EXPERIENCE OUTDOOR LIFE IN THE NATURAL STATE
ARKANSAS WILD
FALL 2018 | ARKANSASWILD.COM
ARKANSASWILD.COM | 1
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FALL 2018 ARKANSASWILD.COM
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IT’S ALL OVER BUT THE FLYING Five Oaks Sets the Bar
26
GET THEM OUTSIDE
Children Benefit from Green Spaces
FIND YOURSELF IN THE LOST VALLEY A Good Walk Unspoiled
32
24 HOURS OF HORSESHOE HELL
Jasper Climbing Ranch Hosts Yearly Festival
38
BROTHERS IN ARMS Hunting with Heroes
DEPARTMENTS
10 OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS 12 KEEPING IT NATURAL 16 ARKANSAS MADE 20 EXPLORE ARKANSAS 46 ARKANSAS ORIGINAL 4 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
ON THE COVER: A climber embraces the challenges of 24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell. See story on page 32. Photo by Novo.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NOVO STUDIO
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JB Trading Co basecamp for Adventure
ARKANSAS WILD ARKANSASWILD.COM FOLLOW US FOR MORE WILD
KATHERINE DANIELS Publisher katherine@arktimes.com DWAIN HEBDA Editor dwain@arktimes.com
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MANDY KEENER Creative Director mandy@arktimes.com LACEY THACKER Contributing Editor lacey@arktimes.com LESA THOMAS Senior State Representative JENNIFER CORBITT Central Arkansas Representative STEPHANIE HENRY State Representative
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CONTRIBUTORS Boat & Gear Supply
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PHILIP THOMAS is the owner and
operator of Novo Studio, a photography, video and graphic design company located in northwest Arkansas.
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ALEX KENT is a born-and-raised Arkansan with a passion for the outdoors. He grew up hunting and fishing with his father and grandfathers and later in life began whitewater paddling and climbing. Alex is currently a commercial photographer, educator and speaker. alexkentphoto.com
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FROM THE EDITOR
I’m constantly amazed at the diversity that exists in Arkansas’ great outdoors. From piney woods to waving meadows, sparkling lakes to lofty peaks, ours is an embarrassment of natural riches. And just when you think you’ve seen and done it all, the breeze shifts, the light changes, and it’s as if you’re seeing everything for the first time. As summer’s heat and weekends on the lake begin to dissolve into laughing bonfires against the autumn chill, we find ourselves entering the prime of the Arkansas outdoors calendar. Before long, the woods and flooded timber will teem with both hunters and their quarry; duck and deer season are nearly here. If your shooting eye fits the camera better than the scope or sight, you’re also in luck as the Ozarks’ majestic colors are about to make their stunning debut. Pair that with one of the state’s fantastic state parks or just a picturesque drive and you have a weekend worth waiting all year for. In this edition of Arkansas Wild, you can find the roadmap to a new adventure or a familiar spot worth revisiting. We take you to the Lost Valley, Grand Prairie, Little Red and Mulberry rivers and back again. We hope it inspires the kind of connections that define life in the outdoors. Travel well, roam far and drop us a line when you get home.
Dwain Hebda Editor, Arkansas Wild
A.G. Russell III 1933-2018 Arkansas native, businessman and longtime knifemaker A.G. Russell III died Oct. 12 in Springdale from heart failure. He was 85. Often referred to as the grandfather and elder statesman of the knife industry, one of Russell’s favorite things to do was work with customers in the store most days and almost every Saturday, particularly young children. He was known to carry no less than six knives on his person at any given time. Born Oct. 27, 1933 in Eudora, Arkansas, Russell made his first knife at the age of nine with the help of 8 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
his grandfather. He spent decades improving his craft at the kitchen table and began A.G. Russell Knives in 1964. In 1971, he moved into a small building in Springdale, space he purchased and doubled just three years later. An 8,000-square-foot production facility and store followed in 1995, followed by the present Rogers headquarters that’s a familiar sight to travelers along Interstate 49. Russell was as innovative with his business model as he was with his knife designs. According to the company website, A.G. Russell Knives holds claim to the oldest mail-order knife business (1964), the oldest knife collectors club (1969-1970) and the oldest aftermarket knife business (1968). Major honors include as co-founder and honorary president of the Knifemakers Guild (1970), president of the Knife Collectors Club (1970) and a regent of the American Knife and Tool Institute. He was the inaugural honoree of the Knife Digest Cutlery Hall of Fame (1974) and a member of the Blade Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame (1988).
PHOTOGRAPHY: DREW HARRIS
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OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS
SUPA-FLY
Cooler temps and brilliant fall colors make autumn the ideal time to get into a stream. Here’s some gear to bring along, as recommended by Little Red Fly Fishing Guide Service
1
2 REMOVABLE SOLES ALLOW YOU TO ADJUST YOUR FOOTWEAR FOR THE CONDITIONS.
CHOOSE BREATHABLE WADERS FOR YEAR AROUND COMFORT.
3 4
6
5 10 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF VENDORS
DON’T FORGET THE SHADES!
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1. ROD Temple Fork (tforods.com)
A state-of-the-art public shooting range facility at the intersection of Loop Road and Graham Road in Jacksonville. This multi-use complex is the largest of its kind in the state. It includes a 14 trap fields, three skeet overlays, three lit fields, two pavilions, a lake, 3-D Archery Range and a 5,100 square foot Witt Stephens, Jr. Clubhouse that includes the First Security Learning Center. The Range is open to the public. Fall/Winter hours: 9am-5pm, Wednesday through Sunday.
Ross (jprossflyrods.com) and Sage (sageflyfish.com) are all solid choices for beginners and experienced fly fishers alike. Try a five-weight, 8.5 or 9-foot rod as a good all-around rod.
2. WADERS Breathable waders
provide more comfort for year-around use; neoprene gets mighty hot in the summer. Look for Simms models to provide comfort and reliability in all types of weather. simmsfishing.com
3. BOOTS For a sure foot and all
day comfort, choose Korkers. These boots are lightweight, durable and feature interchangeable soles to let you adjust to match the fishing conditions. korkers.com
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4. VEST No fishing ensemble is
complete with out a vest to help tote your gear and keep it handy. Umpqua’s Swiftwater ZS Tech Vest provides maximum capacity in a durable, minimalist design. umpqua.com
5. SUNGLASSES Sometimes a
forgotten item, polarized sunglasses can make a great deal of difference in the success and comfort of a trout fishing adventure. Choose Cocoons, designed to go directly over your prescription eyeglasses. The copper lens models fit all weather conditions, from bright sunlight to cloudy days. cocoonseyewear.com
6. REEL Make sure your reel can
handle the big ones that come along. The Orvis Battenkill Disk (orvis.com) reel is a good choice because of its durability, performance, mid-arbor design and price.
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KEEPING IT NATURAL A recently burned area will soon be home to new plant growth. Early successional habitats often have species diversity if managed properly.
