ducktape January 7th, 2009

Frustration in an Arkansas duck hunter’s mind can be seen when everything seems perfect — you have a perfectly laid-out spread, you’re enticing them with the most seducing welcome call — but ducks lock-up, make a pass and just don’t circle back.

What happened? Those birds were totally committed to your spread, but when that last turn came around, they simply did not make it. Experience says your early season decoy spread and/or your perfect calling did not entice those late season weary, hard-nosed ducks.

“I hunt in rice fields, where many hunters leave huge spreads out all year,” Dr. Brian Davis says. “They work well early in the season. But by late December and January, the ducks have started pair-bonding. Then I do better with a small spread that mimics this change in the birds’ behavior.”

Changing your strategy late in the Arkansas duck hunting season makes the difference in limiting out and breakfast at the Hurley House in Hazen, or not limiting out and lunch at the Hurley House. This post will cover calling and decoy strategies for Arkansas duck hunting late in the season.

Continued in the Arkansas Duck Hunting Forum

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kevin January 6th, 2009

Rifle season is long gone. The rut is finished. Duck season is in full gear. And the cold of winter is here.

Sure, late season Arkansas deer hunting is tough, and it can be a little harder to make yourself take to the stand this time of year. But if you’re considering hitting the leftover holiday eggnog instead of getting out there to bow hunt, you may be missing your best chance to harvest the monster buck you’ve been waiting on all season.

During January and February, there are fewer Arkansas deer hunters in the woods than any other time during the season. That means promising conditions for the serious bow hunter. Here are a few tips to take into consideration for taking that late-season buck:

1. Comfort Zone - The deer, pressured heavily for the last few months, begin to settle down and get back in their normal routines. Try to remember all of those heavily traveled deer paths you found back in August and September and set up close by, or head back to your early-season bow stands. As the deer get back into their comfort zone and normal patterns, so should you.

2. From Breeding to Feeding - Because the rut is long gone, and bucks are trying replenish their body fat lost during breeding, setting up between bedding and feeding areas is your best bet. Find the most wholesome remaining food source, or hunt bait or a food plot. Also, don’t forget about water. Hunting a water hole can be just as successful as hunting food sources.

3. Sit and Stalk - Though Arkansas is generally pretty mild, many parts of the state will see cold weather and even a bit of snowfall during January and February. During periods of below freezing weather, deer will conserve energy and often move during the warmest part of the day. Stay out all day and use a combination of still hunting and stalking.

Stay on the stand during the middle of the day and afternoon. Get up and stalk early and late. You’d be surprised how effective this can be on getting you hot on a deer’s trail, especially if there is snowfall.

Have a few late season Arkansas deer hunting tips of your own? Come inside the Arkansas Hunting Forum and share your knowledge with hunters from around the state.

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kevin January 5th, 2009

Congratulations to forum member Kyle Branch of White Hall, Arkansas for winning the inaugural Arkansas Outdoors Online Deer Hunting Contest.

The contest ended Dec. 31, and Kyle’s unique 15 point big buck took home the grand prize, a $100 gift certificate to Hunter’s Refuge in White Hall.

Also congratulations to our other two winners for widest spread (21.5) and most points (12). They both will receive a $25 gift certificate to the sporting goods store of their choice.

Come inside the Arkansas Hunting Forum to see this big buck and view all of the contest entries. And don’t forget to check out the Photo Gallery for tons of great pictures ranging from trail cams to bucks taken by AOO members.

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kevin January 1st, 2009

Winter bass fishing is no easy task. Unlike spring and summer when fish are shallow and quick to bite, bass head to deep water and thick cover when the waters cool — and they can really make you work for a bite.

But you don’t have to wait until spring to hit the water. Here are a few Arkansas fishing tips for catching bass during the cold winter months.

• The use of large, slow moving baits is the key. Winter bass fisherman often find success using large (up to 12 inch) worms and lizards with large pork trailers (up to 4 inch). Also, be sure to keep your retrieve as slow as you can stand it.
• Try a 3/4-ounce football head spider jig in deep, open water. The weight of this jig will enable you to easily drag the bottom where the big bass will be. Look for rock ledges and other drop-offs especially.
• In and around brush and other cover, cast a 3/8 ounce jig-n-pig with a frog trailer. Work it slowly, but don’t let it drag the bottom like you would with the spider jig.

Remember, winter can be a great time to fish. Arkansas fishing pressure is lower now than any other time of the year, and there is a good chance you’ll have the lake all to yourself.

Check out this week’s Arkansas fishing report from the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission in the Arkansas Fishing Forum.

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ducktape December 23rd, 2008

All duck hunters know someone that doesn’t duck hunt, and all of us have heard the question, “Why do you get out there and hunt?”

I would be lying if I answered with, “I do it just to kill ducks.” In reality, I, like most duck hunters, do it for so many other reasons: the Arkansas hunting memories; the friendships created; the joy of watching a good dog work; that smell of gun powder in the morning; and so many more reasons that non-hunters simply can’t understand.

Arkansas duck hunting is so much more than just a hobby or way to kill time; I believe it is a way of life, a pastime, a lifestyle, if you will. Sitting in a duck blind talking about things going on in our lives sure does beat sitting in our living rooms talking about what could be going on in the duck blind.

I have had the pleasure of duck hunting Arkansas with mixed company this duck season, and every day has been near perfect — whether or not I knew it at the time. The memories created and later shared over a cold beer are something that all duck hunters treasure, one of the few things that are rarely lost over the years, just like that perfect pair of wool socks.

One of the Arkansas Outdoors Online members started a thread about 2008 Arkansas hunting memories over in the Arkansas Hunting Forum. I felt obliged to do whatever I could to let some people tell their stories and memories. Whether from the duck blind, deer stand or boat, come share your favorite Arkansas hunting memories of the year.

The topic is located over in the Arkansas Hunting Forum.

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kevin December 19th, 2008

Because of the recent winter weather, and the upcoming Christmas holiday, the Arkansas Game and Fish is running an abbreviated Arkansas fishing report this week. Next week there will be no fishing report, and the December 31 Arkansas fishing report will be abbreviated as well.

Your best bet to have a good day on the water this week is to try your hand at some Arkansas trout fishing. Arkansas fishing reports in Central Arkansas from the Little Red River confirm that the spawn is unbelievable right now; some anglers are reporting catches of more than 50 brown trout per day. There are some great wading opportunities on the Little Red River this time of year as well.

In North Arkansas, the Spring River is your best chance at pulling in some trout. There have been heavy hatches of white midges this week, and nymphs are heavy on the bottom. Have been having great success with mayfly emergers made with ostrich herl and small white wooly buggers tied with white ostrich herl on size 12 hooks. Trout have been hanging in deep water.

Come inside the Arkansas Fishing Forum for the complete, albeit abbreviated, December Arkansas Fishing Report.

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kevin December 16th, 2008

It’s true that the need for a good “huntin’ dog” may not be as great as it used to be around Arkansas.

Arkansas deer hunting restrictions. A dwindling upland game bird population. A depreciation of the Arkansas hunting sports such as coon hunting.

These are just a few factors that have nearly made extinct the practice of trading a hand-me-down shotgun or a jug of “special blend” for a champion pup, something that used to be common practice around these parts.

But, of course, every dog will have his day. There are still plenty of reasons to seek out a dog bred for Arkansas hunting (i.e. duck hunting). The only question is, which  breed?

Check out the 14 Best Hunting Dogs from Outdoor Life Magazine in the Arkansas Hunting and Fishing Forum.

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