Fighting for Common Ground

A united fight for our nation's public lands

 

You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing, nor a pollster to know this country is at odds with itself. But while TV talking heads take pleasure in telling us we’re a nation splintered and cracking at the seams, a house divided and ready to fall, those of us with mud on our boots know where to find common ground. It isn’t a theory: it’s a place, and we’ve got 640 million acres of it.

That common ground is our public land. It’s a uniquely American idea, forged in the belief that the wildest and most beautiful parts of our country belong to all of us, not just the wealthy or those with a key to a gate.

This isn’t just about pretty scenery. It’s about a responsibility to our children and grandchildren; we’ve been entrusted to care for these remaining wilds as temporary stewards of a legacy meant to be passed down whole.

 

Polls Reflect Our United Love for Public Lands

Americans LOVE their public lands. Don’t take my word for it. The numbers prove that this love for public lands is one of the things that still unite us. An April 2025 poll from the Trust for Public Land showed that a majority of Americans (74%), Republicans and Democrats alike, want our public lands to remain public.

What about out West, in the supposed hotbed of anti-government sentiment? The story is the same. A Colorado College poll released in January 2025 found that 72% of voters across eight states with vast public lands want those lands protected, including a majority of self-described “MAGA” voters. That’s a consensus you could build a mountain on.

But that consensus doesn’t always echo in the halls of power. Too many politicians either fail to grasp this widespread support for public lands or, once in office, simply choose to ignore it—listening instead to the whispers of special interests from developers and extractors looking to cash in on our public lands. This gap between the people’s will and political action is where our vigilance comes in.

The power of that vigilance was brought to bear during the recent attacks on our public lands that emerged from both the House and Senate, as each side pounced on the opportunity to circumvent standard procedures by leveraging the simple majority rule and other loopholes of the budget reconciliation process.

 

Public Lands Narrowly Survive Political Battle

The House proposal caught our attention first, with a last-minute proposal to sell off a half-million acres of our public land in Utah and Nevada. Though blindsided, once that backroom deal was exposed, the outcry from the general public and conservationists alike was immediate and fierce, effectively forcing its withdrawal.

But that sweet taste of victory would prove fleeting. No sooner had we celebrated the vanquished House threat than a new, more aggressive assault emerged in the Senate. Leading this charge was Utah Senator Mike Lee, who has seemingly spent his career attacking public lands. Emboldened by his powerful position on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Lee not only continued the attack but expanded the proposed sell-off to an audacious 11 states, encompassing millions of acres of our cherished National Forests and BLM lands.

Lee’s land sale scheme bent so many rules and was so over the top that the House Parliamentarian called him out, forcing him to withdraw his initial, bloated proposal. Though he was then forced to rewrite it as a narrower version targeting only BLM lands, a rising storm of opposition was already brewing across the country, and no rewrite was going to save him.

That storm, a diverse coalition, included mainstream conservation powerhouses such as the National Wildlife Federation and the Wilderness Society, alongside hunter-oriented groups like Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Boone and Crockett Club, and Ducks Unlimited, all rallying against the sale. Industry giants like REI and Patagonia also joined the fight, mobilizing their members and customers to unleash a firestorm of calls and emails on Capitol Hill. Heck, Lee even had members of his own party telling him he had to back off.

Under immense pressure, Lee relented just seventeen days after his initial proposal, pulling it from the Reconciliation bill.

 

Uncertain Future for Public Lands

So, is it over? Are our public lands finally safe? Not by a long shot. Yes, we won another battle, but the war against our public lands rages on. In Senator Lee’s statement on “X” announcing the withdrawal of his bill, he vowed to continue his assault on what he derisively calls “underutilized federal lands” and made it clear this was a tactical retreat, not a surrender.

The excuses for these land sales change with the political winds the national debt, a housing shortage—but the dangerous endgame is always the same: treat an enduring public trust like a disposable asset. It’s as shortsighted as a family burning priceless heirlooms for a single night’s warmth. The pittance gained would be a drop in the ocean of our national debt, but the loss of our American heritage and wildlife would be absolute and permanent.

The Boone and Crockett Club, Teddy Roosevelt’s own conservation group, said it best: “A cash sale produces one kind of return from an asset—the final one. Continuous returns from owning land come from its use and enjoyment.”