FIRE IN ARKANSAS THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY BY BRANT PORTNER
12 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
PHOTO: BRANT PORTNER
F
ire can be a hot topic, to say the least. Humans have an innate and primitive interest in fire, yet it can also destroy things we love and care about, like our homes. Fire has the same two-faced status in a forest. Low-intensity, frequent fires in forests to cause little damage and actually increase the diversity in plants and habitat. But when an area is left to build up fuels for decades and suddenly a fire is started, devastating wildfires can often burn hundreds or thousands of acres and threaten property. So, is fire good or bad for a forest, and what does it do? Well, it depends on the details. Long before Americans inhabited Arkansas, Native Americans inhabited and hunted most of the area. Along with occasional lightning-ignited fires in the summer, Native Americans most likely regularly burned parts of the land because early successional habitat favored wildlife and plants that produced food. Early explorers to Arkansas noted upland landscapes dotted with large oaks and grasslands in between. Warren Prairie in Bradley and Drew Counties or Grand Prairie in Prairie, Lonoke and Monroe Counties, used to be much larger due to large disturbance regimes across the state, namely fire. So, how did we get to the point today where forests contain dense stands of trees and prairies are contained to these ruminants? If we look at more recent history, much of the United States entered a period of fire suppression over the last 100 years. After large, destructive wildfires took lives in the beginning of the 1900s, fears wildfires led to widespread efforts to limit and restrict fire on the landscape based on a fear of wildfires. The U.S. Forest Service’s Smokey the Bear was born as a mascot to lead this effort. As a result of the fire suppression of this era, forests began to change. Forests that had experienced fires for thousands of years now had none. Fuels, such as leaf litter and wood, began to build up and
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FREQUENT LOW-INTENSITY, FIRES IN FORESTS SEEM TO CAUSE LITTLE DAMAGE AND ACTUALLY INCREASE THE DIVERSITY IN PLANTS AND HABITAT.
Seen here are wildflowers in Warren Prairie Natural Area near Monticello, Arkansas.
oaks became less common as they were over taken by fire-intolerant species like red maple. Most areas became unsuitable habitat for the wildflowers and birds that once thrived there. Recently, many people across the country have been reevaluating the prevalence of fire and beginning to understand its benefits when used correctly. Fire is still a useful conservation tool, but it can also be a danger. Often the latter is what grabs headlines. Last year in Arkansas, the Arkansas Agriculture Department reported there were 1,566 wildfires that burned 27,549 acres, in the worst year since 2012. With the springs, summers, and falls becoming hotter and drier, the risk of wildfire is likely going to increase. These fires are not just large and destructive, but they can also often threaten nearby properties. But not all news is bad. These fires are often caused by arson or negligent burning of things like trash or leaves, so with careful preparation and prevention, many wildfires can be prevented. We can also fight fire with fire. The use of prescribed fire can limit the increase of hazardous fuels and decrease the density of trees and shrubs. Often large wildfires do not burn in areas that have been treated recently with 14 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
prescribed fire. There are more benefits of prescribed fire than fuel reduction alone. Bringing back fire to areas that had it for thousands of years increases plant and animal diversity. For example, at Warren Prairie there are unique species that can be found because the fire improves the habitat. Red-cockaded woodpeckers fly between the pine trees, and Henslow’s sparrows dart from grasslands to nearby shrubs. Beautiful wildflowers bloom year round. These sights are the result of frequent controlled burns. Fire suppression may have increased the danger of wildfires, is a today we better understand this. Today in Arkansas, many agencies and organizations use prescribed fire as a management tool. Groups such as The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Forest Service, Arkansas State Parks and Forestry Commission & Natural Heritage Commission and private timber companies all burn land for various management objectives including benefiting habitat and reducing fuel hazards. So, if you’re ever out on a hike or visiting a park or natural area, check out an area that was prescribe burned a few months ago or even a year ago. You’ll see some unique things and witness nature’s resiliency.
TURN UP YOUR WEEKEND 18 Horseshoe Canyon- Fall 20 YOUR NEXT WEEKEND ADVENTURE IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING NEAR YOU AT ARKANSAS.COM.
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ARKANSAS MADE Lesha Shaver lines up a Fillion to be stamped with the Little Mountain Bindery logo.
BOOKBINDING & JOURNAL MAKING LITTLE MOUNTAIN BINDERY IN FAYETTEVILLE BY LACEY THACKER
16 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
PHOTOGRAPHY: NOVO STUDIO
L
esha Shaver grew up in Benton, Arkansas, and says, “I’ve been journaling since high school.” It’s no surprise, then, that her interests led her to earn an MFA in creative writing from Purdue University in Indiana. After completing her MFA, Lesha moved multiple times before resettling in her home state, this time in Fayetteville. While living in a camper in Biloxi for three months—an adventurous way for Lesha and her husband to live while he completed his externship in optometry— Lesha finished learning to sew a codex, a complex type of bookbinding. When life events conspired to have the couple move to Albuquerque, New Mexico, Lesha took on a one-year apprenticeship in bookbinding with Mita Saldana of Against the Grain Center for Bookbinding Arts. When the Shaver family moved to Fayetteville, it didn’t take long for Little Mountain Bindery to be born. The private studio started in 2005 as a full-service, traditional hand bookbindery. For that reason, “most of the equipment falls into traditional bookbinding.” Customers send in bibles, rare books, children’s books and genealogies for repair, and Lesha also makes custom display boxes and portfolios to show off nearly anything a customer can imagine. While about 50 percent of Lesha’s time used to be spent teaching, now that Lesha’s kids are eleven and nearly fourteen, she finds herself teaching a bit less and making a bit more. About five years ago, Lesha began making what has become her signature product—the Fillion. The Fillion is made from beautiful
You wear the vest. So wear the belt.
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A R K A N S A S S TAT E P O L I C E H I G H WAY S A F E T Y O F F I C E
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Clockwise from far left: Lesha prepares a Fillion to hold up to 10 notebooks. This antique cabinet holds the multiple sizes and fonts of letters used to stamp Fillions. Lesha prepares to paint the edges of a Fillion. Each Fillion can be customized with the customer’s preference of leather color, cord color, size, charms and names or words stamped into the leather.
“BECAUSE OF MY BACKGROUND IN WRITING, I CAN GET BEHIND A PRODUCT THAT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO WRITE THINGS DOWN.” —LESHA SHAVER
18 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
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high-quality leather that is sourced from some of the oldest tanneries in the United States. It is also a workhorse, allowing a person to carry multiple notebooks for different subjects or purposes, as well as a planner, and still have lots of room for doodling and dreaming. The Fillion comes in three standard sizes and can also be custom cut to a customer’s specifications. Lesha says she always has multiple notebooks going so she can divide them by subject, and she often has one going for “junk” writing. “I take the junk ones camping and use them for kindling,” she explains. Like many Arkansans, one of Lesha’s favorite places to camp is the Buffalo River. In fact, Lesha will be sending out postcards of the Buffalo River as part of an upcoming marketing campaign. To make the Fillion, Lesha first cuts the leather to size. She laughs and says, “I’m kind of a control freak. I look at each piece of leather and kind of envision how the Fillion will look.” Thus, while employees may work on a Fillion’s construction, it’s Lesha who cuts each piece of leather. From there, the corners are rounded off and the edges of the leather painted. Holes are then drilled into the leather to hold the cording. Finally, they are branded and shelved, ready to be shipped. Each Fillion can also be stamped with a name or other word, per the customer’s order. It’s evident what pride Lesha takes in her art, and in the use her customers make of her product. “Everyone from business persons to archaeologists to salmon fishermen in Alaska to moms use Fillions,” she explains. And she’s always happy to hear from customers about how they’ve integrated a Fillion into their lives. For more information, visit littlemountainbindery.com.
