Whatever the sport, I’ve been around it in a 36-plus year career starting as a cub reporter in college covering the Arkansas Razorbacks. But like most Arkansans, my experiences with this state’s wonderful resources through hunting and fishing started much earlier. I still remember my uncle Merrill Shue taking me bream and crappie fishing on a White River pond (and experiencing the even more memorable chiggers) when I was still in single digits, and not long afterward catching my first big bass out of Arkansas River borrow pit. While I’ve let others stalk the deer, I’ve enjoyed their efforts at the dinner table - my sister-in-law, who has taken deer herself in her native West Virginia, cooks a mean venison chili.
Table of CONTENTS 8
By Jim Harris
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I’ve swabbed away the sweat away on the first day of dove season, as well as swatted away mosquitoes on an Indian summer weekend to start duck season in Arkansas County. There’s also nothing quite like being with thousands of hunters and their friends at the annual World Duck Gumbo Cookoff and the Wings Over the Prairie Festival in Stuttgart.
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Those are some of the stories I plan to write as the new editor of Arkansas Wild.
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For this issue, I sat down with the incomparable Jim Gaston - collector, historian, onetime daredevil pilot and resort owner - who has run Gaston’s White River Resort for more than a half century. I also introduce our readers to Mike Knoedl, the new executive director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Joe David Rice takes us on a fascinating ride up state Highway 21, a barely traveled treasure of nature, history and stunning scenery. We talk deer, turkey, crappie, bears, alligators and more in this issue. In my career I’ve worked at nearly every regular newspaper/ magazine department: reporter and editor for daily news and layout, features, business, and dining and entertainment. Most recently I edited the online ArkansasSports360.com and currently am the featured columnist for SportingLifeArkansas. com. I’ve written freelance stories for outdoor publications and was thrilled to edit the fantastic “The Duck Hunter’s Almanac” by my friends Steve Bowman and Steve Wright. What I hope for Arkansas Wild in the coming issues is to produce what YOU want to read. Let me know what Arkansas outdoors stories interest you most. Email me at jim. harris@sportinglifearkansas.com and jimharris@arktimes. com and let’s talk outdoors. Enjoy this issue.
Jim Harris 4 | Arkansas Wild Spring 2013
GASTON’S STANDS SUPREME ON THE WHITE RIVER A Road Less traveled Arkansas Hwy. 21 By Joe David Rice
Big Buck classic Overcoming the odds By Jim Harris
Mike knoedl Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s new director By Jim Harris
Preserving ARkansas outdoor traditions By Sen. Mark Pryor
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duck down Low Arkansas mallard numbers By Jim Harris
Bagging the big gobbler By Jim Harris
Holy Crappie Crappie fishing makes for exciting excursion By Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Game notes
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A.C. “Chuck” Haralson
52 Calendar of Events 56
Out and about
58 Jim’s Parting Shot
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