peck Ranch restoration zone, Bobby Simpson stands among his beef cattle, lamenting the Conservation Commission’s decision to bring back elk.

“If the elk stay at Peck Ranch, I don’t have any problem with that,” said Simpson, who spoke out against the restoration project at two hearings in Jefferson City and at the October meeting in Kirksville when the commission gave the project the green light.

He has hunted elk in New Mexico and refers to the animals as “magnificent,” the same term used by Gov. Jay Nixon in an official announcement of support for the plan.

“I love to hunt them, but I don’t want them in my fields,” Simpson said, eyeing the alfalfa sprouting in his hay fields. His hay crop is sometimes worth $150,000 — “pretty expensive to put in, fairly costly to maintain” — but growing the crop is less expensive than buying feed for his cattle, he said.

Alfalfa is a favorite of elk — so much that alfalfa hay was used to lure the 34 Kentucky elk into a corral to take them from the Appalachian Mountains to Missouri later this month.

But Houf said the elk won’t have to wander north because they’ll have what they need and want at Peck Ranch, which includes parts of Reynolds, Carter and Shannon counties.

“This will be good winter habitat,” he said.

Although elk in Western states are known to migrate as far as 100 miles in search of food, Missouri wildlife biologists are banking on the Kentucky elk to follow different patterns. Eastern elk tend to travel less distance because food is more abundant in the wild, they said.

Jim Smith is among several landowners residing just outside of the 346-squaremile restoration zone who are planting food plots, including alfalfa, as a buffer to keep elk from straying.

“Hey, you get good eats and good shelter, why wander?” asked Smith, an Eminence

trail ride and campground operator.

Opponents of the project have a laundry list of concerns. They worry elk will damage crops, fences and property. Some fear elk will cause car crashes in Missouri. Others are concerned the elk will spread diseases to cattle or deer.

Conservation Department officials tout the elk restoration plan as a way to boost local economies through tourism and hunting.

Carter, Reynolds and Shannon also happen to be among the the poorest counties in the state.

But Simpson, a former Dent County commissioner, said tourism should be secondary to protecting the interests of farmers and the rights of landowners.

“Tourism doesn’t produce food,” he said.

“You’ll starve to death on tourism.”

Conservation Department biologists prepared an elk reintroduction plan in 2000, but an outbreak of chronic wasting disease among wild elk in other states and white-tailed deer in Missouri brought that plan to a halt.

The Conservation Commission was prompted to take another look at elk restoration when biologists learned more about the disease, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation offered to help fund the project.

The Missouri Department of Agriculture and state veterinarians helped develop stringent animal health standards to prevent the importation of diseased elk. The elk coming from Kentucky have been tested for numerous diseases.

The restoration plan calls for a release of as many as 150 cow and bull elk in the next three years. Cost-share incentives are being offered for private landowners — such as Smith — who agree to manage their pastures for both improved livestock grazing and elk habitat.

The elk will arrive April 30. The arrival and unloading into a 3-acre holding pen in the heart of Peck Ranch will be videotaped and photographed by conservation officials for viewing on the department’s website, www.MissouriConservation.org. Immediate public viewing of the elk was deemed “not compatible with the animals’ welfare,” said Ron Dent, MDC’s elk project coordinator.

Staff will provide food and water — and around-the-clock security — and the elk will remain in the holding pen for about two weeks. Once the animals get health clearance from the state Agriculture Department, the pen will be opened, and the elk will be free to move into a 12,000-acre refuge area, where public viewing will be unrestricted.

The “soft release” — rather than simply opening a trailer and letting the elk run to freedom in their new home — is designed to protect the elk and should make it less likely the elk will travel far from the release site.

Catching a glimpse of the large animals could be challenging at first.

This is not a zoo-type environment,” Jerek

said. “It will take some time to figure out where they congregate and where good viewing locations are. As we learn more and the herd grows, viewing will get better and better.”

A team from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources captured a juvenile bull elk on Jan. 7. Eventually, 49 elk were captured, but 14 later died, mostly from pre-existing conditions such as pneumonia, Jerek said.

“They came in with some injuries,” he said. “We did have a couple of injuries once they were in the holding pen.”

The captures came on the heels of the Kentucky elk-hunting season, “so the elk were still pretty high-strung and skittish and stressed from hunting,” Jerek said.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, which is helping fund a portion of the $411,000 cost of the restoration project, paid for the $50,000, 3-acre holding pen built by the Conservation Department and Kentucky wildlife biologists in the Appalachian Mountains. Other conservation groups also are pitching in to help cover the costs.

