Arkansas Wild | Winter 2020

ARKANSAS WILD meet the 2020 class

take a hike! check out rattlesnake ridge

LONG LIVE THE QUEEN. PAGE 26.

10+ outdoor

gift ideas

NOVEMBER 2020 ARKANSASWILD.COM

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B E ST R E S O R T

call about our winter specials!

1777 river road | lakeview, arkansas 870-431-5202 | gastons@gastons.com gastons.com | lat 36 20’ 55” n | long 92 33’ 25” w

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T O GE T HE R FOR Better.

Arkansans appreciate community. We work and raise families. Care for our neighbors. And come together in good times and bad. At First Security, that local strength is what we love best about our home state. There is commitment here.

And heart. And hope. Thank you to everyone who is standing together, learning from one another, and making Arkansas a place we all love to call home.

Member FDIC

We’re proud to be your community bank.

NOVEMBER 2020

ARKANSASWILD.COM

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CHAMPIONS OF THE WILD MEET THE HEROES OF THE OUTDOORS

BRAD WIMBERLY MINDS THE STORE. (PAGE 34)

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY NOVO STUDIO

GOIN’ FOR GATOR

CHOMP IN THE SWAMP

DEPARTMENTS

10 OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS 14 ARKANSAS MADE 18 EXPLORE 38 #ARKANSASWILD COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY NOVO STUDIO 4 | Arkansas Wild NOVEMBER 2020

Explore. Stay.

Cabin Rentals. Plan Your Trip Today.

Luxury Log Cabins

• GROUP AND FAMILY CABINS AVAILABLE • FULLY EQUIPPED KITCHENS • MODERN AMENITIES • CHARMING INTERIORS

1.870.439.2200 • 9664 Hwy 65 • St. Joe, AR 72675 • BuffaloRiverOutfitters.com

Not all rainbows are in the sky. Check out our White River excursion on page 22.

LOOK US UP!

Authorized Concessioner. Buffalo River Outfitters is authorized to provide canoe rentals and transportation services within the Buffalo National River. *Ad paid for using a combination of private and state matching funds.

Congratulations BRAD & VIEN WIMBERLY & The Turner Bend Crew

ARKANSAS WILD ARKANSASWILD.COM FOLLOW US FOR MORE WILD

#ARKANSASWILD

BROOKE WALLACE Publisher brooke@arktimes.com

From The Mulberry Madmen

Your Friends for 35 years And that’s a lot of water under the bridge!

DWAIN HEBDA Editor dwain@arktimes.com MANDY KEENER Creative Director mandy@arktimes.com KATIE HASSELL Art Director/Digital Manager LESA THOMAS Senior Account Executive WELDON WILSON Production Manager/Controller ROLAND R. GLADDEN Advertising Traffic Manager MIKE SPAIN Advertising Art Director JORDAN LITTLE Director of Digital Strategy ROBERT CURFMAN IT Director CHARLOTTE KEY Administration JACKSON GLADDEN Circulation Director ALAN LEVERITT President

©2020 Arkansas Times Limited Partnership 201 E. MARKHAM ST., SUITE 150 LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201 501-375-2985 All Contents © 2020 Arkansas Wild

6 | Arkansas Wild NOVEMBER 2020

CONTRIBUTORS

Rhea Drug Store

A TRADITIONAL PHARMACY WITH GIFTS FOR A WONDERFUL WINTER! SERVING LITTLE ROCK SINCE 1922 • 2801 KAVANAUGH LITTLE ROCK 501.663.4131

PHILIP THOMAS is the owner and operator of Novo Studio, a photography, video and graphic design company located in Northwest Arkansas.

DREW HARRIS , a Jonesboro native, is an angler, writer, photographer and all-around outdoor type. He loves nothing more than being outside and capturing the place he calls home, no matter the season. Find him at drewharrisphotography.com

ANNE MARIE DORAMUS is a born and raised Arkansan and lifelong outdoors enthusiast, especially bass angling and hunting of all types. She currently serves as a Commissioner for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 7

FROM THE EDITOR

THE THINGS THAT MATTER It’s common for last-of-the-year columns such as this to say, “Where has the year gone?” But in this particular case, many may find it more fitting to say, “When will this year be gone?”

That’s not entirely fair, because 2020 was not without its merit.

It taught us how resilient we could be, how creative we could be and, in many cases, we learned a better, safer way to do things.

And let’s face it: 2020 wasn’t the first time humanity has dealt with a pandemic and it likely won’t be the last. These things tend to have a way of running in cycles and what polio, measles and Spanish flu was to our forefathers, COVID-19 is to us. And as bad as it has been at times, imagine facing this disease with the medical technology of yesteryear instead of the modern marvels we have now.

Most of all, this year has reminded us of what’s truly important in life. Many families rediscovered gathering around the dining room table for meals, enjoying game night and conversation. That’s an art form almost entirely lost in recent decades. Many were also drawn to the outdoors in these trying times to breathe some fresh air, take in some beauty and draw inspiration from the splendor and tranquility that Nature always provides. Mountains, rivers and forests have a way of putting the world, and our place in it, in perspective.

