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From The Publisher The Real Sportsman’s Outdoors magazine is committed to the Arkansas outdoorsmen. As we move forward we will be bringing Arkansas alive with our coverage of hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, biking, floating, boating, and everything outdoors. We will bring you, our reader, closer to the Arkansas outdoors. Our writers will cover Arkansas from corner to corner as we uncover the hidden treasures of Arkansas. We are dedicated to bringing you the best of the Arkansas outdoors. You will experience Arkansas through the pages of “The Real Sportsman’s Outdoors magazine. As the publisher, I promise that we will work hard to give you a magazine focused on Arkansas. My vision for “The Real Sportsman’s Outdoors magazine is to get you all the up to date information, bringing you exciting Arkansas adventures, and guiding you to the Arkansas outdoors. Go to our website www.rsomag.com or send us the form from this magazine and get your subscription started now. Help us keep the Arkansas outdoors alive. Please feel free to drop us a line and let us know how we are doing. We want to be your source for everything outdoors. Looking forward to hearing from you.
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P.O. Box 9118 Russellville, AR 72811 www.rsomag.com To advertise contact: 479-445-7222 or 479-970-5478 Subscription Questions Call: 479-445-7222 Publisher: George Farris Editor: Erin Pieper Advertising/Sales Bill Little, April Farris, George Farris Graphic / Layout / Production Carrie Clayton Web Design/Development Chris Riley Wayland Beavers Special Events Coordinator / Office Manager April Farris Contributors: John N. Felsher Josh Carroll Tim Shannon Dream Catchers Brad Wiegmann Josh Honeycutt Cobert Deary Keith “Bobcat” Williams The Real Sportsman’s Outdoors is an independent publication. Every precaution has been taken to avoid errors and omissions. However, we do apologize for any that may have been made. In the event of an error or omission for paid service, the liability shall be limited to the prorated abatement of the charge paid to the company. But in no event shall such liability exceed the amount payable to the company. No credit will be given for immaterial or unsubstantial errors.
George Farris, Publisher The Real Sportsman’s Outdoors A Division of WMP Marketing, Inc. P.O. Box 9118 Russellville, AR 72811
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CONTENTS FEATURES
6
Big Bucks On Tiny Sanctuaries
When it comes to chasing bucks on small tracks of land, there are a couple of key things you take into consideration. ...By Tim Shannon
24 Bow Challenge
Bow hunting is work from start to finish. ...By Chad Brock
42 What’s On The Table
Now that you’ve bagged your monster buck and got it processed, or caught your big bass or catfish, what are you gonna do with it.
10 Don’t Let One Wrong Step Ruin A Season
Before hunting from a tree stand, make sure everything works properly. ...By John N. Felsher
14 A. M. Calls
Turkey calls with “Petrified Wood” ...By Keith “Bobcat” Williams
46 Cool Nights, Hot Action!
Big Linesides rise to baits as the sun goes down. ...By John N. Felsher
Have a story idea or an artical to submit? Send to: george@wmpmarketing.com
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been times I‘ve had to walk upwards of a mile If there is one thing I have learned over the
and a half down river, up and over monstrous
years it is that scent control is a must in order
hills and through the knurliest blackberry
to connect on a mature buck especially on
patches I have ever seen just to get the wind
small tracks of land. It doesn’t take much
right to hunt a 2 acre C.R.P field. The best
stomping around with gasoline on your boots
carbon treated camo and fastest bow on the
and smelling like Polo Sport cologne to bump
planet is useless if they know you’re in an area
a mature buck out of his core area.
from the 300 yards, you might as
When you’re chasing an animal that
well have stayed at the house...
uses its nose to beat you, you had better take scent control seriously. When it comes to chasing bucks on small tracks of land there are a couple key things you need to take into consideration. It doesn’t matter how much scouting you do or how many pictures you get on your game camera if you don’t pay attention to the small details of the hunt; your success rate will decline significantly. We tend to forget that these bucks know their home range better than we do. Understanding that single detail is just one key to unlocking the door to taking the buck of a lifetime on these tiny sanctuaries.
Pushing a buck out of an area will likely mean not seeing that particular buck again and that is a bad thing when all you have is a few acres to hunt.