The final tally of elk captured in Kentucky includes “spike” bulls, 21 adult cows, yearling bulls, yearling cows and some female calves.

And the population is expected to increase after the elk get settled at Peck Ranch. Some cows will be pregnant and are expected to be calving shortly after they arrive.

Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011 - 15 Simpson, the Dent County farmer, voiced a variety of concerns that have more to do with property rights, the power of the Conservation Commission and a general distrust of government agencies rather than elk.

“The commissioners and the people who done this aren’t going to be here 20 years from now,” Simpson said. “I’m not worried about next year. I’m concerned about when my grandson’s farming.”

Just like the group of seasoned farmers and retirees gathered at the “liar’s table” at Ruby’s Family Restaurant in Eminence, Simpson is bitter about government ownership of so much of the Ozarks. It’s no wonder the threecounty restoration area has such little tax base, he said. Only two counties in Missouri have a lower countywide assessed valuation than Carter County.

Eminence, the county seat of Shannon County, is an economically depressed town that longs for the tourists and river floaters who flock to the area in the summer. Despite the potential boost, residents there are skeptical.

“I don’t like the elk,” growled Junior Crider, a 72-year-old farmer who raises beef cattle on 800 acres adjacent to the restoration zone. “I don’t know anybody around here likes them.”

Another man, who declined to give his name, anticipates an influx of poachers and worries about the illegal practice of “deer dogging,” a hunting method common to southern Missouri that involves letting a pack of hounds loose to hunt white-tail deer.

Crider wasn’t exactly moved by the fact that nearly 30 percent of the trapped elk died before they got to Missouri. “Maybe the rest of them will die before they get here,” he said, others at the table nodding in agreement.

“I don’t necessarily want them, but I’m not dreadin’ them, either,” said Roger Dillard.

Crider cast a cold scowl at his friend, who quickly added: “Of course, I might have a different feeling if I had livestock.”

Smith, the nearby landowner planting food for the elk, insisted Simpson is “plum out in left field” about the project, but he knows what makes Ozarks farmers and landowners bent out of shape.

“A lot of these people don’t agree with the way they’re doing their timber management,” Smith said, not clarifying whether “they” refers to the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, the Conservation Department or all of the above. Those entities own threefourths of the land in the three-county area.

Smith said folks are also still raw about Missouri trading turkeys for Louisiana river otters in the 1980s, “which was one of the worst mistakes they’ve made.”

When otters were brought back after more than 100 years of absence from Missouri, the landscape had changed to include about half a million farm ponds. To river otters, those

ponds became all-you-can-eat buffets.

“They’ll clean the fish out of a pond, don’t think they won’t,” Smith said.

In a way, the Conservation Department is a victim of its own success. Its history of successful wildlife restoration programs, from white-tailed deer, turkey, ruffed grouse, Canada geese, otters and even plants and native grasses, is both a compliment and a curse, with many farmers and sportsmen in southern Missouri recalling the otter restoration program with varying degrees of anger.

And there are still folks in the Ozarks who swear the Conservation Department repopulated their rural landscape with rattlesnakes, black bears and mountain lions.

Perhaps the core of the deepest opposition to the elk plan is an intense mistrust of anything related to the government. Bringing elk back to an area where they haven’t been since the Civil War is an idea that’s puzzling to Denny Spurgeon, owner of Eminence Lumber Co. “If the Conservation’s responsible for them, then we’ll see,” he said. “So much of what the state and federal government is supposed to do doesn’t work out.”

One of Spurgeon’s customers alluded to rampant poaching in Shannon and Carter counties as a way of dealing with elk that wander away from the restoration zone.

In July — when the Conservation Commission was asking department biologists to revise the elk plan — the Conservation Department wrapped up a twoyear sting operation in northern Shannon County that led to dozens of arrests for the illegal harvest of hundreds of animals.

“There’ll be a bunch of them that won’t make it,” he said.

Eventually, Missouri’s elk herd will be managed with regulated hunting. Kentucky uses a combination of liberal hunting outside the elk zone and controlled hunting inside the zone.

The Missouri Farm Bureau and the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association mounted strong opposition to the elk plan, and

Simpson made his opinion known at every meeting he could attend.