This isn’t to say all land transfers are bad. Smart, targeted sales and exchanges are tools of good stewardship. Just look at Arkansas, where a 1993 land swap championed by Senator Dale Bumpers traded scattered, U.S.-owned timber tracts in Idaho for 41,000 acres of Potlatch-owned bottomland, connecting the White River and Cache River National Wildlife Refuges.

What was targeted during the reconciliation bill was a world away from that. It was a wholesale liquidation designed to bypass the bedrock law of public lands, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. That law guarantees public input and sound management. Senator Lee’s scheme would have gutted it and, worse, would have diverted the funds away from conservation. It would turn our public lands into a one-time cash machine for politicians to barter away for backroom favors during their next election.

 

United We Stand

This is where we stand and fight. This is where we tell our politicians that no, you will not divide us on this. We stand united for our public lands. Some of us in the East may be quick to dismiss this as a Western issue or feel that we are powerless. Don’t. These lands belong to all of us, not to a single state or corporation, but to every American.

An attack on public lands anywhere is an attack on the entire system. We are all custodians of this legacy, and our job is simple: Pay attention. Make your support for public lands known to your elected officials and hold them accountable. Back the groups that fight for you on the front lines.

If the vast majority who cherish these lands—the common ground for a divided nation—remain silent, the handful who want to liquidate them will make the decisions for us. A silent majority holds no power.

We will be judged by our answer to a single question from our children: “Did you fight for this ground, or did you surrender it?”  

Jim Taylor

Originally published in the Arkansas Wildlife Federation's Arkansas Out of Doors Magazine and on the National Wildlife Federation Blog.

Jim Taylor is a past board member of the Arkansas Wildlife Federation. He continues to advocate for public land through his work as a board member of the Arkansas Chapter of BHA and as a volunteer with Friends of the Dale Bumpers White River NWR. 

Public Trust Feature Film | The Fight for America’s Public Lands | Patag...

 

Press Release-

Arkansas Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Announces Appointment of Jim Taylor to the Board of Directors

Greenwood, Arkansas – 13-Jan-2024 – Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is pleased to announce that Jim Taylor has joined the board of the Arkansas Chapter. Taylor, a lifelong outdoorsman and dedicated conservationist, brings a wealth of experience and passion to the organization.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jim to the Arkansas BHA board,” said Larry Haden, Chapter Chair. “Jim brings a unique blend of conservation experience and business acumen to BHA, honed by a BS in marketing, 12 years in leadership roles in the hunting/archery industry, and 22 years running his own successful business. His deep commitment to protecting our public lands, combined with his extensive experience in grassroots organizing and advocacy, will be invaluable as we continue to fight for our wild places in Arkansas.”

Taylor, a veteran of the hunting industry, has a long history of conservation involvement, including serving for seven years on the board of the Arkansas Wildlife Federation. In addition to his duties as Treasurer, Jim coordinated with the USFWS on their "Partners for Wildlife" program, which earned national recognition. He also spearheaded a grassroots campaign to expand the Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge, gathering over 1,300 signatures in support of protecting crucial bottomland habitat.

"I have found my people with BHA," said Taylor. "They give me hope...they're a boots-on-the-ground, take charge group of public land warriors that I relate to. They truly understand that this uniquely American thing we've inherited—our public lands—is what makes this country truly great."

Patrick Fitzmorris

Meet Patrick Fitzmorris, Project Leader- Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge

I was fortunate to have spent the opening three days of our 2024 Turkey season with the new manager of our Dale Bumpers White/ River National Wildlife Refuge, Patrick Fitzmorris. I learned that Pat brings a diverse and valuable background to his position as the recently appointed refuge manager. His experience working in refuges across the US, including with black brants in Alaska's Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and at the Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge in North Dakota's "duck factory" region, made him a natural candidate to lead a nationally known waterfowl refuge like our Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge.

What was really cool that I found out about Pat was that, before his work within the refuge system, 
Patrick's passion for duck hunting led him to work as a biologist for Ducks Unlimited, where he dedicated seven years of service. Additionally, Patrick spent eleven years managing a state Deer Association, where he played a crucial role in fundraising efforts and coordinating volunteer initiatives.