It’s a blessing to live in a state where such natural attractions are so numerous and close at hand. And it is a privilege to lead a magazine that deals in such treasures. I want to take this opportunity to thank our team: Brooke Wallace, Mandy Keener, Lesa Thomas, Katie Hassell and especially Arkansas Times President Alan Leveritt for their talent and support. I salute all the writers and photographers who have contributed mightily to Wild’s 2020 edition, and I also want to thank profoundly our advertisers who make this publication possible.

And, of course, thanks to you, the reader. We hope you learned something through these pages, were inspired to go out and see something new or just found us a good way to spend some time in this nutty year. May 2021 bring all the best of everything to your family, our state and the nation.

Enjoy this issue, have a blessed holiday season and we’ll see you in the woods or on the water.

Wander far,

Dwain Hebda Editor, Arkansas Wild

8 | Arkansas Wild NOVEMBER 2020

BIKE, HIKE AND HIT THE LAKES!

Discover More of the Diamond Lakes Region this Winter.

ARKADELPHIA ♦ CADDO VALLEY ♦ GLENWOOD ♦ HOT SPRINGS ♦ MALVERN ♦ MOUNT IDA ♦ MURFREESBORO

M

ountain peaks for hiking, five clear lakes for playing, three sparkling rivers for enjoying, IMBA EPIC mountain bike trails for shredding, a National Park for exploring, historic hotels and cool lake resorts for overnighting…and all close to the dining, shopping, art and culture of Hot Springs National Park.

Visit diamondlakes.org to request a free Hot Springs/ Diamond Lakes Vacation Guide.

This ad is paid for with a combination of state funds and private regional association funds.

OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS: GIFT GUIDE

GIFTS FOR THE FAMILY THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER.

2

1

GIFT CARD

3

s rkansa a , w e i v om ake road | l ns@gastons.c r e v i r o 7 st 177 5202 | ga 870-431-

4

Take to the lake in style! The 1750 Gladiator is THE new shallow draft mud boat. It’s 17 feet long, 54 inches wide and comes standard with a duckbill to deflect brush. Go to battle in the War Eagle Gladiator.

War Eagle Boats 2039 Hwy 35 East Monticello, AR 870-367-1554 wareagleboats.com

2. A REEL DEAL

Help mom bring home the big one with a new spinning rod and reel combo from Pflueger. The President XT is lightweight, easy to use and offers an impressive combination of power, balance and sensitivity. Let the experts at Gaston’s outfit her properly and she’ll catch her limit every time!

Gaston’s White River Resort 1777 River Rd. Lakeview, AR 870-431-5202 gastons.com

10 | Arkansas Wild NOVEMBER 2020

3. SURE SHOT

A gift certificate to the state-of-the-art Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation Shooting Sports Complex in Jacksonville is a gift every gun owner on your list will love. Featuring 14 trap fields, three skeet overlays, 3-D archery range, two pavilions and more, the range delivers maximum bang for your gift-giving buck.

AGFF Shooting Sports Complex 2800 Graham Rd. Jacksonville, AR 501-241-2441 cityofjacksonville.net/Facilities/Facility/ Details/Shooting-Sports-Complex-8

4. FUN ON THE FLY

Has Pops ever wanted to learn how to fly-fish? Send him to Gaston’s on the White River where expert instruction and experienced guides ensure a successful outing, every time. It’s the trip of a lifetime right here in Arkansas!

Gaston’s White River Resort 1777 River Rd. Lakeview, AR 870-431-5202 gastons.com

5. WANNA GET AWAY?

Show the family some love this year with a trip to Bear Creek Log Cabins. They’ll love the peace and quiet and relax in beautiful surroundings!

Bear Creek Log Cabins 6403 N. Hwy 65 St. Joe, AR 870-448-5926

6. LICENSED TO CHILL

Give everyone at your house an Arkansas Game and Fish license. A perfect stocking stuffer, it’s mandatory equipment for all of your adventures in the new year. Don’t hunt or fish? No problem! License sales also help keep Arkansas’s wild spaces pristine and accessible.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission 800-364-4263 agfc.com

PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF VENDORS

1. YOUR CHARIOT AWAITS

HE5 GIFT AT KEEPS N GIVING

ng and

e giving

6

ARKANSAS GAME

AND

FISH COMMISSION

Licenses and Permits

utdoors.

censes

that Bo Archer

es are

e to enjoy.

CID: #000-000-001 HE Verified DOB: 05/24/1972

7. FLOAT YOUR CARES AWAY

Treat the crew to a family-friendly adventure on the Buffalo River in 2021.

Buffalo River Outfitters has everything you need to take in America’s first National River from canoes to cabins to trip packages. Why settle for less when you can have the best?

Buffalo River Outfitters 9664 Hwy 65 St. Joe, AR 870-439-2200 buffaloriveroutfitters.com

GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR A HUNTING FISHING LICENSE AT AGFC.COM

7

8. DECK THE DEN

Be the envy of the lodge with Duane Hada’s one-of-a-kind replicas. Crafted from the highest quality fiberglass, these replicas are made to match your fish’s specifications. Duane can replicate any fish imaginable and offers a wide variety of backgrounds to create the most realistic habitats for your display.

