AHTD AFTER-HOURS
FOR THE Bryan Caldwell
BY DAV ID NIL L E S
B
RYAN CALDWELL CALLS HIMSELF A “CLARK COUNTY GUY.” RIGHTLY SO, HE’S SPENT MOST OF HIS LIFE WITHIN A HALF MILE OF WHERE HE CURRENTLY LIVES, WHICH IS ABOUT HALFWAY
BETWEEN GURDON AND OKALONA. It’s here that he has made his career with the AHTD. He started with the Department in
1987 and is now closing in on 30 years. He worked in Clark County on a Maintenance Crew in the early years, but has served as Permit Officer in District Seven since 2010.
It’s what Caldwell does after work that this story is about. He and his family have spent
the past several years making duck calls. Not just one or two duck calls, many more
than that. They own a family business called Arkie Mallard Calls that produces calls for hunters across North America.
“I grew up duck hunting in the Little Missouri and Ouachita River Bottoms,” Caldwell
recalls about his love for hunting. “I duck hunted a lot when I was younger, I love it. There aren’t as many ducks in this area as there are in eastern Arkansas and today most of the land is leased out. It’s hard to find a place to hunt now.” When it comes down to it, he
admits that turkey hunting is his real love today. But duck hunting is still a big part of his life, and Arkie Mallard Calls is why.
HOW IT ALL STARTED “Ron Davidson was my brother’s father-
in-law,” Caldwell shares. “He worked
in the timber industry for 35 years and when he got ready to retire, he started making duck calls. Like me, when not
working, he loves hunting. He also loves woodworking.”
The love for hunting and woodworking
led Davidson to start making duck calls as a hobby when he retired. He bought all the tools and equipment he needed to create some nice ones.
“People he knew wanted to buy some
of them,” Caldwell reflects. “Next thing you know, a lot of people were wanting to buy them.”
That’s when things got busy and
(continued on page 18)
ARKANSAS HIGHWAYS MAGAZINE | MAR./APR. 2017
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