“This was not a slam dunk situation,” said Conservation Commission member Chip McGeehan, a bison rancher in Marshfield.

McGeehan said commissioners “tried to play the ‘what if?’ game” to anticipate as many problems as possible. The plan addresses concerns about property damage, health of the elk herd, costs and vehicle-elk collisions, he said.

In the end, Peck Ranch was “an ideal place to put them,” McGeehan said.

Conservation Department biologists said elk behave differently than deer. When a buck deer goes into “rut” during the breeding season, it chases the doe, increasing the danger of deer-vehicle collisions. Bull elk, on the other hand, “call” a small group of cow elk, “so they’re not chasing cows across roads like deer are,” Jerek said. “We’re not looking at elk crossing roadways in Kansas City or Springfield.”

McGeehan said the limited scope of the restoration plan sometimes gets lost in the list of objections voiced by opponents.

“We’re not trying to cover 114 counties with elk,” he said.

Simpson’s not convinced the elk will stay put.

They say I’m not correct, and I hope I’m not,” he said. “We’re just saying if you’re going to bring this on us, then be responsible to us.”

Sen. Brian Munzlinger tried to pass a law that would make the Conservation Commission liable for elk damage.

Munzlinger, a Republican from Lewis County in northeast Missouri, found strong opposition during debate, and the bill died Monday.

Some of the bill’s strongest opposition came from Sen. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, whose district includes Reynolds and Carter counties.

“It is a case of Northern aggression again,” Engler said, defending the elk plan as a way to bring tourism to his economically depressed area.

Elk do not roam so far that someone

Missouri Department of Conservation - An elk is released after veterinary tests in Kentucky.

The Missouri Conservation Commission plans to release Kentucky elk at the end of April into Peck Ranch in Reynolds, Carter and Shannon counties.

from Munzlinger’s area should be worried, Engler said.

Houf is less committal.

Nobody can say exactly what they’re going to do,” he said. “I can’t say 100 percent there won’t be problems. But I know we have steps in place to address things.”

Besides having a professional interest in seeing a successful restoration project, Houf also has a strong personal interest because he lives in Van Buren among the farmers and other landowners.

“They say, ‘Show me, don’t tell me,’ ” when it comes to helping his neighbors deal with potential elk issues, Houf said.

“I’m the one they’re going to call. I want to make it successful because I’ve looked them in the eye and told them this is what we’re going to do.”

16 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011

AWF ANNUAL GOVENOR’S ACHIEVEMENTS AWARDS PROGRAM for 2011 The following awards are open for nomination:

HAROLD ALEXANDER CONSERVATION of the YEAR AWARD

The highest conservation achievement award presented by the Arkansas Wildlife Federation is given in memory of Harold Alexander - one of the foremost authorities and experts in Arkansas on conservation activities. ___________________________________________________

CONSERVATION COMMUNICATOR of the YEAR AWARD

Any environmental conservation organization understands the importance of publicity and media support to educate the general public about important issues regarding the environment. The Arkansas Wildlife Federation selects annually an individual or organization that has provided outstanding media news articles or programs that keep the general public informed of environmental issues and needs that impact The Natural State. ___________________________________________________

Dr. JOHN L. GRAY FORESTRY CONSERVATION of the YEAR AWARD

In June 2007, Arkansas lost a giant in the forestry field with the death of Dr. John L. Gray. Dr. Gray served on the Arkansas Wildlife Federation Board of Directors for many years and chaired the Forestry Committee. At the July 2007 AWF Board meeting, the Forestry of the Year Award was renamed in memory of Dr. Gray. ___________________________________________________

Water Conservationist of the Year Award

REX HANCOCK WILDLIFE CONSERVATION of the YEAR AWARD

Rex Hancock was one of Arkansas’s premier wildlife conservationists who worked tirelessly on behalf of wildlife and wildlife habitats in the White River and Grand Prairie region of Eastern Arkansas. The Arkansas Wildlife Federation has named this special award in memory of Dr. Rex Hancock for his outstanding contributions to wildlife conservation in Arkansas. ___________________________________________________

AWF PRESIDENT AWARD

The President’s Award is presented to an AWF volunteer or Board Member in recognition of their contribution, achievements or service to the Federation. It is intended to recognize those persons who have gone above and beyond the call of duty and contributed value to the Federation and its conservation mission. ___________________________________________________

Corporate Conservationist of the Year Award ___________________________________________________

Student Conservation Contest Award Recipients ___________________________________________________

Conservationist Organization of the Year Award

The following awards will also be presented at this years program, but nominations must be submitted through the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

Hunter Education Instructor of the Year Award

Boating Education Instructor of the Year Award

The following information is required to nominate an individual for the awards listed above. Please fill out the form in it’s entirity, and submit to the address below, along with a detailed description of why your nominee should receive their award, and any other necessary articles supporting your nominee.