Rivertown Gallery 3512 U.S. 62 Mountain Home, AR 870-425-3898 rivertowngallery.com

8 ARKANSASWILD.COM | 11

OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS: GIFT GUIDE 9. FIT TO A “T”

9

Give quality wearable art t-shirts, featuring original Duane Hada designs. Show your love of Arkansas’s great outdoors with an Ozark landscape or fly-fishing-themed gift that’s sure to be their new favorite for floating, hiking or hanging out.

Rivertown Gallery 3512 U.S. 62 Mountain Home, AR 870-425-3898 rivertowngallery.com

10. CHEERS TO CAMO

10

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Melt the stress of the holidays with this wine glass and scarf combo this holiday season.

The comfy scarf will keep the forest’s chill off her neck while the matching camo print to-go wine glass will help her unwind by the fire, any fire. Trust us, Mom will thank you all year long.

Rhea Drug 2801 Kavanaugh Blvd.

Little Rock, AR 501-663-4131 Rheadrugstore.com

11. SOCK IT TO ME

12.TROUT TRIM

12

Reflect your passion for the sport throughout the holiday season with these Trout Skin Christmas ornaments. The hand-painted original designs will provide enjoyment year after year.

Rivertown Gallery 3512 U.S. 62 Mountain Home, AR 870-425-3898 rivertowngallery.com

13. PURE JOY

13 12 | Arkansas Wild NOVEMBER 2020

It’s the little things that separate a fun hike from a forced march. Water, for instance.

Give the Grayl Geopress and they’ll never have to worry about being dehydrated again.

The easy-to-use filtration system purifies 24 ounces of water in eight seconds to ensure safe great-tasting water from any source.

Ozark Outdoor Supply 5514 Kavanaugh Blvd.

Little Rock, AR 501-664-4832 Ozarkoutdoor.com

PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF VENDORS

Laugh all you want, but Dads love socks and these snappy hunting-themed items are just the ticket for the outdoorsy types. Pick up a pair or three to help ensure he looks his best all through 2021 no matter what’s in season.

Rhea Drug 2801 Kavanaugh Blvd.

Little Rock, AR 501-663-4131 Rheadrugstore.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.

The perfect place to sharpen your duck hunting skills!

AGFF Shooting Sports Complex

JacksonvilleParksandRecreation

THINK TROUT...

Think Stetson’s!

• Guided Trout Fishing and Rental Boats • Beautiful Cabins • Large Pool • Corporate & Large Groups/Meals • Open Year-Round

870-453-8066 • Stetsons-Resort.com

WINTER DISCOUNTS! Call us for details.

Located on the White River • Flippin, Arkansas

Ad paid for using a combination of private and state matching funds.

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 13

COURTESY OF PK GRILLS

ARKANSAS MADE

PKGO, designed to go with you.

HAVE GRILL, WILL TRAVEL

PK GRILLS LOOKS TO CONQUER OUTDOORS WITH NEW MODELS.

BY APRILLE HANSON

14 | Arkansas Wild NOVEMBER 2020

m TATE. I

n today’s big corporationdriven world, cranking out a high quantity of cheaply made products is common. But for PK Grills, versatility, convenience and affordability are all preceded by quality in its latest offering, the PKGO. It is the first travel-sized grill for the Little Rock-based company, designed for smoking or grilling while camping, tailgating or even an office Christmas party.

“A lot of times on a portable grill or a travel grill, tailgate grill, whatever you want to call it, they’re really kind of inexpensively made.

They’re really just vessels for you to build a fire in. And this grill is not that,” said Scott Moody, coowner of PK Grills. “This is a really brilliantly engineered piece of gear.

And so, I think that for anybody that appreciates the quality, you’re going to see these everywhere with those kinds of people.”

It is the fourth offering in the company’s lineup and the most affordable, ranging from $169.99 with the PKGO Hibachi Only option to $269.99 with the PKGO and added FlipKit, combining a grill and smoker along with an additional cast iron cooking surface and charcoal grate.

“I like that it’s got latches on the side that locks the top and the bottom together. When you’re done at the end of the day, you kind of enclose the vents and latch the lid onto it and everything stays inside.

It doesn’t get ash all over your truck or your car or wherever you’re transporting it,” Moody said of his favorite feature. “Those latches are a new feature we haven’t ever done on any of our grills. And I really like the FlipKit idea; I think that’s something that I want to see going forward in all of our grills.”

Longtime customers know PK Grills’ legacy. The first moldings of the grills originated in the early 1950s in Tyler, Texas, and it has continuously operated in Little Rock since the late 1990s. Despite this history, Moody said PK Grills

Beautiful Buffalo This photo of “Beautiful Buffalo” was submitted

by Miranda Wise.

Miranda says it was a beautiful, vibrant day along the river. We agree!

he people who live here. That’s why we created an Fox isit OnlyInArk.com for everything from great bike trails Submitted by Kathy Sanny. She “This fox was ank is only in Arkansas, yousaid, know all about you. trying to crossit’s a street on the edge of Centerton, and we stopped to allow it to cross.