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EXPLORE ARKANSAS
RIDE THE SPA CITY NEW NORTHWOODS TRAIL THE LATEST CYCLING ATTRACTION FOR CENTRAL ARKANSAS
PHOTOGRAPHY: VISIT HOT SPRINGS/BRIAN CHILSON
BY DWAIN HEBDA
Randy Spangler gets some work in on the new Northwoods Trails mountain biking route in Hot Springs. Northwoods connects to Cedar Glades Park trail to create 24 miles of riding.
A
s the center for gaming and horse racing in Arkansas, Hot Springs has always had a way of picking a winner. The opening of the new Northwoods Trails show the Spa City is betting big on mountain biking as the city’s latest amenity for locals and visitors alike. The new 14-mile, $1.5 million multi-use stretch offers trails for all levels, green, blue and black, with one of the black trails designed by pro rider Randy Spangler. Located just north of the city, Northwoods connects to the existing Cedar Glades Park trail, to create a continuous 24 miles of mountain biking. The trail will officially be christened with a weekend celebration Nov. 16-18, with a public ribbon cutting, group ride, beer, food trucks and live music. The event coincides with the Hot Springs Running Festival set for downtown on Saturday and Attila the Hun bike race at the Cedar Glades on Sunday. Bill Sollender, director of marketing for Visit Hot Springs, said the project took a year of planning and 20 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
construction as part of an even bigger vision for raising the city’s profile for cycling enthusiasts. “This stems from the momentum in Northwest Arkansas and the mountain biking that’s taking off up there,” Sollender said. “I visited the International Mountain Biking Association world summit a couple years ago. It got our juices flowing as to how much economic impact we could possibly see here in Hot Springs. That was exciting.” “We had some property that was going unused. It was beautiful. On top of that you have the Walton family very much involved and willing to put into the industry. All those things happening at once, and Hot Springs wanted to jump on board.” Sollender said Northwoods has particular potential to be transformative for the city. Given its proximity to downtown, it could provide unparalleled access to the everyday resident and firmly position cycling in the public consciousness in a way few Arkansas cities can match. “Literally from downtown, I can drive to the Waterworks
LOCATION: About an hour southwest of Little Rock. Superior Bathhouse and Brewery is just one of the many attractions Hot Springs has to offer.
Trailhead in three minutes,” he said. “Looking ahead to the future, if you head north on Park Avenue which is just right there north of downtown, there’s a street called Pullman and down at the end of Pullman that just deadends at the National Park and connects to Sunset Trail.” “We’re working right now with the superintendent of Hot Springs National Park to gain access from Pullman, cut about a little over half a mile through the national park and then go directly into the Northwoods.” “What’s exciting about that is that it’s all flat. Literally, the hope is we’ll have riders coming in from Oklahoma and Dallas and northwest Arkansas, they can come downtown, they can get a hotel room, they can take their bike off their car. They literally can bike up Highway 7 five minutes to Pullman and then just down the road. Even a beginner can do it and be on the trails in the Northwoods. That is what’s really, really exciting. The chances of accessibility from downtown to Hot Springs are huge for us.”
springs, this national park is the nation’s oldest, predating Yellowstone by 40 years. Check out the Gulpha Gorge Recreation Area and campground for scenic drives, hot water cascades and thermal-feature tours in the summertime (hot. springs.national-park.com).
GPS: Hub H at the top of Lucky 13 34.53581, -93.07185 Water Treatment Facility Parking Lot 34.53811, -93.06182 For more information visit hotsprings.org, 501-321-2277.
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
Hot Springs is experiencing a rebirth in its historic main drag, bringing new energy to one of the most unique streets in Arkansas. Grab a brew at Superior Bathhouse and Brewery (superiorbathhouse. com), the first brewery to be located inside a national park. Visit DeLuca’s (delucashotsprings.com) for what’s consistently ranked the best pizza in Arkansas and among the best in the nation.
Do something good for yourself
RARITIES AND ODDITIES
Hot Springs specializes in the unexpected. Take in the Gangster Museum of America (tgmoa.com) to learn of the city’s wild past as a playground for the mob, then party like Capone at the Ohio Club (theohioclub.com). Learn HOT SPRINGS about the era when pro baseball NATIONAL PARK legends held spring training here Congress established Hot Springs (hotspringsbaseballtrail.com). Reservation in 1832 to protect the You can even find alligators at the natural springs flowing from the Arkansas Alligator Farm and Petting southwestern slope of Hot Springs PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIOZoo (alligatorfarmzoo.com) because Mountain. Known forBY its NOVO 47 thermal why not?
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PHOTOS: RICHARD LEDBETTER
A male mallard, commonly seen in Arkansas, comes in for a landing.
IT’S ALL OVER BUT THE FLYING FIVE OAKS SETS THE BAR FOR WATERFOWL HABITAT MANAGEMENT BY RICHARD LEDBETTER
A
nyone who knows will tell you, there’s no better flooded-timber duck hunting than at George Dunklin’s Five Oaks Lodge on Arkansas Hwy. 152 near Humphrey. That fact isn’t some accident of nature, but rather by design, with decades of scientific waterfowl research and keen observation at its core. Five Oaks Assistant Wildlife Biologist Reece Butler took us on a February camera hunt to help delay the lingering effects of post-duck season depression. While standing under a grove of red oak, with mallards fluttering down on all sides, he shared his annual routine and the philosophies that drive their consistent success. First on the list is the abundance of natural duck forage floating on the shin-deep waters around us. Butler said, “After duck season, the first thing on my to-do list is drain the water off the timber and fields. Our chief biologist Jody Pagan says, ‘we want standing water off tree roots by the time spring buds are the size of a mouse’s ear.’” He explained how, even with the soil still saturated, tree roots are exposed to the air so they take up oxygen. This keeps damage to live-standing, greentimber to a minimum and allows new growth to proceed on schedule. “A slow draw down is key because then we keep the nutrients and seed stock in place as opposed to the beneficial elements leaving with rapidly receding waters. “We don’t trade ducks here, we hold ducks.” He means that they aren’t at the mercy of ducks moving from food source to food source, or to hoping they’ll respond to decoys and calls to land as they travel from one person’s property to another. Five Oaks works hard to provide enough variety of forage that birds never need to fly 22 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
beyond their borders for necessary daily fuel. “The biggest contributing factor to holding ducks is carrying capacity. It’s not as much about how many acres of land you have, as quality of habitat. We have a mixture of food plots that include native forage like acorns and grasses in the woods with various ‘hot’ food fields like soybeans, rice and corn surrounding it. Our farming plan is to plant and leave food enough to meet the ‘duck energy day’ requirements of the wildfowl we’re trying to keep here.” Another of Pagan’s simple yet revolutionary ideas are the “loafing mounds.” The small areas of built-up ground above the waterline in flooded fields give ducks a convenient place to climb up and rest. Pagan says, “If ducks are expending more energy than they’re taking in, they won’t stay around. They’ll go somewhere else.” The mounds provide safe sanctuary surrounded by water for birds to preen and take a break from the effort of swimming. Butler said, “Mallards can eat their own body weight in a day.” Grinning, he added, “But that’s not to say they can fly afterward.” That’s one more way the loafing mounds prove their worth. As we enjoyed photographing mallards coming and going from the timber hole, Butler spoke about his chosen occupation. Hailing from near Huntsville, Alabama, he‘s a graduate of Mississippi State University with a degree in wildlife management and a concentration on agriculture. “Besides draining impoundments following the hunt, I spend a lot of time trapping beaver. They’re the biggest enemy to good timber health. “Come early March, we spend time building water control boxes. We always have to fix, replace or install new control boxes.” Being a certified welder proves mighty
Top to bottom: Five Oaks Lodge Assistant Wildlife Biologist Reece Butler works yearround preparing the grounds and waters for the annual waterfowl arrival. "We don’t just attract ducks, we hold them." A mallard takes flight from the water.