Playing
thermos
to
your
advantage will increase your chances of bagging a mature buck tenfold. It is important to know that wind is always moving; even when you can’t see it, hear it or feel it. Thermos will rise with
I am so cautions not only do I wash my clothes,
warming temperatures in the morning and
boots, towels and wash clothes in Scent-A-
fall during the cooling of the evening. Hunting
Way before taking a shower, I also spray down
high in the mornings will allow your scent to
the seats and floor boards of my truck before
stay above the buck’s nose and sitting on the
getting in. It doesn’t do me any good to walk to
ground or in a ground blind in the evening
my set-up if my scent beats me there. At times
will help keep your scent below.
spraying down alone isn’t enough; there have
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Mature bucks are notorious for going
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To maximize his hunting time, George leaned his ladder stand against a tree instead of securing it. He climbed into the stand and sat there about an hour looking over some bottomlands – until he shifted his weight! Later, he woke up on his back looking up at the trees and couldn’t feel his toes. Narrowly missing his head, the heavy ladder stand lay a couple feet away. His rifle stood upright with the barrel thrust into the soft ground like a war memorial missing the helmet. George never walked nor hunted again. A few extra minutes cost him dearly. “When people think of hunting accidents, they usually envision someone getting shot,” explained Jim Barta, co-owner of the Danville, Ala., based Hunter Safety System Corporation, (877-296-3528, www.hssvest.com), which sells a variety of harness systems and accessories. “Unfortunately, that occasionally happens, but hunters are far more likely to injure or kill themselves by falling out of trees.” Nothing ruins a good hunting trip–or–a life like a bad accident. An accident can strike even the most experienced and careful sportsman. Sometimes, straps deteriorate, a bolt breaks, comes loose or a key support snaps. “Before hunting from a tree stand, make sure everything works properly,” advised Karen Lutto of Hunter Outdoor Communications (www.hunteroc.com) who represents several sporting companies. “A loose bolt can not only ruin a good hunt, but ruin a life. Wear a full harness at all times in the stand. Safety is always a big issue in hunting.” Some sportsmen keep their deer stands in the forest all year long. Storms can weaken them. Animals may damage them. Frequently, sportsmen leave their portable stands in the elements for months. After the season, they drop the stand in the garage until a new season begins. Minimize the chance of an accident with a little preparation. Before hunting, inspect the equipment. Literally, check the nuts and bolts, plus the straps, frames and anything else that might break. Don’t compromise on safety. Fix or replace anything necessary to maintain safety and test the equipment. “Put up the tree stand two feet off the ground and sit in it,” Barta recommended. “Better to find out if it has any weak spots only two feet off the ground than 20 feet off the ground. Check all the straps for rot or damage. Check all the nuts and bolts to make sure they are all tight.” When buying a new stand, pick the right size. A 280-pound person may buy a tree www.rsomag.com
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Out of all of the sports participated in around the world, hunting is considered to be one of the most dangerous. Due to this, many safety precautions must be made to ensure your safety, as well as the safety of those around you. This cannot be emphasized enough, as your life and the lives of your companions must be protected when you are going hunting, whether it is coon hunting, deer hunting or simple fowl hunting. There are several categories of hunting safety you should keep in mind, which consist of the following:
Hunting Equipment
Having the proper weapon and discount hunting supplies to go hunting is the first consideration you must make when preparing for a trip. If you are planning to hunt deer, you need to make certain that you have a gun or bow appropriate for deer. A standard pistol, for example, is considered an inappropriate gun type for deer hunting, while a crossbow or rifle are considered the right gun for the job. Taking a moose hunting rifle deer hunting would be considered inappropriate, as these guns are too powerful. In addition to having the proper style of gun, you need to make certain you have everything you require to clean and field dress the animal you are hunting. This prevents unneeded trips back to your truck or other vehicle. You should also make certain you are wearing the proper clothing for the trip. This usually consists of the bright orange vests and hats, as well as other brightly colored clothing so other hunters can see you easily. While camouflage may help prevent the deer from seeing you, it also prevents other hunters from seeing you. This can result in your death, as other hunters may mistake you for a deer or another animal.
Gun Safety
When you are hunting with a gun, there are several things that you need to keep in mind. The safety on the weapon should be on at all times, unless you are preparing to fire at your quarry.
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A few years ago, a relative insisted that I take
of hours I have spent in the woods would be
home a couple of pieces of petrified wood. I
to great to measure. Oddly enough, the wild
did and one day started
working with it. I
turkey is the game animal that I have pursued
used it to cover the tops of coffee tables and
the least of all. My skill as a carpenter are the
later made knife handles out of it. Eventually,
reason why I am able to make my way into the
it made it’s way to the top of a friction call. I
call making business. I have discovered call
have been working ever since, trying to perfect
making requires all the skills I have. I will be
the sound that the petrified wood produces.
learning and perfecting things for years.