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AWARD: ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

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ADDRESS: ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

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All nomination must be mailed to AWF by June 15, 2011 to be considered. AWF, 9108 Rodney Parham Rd. Suite 101, Little Rock, AR 72205, 501-224-9200

Please nominate someone you know, or pass this on to anyone you feel may nominate someone.

Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011 - 17

NWTF’s Feather Distribution Project For those turkey hunters who would like to donate turkey feathers to various Native American Tribes across the nation, you can do so by visiting http://www.nwtf.org/ conservation/zuni_feather_project. html/ and then preparing the feathers according to the guidelines.

Make sure the feathers have been plucked, are cleaned of flesh and blood and are in relatively good condition. Please don’t send bloody feathers.

If possible, please separate the longer wing and tail feathers.

Package feathers in a paper sack so air can reach them and put them in a box. Please don’t pack in plastic.

There is also a mailing address to which you can send any feathers you wish to donate.

Telephone: (501) 224-9200

Feather Distribution Illinois State Museum Attn: Dr. Jonathan Reyman 1011 East Ash Street Springfield, IL 62703

This is a very worthwhile program, and National Wild Turkey Federation would encourage all turkey hunters to participate.

Anyone who submits feathers will be entered into a drawing for a $250 NWTF prize pack.

The NWTF collects turkey feathers and gives them to Native American tribes across the nation for their religious ceremonies.

For more information, please contact Dr. Reyman at 217-7827475 or Jennifer Tapley at 803-6373106 or jtapley@nwtf.net

Crawdads, crawfish or crayfish are excellent bait LITTLE ROCK – Call ’em crawdads, crawfish or crayfish.

Even label them mudbugs. They’re excellent fishing bait and a cure many anglers have found for summer fishing doldrums.

Crawdad is the term of the Arkansas masses or the casual name for them.

Crawfish is a bit more formal but universally understood and is the term dictated for newspaper usage by the Associated Press Stylebook.

Crayfish is preferred by scientists.

And, no, the distinctions aren’t on a north-south basis like some other of our wildlife terms.

In Arkansas, crawfish are all around us, available for most anyone who will get out and hunt for them, work a little. Catch a few, and you’ve got the makings of a fishing outing that ought to be successful, if you otherwise are halfway competent in angling.

Bream, bass, catfish and trout all go for crawfish or parts of crawfish.

Probably, crappie will eat them too, although they’re not a normal crappie bait.

You’ll find crawfish for sale in bait shops across Arkansas, but this availability is spotty. A phone call or two could save some frustration.

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

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Some Arkansans have the opinion of small crawfish for fishing, larger ones for eating. The little ones can be used whole by slipping a hook under and through a section of the shell and tossing it into the water.

The crawfish will supply natural movement on the bottom of the water, drawing attention from fish.

If you can find a shallow stream with a rocky bed, you’ve got a likely spot for getting enough crawfish for fishing use. Turn rocks over and move quickly to grab them. Keep them wet and as cool as possible.

If you can locate a farm pond being drained, that’s a potential major crawfish supplier.

For bream and trout fishing, even bass fishing when the fish are finicky, try using just a peeled tail from a crawfish for bait, burying the point of the hook in it.

Fax: (501) 224-9214

“Your voice for hunting, fishing and conservation since 1936”

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18 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 2011

March/April 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.

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 Fred Berry, Yellville Robert Leasure, Bradford Charles W. Logan, M.D., Little Rock Lola Perritt, Little Rock Odies Wilson III, Little Rock Jimmie Wood, Dardanelle Gayne Schmidt, Augusta A.J. Gilbert, Little Rock Jimmy Witt, Dardanelle Bobby Hacker, Little Rock 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: Neal Galloway, Stuttgart District 7: Craig Mobley, Magnolia NWF Region: David Carruth, Clarendon NWF Special Projects: Ellen McNulty, Pine Bluff NWF Regional Representative: Geralyn Hoey, Austin, TX

Deadline Information:

President Emeritus and First Lady Emeritus: Bob and Rae Apple, Dardanelle

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.