handy around a farming operation. They sell not only the numerous control boxes used on the property, but also devices to other hunters and farmers. “In mid-March I start prepping ground to plant food plots. That involves a lot of grunt work. If I’m not on the tractor plowing or planting, I’m spraying. Next comes irrigation season until the crops are pretty much finished. By midAugust, we’re trying to get all the millet in. Then it’s building catwalks or moving and brushing up duck blinds. “Next I bush-hog the woods or I’m on the Bobcat cleaning out duck holes twelve hours a day. With mid-October its time to start pumping up the fields. By the second week of November, we have a few woods holes flooded ready for clients. We bring up the flooding in stages so ducks don’t have access to eat out the forage all at once.” During the 60-day season Butler becomes a full-time hunting guide, He said, “Its nice to get paid to do something I used to blow all my money on. Of course, I enjoy going out with just my dog and getting my quick six, but guiding has a lot of enjoyable moments as well. There are certain givens when it comes to hunting. One is you’re not going to kill them sitting on the couch.” “We run big groups through but we have enough guides that nobody has more than three or four clients each. And the faster we get them the better. You’ve got to build a place right but you’ve got to hunt it right too. We’re in and out of the woods and fields by 9:00 a.m. to keep from shooting the ducks out of the area.” “Happy clients are always my main focus but it’s still hunting,” said Butler, “and there are never any guarantees. If they’re coming they’re coming and if they ain’t they ain’t. You can have all the gadgets and gizmos you want but there’s still nothing like being on the ‘X.’ When they’re coming, let them come. When ducks get ‘mean,’ and won’t work right, I’ll try something different as circumstance arise. I have different philosophies about what to do on certain days. It’s largely weather based. You have to be willing to experiment. Late-season ducks are paired off and start landing in denser areas. Even if they light in the hole, they’ll still swim into the brush to have their privacy.” “You’re only going to get a limited number of opportunities so you try to kill them outright instead of educating them with a lot of missed shots.” Besides premiere timber hunting, Five Oaks also hosts excellent field hunts. Butler said, “I enjoy the fields too. But it better be as nasty as can be with a low overcast. In the woods, we prefer a clear blue sky with a whipping wind. You have more room for error under those conditions. “When I started guiding I was so hard on myself but soon figured out every day can’t be a full-limit day. Now I find more joy in the little things about hunting than the killing.” Butler concluded saying, “It’s hard work all year long but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
“THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO HOLDING DUCKS IS CARRYING CAPACITY. IT’S NOT AS MUCH ABOUT HOW MANY ACRES OF LAND YOU HAVE, AS QUALITY OF HABITAT.” —REECE BUTLER
ARKANSASWILD.COM | 23
With its glittering rivers, lakes and breathtaking forest trails, Southwest Arkansas shines with outdoor activities guaranteed to deliver fun and relaxation. Enjoy year-round fishing, camping, hiking or bird watching and visit the many historic treasures that make up the great Southwest. Fish the submerged timber, marshes and oxbow cutoffs of Millwood Lake and Millwood State Park for an outstanding outdoor experience. Known for trophy fishing contests, the 29,260-acre lake abounds in largemouth bass, catfish and crappie. Birding is also popular at this Audubon-designated Important Bird Area with sightings of over 300 of the state’s 400 species on record. The camping is relaxed and quiet with nearby picnic sites and a self-guided walking trail and bicycle trail. The modern marina offers everything the boater needs including gift items, groceries, bait and gas. Don’t have a boat? Rent one from an inventory of fishing boats, canoes, kayaks and more.
Not to be outdone, Cossatot River State Park delivers 12 scenic miles along the Cossatot River which also forms Cossatot Falls. This rocky canyon boats Class IV rapids for experienced kayakers and canoeists when the water is up. In between your heart-pounding adventure, take a hike along four scenic trails spanning nearly 20 miles of Brushy Creek Recreation Area or just relax by the fire pit at the area’s campsites. The area’s communities are every bit as appealing as the wild countryside, full of friendly people and interesting attractions for the whole family. See Ashdown’s county courthouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places or the Two Rivers Museum, a favorite tourist site sponsored by the Little River County Historical Society. Tour the Sevier County Historical Museum in DeQueen or picnic in its scenic city park. Whatever your spirit of adventure desires, you can find it in Southwest Arkansas’ breathtaking surroundings. See you soon!
Southern Sportsmen Foundation The foundation organizes hunts for disabled adults and youth alike. Each hunt is guided by skilled outdoorsmen who donate their time and expertise to make sure every outing is a success. SSF organizes two guided, three-day deer hunts every year with an average of six hunters on each excursion. Keeping the guide/hunter ratio low makes for a great time of camaraderie and fellowship. As a result, guides and hunters form lifelong friendships.
PHOTOS: MONICA WOODS
AN ARKANSAS EXPERIENCE, SPONSORED BY
Children at the Lake Nixon Outdoor Preschool play in puddles and participate in the more usual preschool activity of finger-painting.