It is also comforting to note that Pat, as an avid hunter, has consistently advocated for hunting and fishing opportunities for the general public. Pat said, “We are land stewards, and that respect and care for public lands is why I got into this profession. I value public lands, fish, wildlife, and habitat more than I can explain. Trying to make a difference in outdoor recreation and providing that experience is what I’m all about. I think the vast amounts of public land in the U.S. are what make America great! Providing hunting and fishing opportunities is in our mission statement, and protecting wild lands and abundant wildlife is essential to the quality of life in America.”

During his short time as manager of our refuge, Patrick has successfully collaborated with volunteer organizations dedicated to public land stewardship, like the Arkansas chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and the Friends of the Refuge. His background in working with private non-profits has proven to be a valuable asset in fostering these partnerships.

Patrick acknowledges that balancing the need to protect and conserve the refuge’s habitat and its wildlife for future generations while maximizing outdoor opportunities for today's sportsmen can be challenging. Having a degree in wildlife management will only get you so far when heading the largest and most popular wildlife refuge in the state, as it is more about managing the public than managing wildlife.

There has been a lot of buzz around some state-level hunting regulation changes for 2024, and some refuge users have questioned how it might affect the rules on Dale Bumpers

White River National Wildlife Refuge. As most know, the refuge, following its more restrictive wildlife refuge mandate, may or may not follow state regulations. To get the refuge facts, I reached back out to Pat to get the skinny on how these new state rules might affect the refuge regulations this year.

1. Spinning Wing Decoys: Though state WMAs are going to allow them, the refuge will NOT.


2. Straight-Walled Cartridges: Straight-walled cartridges will not be permitted during the refuge's muzzleloader hunts.


3. Maximum Size of UTVs: The maximum size of UTVs is increasing from 1550 lbs dry weight to 1750 lbs dry weight, allowing most 4-seat SXSs. We have had a lot of requests for this and have decided to allow larger UTVs.


4. Take of Feral Hogs: For all those who have said “Huh?” when told you could NOT shoot a hog during early bow season, the refuge will allow the take of feral hogs during any BIG GAME season. Previously, you could only take feral hogs from November 1 on. Now, you can take them anytime archery deer season is open, as well as during the modern gun and muzzleloader seasons.


5. Afternoon Scouting for Ducks: Afternoon scouting for ducks will NOT be allowed.

Can You Name America's Greatest Conservation Program?

The Land and Water Conservation Fund. (LWCF) has been the most effective conservation program in American history. Over the past fifty-two years this behind-the-scenes program has quietly protected over seven million acres of wildlands and recreational areas for wildlife and outdoor-loving Americans.

Say you've never heard of the LWCF?  The fact that the program operates quietly behind the scenes without fanfare and recognition puts it at risk.  So it's important you know the program's history, funding,  and just how incredibly effective it has been as a conservation tool.

Here's a primer: In 1964,  Congress, yielding to pressure from the oil and gas industry struck a deal to open America’s fragile offshore areas for drilling. In exchange, the oil companies agreed to pay a royalty on the oil and gas they produced. Much the same way they pay private landowners, but in this case, the “deal” was with public landowners, the American people. It was a publicly supported solution that, in more civil political times, had bipartisan support in Congress.

The deal, a straightforward and pragmatic trade-off, was to utilize revenues from the depletion of one natural resource, in this case offshore 

photo: DOI

oil and gas, to purchase and preserve natural habitats like those found within our national parks and wildlife refuges.  As a royalty, not an income tax,  it rises and falls with energy production. Energy companies liked it because they only pay for what they bring to market, and American taxpayers liked it because it required no additional income tax.

As the principal funding source for federal land acquisitions and grants that support state and local recreation needs, the LWCF has provided lasting tangible results benefiting every Arkansan. So much so that EVERY county in Arkansas has a state or local park project, either by acquisition or development,  that has been funded by the LWCF.  From sportsmen utilizing the waterfowl-rich habitat of Cache River

Of the 500 plus refuges across the U.S.,  Cache River Refuge is one of 

the refuge systems highest priorities for LWCF investment.

photo: Jim Taylor

Wildlife Refuge, to families picnicking in the green grasses of Burns Park, to romantics witnessing sunsets on the blue waters of Degray lake, we've all benefited from the LWCF.

This important conservation program is sadly under increasing attack. Each year, