Arkansas Wild | January 2019

ARKANSAS WILD meet this year’s

JANUARY 2019 ARKANSASWILD.COM ARKANSASWILD.COM | 1

making memories since 1958.

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GEAR FOR A YEAR Make it a WILD Holiday

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A GOLDEN ACHIEVEMENT

ANYA BRUHIN BY DREW HARRIS

Ranger Boats Marks 50th Year

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NATURAL STUDY BREAK Arkansas Colleges Take it Outdoors

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CHAMPIONS OF THE WILD The Magnificent Seven

DEPARTMENTS

16 KEEPING IT NATURAL 24 EXPLORE ARKANSAS 46 ARKANSAS ORIGINAL 4 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

ON THE COVER: Jim hinkle of mountain home, one of our champions of the wild.

Photography by Drew Harris.

You wear the vest. So wear the belt.

You wouldn’t go to the deer woods without your hunter orange.

So why drive your truck without a seat belt? · Pickup trucks are twice as likely to roll over as cars. · Seat belts reduce the risk of dying in a rollover crash by 75%.

Play it safe in the woods and behind the wheel.

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

TZDArkansas.org

ARKANSAS WILD Do something good for yourself

ARKANSASWILD.COM FOLLOW US FOR MORE WILD

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KATHERINE DANIELS Publisher katherine@arktimes.com DWAIN HEBDA Editor dwain@arktimes.com MANDY KEENER Creative Director mandy@arktimes.com

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Arkansas Times Limited Partnership 201 E. MARKHAM ST., SUITE 200 LITTLE ROCK, AR 72201 501-375-2985 All Contents © 2019 Arkansas Wild

CONTRIBUTORS

DREW HARRIS, a Jonesboro native, is

an active fisherman and outdoor type. He loves nothing more than being outside and capturing the place he calls home. No matter the season, there is always something to see.

Find him at drewharrisphotography.com

APRILLE HANSON is a freelance writer

for Arkansas Wild. She has been a reporter for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, The Trucker newspaper, Truckload Authority magazine and is currently the associate editor of the Arkansas Catholic newspaper. She lives in Conway with her husband and three furbabies.

BOB ROBINSON enjoys all things

outdoors and is the author of three bicycle guidebooks, all of which can be purchased at spiritscreek.com.

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 7

FROM THE EDITOR

THE FIFTH SEASON

One of things I love most about Arkansas is the changing of the seasons. On the Midwestern Plains where I was raised, winter tended to get her hooks into the calendar and—like a distant relative who couldn’t take a hint—often arrived early and left late. Thus, it wasn’t uncommon to miss a springtime or have the fall colors cut short. Not so in the Natural State.

And, as anyone who lives here knows, Arkansas’s Fifth Season is now upon us, those splendid closing months of the year that are like no other. With hunters back to the timber for duck, deer and turkey, the rituals of the Fifth Season are as old as this place, celebrated across multiple generations.

This issue sends along a little bit of that spirit with the announcement of our Champions of the Wild honorees. These six individuals and one organization exemplify what life in the outdoors, conservation, service and the joy of nature is all about. Our state is lucky to have such people and we’re glad to recognize them.

We also spotlight three of our state’s colleges that are weaving Arkansas’s outdoors into their recreation programs. You can read about the work Ducks Unlimited and USA Rice are doing to help improve the mallard habitat and check out some great gear suggestions for the outdoor enthusiast on your gift list.

While you’re out there doing your thing, don’t forget to share! Send us your best adventure shots on Instagram and let us know where you’ve been.

Travel well, roam far and may the blessings of the season be yours.

Dwain Hebda Editor, Arkansas Wild

8 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

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OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS

GEAR FOR A YEAR No matter if they dig the woods, the water or the trail, Arkansas Wild has you covered. Check out your local Arkansas outdoor retailer for this terrific gear.

1 3 2 4 6 Get the best-selling steel shot in Arkansas, Federal Speed-Shok in12 gauge. The 3-inch shells offer reliable 1¼-ounce waterfowl loads packaged in 2, 3, 4 and BB shot sizes. Get a box at Fort Thompson Sporting Goods (FtThompson. com).

2. 750 GLADIATOR

The new shallow draft mud boat from War Eagle Boats. The Gladiator is made for getting you to that perfect duck hole with an extended duckbill bow to part brush and deflect water. To see the full War Eagle line or to find a dealer visit wareagleboats.com.

10 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

3. MATHEWS TRIAX

A standout at this year’s Archery Trade Association show, the 28-inch Mathews Triax will change your thinking about short axle-to-axle models. Perfectly balanced and a joy to shoot, it’s the bow that has testers drooling. (mathewsinc.com)

4. DELTA ZIP WADER

Versatile and durable, Sitka Delta Zip Wader in GORE™ OPTIFADE™ Timber features a waterproof YKK AQUASEAL® Zipper, GORE-TEX® Pro laminate and lightweight and warm LaCrosse® AeroForm® insulated boot. Get it at Fort Thompson Sporting Goods.

(FtThompson.com)

5. WHITE RIVER WADER JACKET

Now sporting Realtree Timber™ Camo print, the Banded White River Wader jacket is ready to hunt anywhere. Warm and functional, it’s sure to be your new favorite. Available at Fort Thompson Sporting Goods. (FtThompson.com)

6. RNT ORIGINAL

The call that made Rich-N-Tone famous, this is the company’s original single-reed duck call. It’s the one call that does it all. (rntcalls.com)

PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF VENDORS

1. SPEED-SHOK ARKANSAS EDITION

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ARKANSASWILD.COM | 11

OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS

HERE FISHY, FISHY 1

Land the big one and look good doing it with this fish-forward gear.

1. TRAPPER 12 FOOT SOLO CANOE

Building on a classic design, the Nova Craft Trapper provides a stable fishing platform and a light, maneuverable craft for your backcountry canoeing adventures. Get it at JB Trading Company (jbtradingco.com).

2

Designed specifically for women, Fishpond’s one-size-fits-most fishing vest handles your fishing gear in style.

Fine details include lined hand-warmer pockets, lightweight and adjustable straps to fit as well as it organizes your tackle.

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3. KAYAK V-CRATE

This ain’t your PawPaw’s tackle box!

Innovative design delivers a highly ergonomic box that fits easily in the rear compartment of almost any fishing kayak. Plano’s angled tackle storage bays feature easily accessible stowaway trays, while the center compartment handles everything else.