GET THEM OUTSIDE! CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM GREEN SPACES BY AUSTIN ORR
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here has been an increasing awareness that kids aren’t playing outside as much as they used to, and according to some, it’s time to start changing that. Urban population growth and a paradigm shift in how we interact with technology has edged kids away from the out of doors and more towards the couch. In an effort to help support parents who want to see their kids experience more time in a safe outdoors environment, several education initiatives have begun gathering strength. Bringing nature into the classroom is the first and, by far the most common, of these. This approach has obvious benefits - when the kids are examining natural objects like feathers or shells, the teacher is able to regulate a larger group of kids and make sure things are going to plan. A sudden thunderstorm doesn’t dampen spirits, and the kids may have a chance to hold or touch, with supervision, live creatures they may not otherwise, such as snakes or lizards. Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is a vibrant example of a bring-the-outdoors-inside strategy. TIC started in 1997 in New York with the goal of educating school kids about the importance of clean water and habitat for trout and other species in the local watersheds. According to their website, ”...the immediate goal of Trout in the Classroom is to increase student knowledge of water quality and coldwater conservation, its long-term goal is to reconnect an increasingly urbanized population of youth to the system of streams, rivers and watersheds that sustain them.” Trout Unlimited (TU) is the primary sponsor of the 26 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
TIC program, and many local TU chapters also have a Trout in the Classroom program that they coordinate with area schools. The White River Chapter of TU, located in Mountain Home, is involved with many different classrooms across the Northwest corner of the state. By partnering with the Norfork National Fish Hatchery, TIC is able to provide teachers access to expensive equipment (trout eggs, 55 gallon tank, water chilling unit, filters, etc) and expertise that would be quite difficult to obtain otherwise. Teachers are able to then take these resources and create a series of learning opportunities: investigating the economic impact of sportfishing in the region, water chemistry, biology, ethics and history, for starters. In this way, the teachers have a broad palatte to draw from and a way to interest and involve kids directly in the outdoors without ever leaving the classroom. Another view is that kids should go and learn with the great outdoors as their classroom. This concept has borrowed heavily from “forest kindergarten” schools that originated in Germany. These schools hold class outside in a forest environment, no matter the weather. Toys and activities are fashioned directly from objects and experiences found during their walks in the woods. This allows for the kids to have a hands-on experience and to direct the pace of learning for each day. The bad news for parents is that finding people with the prerequisite set of skills - a limitless well of patience, the keen eye of a naturalist, and the creative mind of an artist
—isn’t easy. The good news is that these people are out there, and they are tremendously passionate about what they do. Take Monica Woods for example. Woods had an early career as a backcountry rock climbing guide. Switching from looking after adults in the wilderness to kids in a classroom, Woods taught at a public school for several years before looking around for something else. Now she serves the Lake Nixon Outdoor Preschool, located just outside downtown Little Rock, as Program Developer and lead educator, helping guide both kids and parents through the process. Outdoor preschools usually operate rain or shine, and the parents are understandably concerned about the weather. The kids take to it extremely well, Woods says, even in inclement conditions. Obviously having the right clothing is essential, so she works with parents to recommend or find the appropriate gear. It’s really important, Woods says, for the parents to learn that kids can detect and remedy their own discomfort. Woods says that she’s been amazed by how happy the kids are while they’re outside. They’re playing, sure, but they’re also learning critical skills. Interacting with each
other, experiencing group discussion and dynamics, monitoring their own comfort level, and acquiring new vocabulary along with other academic lessons that Woods and her team make sure to get in every day. She’s quick to point out that while classrooms have their place, so does experiential learning. “Give it a try. If your kid isn’t extraordinarily joyful at the end of the day, we can try something different,” Woods suggests. These competing paradigms - top down, highly structured versus bottom up, self-directed learning - can sometimes provoke strong opinions from parents. This makes sense; after all, we live in a society driven by educational success as a stair-step towards career success. Not only that, it’s an opportunity for young people to experience learning in a different way that might open up new doors and a new path in life. A path lined with trees, and a greater understanding of how clean water affects us all. The good news is that no matter which education style you prefer, there are programs out there designed to help. The other good news is that most of these programs have a need for volunteers or sponsors to assist with their mission, which is an opportunity for you or passionate people you know to step in and help make a difference.
Nurturing DREAMS FOR LOCAL FAMILIES. A bright future is built on financial resources that fit your life – like budgeting tools to track and manage spending. Start small. Save big. What’s your better? Get there with us.
Member FDIC
ARKANSASWILD.COM | 27
28 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
Find Yourself in the Lost Valley A GOOD WALK UNSPOILED STORY AND PHOTOS BY ALEX KENT
With sufficient rain Eden Falls provides a spectacular sight. Facing page: Anytime of year makes for a great adventure at Lost Valley Trail.
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housands of miles of trails and waterways stretched across Arkansas beckon us to explore. There are so many spectacular places, in fact, that choosing your next outdoor adventure can be a challenge. People from across the globe are drawn to the Buffalo National River system, which encompasses over 95,000 acres surrounding the Buffalo River. When visiting this park with so much to offer, if you want the best “bang for your step” day hike, the Lost Valley Trail should be placed high on your list. Despite the fact the trail only spans 2.2 miles round trip, there is a great deal to offer nearly any type of explorer. A mixed hardwood forest with a wide variety of flora that changes throughout seasons will entice the
botany enthusiasts. There’s an Ozark mountain stream, a grotto and multiple waterfall opportunities (when there’s been sufficient rain) for water lovers. Giant boulders, overhanging bluffs and caves await geology fans. You may even get a watchable wildlife opportunity if you’re light in your step. All in all, the Lost Valley Trail is a nature lover’s paradise. Starting at the back of the parking lot, a casual flat trail meanders along Clark Creek. During the right seasons, you’ll pass by hundreds of wildflowers while paralleling the creek. Eventually you’ll come to a Y— hang a right to encounter a spectacular grotto with a large pool at its base. This is a great place to rest and take in the scenery. Continuing right along the trail, ARKANSASWILD.COM | 29
A flashlight and a little nerve leads explorers to a stunning 30-foot indoor waterfall.
30 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
the valley develops a “prehistoric” feel with moss-covered toppled boulders, steep canyon walls and eventually a giant overhanging bluff, named Cob Cave. At this point you are close to a trail highlight, the base of Eden Falls, a multi-drop waterfall with the lower drop falling over 50 feet. Follow the trail up the hill to work your way to a bird’s eye view of the falls. This part of the trail is very steep, but it’s short and worth the effort to experience the view and another big highlight, Eden Falls Cave. If you can handle tight places and remember your flashlight, enter the cave and follow along the right side for a narrow but vertical passage that leads to an open cavern with another 30-foot-tall waterfall inside. Want a little more adventure? Stay left of the walking passage and belly crawl your way into the same cavern via a more horizontal opening roughly 2 feet tall. Either way, once you make your way back to the room, turn off your light, take a breath and enjoy the echoing sounds of the falling water. A few considerations while preparing for this trip: Lost Valley is day use only, meaning camping is not allowed. No need to fret; there are many great places nearby. Steel Creek is perfect for car camping, or consider backpacking along the Buffalo River Trail for a more rugged experience. If you want something a little more comfortable you can find many private and commercial cabins for rent. Book in advance. If you prefer more solitude, avoid peak times such as the weekends and certain holidays. Do your best to hike early in the morning for a better shot at seeing wildlife and avoiding crowds. If you’re “hunting” waterfalls for photography try to go on an overcast day after there’s been plenty of rain. And even though the Lost Valley Trail could be completed in only two hours, give yourself plenty of time to discover the wonders of this special place.
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ARKANSASWILD.COM | 31
32 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
BY BOB ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY NOVO STUDIO
JASPER CLIMBING RANCH HOSTS YEARLY FESTIVAL
ARKANSASWILD.COM | 33
A climber decorated for the festival pauses to consider his route.
34 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
While a climber and his belay partner work, the festivities taking place in other parts of the festival continue on.
IT’S BEEN CALLED THE LOLLAPALOOZA OF ROCK CLIMBING. Outside magazine referred to it as “the wildest rock climbing event in the world.” Climbing magazine rated it as one of the most difficult endurance events in the nation. But founder Andy Chasteen said it best when naming it “24 Hours of Horseshoe Hell.” Part agony, part reunion, part costume party, this international annual scene entices climbers from the likes of Australia, Sweden, Canada and states all across America to a dude ranch nestled in the heart of Arkansas’s Ozark Mountains. Positioned in a horseshoeshaped canyon floor, lined on three sides by sheer rock walls bejeweled with over 400 bolted climbing routes, the ranch is the only climbing venue in the country equipped to host such a competition. September 26-30, 2018 marked the 13th year climbers came together to “climb for glory,” as Gordo the Great (aka Jeremy Collins) phrases it. Standing in the bed of a pickup truck, it is tradition for a wildly costumed Collins to kick off the event by shouting to a crowd of near 300 participants the “climbers’ creed.” In response, standing face to face with their climbing partner, each will repeat his words, in equally rambunctious yells, to their cohort for the coming 24 hours of shared suffering. The creed is a light-hearted yet serious reminder that partners hold one another’s lives in their hands. The spirit of the creed pretty much exemplifies the event itself. With brightly-painted-muscular bodies and colorful costumes, the climbers join the loud raucous festivities, knowing they are about to begin both a physically demanding and potentially dangerous competition. These athletes have come from afar, if not to compete against other climbers then to push
themselves to sleep-deprived, inconceivably punishing limits, and to have a great deal of fun in the process. The rules remain basically the same as in 2006 when Chasteen and a few buddies were climbing the ranch’s rock walls, and one of them wondered aloud how many routes a pair of climbers could climb if they kept at it all day and all night. From its initial year, when 120 climbers signed up with only three months’ notice, the event has continued to grow in popularity. Concerned over the environmental impact, organizers decided to cap the number of competitors at under 300. Online registration usually fills the quota within minutes after opening. In recent years, the 24HHH event has been preceded by a 12 Hours of Horseshoe Hell (12HHH). And there are those who, after completing the 12HHH, take a short nap, then accept the challenge of the 24HHH. If you are not a rock climbing machine, you too are welcome to join the fun as a volunteer or spectator by going to the twofourhell.com website to register. With camping, food trucks, climbing gear vendor tents, socializing with fellow climbers, fun, games and live music this is a very spectator-friendly event. At the completion of the creed yell, as it has been on 12 previous occasions, someone stepped onto the bed of the pickup truck and fired a shotgun to announce the beginning of another 24HHH. Before the gun’s loud explosion had finished reverberating off the canyon walls, teams had scattered in all directions, each following their own unique strategy. With some teams preferring to attack the more difficult rated climbs while still fresh and rested while others prefer knocking out as ARKANSASWILD.COM | 35
Clockwise from left: A man costumed as a Care Bear prepares to put on his harness and get to climbing. The significant number of routes means climbers are rarely alone as they scale the walls. Belaying requires a constant and careful eye. The event might be called “Hell,” but the views are worth it.
many less-challenging routes as possible in the early hours. The festive atmosphere continues throughout the entire competition, with climbers’ shouts, whoops and hollers echoing across the canyon at the top of each hour, celebrating another hour of climbing in the books. During the 2017 competition, David McGee and Jordan Homer of Climbing for Crappers climbed a combined 342 routes to win most team routes climbed. In the process they raised over $3,000 to help build latrines in El Salvador (thus the team name). That amounted to over 14 routes per hour, or another way to look at it, a little over four minutes per climb. If you have ever been rock climbing, you realize just how incredible this is. It takes me that long just to plot my line up the rock. Also in 2017, Jeremy Collins broke the cumulative All-Time Points Record during the competition’s 12-year history. In the process Collins, with 202, also won the most individual routes climbed. And he accomplished this climbing only trad’ routes. Totally insane! 36 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
Mark September 2529, 2019 on your calendar for this “not-to-miss'' event. Compete, volunteer, or just come out to watch these amazing athletes. JUST ONE MORE REASON TO BE THANKFUL FOR LIVING IN THE NATURAL STATE.
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ARKANSASWILD.COM | 37
PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF SHAWN DANIEL
Darby’s Warriors lets active duty servicemen bond over a weekend of duck hunting or trout fishing.
BROTHERS IN ARMS
NEVER FAILING A COMRADE, DARBY’S WARRIOR SUPPORT PROVIDES HUNTING, FISHING FOR MILITARY BY DWAIN HEBDA
O
ver more than three decades, 26 years in active duty, Shawn Daniel saw a little bit of everything during his time as a U.S. Army Ranger. His service led him to some of the most dangerous places in the post-9/11 world, as well as to stateside assignments such as Fort Benning, Georgia, where he and some buddies would take their leisure hunting wood ducks on local ponds. Daniel, an Arkansas native, enjoyed the recreation but always admonished his buddies with the same directive. “I kept telling them that we needed to go to Arkansas,” he recalled, “so I could show them how this ‘duck hunting thing’ was really supposed to be done, in the duck hunting capital of the world.” Being a man of his word, Daniel introduced three of his comrades to Arkansas’ famed duck hunting grounds in December 2001. The hunting wasn’t particularly good, but the guests were duly impressed by what they saw. The trip was additionally salvific for having come on the heels of the quartet’s first deployment to Afghanistan, and the brothers in arms resolved to make the outing an annual occurrence, which they have ever since. That simple gathering planted the seeds for Darby’s Warrior Support, a Searcy-based nonprofit dedicated to providing all-inclusive Arkansas hunting and fishing experiences to physically and emotionally injured post38 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
9/11 Special Operations combat veterans. As with the original hunt among those four friends, the quarry takes a back seat to the camaraderie. “The first three to five years [the foursome] was focused on how many ducks we could shoot, but we eventually realized the power of the weekend was really in the time we got to spend together,” Daniel said. “It was the opportunity to catch up and to check on one another as we all moved on to other duty stations and deployed numerous more times.” “We decided we needed to share the experience with others who were enduring the same operational tempo.” Since it launched in 2004, Darby’s Warrior Support has grown to accommodate 128 soldiers a year on its outings, typically four at a time in each of the group’s two “lodges,” which are Daniel’s parents’ house and a farmhouse donated by a patron. Arrival is Friday, and hunting occurs through Monday morning, all for the cost of a hunting license. “We reimburse ground travel, we provide all equipment and feed them like kings,” Daniel said. “It’s an opportunity for guys who are running really, really hard in terms of deployment cycles—and have been for a long time—to relax, decompress a little bit, perhaps knock something off their bucket list.” The weekends, which run September through about May, are open to all 9/11 generation combat veterans, the
Top to bottom: Founded by veterans, Darby’s Warriors invites members of the same unit to White County for a weekend of hunting and camaraderie. Everything is included in a Darby’s Warrior weekend, right down to mileage to the hunting lodge. Participants only pay for their hunting licenses.
vast majority of them still on active duty, with a particular focus on the Special Operations community. In addition to duck hunting, the group also sponsors trout fishing weekends, a component that Daniel is looking to expand in the coming months. The foursomes aren’t random groups of strangers thrown together. Participants are selected from the same unit to help bonding and communication happen more naturally, the same way the original foursome experienced it. In fact, the weekends don’t have any formal therapy or “sharing sessions” at all; the environment and experiences tend to elicit that all on their own. “These guys come in from all kinds of different traumatic experiences on combat deployments,” Daniel said. “Nobody’s trying to get them to bare their soul, but when they come in here, a long way away from their military installation, they’re somewhat overwhelmed and they share. I can’t prove it scientifically or medically, but there’s a lot of healing that’s going on.” The organization plays another important role in the lives of servicemen, that being creating connections between the soldiers and members of the business community, such as those who are patrons of Darby’s Warriors. “From a guy who’s done it for the last 13 months, transition from military life to civilian life is very challenging,” said Daniel, now with Stephens, Inc. “When they come hunt with us, more often than not they get to interact with some influential businessmen in the state of Arkansas.” “Two things occur; one, the businessmen realize the quality and caliber of people that we have serving. The other piece of it is, the soldiers realize, ‘I can do this, I can have meaningful conversations with successful businessmen and I can do this transition thing.’” Darby’s Warrior Support features just two paid employees and limited seasonal help, buoyed by countless volunteer hours by Daniel and fellow Army Ranger Command Sergeant Major (Retired) Dennis Smith. Still, it takes about $200,000 annually to sustain operations. “If folks want to volunteer on some of our work weekends, that’s great,” Daniel said. “If folks have in-kind donations to help our cause, that’s great. If folks want to designate us as their charity of choice on Amazon Smile, we’ll get (a percentage) of anything they purchase at no extra cost to them.” For more information, visit the group’s website at darbyswarriorsupport.org. 40 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
STAY AND PLAY
PHOTOGRAPHY BY NOVO STUDIO
REAL ESTATE & PROPERTIES Some of the best bonding experiences happen outdoors and that starts with comfortable lodging near the natural, wild spaces where you want to be. Arkansas Wild has compiled some of the best spaces to STAY & PLAY. Here, you will find lodges perfect for a weekend getaway, hunting cabins for that once-in-a-lifetime duck hunt, a new vacation home, or that next place to relocate in The Natural State!
Make your next vacation an Arkansas adventure —STAY & PLAY in The Natural State! Stay & Play is a special feature of Arkansas Wild with statewide distribution, including state parks, resorts, large chain grocery stores and outdoor outfitters. Plus, nline promotion using Arkansas Wild digital media. If you would like to list your commercial or residential properties and rentals, contact katherine@arktimes.com.
A Special Advertising Promotion ARKANSASWILD.COM | 41
STAY AND PLAY REAL ESTATE & PROPERTIES
WILD BILL'S OUTFITTER
23 HIGHWAY 268 E. | YELLVILLE, AR 800.554.8657 | WILDBILLSOUTFITTER.COM Wild Bill’s Outfitter, located in Yellville on the lower Buffalo River, will make a great headquarters for your visit to the Ozark Mountains. The outfitter can set its visitors up with the watercraft to enjoy the nation’s first National River — canoes, kayaks, rafts, tubes and fishing boats — as well as accommodations in 10 cabins and two lodges, perfect for family or corporate retreats. The cabins include five luxury choices that sleep one to eight people and are fitted with Jacuzzi tubs, Wi-Fi, TVs with DVD players, gas log fireplace and a full kitchen. The rustic mountain cabins sleep one to six, have Wi-Fi, TVs with DVD players, wood or log fireplaces and some have Jacuzzi tubs. The Rock House Lodge sleeps up to 28 people and has Wi-Fi; the Evening Star Lodge, which has a waterfall in back, is perfect for more intimate getaways, lodging one to four people a night. All accommodations are fully furnished and in secluded, natural settings. The Lower Buffalo is a Class 1 river, perfect for easy family floating in favorable conditions. Wild Bill’s can arrange for guides for more experienced paddlers, and shuttle service for all guests. Wild Bill’s, with its proximity to Buffalo Point and Dillard’s Ferry put-ins (at the state Hwy. 14 bridge), is the perfect place for people who want to experience the unspoiled river, with its 74 species of fish, as it cuts through rugged bluffs of the Ozarks. Non-floaters will enjoy hiking and day trips to local attractions. Wild Bill’s is also close to the Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail, a designated IMBA Epic Ride. They offer group packages and are experienced in working with large groups. Let Wild Bill’s be your host for an experience of a lifetime! Wild Bill’s Outfitter is an Authorized Canoe Concessioner of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. A Special Advertising Promotion 42 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
• COZY LUXURY CABINS • JACUZZIS AND FIREPLACES • FLOATING AND FISHING ON THE BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER • KAYAK AND CANOE RENTALS • SHUTTLE SERVICE • CLOSE TO THE SYLLAMO MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL
STAY AND PLAY REAL ESTATE & PROPERTIES
ASHLEY'S RIVER RETREAT
880 COUNTY RD. 703 | COTTER, AR 870.425.2840 OR 870.656.4666 AshleysRiverRetreat.com Welcome to Ashley's River Retreat, a deluxe riverfront vacation home nestled on the banks of the White River. Ashley’s and the neighboring Ashley’s Too provide peaceful, comfortable getaway spots with its 200 feet of private riverfront; excellent trout fishing; a river view from the yard, deck or screened porch; and clean, roomy cabins perfect for family vacations, corporate retreats, or a romantic couples retreat. Ashley's is eight miles downstream from Bull Shoals Dam on the Baxter County (east) side of the White River. It is five minutes from Wildcat Shoals Access, 10 minutes from the public river access on U.S. Hwy. 62 in Cotter and 18 minutes from Mountain Home. Whether your vacation plans include trout fishing on the White, visiting Ozarks attractions, or both, their central location is a convenience you'll enjoy. Families, fishing partners, and pets are welcome. Ashley’s River Retreat is a rustic but beautifully crafted three-bedroom cabin complete with a loft, a back deck overlooking the White River, a full size refrigerator and a cook top. It sleeps 10 and dogs are welcome (See website for details.) All bed linens and towels are included. The cabin has its own private fishing bank, and is close to public river access, dining, golf, shopping and other attractions. Ashley's TOO is a quaint 384-square-foot cabin with a vaulted ceiling, on the property that sleeps two to four people. Groups can take both homes, or you can rent Ashley's TOO separately.