The fox paused long enough for me to get a good shot.”

Presented by

Hiking in Heber This photo of “Hiking in Heber” was taken on the Mossy Bluff National Natural Trail near Greers Ferry Dam in Heber Springs, AR. First Security Bank employee, Ralph Bennett, enjoyed a recent Saturday hike with his wife and they were rewarded with this view!

Submit your own photos at onlyinark.com/photos

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 15

“[OUR GRILLS] LAST FOREVER. PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HANDING THEM DOWN TO THEIR KIDS.” —Scott Moody, co-owner, PK Grills.

PKGO offers a generous amount of grill space to feed the whole expedition and its heavy aluminum construction is inherently rust proof.

16 | Arkansas Wild NOVEMBER 2020

are still “pretty niche.”

“We felt like there was room in our lineup for a kind of a camp and tailgate grill, because a lot of our customers were telling us that,” Moody said. “And we also felt like it would give us the opportunity to introduce a lower price point, which might help us reach a new customer who might not be able to afford what was the opening price point, $369, for our Original PK.” It also gave the company a chance to explore a new idea. “(Our grills are) basically two cast-aluminum tubs that hinge together, that’s been the design since the 1950s … We have these casted hinges that lock when you open them and we’d always thought since the bottom of the grill and the top of the grill are made out of cast aluminum, why couldn’t you take the top off and put a cooking grid on it and use that as a grill as well?”

Moody said.

The normal configuration can cook about six to eight hamburgers at a time, and flipping it open to the hibachi configuration, “we got two hibachis, you could do twice as much,” making it suitable for a family or group of people. It has 200 square inches of cooking surface (200 extra with FlipKit).

Moody said the new models were first pitched in the summer to dealers, who bought up its entire first production run. It ships Nov. 16.

“I think this will make a great holiday gift,” Moody said. “We probably sell more grills during the holidays than you might guess because our grills do tend to be considered luxury items.”

Like every PK Grill, the PKGO has a thick cast aluminum body, which is inherently rustproof, unlike the typical steel grill on the market, Moody said.

“It conducts heat about four times more efficiently than steel does,” he said. “Which means when you get a PK Grill hot, you get this kind of smooth heat that goes all around.”

PK Grills also come with a 20-year warranty; a number unheard of in the grill industry.

“They last forever,” Moody said.

“People talk about handing them down to their kids.”

For more information, visit pkgrills.com/pkgo.

Brought to you by Arkansas beef farmers and ranchers and the Arkansas Beef Council ARKANSASWILD.COM | 17

EXPLORE

MAKE A BREAK FOR THE ‘SNAKE

RATTLESNAKE RIDGE PROVIDES MULTIPLE ATTRACTIONS.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DREW HARRIS

BY DREW HARRIS

Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area gives stunning views in all directions.

18 | Arkansas Wild NOVEMBER 2020

F

ew areas in our great state offer such a wide variety of outdoor activities for outdoor enthusiasts as Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area in Pulaski County.

Hike, bike, fish, climb, young or old, no matter your expertise or fitness level, you can do it all here, at Arkansas’s 73rd designated natural area.

The 373-acre protected area is just a few miles west of Pinnacle Mountain State Park, off Arkansas Highway 10.

Rising to 920 feet above sea level, the ridge is a decidedly different and distinct geographic feature of Central Arkansas, part of the Ouachita Mountain Sandstone Outcrop Barrens.

The view from atop the ridge affords a phenomenal 360-degree view of Central Arkansas. Up top, you might wonder whether it was named for the serpentine structure of the rocks or the snake dens of old. Take your pick.

Serving as a divide between the watersheds of the Little Maumelle and Big Maumelle rivers, Rattlesnake Ridge provides a unique home for several species more commonly found in warmer, drier areas farther west. It provides habitat for the Western diamondback rattlesnake (actual snake sightings are few and far between), the Southeastern bat and Wright’s Cliffbrake, a desert fern.

Another present but seldom seen species is the Eastern collared lizard. Much larger and more colorful than Arkansas’s more familiar fauna, they can measure over a foot and a half in length. The habitat for these elusive creatures lies in its most distant reach to the east of the area.

Rattlesnake Ridge is a true testimony to the cooperation between private and public interests. Starting as a vision of The Nature Conservancy of Arkansas, its ultimate realization as a State Natural Area also required the cooperation of state and local entities.

Scott Simon, director of The Nature Conservancy of Arkansas, said it would never have been accomplished without help from the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and Central Arkansas Water. He gave specific credit to Secretary Stacy Hurst of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, State Parks Director Grady Spann and Governor Asa Hutchinson.

Whether on foot or by bike, exploring the ’Snake gives adventurers a taste of the wilderness just outside the city limits.

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 19

RATTLESNAKE RIDGE NATURAL AREA 34.838225, -92.521126. 9515 BARRETT ROAD, ROLAND The parking lot for the natural area is purposely small to limit access. The gate to the area closes and locks at dusk.

Speaking of locks, it is possible to be locked in, at which time visitors should call (501) 371-9322.