4. MEGA DAWG

Big fish look for a big meal and the Strike King Mega Dawg delivers with a 6-inch, 2-ounce lure the monsters can’t resist. The lure isn’t subtle and it’s not supposed to be, mimicking wounded prey that drive the largemouths crazy.

5. COLT SERIES

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The Dobyns Colt proves you can have a solid fishing rod without taking out a second mortgage. At just $80, it’s appealing for the budget-conscious angler while delivering performance that rivals much pricier models.

PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF VENDORS

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OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS

1

PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF VENDORS

2

PACK FOR ADVENTURE

3

Send ’em out and bring ’em home safely in 2019.

4

6

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1. BASECAMP X

From Airstream, the people that designed America’s most iconic trailer, comes Basecamp X, packed with innovative features and accessories that increase departure angle and durability for more allterrain use. See it for yourself at Crain RV (crainrv.com).

2. INREACH EXPLORER

There’s some stuff you want and some stuff you need. Garmin’s satellite communicator is the latter, providing two-way communications to family and emergency services, plus mapping and weather features, cell signal or no cell signal.

3. MOAB 2 MID VENTILATOR BOOTS

One of the most popular brands on the market, Merrell delivers lightweight comfort at a great price. The Ventilator model provides exceptional breathability without sacrificing durability; there’s also a waterproof version if you so require.

Available in men’s and women’s models.

4. PORTABLE SOLAR CHARGER

Whether hiking or climbing, every ounce of gear has to count. This number from Voltaic Systems comes in at just over one ounce, charges from sunlight and stores power in its internal battery. It’s ideal for keeping devices charged no matter where you are.

5. PROMASTER DIVER

Look sharp and keep on schedule with this handsome men’s watch.

Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology powers this watch by light—any light —so it never needs a battery. The Super Titanium™ case and bracelet stand up to whatever you and the outdoors can throw at them. Find it at Wilkerson Jewelers in Stuttgart. (wilkersonjewelers.com)

6. ATMOS AG 65 BACKPACK

Best-in-class ventilation and body contouring puts Osprey’s Atmos on many Best Of lists, and more than its share of top rankings. Its smart design helps you shoulder the load in comfort, be it for a day or an extended trek.

ARKANSAS WILD contact us with editorial ideas, photography or advertising.

Contact Katherine Daniels at katherine@arktimes.com ARKANSASWILD.COM | 15

KEEPING IT NATURAL The Rice Stewardship Partnership between Ducks Unlimited and USA Rice is helping to keep fields like this one full of mallards come duck season.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER PARTNERSHIP PROMOTES CONSERVATION FOR HUNTERS, FARMERS

W

hat’s good for rice is good for ducks, and working wetlands are good for people.

So explains Scott Manley, director of conservation innovation for Ducks Unlimited.

DU is partnering with USA Rice to lead the Rice Stewardship Partnership (RSP), launched in 2013 to conserve the delicate balance of working ricelands, wetland wildlife and watersheds in Arkansas and the country’s other rice-growing states – Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Missouri and California.

“We protect what we love, and few appreciate the outdoors and wildlife as much as hunters,” Manley said.

Arkansas is the center of rice production in the U.S.—producing half of the nation’s output (1.5 million of 3 million acres)­—it is also big on ducks. The Arkansas Delta sits like a bullseye under the Mississippi Flyway; Luke Naylor of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission calls it a funnel for mallard migration.

Arkansas leads the country in mallard harvest, taking more than a million over the course of the 2016 and 2017 seasons, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. And it’s second in total duck harvest with about 2.1 million birds in 2016 and 2017. (California hunters harvest a virtual smorgasbord of ducks, from mallards and green-winged teal to northern pintail and wigeon, totaling 2.4 million birds in 2016-17.)

Given its predisposition for rice and ducks, Arkansas serves as an ideal laboratory for the Rice Stewardship Partnership. The project is largely funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the federal farm bill and supported by a who’s who of public and private entities with a 16 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

PHOTOS: DUCKS UNLIMITED

BY MARK CARTER

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The Range is open to the public. Fall/Winter hours: 9am-5pm, Wednesday through Sunday.

The perfect place to sharpen your duck hunting skills!

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Producing half of the nation’s output, rice is Arkansas’s cash crop in every sense of the word.

shared vision for conservation.

Josh Hankins, director of grower relations and rice stewardship for USA Rice and based in Little Rock, said the partnership’s goal is to ensure the sustainability of rice agriculture in the U.S. “Rice lands are working wetlands,” he said. “They provide wildlife habitat, water quality and quantity benefits, and many other wetland functions and values.

The cost of replacing working ricelands with natural wetlands would exceed $3.5 billion.”

Since its launch, the RSP has been awarded eight Regional Conservation Partnership Project (RCPP) contracts across the six rice-growing states through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. These projects are expected to be fully implemented by 2024 and will provide financial assistance of more than $80 million to rice producers for implementation of conservation practices.

The RSP now boasts a field team of more than 20 staff members who work with employees of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service at 90 field offices across the country.

One such RCPP project, launched earlier this year, targets rice growers in 30 counties in east and central Arkansas. Funded through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, it aims to help farmers grow their operations while implementing conservation practices that ensure sustainability of the land.

By 2024, the RSP expects to have positively impacted more than 770,000 acres of rice and rice-rotation lands.

And that’s good for ducks as well as people.

DU’s long history of working with rice growers and other farmers to promote conservation is testament to the symbiotic relationship of hunter and farmer. Though technology continues to reduce the number of farm hands needed and culture beckons young people to urban areas, 18 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

those staying on the farm are embracing conservation.

“Of particular importance for the future of rice farming and conservation are the young, beginning farmers we serve,” said Andi Cooper, DU’s communications specialist for its southern region. “The national average for young farmers as primary operators in rice is just 8 percent.

Through aggressive and targeted outreach efforts, 22 percent of RSP contract holders are young farmers. The next generation of farmers is embracing natural resource conservation, and we will be here to support them for years to come.”

Laudies Brantley is a third-generation Arkansas farmer who understands the balance that exists between hunting and farming. His Brantley Farms operates roughly 10,000 acres, mostly in southern Lonoke County, with roughly a fourth of the acreage devoted to rice. Once the harvest is in, his rice fields trade farmers focused on the ground for hunters watching the skies.

“For an old guy like me on the farm, to finally get a crop out and go hunting in November, it’s great fun,” he said.