Fishing, hunting and trapping have been a part
When I started working on my calls, I didn’t
of my life since I was just a sprout. The amount
copy the work of any other. I spent several
A P P A R E L
Southern Drift is an apparel company based in Arkansas, that celebrates the southern way of life. It was started by a high school girl, Mikayla Scheide, who just started designing for a school project, and since then it has grown to be a company that our entire family can be a part of. In the South, we are proud of the things that come with our name. When we think of the word "southern," we think of tailgating with friends, Sunday night football, dressing out in our camo for a full day of hunting, and being surrounded with family. Southern Drift strives to express this through all of our products and to make each and every customer feel as if they are a part of this family. Family is another word that we take seriously. Southern Drift is a company that is completely operated by our small family in Arkansas. Because of this, we know how important it is to see a smile on your loved ones faces, and we hope that we can be a part of that. Southern Drift is working together, and working with our customers to the best of our ability to create the most comfortable, affordable, and satisfying apparel and gear, while representing the south in all the ways that we know how. Available @ Game Day Screen Printing, Russellville, Memory Lane Boutique, Clarksville, Hut 8 , Conway,
@mysoutherndrift
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laty coat glistens in the sunshine. She’s a bold one and not easy to frighten. She sways from side to side as the Yukon swirls around the bending roads through the mountains towards Long Pool. It’s a beautiful place amongst the trees, wildlife, streams, and gigantic rocks. The 479 is laced with milky green waterways of beauty. It is these wondrous creeks, rivers, and streams that really bring truth and meaning to the nickname “The Natural State.” And right here in Dover, Arkansas is Reecie’s favorite place to go. You haven’t really seen Arkansas until you’ve visited the Big Piney Creek, or slithered down the winding road like a snake through the mountains to the Mulberry River. These are navigable waterways that provide an opportunity for just about anyone to get out and have a good time. Naturally these bodies of water run crystal clear and on a sunny day the different shapes and colors of the pebbles at the bottom can be seen. Reecie wags her tail as the road begins to open up and the view of the rock incrusted bluffs and emerald green stream
comes into view. Approaching the Big Piney Creek at Long Pool Recreation Area the view of majestic milky green water is almost turquoise, and the bluffs provide a breathtaking backdrop of natural limestone and rock. Long Pool Recreation is her favorite launch point for a float trip to Twin Bridges. She has been at least 70 times on this float in her life. This 5-mile trek is one of the most perfect trips on the Big Piney (depending on the water level) you could take at any level of canoe experience. With rapids named the “Whirly Hole” and “The Jungle”, you can expect mostly smooth sailing with a little excitement and adventure in-between. Long Pool Recreation Area not only provides a starting point to a wonderful float, but areas to camp, picnic, swim, and hike. Conveniently located on the way down to Long Pool is a store named Moore Outdoors. They provide canoe, kayak, and raft rentals as well as all outdoor gear and shuttle services. There is also a new addition to the campground at Twin Bridges, which include hot showers and a new stage for entertainment. Reecie enjoys barking and squealing at the wildlife along the way. You can spot a squirrel scurrying from tree to tree, or you may get a glimpse of a deer as it grazes along the banks, and if you’re lucky you’ll spot a bald eagle swooping down gliding through the trees. Some say they have even seen bears. Many also flock down to the cool water for smallmouth bass fishing. Late spring and into the early part of
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the summer is generally best, but many fish the stream year-round. Reecie jumps into the canoe and begins each float with her chest up in the air, paws on the front canoe bench raised up and over the front of the boat. With her ears flapping in the wind, she acts as the figurehead at the bow of a ship. But when she floats from Helton’s Farm down to Long Pool, another route on the Big Piney Creek, she is inside the boat at all times. This float can be found on Long Pool road and is approximately 2.2 miles down on left on FR 1805. This national forest service road will take you all the way up to Helton’s Farm. A beautiful sight to see on the way down is an area known as Dover Lights, where a magnificent view from above the Big Piney Creek amongst the Ozark Mountains can be seen. This trek presents an opportunity for generally more experienced individuals, and an extended route to cover on the Big Piney Creek. Reecie has been floating with her expert first mate, who has enjoyed the 479 waterways for 25 years, where as she has only ventured this journey around 10 times. With big water levels, come big waterfalls along the sides of the route throughout the trip and it is a beautiful sight to see. With names like “1-2-3 Surprise”, “Surfing Rapid”, and “The Mother” these exciting rapids are sure to give you a float trip to remember. Right here in the heart of the Ozark Moun-
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