Due to the geology and steepness of the terrain, the trails are susceptible to seepage and runoff. To protect the trails, the natural area is closed during heavy rains and prolonged wet weather. Visitors should call (501) 663-6699 to check conditions. naturalheritage.com /natural-areas / rattlesnake-ridge-natural-area a l ltrails.com /trail /us /arkansa s / rattlesnake-ridge

20 | Arkansas Wild NOVEMBER 2020

“Arkansas leads the nation in conservation agencies and organizations working together, by far. There are dozens of state natural areas and projects that have this level of cooperation,” Simon said. “We sat down together and asked, ‘What should this place be? How should we manage it?’”

The land was sold by landowner Lee Bodenhamer to The Nature Conservancy of Arkansas at a “deep discount,” according to Simon.

Funds the for purchase came from an anonymous donor who attended graduate school with Bodenhamer. Simon said neighbors around the natural area visit daily and care for the area, which is also regularly patrolled by rangers from the nearby state park.

Open to both hikers and mountain bikers, the well-maintained, 6-mile loop trail system was developed by The Nature Conservancy’s Recreational Use Project Manager Mitchell Allen and constructed by Affordable Trail Solutions. Located in Tilly, ATS has constructed hiking and biking trails across Arkansas. Volunteers from Central Arkansas Trail Alliance also donated a great deal of time and labor to the project.

The trails connect with one another and overlap service roads in multiple locations, providing shortcuts for those who want to explore or intermingle paths. The mountain bike trails range from easy to difficult with the more technical areas on the western side of the ridge. The Cliffbrake trail affords easier ascent and is limited to uphill bike traffic only.

Two rock climbing areas have 15 routes of varying difficulty with 30- to 50-foot vertical ascensions.

However you get to the top, you will be rewarded with a feast for the eyes. To the east lies Pinnacle Mountain. Facing north you will see the expanse of Lake Maumelle. To the south, trees. To the west, the Ouachita National Forest. If the effort getting to the top doesn’t take your breath away, the view most certainly will.

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THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING When you buy a hunting and

ARKANSAS GAME

AND

FISH COMMISSION

Licenses and Permits

fishing license, you are giving the gift of the great outdoors.

Hunting and fishing licenses fund conservation, so that wildlife and wild places are available for everyone to enjoy.

Bo Archer CID: #000-000-001 HE Verified DOB: 05/24/1972

BUY A GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR A HUNTING OR FISHING LICENSE AT AGFC.COM

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 23

CONGRATULATIONS TO BILL THORNE ON BEING NAMED A CHAMPION OF THE WILD!

Rivertown Gallery features original watercolors and acrylics by nationally recognized artist Duane Hada.

“As a working artist and passionate outdoorsman, I cannot think of any better place to live and work than my Ozark studio which is tucked away on a ridge close to the Buffalo River National Park. As the Ozarks are discovered and continually change, I see my art bring an awareness and a desire to live compatibly with the rhythms of the Natural State.”

Rivertown Gallery Bringing you The Ozarks on Canvas 3512 Hwy. 62 West • Mountain Home, AR 72653 • rivertowngallery.com • 870-425-3898 Ad paid for using a combination of private and state matching funds.

In an effort to recognize those individuals who have gone above and beyond to preserve, protect and promote Arkansas’s great outdoors, Arkansas Wild is proud to present our annual CHAMPIONS OF THE WILD. Each honoree has been nominated from the field for the good work they do, much of it unsung and in the background.

This year’s class represents the true spirit of our wild spaces and the commitment it takes to keep those areas pristine for everyone to enjoy.

Our sparkling waters, our stately forests and our majestic mountains were handed to us as a people, the greatest of all gifts. Inspired by the people on this list, may we all follow their example to perpetuate that legacy across every generation.

BY DWAIN HEBDA PHOTOGRAPHY BY NOVO STUDIO

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 25

MARLENE “THE QUEEN” DAVIS After four years of military service in the U.S. Navy, during which time she suffered a traumatic head injury that affected the mobility on one half of her body and eroded her sight, Marlene “The Queen” Davis came home and locked the door on the rest of her life.

“When I got out, I was kind of denying the blindness until I had to go to a doctor because my eyes were starting to leak fluids,” she said.

“They told me that I would be totally blind in 10 years. From that point on I just didn’t go back to a doctor for 17 years.”

“Imagine, one person told me I would be blind in 10 years and I was like, ‘OK, I’m done.’ I wasted 17 years of my life.”

Four years ago, Davis attended a convention of the Blinded Veterans Association, of which she is a life member, where she learned about Operation Peer Support, which hosts outings to help veterans become more active. A decorated multisport athlete in her formative years,

“YOU CAN’T LET YOUR DEMONS CONTROL YOUR LIFE.” Davis felt the competitive flame flicker to life.

“Suddenly, my blindness became the crutch that I didn’t need anymore,” she said. “They sent me on a trip to Montana for the Out of Sight Kayak Clinic, put on by National Team River Runner. I had never kayaked, ever, and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I felt like it was lifesaving because I was in a very dark place in dealing with what I had been dealing with. It was lifesaving to get out in that water.