“It’s a very important part of our lives. What we’re doing is just standard procedure. The crop cycles and hunting season, it just all falls into place.”

The Rice Stewardship Partnership was created to help make sure that balance remains for future generations.

Rice Stewardship Partnership funders include the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Walmart Foundation, the Mosaic Company Foundation, Nestlé Purina PetCare, Chevron U.S.A., Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, Irene W. and C.B. Pennington Foundation, RiceTec, BASF, American Rice, Inc. – Riviana Foods, Inc., Delta Plastics, AnheuserBusch InBev, Wells Fargo, Farmers Rice Milling Company, Horizon Ag, Turner’s Creek & Bombay Hook Farms, MacDon Industries, Dow AgroSciences, Riceland Foods and Ducks Unlimited major sponsors.

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ARKANSAS MADE

A GOLDEN ACHIEVEMENT RANGER BOATS MARKS 50TH YEAR

BY APRILLE HANSON

W

hen Forrest L. Wood and his wife Nina unveiled the first six Ranger Boats in the rural town of Flippin, Ark. in 1968, fishermen at the time made a bold prediction.

“I can remember seeing a quote … ‘a boat couldn’t get any better,’” said Matt Raynor, Ranger Boats marketing director. “To see how far that has come over 50 years is pretty incredible.”

Luckily for customers, those early fishermen were wrong.

Ranger Boats, which builds and sells approximately 3,500 fiberglass and 3,000 aluminum boats annually, is credited with creating what is understood today as the modern bass boat. The company is celebrating 50 years of not only innovation, but a desire to maintain a smallbusiness feel for its customers. It employs about 1,100 people between its fiberglass plant and aluminum boat factory in Flippin, almost as much as the population itself, pegged at 1,355 in 2010.

20 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

“We’re most proud of the reputation that was built over the 50 years, to be a company that is so known for quality products. You’ve got a family of customers across the country that in a lot of cases save their entire lifetime just to purchase your product,” Raynor said.

In 2014, Bass Pro acquired Ranger Boats, but that hasn’t disrupted the small-town environment for the customer or employee. Unlike many competitors, much of the boat components are made in-house, including upholstery. Sitting on 40 acres, the buildings are set up for approachability, allowing easy communication between employees and executives.

“The town there in Flippin is especially small, so you’re eating with the same people, going to church with the same people,” Raynor said.

Though it boasts small-town charm, Ranger is hardly stationary when it comes to innovation.

“On the aluminum side, we’ve been the first to integrate a lot of fiberglass manufacturing into the boats. You’ve seen

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RANGER BOATS

Quality craftsmanship and innovation have kept Ranger flying for 50 years.

other competitors that have come into the market and try to rip that look off and do very similar things,” Raynor said.

In 2017, Ranger Boats launched its first pontoon line and sells about 600 annually so far. The company also produces a variety of saltwater vessels.

In honor of the 50th anniversary, Ranger Boats released the limited edition Z521L ICON last year with all the bells and whistles, including a unique color scheme, custom steering wheel and floor mats, LED lighting, a Lowrance HDS 16-inch Carbon and a Minn Kota Ultrex 112 trolling motor. It is no longer in production, with just 150 to 200 created. On July 23, it was sitting on the White House lawn for the Made in America event, which chose one company from each state to show off their product.

“There are photos of President Trump with one of our well-known fisherman there at the White House, examining the boat, learning about Ranger,” Raynor said.

Ranger Boats is a major sponsor of the popular FLW Tour, named for Ranger’s founder F.L. Wood.

Raynor said tournaments have been integral to the company’s initial and continued success.

“Forrest and his wife Nina really tapped into the growing scene of tournaments and I think knowing that in order to grow their brand, they needed to be where fishermen are,” he said. “So we feel adamant about that today, that’s still a guiding principal for the company.

You’ve got to be a steward and a part of building the playground for which your products are used.”

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 21

Workers apply decals and check the finish in the plant’s paint shop. Manufacturing technology has advanced mightily since the early days. Employees at the climate-controlled Flippin plant combine years of experience with the latest tools such as computerized designs to create Ranger boats.

THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING Forrest L. Wood, 86, invented the modern bass boat­­—and he’s not done yet

At the company’s core, “we are building highly technical boats for competitive fishermen” and are well known at the highest levels of the sport, Raynor said. However, they are also active in grassroots regional and triple-A circuit fishing tournaments, supporting “weekend warrior anglers that aren’t doing this as their full time job.”

“They’re the folks that support our brand and are really our key customer,” Raynor said. “… We feel that’s a great opportunity for us to continue to interact with our customer and support them where they are.”

22 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

In 1968, general contractor, cattleman and fishing guide Forrest L. Wood built the first bass boats, all six of them, in the back of a service station in Flippin, Ark. He just didn’t know it at the time.

“We didn’t call them bass boats then,” Wood said in a rumbling sugar maple drawl. “We called them lake boats.”

Today, those humble crafts are seen for what they were, the archetype for what is now a multi-billion industry. But for the man who lived it – who with his wife Nina birthed Ranger Boats and made Arkansas the center of the bass boat universe – it’s an accomplishment viewed through a very simple lens.

“We listened to what people wanted,” he said.

“People buy boats because they want them and they have ideas about them. So, we were able to build what people wanted and were pretty successful at it.”

Wood’s attention to detail and ability to deliver boats that performed well and looked good developed an instant, rabid following—just two years after Ranger produced the original six boats, the company shipped 1,200 units. But no matter how big the company got, Wood resolved it would never outgrow Flippin.

“(Locating here) was a priority because we were from here and we had good help,” he said. “We had invitations from some other places for a free building to encourage us to move off someplace else. But we never gave it any thought because of the kind of help we had here. The secret is having good people.”

Wood was equally instrumental in fostering the growth of professional fishing tournaments. He developed early relationships with Ray Scott, who formally launched B.A.S.S. in 1968, as well as outdoor TV personalities the late Harold Ensley and the late Virgil Ward.

“Just happened to meet the right people at the right time at the right place,” Wood said. “They were excited about something new.

Fishing tournaments were just beginning, and we got into some of those and realized that we needed to help the sport to grow. We did spend quite a bit of money as time went on, giving boats for prizes for fishing tournaments.”

“With all due modesty, we had a lot to do with the growth of the sport back in those days. Of course, growing the sport made more customers for us.”

When Wood sold out in the 1990s, the company had more than 300 employees making roughly 20 boats a day to satisfy almost 300 dealers nationwide. Since then, he’s never been far from the sport he loves and the state that supports it. He’s the namesake for FLW and its fishing tournaments, including the prestigious Forrest Wood Cup. He’s been inducted into no fewer than eight halls of fame and is renowned for his conservation work. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission even named Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center for him.

Today, he’s lending his considerable experience to Vexus Boats, a venture of his grandson, Keith Daffron.

“To see Vexus build a building like they have there, it’s just a great facility. And they have a lot of experience there in building boats,” Woods said. “They’re just doing such a remarkable job. They will continue the tradition that we had at Ranger, for a lifetime really.”—DH

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EXPLORE ARKANSAS

INSTANT CLASSIC

HIKING THE LAST LEG OF THE BUFFALO RIVER TRAIL

BY BOB ROBINSON

Our hiking group poses on Kimball Bluff with an unobstructed view of the Buffalo River.

N

ot long ago, I led a backpack trip on a section of trail that was at the top of my bucket-list hikes in Arkansas: the Buffalo River Trail. As it turned out, it was also high on other hikers’ lists, with the adventure filling up just two days after posting it on the NWA Hiking Meetup website.

Twelve years in the making, the 28.5-mile extension to Buffalo River Trail (BRT) was completed in 2017. The BRT is a product of the National Park Service’s (NPS) “Trail Plan: Buffalo National River, Arkansas” created in 1987, an updated version of the NPS Final Master Plan from 1975.

Within the Trail Plan was a section asserting “Trails will be constructed to provide opportunities for hiking the entire length of the river…” Although the NPS’s intentions were admirable, the bulk of construction for both the original 52 miles of the BRT and the extension was achieved by volunteers working under the supervision of Kenneth L. Smith.

Smith has become a major authority on the river and its history, authoring both the “Buffalo River Handbook” and “The Buffalo River Country in the Ozarks of Arkansas”.

He once related to me that trail construction is both a skill and an art. And now, once again, he has crafted a new masterpiece for people to enjoy.

24 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

Beginning at Tyler Bend State Park (TBSP), the BRT’s previous eastern boundary, the new extension shadows the scenic river downstream to Dillard’s Ferry on State Highway 14. We began this backpack trip at Zack Ridge Road Trailhead, several miles east of TBSP. Shortly into our hike, we came across Horton Cemetery.

Exploring the graveyard’s well-kept grounds, we found the lone legible headstone of Thomas Treat (1848-1923), along with several unmarked upright native stones denoting the final resting place for other local residents.

This is one of the attractions that make the BRT such an interesting hike. Many remnants from early homesteaders of the 1830s still exist such as deteriorating structures, abandoned equipment and makeshift tools.

Our group investigated relics of a home site in an attempt to reconstruct what had once been a working, productive household.

Further along the hike, we witnessed a pair of 10foot concrete pillars standing guard in the bed of Brush Creek. These are the remains of the bridge over which the Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad (M&NA) travelled in 1910 on its scheduled route linking the Mississippi River to southern Missouri. With a reputation of frequently being late, locals joked M&NA stood for “May Never Arrive”.

LOCATION: Roughly seven miles north of Marshall, Arkansas, in Searcy County.

GPS: Zack Ridge Road: 35.9908,-92.6958.

AR-14 (Dillard’s Ferry): 36.0652, -92.5783.

Top to bottom: Dinner, adult beverages and conversation in the glow of a welcome campfire ends day one. High atop Kimball Bluff, Stacy Price pauses for a view of the river along the Buffalo River Trail. Linda Brown leads the group up one of many ridge trails on the BRT.

*Frequently intersected by gravel roads, the new BRT extension is convenient for day hikes and short out-and-back overnight trips, in addition to extended hikes. The National Park Service has plans to add access information and maps to their website to assist in planning your outings. In the interim, Michael Reed’s website, compulsivehiker.com, is currently the best reference when planning your Buffalo River Trail Extension adventure.

About 100 yards north from there, following the former railroad bed, we discovered a set of massive, 60-foot-tall concrete columns, evenly spaced across the riverbed. Standing beside these towering structures, it was difficult to visualize the scene of December 1982 when flood waters covered the tops of the piers.

Further along the BRT, in an unnamed drainage, we searched for a pre-Civil-War headstone that I had read about for one A.B. Still. With a thick blanket of freshly fallen leaves covering the ground, we were unable to locate the headstone. But it made for interesting exploration.

As intriguing as these and other artifacts are, the main attraction compelling visitors to walk the BRT is the Buffalo River itself. The nation’s first National River, it boasts 150 miles of pristine, emerald green waters bordered by sheer 300-foot bluffs nestled in the heart of the uplifted Ozark Plateaus. It is truly the crown jewel of the Natural State.

At the end of our first day of hiking, we settled atop one of the many mountainous knolls traversed by the BRT, then brushed leaves and sticks aside to create cozy tent sites. With an unobstructed view of the distant horizon we watched the bright red sunset fade away and the dark open sky fill with sparkling stars.

We did not encounter as many home sites on Day Two as we had the day before. However, this was more than offset by the BRT routing us along the rims of tall bluffs with sweeping views of the river below. This section of trail offers more extended hiking with views overlooking the river than any stretch I can name along the entire BRT. The views from atop Spring Creek Bluff and Kimball Bluff equal, if not surpass, the beauty of the well-known vantage points hikers have enjoyed for years on the original BRT. The extension is a great addition to what was already the best hiking trail in Arkansas.

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 25

Your next great adventure begins

in Hempstead County, where you’ll find rich history and captivating wilderness. The county includes two Wildlife Management Areas, Bois D’Arc and Hope, along with Millwood Lake, which features camping, picnicking, hunting, fishing and swimming. In the historic town of Washington, Old Washington State Park was a stopover for Sam Houston and Davy Crockett on their way to Texas and the Alamo. A local blacksmith site famous for crafting the original Jim Bowie’s knife still makes the knife today. In Hope, visit President Clinton’s first home, where you can learn about 26 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

the influences of Clinton’s childhood. Grandview Prairie Conservation Education Center is an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission multi-use area located in Columbus; it includes two public fishing lakes, Native American mounds and several hundred acres of Blackland Prairie and native wildlife. History is not forgotten at the Nevada County Depot and Museum in Prescott with displays featuring Indian artifacts, railroad memorabilia and Civil War relics. Relive the scenes from the Civil War battle sites and skirmishes that took place on Prairie Deann Battlefield, Battle of Moscow and Elkin’s Ferry Battlefield.