• 3 BEDROOMS, 2 BA; SLEEPS 10, FULLYEQUIPPED KITCHEN • CENTRAL TO TROUT DOCKS, DINING, GOLF, SHOPPING, ATTRACTIONS • CLOSE TO PUBLIC RIVER ACCESS OR GUIDES COME TO PROPERTY • ALL BED LINENS AND TOWELS INCLUDED; PETS WELCOME • PRIVATE FISHING BANK
A Special Advertising Promotion ARKANSASWILD.COM | 43
LEEWALSHPHOTOGRAPHY.US
STAY AND PLAY REAL ESTATE & PROPERTIES
BEAR CREEK LOG CABINS
6403 N HWY 65 | ST. JOE, AR 870.448.5926 BUFFALORIVERLOGCABINS.NET If you are looking for a rustic retreat near the Buffalo National River at Tyler Bend, look no further than Bear Creek Log Cabins. There are three cabins scattered over hundreds of acres, all with access to the fishing holes of Bear Creek—a tributary to the Buffalo—right on the property. The ranch is less than five minutes south of Middle Buffalo access areas and the Ozark Highland Trail, but you will also find plenty of trails right on the Bear Creek property for hiking, biking or ATV use. It is a photographer’s paradise, with sweeping views of the buttresses that line the creek and wildlife on every adventure. The nearby private Lake House property, near by with a 22-acre stocked lake with dock and fishing boat right out the back door, is also a favorite location. The spacious cabins (that will accommodate up to 40 guests) feature native rock fireplaces, outdoor fire pits, charcoal grills, full kitchens, linens, flat screen tvs with satellite reception (including SEC and ESPN channels), and heat/air that will accommodate up to 40 guests. Bear Creek is open year around, offers hunting in season, and is pet friendly. Special winter discount rates are available in January and February. Bear Creek Log Cabins will quickly become your go-to getaway destination.
44 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
A Special Advertising Promotion
• ELK AND OTHER WILDLIFE WATCHING • PRIVATE ROADS FOR HIKES AND ATV TRAILS • LESS THAN 5 MINUTES SOUTH OF THE BUFFALO NATIONAL RIVER • OZARK HIGHLANDS TRAIL LESS THAN 5 MINUTES • 45 MINUTES TO COTTER FOR TROUT FISHING
STAY AND PLAY REAL ESTATE & PROPERTIES
GASTON'S WHITE RIVER RESORT
1777 River Rd. | Lakeview, AR Gastons.com 870.431.5202
Gaston’s White River Resort began in 1958 with six small cottages and six boats. Today, Clint Gaston carries on the family legacy with over 400 acres and 79 cottages— ranging from two double beds to ten private rooms—an airstrip, over 70 boats and a state-of-the-art dock. Gaston’s Resort also features an award-winning restaurant, private club, gift shop, tennis court, playground, game room, duck pond, three nature trails, swimming pool, conference lodge and fly fishing school. Led by master fly fisherman Frank Saksa, the fly fishing school is a one-day course for two people. Combining a bit of in-classroom teaching with hands-on experience, these classes are a wonderful introduction to the art of fly fishing. And the fishing is always good at Gaston’s. The White River stays the same temperature year-round, which means the trout are always active. Fly fishing is not the only way to fish, either! In fact, over 85% of everyone who fishes in the area is spin fishing. You can produce excellent results either way—just have fun! Gaston’s offers a Bermuda grass airstrip that is open to everyone—not just guests who are staying in the cottages. Feel free to fly in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner any day of the week, or on Sunday for the restaurant’s famous Sunday brunch. The resort has been featured in every major airplane and flight magazine in the world, and it is known as the best fly fishing destination in this part of the country. Visitors fly in from all over the country to experience some great trout fishing, or just to enjoy a meal with a great view in the first-class restaurant. Gaston’s has a wide variety of different packages—perfect to suit you and your party. In addition to the basic accommodations, there are several larger cottages and lodges where guests can hosts larger parties and events, all of which offer free Wi-Fi. Whether you need a crib, extra blankets, or handicap accessible utilities, Gaston’s will strive to make you as comfortable as possible. Just let the capable staff know what they can do to make your stay perfect. Your dogs are welcome, too! A Special Advertising Promotion
• COTTAGES AND LODGES FOR SMALL AND LARGE PARTIES • YEAR-ROUND TROUT FISHING AND INSTRUCTION AVAILABLE • AWARD-WINNING RESTAURANT • PRIVATE AIRSTRIP • DOG-FRIENDLY
ARKANSASWILD.COM | 45
PHOTO: GREG SEATON
ARKANSAS ORIGINAL
GREG SEATON
GREG SEATON’S LOVE AFFAIR WITH FLY FISHING SEEMINGLY KNOWS NO BOUNDS. THE CALL OF THE STREAM IS SO STRONG, IT PULLED HIM OUT OF A 40-YEAR CAREER IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS TO OPEN LITTLE RED FLY FISHING GUIDE SERVICE IN CLEBURNE COUNTY AND TO SERVE ON THE BOARD OF HIS LOCAL TROUT UNLIMITED CHAPTER, TWICE AS ITS PRESIDENT. AND HE’S NEVER LOOKED BACK.
SEATON’S CLIENTS, WHO RANGE FROM AGE 5 TO AGE 85, LINE UP TO CATCH BEAUTIES LIKE THIS ONE. 46 | Arkansas Wild ¸ FALL 2018
So how did this fishing obsession come about? I started fishing at about the age of 2 with my dad. He liked to fish for crappie with a cane pole and minnows. This was the way it was done in Arkansas in 1947. As the years went by, he introduced me to fly fishing for bream in the lakes and bayous in central and southeast Arkansas. When did trout enter the picture? A friend, who I blame for costing me more money than any one person, asked me if I had ever fly fished for trout. I told him the only fly fishing I had done was the trips with my dad fishing for bream. He suggested to my wife that a gift certificate for a fly rod and reel would be a good birthday gift. Little did she know that would stir a passion in me that would make me want to retire from the restaurant business of 40 years and move to the Little Red River. That’s quite a gesture of devotion. I came home from a trip to the Little Red one day and told her I had found a river house I wanted to buy. After convincing her to drive up to the river and look at the house, she agreed and we purchased our weekend retreat on the river. This was in 2001 and in 2006 we remodeled the house, sold our home in North Little Rock, retired and
moved to the Little Red. My wife is an artist and so we built a studio in our home on the river for her to paint and I guide on the Little Red. I couldn’t have wished for a better way to spend my time. What do you like best about your life as a guide? Having fly fished the Little Red for about 25 years, I’ve come to think of the river as my home water. I truly enjoy introducing fishermen to this river and seeing them return with anticipation of catching more of the Little Red’s wonderful trout. This river gives an angler the chance to catch quality trout and a lot of ‘em. What’s the range of your clients? I’ve guided clients from California to Maine and Brazil to Estonia, ranging in age from 5 years old to 85 years young. Men and women, boys and girls, friends, fathers and mothers with sons or daughters, husbands and wives, all have come to the river to enjoy the outdoors. What do you do for a hobby when fishing is your job? I have found fly fishing to be my most rewarding and relaxing sport from a lifetime of hunting, fishing and tennis. I have now traded my shotgun and racquet for another fly rod or two and enjoy fly fishing year around.
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