“I said we don’t have anything like this in Arkansas and the gentleman there told me, ‘You’re going to be the one to start it.’”

Davis returned to The Natural State to found Central Arkansas Team River Runner out of her home in Pine Bluff. She organizes kayaking training and outings for blind veterans and those dealing with posttraumatic stress disorder and other injuries, with all equipment and gear provided through the organization. A second club, Northwest Arkansas Team River Runner, will launch soon.

The success of the club has inspired Davis to more activism. She traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby congressional delegates for more money for veteran trauma blindness, an effort that resulted in $20 million allocated for research. And she’s just getting started.

“Once we get these chapters up and going, we can give the opportunity for fellowship with one another and for veterans to meet other veterans who have similar or like experiences,” she said. “They can share their strength and hope with each other. That’s the goal that I’m working towards.

“I have to be on board because my life is helping the veterans. I can say the trauma I experienced in the military pushed me to where I’m the person that I am right now. You can’t let your demons control your life.”

THE MAYFLY PROJECT Founded in Arkansas in 2015 and rolling out nationally a year later, The Mayfly Project provides excursions to kids in the foster care system, teaching them a new appreciation for the outdoors and providing mentoring opportunities out on the water, while mastering the art of flyfishing.

“Fly-fishing, I think, is an all-encompassing sport,” said Jess Westbrook, a Benton native who founded the group with his wife, Laura. “Out there on the river, it’s not like traditional fishing. The casting motion is different and requires more thought process. There’s stuff all the time that has to be done while you’re fly-fishing. The way that you cast and the way you present flies to fish requires more of a mental aspect. You don’t have time to think about what’s happening at home.

“There are also scientists and doctors doing research about the healing properties of water. It’s actually a proven fact that the sound of running water will calm stress and calm anxiety. There’s scientific research out there about what the outdoors can do for a person mentally.”

Westbrook said these in-the-moment elements are what make fly-fishing so appealing to foster children and set the table for volunteer mentors to help kids develop coping and problem-solving skills that can be applied in adulthood.

“We have a 109-page curriculum that has everything from fish IDs to where fish lay in trout streams,” he said. “We also have a section on the characteristics of an angler that talks about building grit and patience. We talk about, ‘Remember that time you had to change flies, like, five times before it finally ate? It’s the same thing with this math problem. You’re building grit. You’re creating patience.’

“We believe that these things are learned somewhat subtly with flyfishing and we point them out to our kids when we’re working through some of those situations. We do believe the things they learn on the river can be applied to everyday life.”

To date, about 250 kids ages 8 to 18 have been mentored through The Mayfly Project’s program, which includes five excursions over a six-month period. Westbrook estimates that works out to about 1,250 outings in 30 states since 2016. He said the culminating presentation of a fly-fishing setup at the end of each project is especially meaningful.

“The cool thing is, we like to connect our kids to their local ecosystem,” Westbrook said. “When the kids leave our program, they get everything they need to fly-fish on their own. We give them their own fly rod, their own pack, their own flies, indicators, everything.

“From then on, no matter where a kid’s at in their life, no matter where they go or no matter where the foster care system takes them, they always have their fly rod. Hopefully they can always find their home on the water.”

“WE DO BELIEVE THE THINGS THEY LEARN ON THE RIVER CAN BE APPLIED TO EVERYDAY LIFE.” 28 | Arkansas Wild NOVEMBER 2020

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 29

LIBBY DAVIS The Little Rock Garden Club is generally more closely associated with roses and rhododendron than bucks and bass, but thanks to a new program the members of the club are playing an integral role in the renewal of quail habitat in Central Arkansas.

Leading the charge is Libby Davis, a product of Cross County and a 13year member of the club, who spearheads The Covey project.

“The Little Rock Garden Club is a lot of old-school families and our club is a member of Garden Club of America,” Davis said. “The Garden Club of America a few years ago started a program called Partners for Plants that gets your garden club involved with different groups or agencies in the community. It can be a restoration of any area in town.”

“NOT EVERYONE IN OUR CLUB IS INTO FLOWER ARRANGING. NOT EVERYONE GROWS STUFF. THIS GAVE US GREAT VARIETY FOR PEOPLE.” Davis, who in adulthood has developed into a crack-shot bowhunter had taken an interest in the work of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

As she began to look around for a Partners for Plants project, AGFC’s ongoing work to improve quail habitat floated to the surface. Davis pounced.

“Central Arkansas Water had this 12-acre piece of land they were trying to figure out what to do with,” Davis said. “We all went out and looked at the property and decided we wanted to restore that 12 acres to native prairie the way it was.”

Aided by fellow garden club member Helen Moix, Davis sold the idea to the rest of the club of harvesting native seeds for later sowing on the identified parcel. For more than two years, club members have been collecting and storing up seed, assisted by AGFC botanists. Along the way, Davis secured nearly $5,000 in grants through the Garden Club of America to help pay for the effort.

“Not everyone in our club is into flower arranging. Not everyone grows stuff,” she said. “This gave us great variety for people, especially those wanting to do conservation and recycling. It really gives them something to be excited about.”