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 27

MORE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROMOTING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

BY ELIZABETH SILVERSTEIN

T

ake the Ozark Mountains, sprinkle in a little bit of the White River, scoop in some Mississippi River, a dash of hiking trails, and perhaps a pinch of rock climbing to open up a whole lot of possibilities.

To get students outside and utilize the natural landscape of Arkansas, institutions like the University of ArkansasFort Smith (UAFS), Arkansas Tech University (ATU), and Lyon College are starting to build more and more outdoor programs.

For Lyon, the outdoor adventures, which started about eight years ago, are just the beginning, according to Austin Smith, Director of Outdoor Education and Recreation.

There’s also a full bike shop in the Lyon Education and Adventure Program (LEAP) office that lets students learn how to work on their own bicycles. Plus, there are five miles of mountain bike trails around campus that Smith and his assistant maintain.

At UAFS, the outdoor program first developed in 2008, when staff decided to establish a committee and proposal for getting students active and outside. “We came together with staff from student affairs and sought out different people in the university community with expertise in different areas and brought them in to start the first semester,” explained Meighan Pendergrass, Director of Campus Recreation and Wellness.

Those first outdoor programs at UAFS launched in 2012 with geocaching, disc golf, canoeing and hiking. “We 28 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

PHOTOGRAPHY: LYON COLLEGE

Lyon College students take a hike as part of the LEAP program.

have a lot of great resources here in Arkansas within an hour of driving to Fort Smith, and there wasn’t anything planned, so we wanted to plan something for our students,” Pendergrass shared.

A coordinator now manages the adventures. “We plan everything for the student,” Pendergrass said. “All they do is go online and do an online registration link. We would take care of going there; we’d take care of rental. The student would pay the university and we’d provide the experience.”

Smith’s LEAP program at Lyon originated when a professor started extreme adventuring for students to get them outside, Smith explained. Now, adventure trips include multi-day travel to the Grand Canyon or down the White River. Spring break brings the opportunity to grab class credit with an outdoor leadership class. “There’s a lot of cool outdoor learning opportunities,” Smith said.

All three institutions offer equipment rentals at no cost to students, with UAFS offering just hammocks for now with room to grow, while Lyon and ATU provide items such as bikes, hammocks, canoes, and kayaks. Lyon has additional items in the form of paddle boards, tents, stoves and backpacks, and will only add financial charges if there’s damage or an item has been stolen. ATU will charge a five dollar late fee per day up to five days. “If they fail to return or it’s stolen, we do potentially charge a replacement fee, which does not necessarily cover

visit lyon.edu to start your greatest adventure.

the full cost of the equipment, but gives a sense of accountability to them,” said Steven Walton, graduate assistant in Outdoor Recreation at ATU. ATU offers the equipment rentals, bike repair shop, outdoor adventures and a climbing gym. All students with valid ATU ID can get free climbing passes.

Lyon’s program includes the rentals, the bike shop, the on-campus mountain biking and disc golf, along with a bouldering wall and a challenge course, open to the community, that runs yearround with elements like a zip line, a giant swing, and group building elements like a team wall and ladder. “They have to work together if they want to complete the activity,” Smith explained.

While there is no charge for equipment rental, the adventure trips at Lyon do carry some cost to the student, which is heavily subsidized by the university. A trip that might otherwise cost $500 ends up costing about $200. “It’s much more affordable,” said Smith. “This program creates a huge difference in life and overall happiness at a school known to be pretty tough. They can get out and unwind.”

The programs not only help provide the opportunity for active mind and bodies, but students are able to make connections. “If they both happen to be a part of an intramural team, this gives them the chance to meet a friend they wouldn’t have otherwise met in their college years,” Walton explained.

And then there are the life skills that can be developed on such adventures. “The goal is for students to have fun, exciting and adventure-based experiences,” said Pendergrass. “We want them to join the adventure, learn a new skill, meet new friends and explore beyond campus.”

The outdoor programs and on-campus offerings have given the colleges a bit of a recruiting edge.

ATU’s Time Out for Tech grants Campus Recreation the opportunity set up a table and share the program with high school seniors looking to learn more about programs and life on campus.

“Quite a few came up to me quite impressed,” said Walton. “‘I didn’t know this sort of stuff was offered here.’ This is a service or privilege offered to the students, and they really appreciate that.”

Likewise, Smith has found that the program has captured the interest of potential students. “A dad came up to me and said his son was coming to Lyon because of our program,” Smith shared. “I think that’s a neat thing we have going on.”

30 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

PHOTOGRAPHY: LYON COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FORT SMITH

Top to bottom: More Arkansas colleges are offering outdoor-oriented facilities and organized activities. Lyon College students tackle the climbing wall. UA Fort Smith students can enjoy a range of activities from hikes to kayaking. Disc golf provides a quick respite between classes at Lyon College.

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Champions come in all shapes and sizes. Some consciously put the common good ahead of their own, others elevate us by their inspiring example. Still others simply beckon, inviting us to enter that place where we are our better selves.

This year’s Champions of the Wild honorees each, in their own way, embody the very spirit of our majestic woodlands, our sparkling lakes and rivers, our pristine mountain pathways. Through them, we celebrate attention to habitat and species, indomitable spirit of adventure, dogged determination, nature as salvific therapy, lives of service and hope for all future generations.

Arkansas Wild is proud to honor these individuals.

We thank them for what they represent and for the collective legacy to which they now belong in this land we love and call home.

By Dwain Hebda Photography by Drew Harris

CONNIE OSLICA

Pipeline companies aren’t generally thought of as conservation-friendly; in fact, they’re often painted as the bad guys when it comes to the environment. That image bothers Constantine “Connie” Oslica, senior operations manager for Enable Midstream Partners, based in North Little Rock.

Oslica has been a company man for nearly 20 years, but he’s been an Arkansas outdoorsman his whole life.

Six years ago, he found a way to serve both, allowing the natural and the man-made to better co-exist.

“Whenever you run a business, one of the important things is to do a little good along the way,” he said. “One of the things my dad taught me was to be a conservationist.

If you’re going to go out and spend time in the woods and you’re going to hunt ducks or deer or turkey, you’ve got to take care of them, too.”

Oslica introduced Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM), a process that fundamentally changed how Enable maintained its pipelines. Arkansas was the pilot market for the program, now graduating to full-blown Integrated Habitat Management (IHM).