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 - Cabot, AR Creative Ideas President: Sharon Hacker Little Rock, AR Greene County Wildlife Club 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 Wayne Shewmake, Dardanelle Youth Conservation Club of Mansfield High School Sponsors: Tracey Sadoski & Bryan McKay, Mansfield Youth Conservation Club of Lavaca High School Sponsor: Jimmy Reynolds, Lavaca Arkansas Wildlife Federation Staff Editor - Ethan Nahté Editor in Chief - Wayne Shewmake Contributing Writers – Wayne Shewmake, Ethan Nahté, Jim Wood, Karen Shewmake Contributing Photographers – Ethan Nahté, Karen Shewmake, Wayne Shewmake 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 • March/April 2011 - 19

Special Time with My Granddaughter

By Karen Shewmake

Springtime is a great time to go outside and enjoy the outdoors. This particular day my granddaughter, Kalea, and her dad, my son Dustin, came over to visit. The weather was just perfect for being outside - the sun was shining, the flowers were in bloom and the temperature was a moderate 75 degrees.

With the beautiful conditions being as they were, I decided to take full advantage of this opportunity to participate in some outdoor activities with the family. Kalea just loves being outside, especially when it has to do with all of the family joining in on some outdoor fun! With that in mind we decided to go down to our pond to do a little fishing.

I also brought my camera along to snap a few pictures of the gorgeous scenery.

Luckily, I was able to capture her big catch on camera and, as you can see, the size of the fish is not what matters. It’s the smile on her face that shows her true enjoyment and, to me, that is what matters most. We had a wonderful time watching her excitement as she reeled in her fish.

I decided to share this story for a specific reason. Kalea is four-years-old; at this time in her life what is important to her is being able to go outside. It doesn’t really make a difference whether she is throwing the ball, playing on the trampoline or fishing, as long as she is able to be outside enjoying the day.

At her age, like any four-year-old, she is very inquisitive and will soak up any and all knowledge given to her.

For example, the different kind of flowers, trees, birds and, of course, the different kind of fish and even the difference in the lures and baits used for fishing. To me what is so

Photo by Karen Shewmake

exciting about this is not only the opportunity to pass on information about nature; it also will instill an interest about the enjoyment of being active outdoors which will hopefully carry forward as she grows. As children grow there will be other interests which will become important in their lives.

I believe with all the advances in our technology, great as they are, they can also be a hindrance when some children, young adults, etc. would rather spend all their spare time on the computer, playing video games or texting, rather than spending time outside. My point being, spending time with young children outside will hopefully instill the value of appreciating the beauty and the enjoyment of just getting outside enjoying some activity. The good memories a child will have as he or she grows may become a positive influence in their lives, giving them more choices of entertainment other than staying indoors.

As the familiar quote states, “Get hooked on fishing, not on drugs,” you will be giving a child so many more choices in his or her lifetime.

Personally, as for me, I enjoy every time I spend outdoors with Kalea even if we are just looking for four leaf clovers, or just swinging on the swing, visiting with each other.

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.

74th Annual

Governor''s Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet AETN Host John Philpot-Master of Ceremonies

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Location: Center of Bryant, 6401 Boone Rd., Bryant, Arkansas Fishing derby for kids 12 & under starts at 8 AM - 10 AM (Free) Annual Board Meeting -10 AM- Center of Bryant Conference Room Public Day Program start at 11 AM - 4 PM - $2 charge Youth Programs - Vendors - Education demonstration at 5:30 PM for banquet Doors Doors open atopen 5:30 PM for banquet Dinner Served--6 PM at North end of building by stage Dinner Served--6 PM at North end of building Awards by stage AwardsProgram Program Silent Auction - Live Auction Silent Auction - Live Auction - Door Prizes- Door Prizes Tickets $35 Couple / $20 Single Tickets $35 Couple / $20 Single Contact A WF at 501-224-9200 Contact AWF at 501-224-9200 Wayne Shewmake 479-229-2298 Wayne Shewmake 479-229-2298

501.847.7275

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

Money Raised will be used for Education & Conservation Programs 100% of money raised stays in Arkansas Arkansas Wildlife Federation is a Nonprofit 501 c (3) Conservation Organization

20 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors • March/April 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