The accumulated seed will be put down by year’s end to sprout as wildflowers in the spring. This will not only provide cover for quail, but also attract butterflies and pollinators. Davis is already thinking about what comes next.

“To see those 12 acres restored, we can move along and proceed from there and get another piece of land. I think this can keep going,” she said.

“I really can’t wait to see the people come out and see what we planted, to go see it in the spring.

“People are so excited in our garden club about it. People who dress up all the time have come out in their boots and their hats and gloves and picked seed and loved it. It got people out there who would have never been in the wild otherwise.”

30 | Arkansas Wild NOVEMBER 2020

BILL THORNE Bill Thorne owes his childhood love of fishing — including an early interest in fly-fishing — to his late grandfather. Then, moving to Arkansas in 1978, he began exploring various fishing holes and lakes and kindling a spark for fly-fishing for trout into a full-on love affair. The more he fished, the more interested he became in conservation.

He attended his first Trout Unlimited event in Fayetteville in the mid-1990s and the die was struck for a long volunteer career preserving and enhancing the state’s trout fishing.

“We’ve been very active in a lot of the issues, hog farming on the Buffalo River, dissolved oxygen issues, things like that,” he said. “Minimum flow was probably the biggest thing during my tenure at Trout Unlimited. We didn’t have minimum flow on the White River in Norfork back when I got started.

We worked hand-in-hand with Arkansas Game and Fish to achieve minimum flow, which guaranteed a minimum amount of water that would be released from the tailwater through the dams. That guaranteed the survivability and the quality of our trout.”

Thorne’s activism took him to leadership positions. He served two terms as president of TU Chapter 514 in Northwest Arkansas, then moved to Mountain Home and served three terms as president of TU Chapter 698, a post he holds today. From there, he served five years as Arkansas Council Chair, the liaison between all the chapters and the state, and finally, five years as National Leadership Representative for Arkansas.

Six years ago, he also co-chaired the state’s Women’s Initiative of Trout Unlimited, now focusing on diversity in general, part of a larger mission to increase access to trout fishing for kids and underserved populations.

“We’re trying to make Trout Unlimited look more like our population and not just like an old, rich, white guy’s club,” he said. “Diversity to us includes women and families and children and exposing all sorts of folks to the sport that we love.”

Being involved at the national level has shown Thorne just how good Arkansas’s trout fishing is and how far it’s come.

“To be honest, we didn’t get much respect among trout fishing purists on the east and west coasts until about 10 years ago,” he said. “The work we started back in the 1980s planting eggs has continued, and now we’re seeing a population of Bonneville cutthroats actually reproduce in the White River.

“By developing these wild strains of trout in a tailwater, we’re gaining some national respect not only for size, but the quality of our fish. The White River below Bull Shoals Dam is known throughout the world, at this point, for trophy brown trout. To see that mentality shift has probably been what I take the most pride in, seeing how our sport has changed for the better.”

“DIVERSITY TO US INCLUDES WOMEN AND FAMILIES AND CHILDREN AND EXPOSING ALL SORTS OF FOLKS TO THE SPORT THAT WE LOVE.” 32 | Arkansas Wild NOVEMBER 2020

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 33

BRAD WIMBERLY Brad Wimberly’s connection to The Natural State in general and the Mulberry River in specific is a love affair measured in decades. The Louisiana native began a series of personal whitewater pilgrimages in the 1970s, moved to Arkansas full-time in 1980 and bought the then-70-year-old Turner Bend Store a year later.

“I was back and forth down to the Mulberry and saw that Turner Bend was going to change hands or at least be rented to somebody else,” he said.

“That’s when I jumped in.”

Along with resuscitating the store and expanding the business into cabins, canoes and the range of services it provides today, the soft-spoken Wimberly quickly became the most vocal activist the Mulberry River would ever have.

“I think conservation has always been in my DNA,” he said. “I remember my very first trip to the Mulberry, we were getting ready to get on the river and there was trash lying all around. So, I insisted that I and my fellow floaters bag it up. We didn’t have any way to haul it all out of there; I think we just bagged it up and set it on the side of the road. But it was like, ‘We ought to clean this up before we get on the river.’

“Once I went into business, Turner Bend itself needed cleaning up. It was a dump right here. But the Mulberry also had lots of issues with trash, people just dumped their stuff on the edge of the river.”

Fighting a losing battle against litter on his own, Wimberly took the advice of a U.S. Forest Service official who suggested an organized cleanup.

Sounding like a good idea, Wimberly mentioned the event in his company newsletter with no idea if anyone would show up.

“And, by golly, they were just breaking the door down to get in and help,” he said. “I mean, not as big a crowd as we have now, but there were dozens that showed up for the very first time. I thought, we’re onto something now.”

From the cleanup, which has continued to today, Wimberly helped found the Mulberry River Society about 12 years ago. He still serves as treasurer for the group, which has built the access points at High Bank and Indian Creek upriver from the store. In 2013, Wimberly received the Arkansas Environmental Stewardship Award for his work to keep the Mulberry and surrounding environs beautiful.

Wimberly is proud of that work and the role it has played in attracting generations of paddlers and hikers that have come since.