“Everywhere there’s a pipeline, there’s a right-of-way,” he said. “In the old-school world, we just mowed those right-of-ways. Today we’ve changed our habits and we’re doing something different.”

Workers no longer indiscriminately mow, and chemicals are used sparingly. Instead, employees walk the rightof-ways to take out woody and invasive vegetation giving beneficial native grasses and flora a chance to thrive.

34 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

That, in turn, is successfully providing habitat for game birds, Monarch butterflies and other pollinators such as honey bees.

“One of the big pushes for Arkansas Game and Fish is to bring the quail back,” Oslica said. “The habitat we are creating on our pipeline right-of-ways is very friendly for quail and for turkey, too. As small chicks, both are very vulnerable, and if you don’t have the right kind of habitat for them, they won’t survive.”

Now standard operating procedure across 7,000 acres in Arkansas, Oslica is working to expand it to other Enable markets, and he’s also not shy about sharing it with other companies, some of which have adopted the practices.

Quail Forever and National Wild Turkey Foundation have come calling and the program received a special award from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission earlier this year. Such accolades are nice, but Oslica has a bigger prize in mind.

“When I was about 12 years old, there were two years in a row where the Monarch migration literally came over the farm,” he said. “We had butterflies on those trees such that they were completely consumed. You couldn’t see the leaves, you couldn’t see anything. That had a huge impact on me; I thought it was the most wonderful thing I’d ever seen. I saw it two times as a kid, and I’ve not seen it since.”

“If we do things right and we restore our right-of-ways so that habitat is out there, maybe my granddaughters will see those butterflies one day.”

JILLIAN ELWART The word “prodigy” isn’t normally applied to someone in their mid-30s, but then Jillian Elwart isn’t your typical individual. A mother and a lifelong fitness buff, she came into paddling sports only recently, but with great fanfare, placing at prestigious competitions around the world.

“I did a trip with my boyfriend in Mexico. We did white water kayaking down there,” she said. “I ran into a gentleman by the name of Ben Kvanli who introduced me to flat water sprinting. I was hooked from that point on.”

“I did my first time trials back in 2015 in a borrowed boat. I really didn’t know what I was doing. But, it was an experience.”

Many athletes might have been shy about hardcharging into an activity without so much as the requisite equipment, but, again, Elwart is hardly typical. Born with a birth defect that resulted in a right malformed leg above the knee, she’s always felt the urge to push beyond her limits. Her considerable drive even outstripped the available prosthetic technology of the day.

“Today, we’ve got knees that have microprocessors in them that control where the limb is,” she said. “If I’m walking down a hill or walking up the hill, if I need to change my cadence and walk faster, walk slower, the knee is very responsive. But that technology has only been within the last probably 20 years maybe.”

Elwart said she was always active growing up, if not particularly athletic—especially over the past 15 years,as she threw herself into her education and being a devoted mom to daughter Abigail. Through competitive kayaking, she’s making up for lost time.

A Challenged Athlete’s grant in 2016 enabled her to buy her own kayak, and she burst into 2018 with reckless abandon. Nationals in Oklahoma City yielded two golds, a silver and three bronzes; Worlds in Portugal yielded fifth in one event and a semis berth in another.

“I did the Pan American Games in Nova Scotia in September,” she said. “In women’s para 200 I got fourth place. The first three places were taken by Olympians, so I was very pleased. I also got a personal best at that one.”

Whether or not her 2020 Olympic dreams pan out, Elwart is already a role model for others. Having completed prosthetics and orthotics school in California, she works as a pediatric prosthetist/orthotist at Shriners’ Hospital in Shreveport, La., fashioning high-tech limbs for children. Needless to say, it’s an audience she revels in serving.

“In pediatrics, I’m serving ages 0 to 18 and it’s incredibly rewarding,” she said. “Not only working with the kids but the parents as well. They realize life is going to be OK and it’s limitless for their children.”

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 35

JIM HINKLE

When Jim Hinkle was inducted into the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation’s Outdoor Hall of Fame in August, it was to an extended standing ovation befitting one who had devoted his life to service in the outdoors.

“I feel fortunate to have been raised in a family that strongly believed in our heritage to hunt and fish,” he said. “I was taught to give back, and I have tried to do that with resources as well as volunteering with various conservation organizations.”

The son of a Mountain Home banker, Hinkle’s outdoor experience connected him with his workaholic father, Glen, whose lone outdoor indulgences were hunting Arkansas quail and South Dakota pheasants. Hinkle’s paternal grandfather, Hubert, tutored his grandson on everything else.

“Deer, squirrel, rabbit—you name it—we pretty much got it all,” he said. “I was also very fortunate that we had numerous small, clear, spring-fed streams in Stone County where I’d fish for a variety of different fish.”

Turkey was not among his early quarry; the species being so scarce in Stone County that turkey hunting was largely a lost art. It’s an ironic twist in a life story that would later include terms as both an Arkansas Game and Fish Commissioner (1996 to 2003) and on the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) board (2004 to 2018).

“The pinnacle of my opportunities to serve was the appointment to the AGFC,” he said. “I learned so much and had the opportunity to meet and make great friends. The National Wild Turkey Federation was much like AGFC, in that they do so many great things of which most of the public has no knowledge.”

AGFC had just achieved passage of the Conservation Tax and much of Hinkle’s tenure was spent ensuring tax monies brought to fruition what had been promised.

In cooperation with his fellow commissioners, he lived up to these commitments through land acquisition and by building nature centers, setting a precedent for subsequent commissioners to follow.

He was similarly effective with NWTF – which included a stint as national president – changing the landscape for turkey hunting throughout North America. Today, 49 of the 50 states enjoy huntable turkey populations and the sport is far more accessible to youth, women and those with disabilities than when he started.

In retirement, he continues to foster wildlife on 900 acres he and wife Kay maintain strictly for habitat. His enjoyment of the outdoors is often had without taking a shot.

“I have somewhat lost the killer instinct, but I enjoy introducing people to the sport,” he said. “I get a big kick out of calling a bird, seeing them come in, hearing that bird gobble, seeing him strut, drum. It’s just one of the prettiest sights in the early morning that you’ve ever laid your eyes on. To be able to share that is really something special to me.”

36 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

CAMP ALDERSGATE Established 71 years ago as a day camp for children with asthma, Camp Aldergagte has grown to serve more than 1,700 kids annually. The 100-acre camp – hidden in plain sight in an urban forest – provides outdoor experiences for kids with a variety of medical conditions and special circumstances—activities they might not have access to otherwise.

