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Memoir of a First Time Duck Hunter in Arkansas

ducktape — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:35:24 +0000

New user in our Arkansas Duck Hunting Forum, BEVOHD, isn’t an Arkansas native. But his first time duck hunting in Arkansas is a perfect example of a standard hunt in some of the state’s famous green timber. He shares his personal experience of his first time duck hunting the Natural State:

We finally came to a clearing in the middle of most definitely nowhere! I remember thinking we better kill some ducks after all that (meaning almost getting killed on the boat ride) while we were throwing out decoys and setting everything up. When we were done we got all of our breakfast gear out and started to make some food and I was ready for that, I felt like I could eat a cow after all that I had been through that morning … The action was fast and furious and we limited on the woody’s in about 10 minutes or so. But the real prize was waiting for the mallards to fly. When they started flying, it was like nothing I had ever seen before.

With Arkansas 2011-2012 duck season starting up in 2 days, take a few minutes to read the full story; it’s worth it.

Remember if you need Arkansas WMA Maps, Arkansas NWR maps, or want to see the Arkansas Duck Migration Map, bookmark Arkansas Outdoors Online. The Arkansas Duck Migration map is now integrated with the Delta Waterfowl Migration Map. Users can submit reports from our website or the iPhone app.

Duck Population at All-Time High

ducktape — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:49:30 +0000

Duck hunters will find plenty to cheer about in the annual breeding population and habitat survey, which was released earlier today.

Conducted each May by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service, this year’s survey reveals the second-highest pond count and a record 45.6 million ducks, the most since the survey was started in 1955. Blue-winged teal, shovelers and redheads soared to record levels, and if that’s not enough, mallard, pintail, canvasback and gadwall numbers rose substantially from 2010.

But not all is well across the U.S. and Canadian prairies.

While water is great for ducks, excessive snowpack and heavy spring rains produced extreme flooding across much of the prairie breeding grounds. From the Canadian prairies to the Dakotas and eastern Montana, tens of thousands of homeowners have been displaced by swollen rivers, millions of acres of cropland remain unplanted and hundreds of miles of roads are under water.

Read the rest of the press release in the Arkansas Duck Hunting Forum

2011 Arkansas Flood

ducktape — Wed, 11 May 2011 21:07:04 +0000

The White River at Georgetown crested at 33.95 5 days ago and looks to crest at about 37 feet in Clarendon today. With thousands and thousands of acres of farmland still flooded up and down the Arkansas, Cache, Mississippi, and White rivers, the possible devastation to local economies throughout Arkansas is not yet known.

The Farm Bureau, which lobbies on agricultural issues and provides insurance, said Tuesday that 300,000 acres will be lost for rice production this year at a cost of $300 million. Arkansas produces about half of the nation’s rice…

While the most concerning part of the flood is the livelihood of the thousands of Arkansans who have lost their homes, their main source of income and, for some, even their lives, the question in the back of every duck hunter’s mind in Arkansas is “How will this affect our duck season”.

The wintering ducks will loose a major source of food, public hunting land in Arkansas could see drastic changes in the landscape, and local communities will remain devastated for quite some time. The true affect on 2011-2012 Arkansas duck season will not be known until late October or early November. However, one thing is for sure, we won’t be praying for rain anytime soon.

Come join Arkansas Hunting Forum to see pictures and discuss the flood’s impact on Arkansas.

2011 Arkansas Outdoors Expo

kevin — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 15:57:33 +0000

Arkansas Outdoors Online and Arkansas Children’s Hospital are proud to announce the 2011 Arkansas Outdoors Expo to be held August 20-21 at the new Conway ExpoCenter. More details to come soon, but here are a few of the events we have lined up:

–Ultimate Air Dogs- One of the premier dock jumping organizations in the country, ULTIMATE AIR DOGS puts on professional events that draw in thousands of spectators while maintaining a family friendly atmosphere. Always a crowd favorite, Ultimate Air Dogs shows off their well-trained canines as they take to the pool to show the crowd long jumps, mid-air tricks, retrieving and more. Think your dog has what it takes?

–Arkansas State Duck Calling Contest –Duck hunting enthusiasts will enter to win big prizes and walk away with bragging rights as the Natural State’s finest caller.

–Arkansas 3D Archery Shoot – Only 5 weeks before Arkansas’s archery season opens, contestants will have the opportunity to take aim on a number of outdoor 3D targets for cash and/or prizes.

–Casting and Fly Tying Lessons – Orvis-endorsed fly fishing guide (and 1998 Orvis Fly Fishing Guide of the year), John Gulley will be on-site at the expo providing free fly tying demonstrations & casting lessons, perfect both adults and children. Mr. Gulley has been guiding on the North Fork River, White River and Little Red River for more almost four decades.

–The Great Steak Cook-Off – Grab the charcoal and fire up your grill as Saturday afternoon at the expo turns tasty with the first ever Arkansas Outdoors Great Steak Cook-Off located outside the expo. Gather up a team and try your hand at cash and prizes.

2010-2011 Arkansas Waterfowl Photo Contest

ducktape — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:58:37 +0000

This year’s Arkansas waterfowl photo contest had a very good turn out. We had well over 3,500 votes cast and dozens of great photos. However, there can only be 3 winners. We have two Killer Kallz southern breeze series ducks calls, and one Tanglefree floating island with full body decoys to give away. The winner gets first pick at the stash, 2nd places gets second pick and 3rd place gets dibs on what ever is left. All of the winners will be notified via email this week with further directions.

We appreciate all of the submissions and all of the vote,s, and we look forward to the contest next year with more photos and even bigger prizes.

Check out the winning photos over in the Arkansas Duck Hunting Forum. And, you can see all of this year’s contest entries here: Arkansas Duck Hunting Photo Contest.