“I guess when you say ‘Arkansas’ this is what I think of; this, where my home is now for all these decades,” he said. “I think it represents the iconic landscape of what you think of when you think of Arkansas: the mountains, the free-flowing streams, national forest, all that.”

“I THINK CONSERVATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN MY DNA.” 34 | Arkansas Wild NOVEMBER 2020

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 35

DUELING A DINOSAUR

TROLLING AN ARKANSAS RESERVOIR ON A BUCKET-LIST GATOR HUNT.

BY ANNE MARIE DORAMU

A

lligators have never bothered me. I do not want to swim in their lake or step on one in tall grass, but from a distance they do not scare me. I think they are beautiful reptiles, the closest relatives to dinosaurs still walking the earth.

As temperatures rise in the spring, alligators start to make their appearance. I see them soak in the sun on a log or a riverbank not minding anything or anyone, but simply taking in the afternoon summer heat through their scaly skin.

The author, who Alligators serve a great had long listed purpose to Arkansas; without Arkansas alligator them, southern areas of the on her hunting bucket list, finally state would be overtaken with lands her quarry. undesirable pests. As such, they are embedded in The Natural State’s ecosystem and are here to stay.

It has not always been this way. Alligator Mississippiensis was once listed as an endangered species in Arkansas due to overhunting and habitat loss. After successful reintroduction by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission — with the help of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries — the animal’s numbers rebounded sufficiently to enact an alligator hunting season.

Every year, more than 5,000 would-be gator hunters enter the lottery for one of the coveted hunting tags, myself among them. However, luck was never on my side and hunting alligator remained out of my reach for many years.

So, I was pleased to see a new regulation giving private landowners the opportunity to hunt separately from the permit draw. I was even more pleased when former AGFC Commissioner Rick Hampton extended an invitation to hunt his reservoir.

Our party set out at 8 p.m., each doused with enough bug spray to ignite a small nuclear explosion. Hardly a minute into the marsh, we spotted our first alligator.

Shining our light toward what seemed like a small figure peeking out of the water, only the brow, red eyes and tip of the nose were exposed.

“That’s a good one,” said Jason Berry, the party’s gator whisperer. As the boat aimed northwest toward our target, he handed me a harpoon.

36 | Arkansas Wild NOVEMBER 2020

“OK, you know what to do, right?” he asked. “Be sure to hit it right behind the front leg. And hit it hard!”

I stood on the front of the boat gliding across the water, deep breaths, heart pounding, ready to roll. The 100-yard boat trip seemed to last a lifetime as we came up on the creature’s left. At the moment of truth, I lifted the harpoon over my right shoulder and thrust the tip of the spear toward the beast. A jarring impact shot through the length of my arm and for a moment I was sure I had broken my wrist.

“That was like hitting concrete,” I said, wrist throbbing, my alligator disappeared underneath the muddy water.

“You hit him in the back,” said Berry. I’d opened my bucket list adventure with a miss.

We continued our journey motoring through the buckbrush and moss to enter the south section of the reservoir. A sea of red eyes constantly watched from a distance as we advanced deeper into their home front. Along the way, we ran up on a group of black bellied whistling ducks, another creature that has made an incredible comeback from the brink of extinction.

At last, we stopped the boat to look around. About 200 yards to the west, we had another target. Again the boat turned, putting me on a collision course with my prehistoric prey. My wrist stung, but I was calm and feeling confident as Berry handed me the harpoon.

“You’ve got this,” I thought to myself, then reared back and fired away. This time the lance struck true.

“Got him! Right behind his left leg!” Berry cried out, but the 7-foot swamp monster wasn’t going down easy. He tried to run, tried to roll, tried to dive. I got him secured with a rope attached to the harpoon, then hauled him next to the boat. My 870 Remington 12-gauge barked and red eyes faded to black. The hunt is over, save for rounds of high-fives and laughter.

As we headed back to shore with our prize, the adrenaline subsided and the night was peaceful once more. Insects seemed to sing in unison of our exploits, a chorus of adventure in the ink-black Arkansas night. My first gator hunt, so long in the making, had been well worth the wait.

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THE PLACE TO STAY & PLAY THIS WINTER...

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BEAR CREEK LOG CABINS

5 Minutes South of the Buffalo National River Swimming & Fishing Private ATV, Hiking & Cycling Trails Wildlife Watching Natural Dark Sky Accommodation (Arkansas Natural Sky Association)

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 five 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 about five minutes south of Middle Buffalo access areas, Ozark Highland Trail, and the Ozark Grinder Trail but you will also find plenty of trails right on the Bear Creek property for hiking, cycling 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, with a 22-acre stocked lake with dock and fishing boat right out the back door, is also a favorite location for all ages.

The spacious cabins feature native rock fireplaces, outdoor fire pits, charcoal grills, full kitchens, linens, flat screen tvs with satellite reception (including SEC and ESPN channels), wi-fi and heat/air that will accommodate up to 48 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.

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6403 N HWY 65 | ST. JOE, AR | 870.448.5926 BUFFALORIVERLOGCABINS.NET