Inclusion has always been the watchword for the camp, going all way back to its founding in 1947 on a former turkey farm that was at the time six miles outside the city limits. The earliest events held here helped address issues of race and included some of the first interracial summer camps in Little Rock.

Today, programming ranges from day camps for seniors and children 6 to 18 with special needs. It also hosts summer camps catering to kids with similar medical diagnoses including bleeding disorders, kidney disease and cancer. Another, Camp Kota, includes children with and without medical conditions.

Other camps and events are held in partnership with community organizations and groups. A partnership with the Arkansas Army National Guard provides a spring break retreat for kids whose parents are deployed or soon will be. Another, Camp Sunshine, hosts young burn survivors sponsored by Arkansas Professional Firefighters Association and Children’s Hospital.

And the organization continues to evolve, offering new camps that reflect the needs of the community. Camp Conquer, started last year, helps train high school peer leaders to identify and intervene when a classmate is struggling with thoughts of suicide. This summer, the inaugural Camp Hope welcomed kids who are survivors of domestic abuse, in partnership with Little Rock’s Women and Children First.

Even as the roster of camps continues to grow, Camp Aldergate’s fundamental formula remains unchanged.

Utilizing the property’s lake, lodges, walking trails, zipline, treehouses, fishing pier and other features, kids get the opportunity to swim, fish, climb and generally appreciate the outdoors regardless of health or physical limitations.

As such, Camp Aldersgate has become a highlyanticipated summer tradition and the site of countless campers’ first opportunity to get out on the water, explore a forest trail or even meet someone with the same life circumstance as their own. Even longtime staffers never tire of witnessing such triumphs.

“The most accepted you’ll ever feel is by somebody who has not felt accepted,” said Ali Miller Berry, director of programs. “They can offer love and that sense of well, come on in, you’re welcome here.”

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 37

ANYA BRUHIN

38 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

Anya Bruhin is living the dream many people long for, having transformed an activity she is passionate about into a professional career.

Currently a resident of Fayetteville, Bruhin was raised in nearby Farmington. She set out to be an educator and spent 11 years teaching ceramics to Pea Ridge middle and high schoolers. When her husband bought her a low-end mountain bike as a wedding gift, she began bicycling around the Fayetteville area with her son Fox in tow in a trailer and experienced firsthand the need for safe bicycle routes.

Not being the type to idly sit back and wait for others to implement change, she became involved with Bicycle Coalition of the Ozarks (BCO) to establish a safer bicycling environment. She also worked to establish outreach programs for children, to provide safe bike routes to school.

In 2016, the school superintendent received information from the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) related to establishing a mountain bike racing program. Seeing the word “cycling” in the title, he forwarded the literature to the “bike person” in the school district: her.

Bruhin, 40, accepted the challenge and threw herself into establishing, and then coaching, the Pea Ridge Blackhawk cycling team. She also scheduled clinics for students and went on to become a NICA Coach Supporter, which is someone who trains other coaches.

Her NICA duties led her to become involved with Ozark Off-Roads Cyclists (OORC), of which she became a board member. With the OORC, she became involved in mountain bike trail construction.

The trail she is most proud of being involved with is The Grove, located in Pea Ridge, which the Blackhawks practice on.

Her family has been very supportive of her mountain bike involvement, with her son participating in the Breakaway Cycling Cyclocross program.

Bruhin also enjoys leading bike clinics specifically tailored for women, explaining, “One of my greatest rewards is teaching women the skills they need to become comfortable inserting themselves into coed group rides.”

Anything Bruhin becomes involved with she becomes totally committed to, and in June of 2018 the staff at BikeNWA noticed that drive and hired her as Bike Program Manager for Washington County. In this position, Bruhin’s primary focus is advocating for on-street infrastructure for safe, comfortable and low-stress connectivity for people on bikes. She said her previous experience working with BCO’s various outreach programs – dating back to those early years of towing her son around town – prepared her well for the new role.

“I am so grateful that something that was a hobby, that I love so much, has become a career,” she said.

—Bob Robinson

KALEB TRAMEL The pride of Pottsville High School, Kaleb Tramel turned in a performance for the ages at the Arkansas National Archery in the Schools Program state championship last March. The event, sponsored by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and contested at Hot Springs’ Bank OZK Arena, showcased the best archers from across the state, from elementary through high school levels.

Tramel, now 17, scored 293 out of a possible 300 points en route to the title. His 30 scored arrows included 23 10-point bull’s-eyes and seven more arrows just outside the mark, each worth nine points. His score was two points better than second place and topped a field of 287 archers in his division. Just six points separated the top five place winners.

“I’ve gotten pretty close quite a few times,” he said. “I’d always been top 10, and I never kind of got there. So it was great last year.”

While admitting to a case of nerves, Tramel felt in a groove throughout the tournament, thanks to a training tactic he’d employed leading up to the big meet.

“Before we even left for Hot Springs, my coach let me get out a target where we practiced out at Pottsville,” he said.

“What I did is, I backed up to like 20 to 25 meters which is longer than what we normally shoot at. It made me focus on being consistent and all my fundamentals had to be perfect.”

“Once I get to 10 feet and 15 feet (competitive distances) it seemed a lot easier. It helped with my mechanics a lot.”

Tramel, a junior, was exposed to archery through his father’s bow hunting when Kaleb was a youngster. Even though the younger Tramel prefers to hunt with a firearm over a bow, the opportunity to compete in the sport was immediately appealing.

“In fifth grade, they said, ‘Hey, we’re doing archery.’ I was like, ‘Oh, cool,’” he said. “Went to the first practice and I felt like I could do pretty good at it.”

When he’s not hitting bull’s eyes, Tramel is hitting fastballs in his other favorite sport, baseball. A pitcher, catcher and first baseman, he and his mates made school history last season by advancing to the semis of the 4A state baseball tournament.

“Baseball’s that sport that’s all about perfection and being consistent and precise. I guess that kind of handeye coordination, along with the preciseness of the game, blends with the concept of archery,” he said. “Everything has to feel the same. If you’re shooting a bow, you want to make sure that your mechanics all feel the same. It’s all about feel.

“You can feel it when you mess up, and you can feel it when you swing a baseball bat, too. So yeah, they kind of go together and they’ve kind of helped each other.”

ARKANSASWILD.COM | 39

DEKE WHITBECK Since the day he took over as Executive Director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Deke Whitbeck’s focus has been on creating a better, more accessible outdoors experience for all Arkansans. It’s a catchy tune and one that more people in more parts of the state are marching to every day.

“I think we have got some great energy going on right now with the Commission and the Foundation and our future,” he said. “We are looking at some exciting opportunities coming up with public-private partnerships with like-minded people who are excited about the outdoors.”

Whitbeck took over the post in January 2017 and immediately started barnstorming the state, meeting people, shaking hands and generally dispelling any notion that central Arkansas was the organization’s only priority.

“The biggest chapter of Ducks Unlimited and National Wild Turkey Foundation is in northwest Arkansas,” he said. “I attended an event up there because I wanted to get the word out about Game and Fish, and we haven’t been as present as we need to be. They had 500 people there on a Monday night.”

Much of the excitement in northwest Arkansas has been surrounding the forthcoming $18 million nature center in Springdale. By all accounts, the new center will be the crown jewel in an already glittering diadem of similar facilities, and no one is better at selling the project than the homespun Whitbeck.

“We throw a big party, you know, come one, come all, for interested people who may be interested in conservation, who may be interested in duck hunting, who may be interested in bumblebees,” he said. “Just come listen to what we’ve got to share.”

He’s shown a similar touch with August’s Outdoor Hall of Fame banquet, the Foundation’s main fundraiser.

The 2018 event was bigger and better than ever, another testament to the momentum he’s generated.

“I think there was every bit of 1,500 people in the room,” he said, a broad grin creasing his face. “It was packed, and I love seeing that energy. People are excited about being there.”

Whitbeck is particularly committed to bringing more of the state’s youth back to the outdoors. The father of two girls—Cate, age 9, and Charley, age 5—he sees in them the ultimate goal for his life’s work. “(Technology’s)an everybody type of problem,” he said. “On my phone right now, I can pull up the next season of something and watch it all day long and miss the opportunity to take the girls down to the river and take a fishing pole. I think, as great as technology is, we have to be disciplined and put those devices down – parents, kids, grandmas, grandpas alike.”

“There’s so many things that nature teaches, like creativity and patience and persistence. Getting kids unplugged and engaged in the outdoors, that’s kind of my mantra.”

40 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

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, online promotion using Arkansas Wild digital media. If you would like to list your commercial or residential properties and rentals, contact katherine@arktimes.com.

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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!

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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 | 43

LEEWALSHPHOTOGRAPHY.US

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, with a 22-acre stocked lake with dock and fishing boat right out the back door, is also a favorite location.

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), 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.

• 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

44 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

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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 | 45

ARKANSAS ORIGINAL

How long has the Family and Community Fishing Program been around?

This program has been with Game and Fish at least 17 years. I came in when it was new. It had about four or five ponds that it stocked – started with Lake Village, came to Little Rock because of the population, it started off kind of slow. Once word got out to city officials that we’ll stock your city pond, it started many more ponds.

What are you up to today?

We have 41 core ponds statewide.

But we have a lot of second-tier ponds, almost 60.

Clint Coleman checks out the fishing pond at MacArthur Park in downtown Little Rock.

CLINT COLEMAN

TOOK A MODEST YOUTH FISHING PROGRAM AND TURNED IT INTO AN EVENT THAT DRAWS THOUSANDS. ARKANSAS WILD ASKED THIS PIED PIPER OF THE POND ABOUT BRIDGING THE GENERATIONS THROUGH ARKANSAS GAME AND FISH’S FAMILY FISHING PROGRAM.

46 | Arkansas Wild ¸ JANUARY 2019

You hold organized fishing events in addition to just keeping the ponds stocked, correct?

This catfish season, we’ve had about 22 events and a little over 26,000 people came to the locations to go fishing. We did one here in Little Rock called The Big Catch and we had 4,200 people at MacArthur Park fishing, plus BB gun, archery, canoeing, inflatables. Pulaski Tech culinary school came and cleaned fish for a demonstration and cooked fish.

That’s one big community event.

How do you manage something like that?

It’s not just Game and Fish. It’s Parks and Rec departments, church groups, sponsors. This takes community involvement and that’s one way this program has really, really taken off. It lets the community take hold of this and say this is our area, this is our give-back. We can target 100 kids here, 100 kids there and you get a little bang for your buck, but when you can get the community, the parents, everybody involved, that’s big.

Why do these events have such appeal?

The program is devised to start reaching kids in the third and fourth grade through fishing. But what has transpired is, you’ve got the young kids at the event and a lot of the parents are working, so you’ve got the grandparents bringing the kids and now you’ve got the two different generations. That’s the beautiful thing about fishing as opposed to any other sport. You can take a child that’s 2 years old and a great-great grandpa that’s 92 and they can fish together. You can’t do that with anything else.

There’s been a lot said about kids not going outdoors like they used to, yet you wouldn’t know it by the numbers you’re pulling.

When we grew up, our parents would say, “Go outside and play.”

That aspect was almost gone for a while. People think it’s dangerous.

“Somebody gonna snatch my baby.”

We didn’t think about that. We just ran outside and played. We try to show this new generation of parents that you can come outside, you can play, it’s safe.

So you’re the gateway to everything else, is that it?

One thing about Arkansas that’s so great is, we are the Natural State. So how can we be remiss in saying, “Hey, we need to go outside and go walk the creek and turn a rock over and see if there’s a crawdad up under it”? Rather than be afraid of the crawdad, if it walked or wiggled we picked it up. But kids now, you pick up an earthworm, they’re freaking out.

The cultural thing about it is everybody likes to play. I think once we realize that outdoor activity, whether it’s hiking or fishing, starts just by getting a child or even an adult who’s never done it outside, the rest will take care of itself.

Have a day off

IN LITTLE ROCK? Here’s how to spend it.

Pick up your rod and reel to help you with your adventures.

TO LEARN MORE VISIT Head off to one of Little Go on a hike at Petit Rock’s stocked ponds Jean Mountain and adventurenatural.com see the beautiful trails, MacArthur Park that’s just c=85 m=19 y=0 k=0 c=57 m=80 y=100 k=45 c=20 m=0 y=40 k=6 minutes away from the waterfalls and overlooks Arkansas has to offer. nature center. c=15 m=29 y=33 k=0

c=100 m=0 y=91 k=42

c=30 m=0 y=5 k=0

Take a walk around the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center located in downtown Little Rock.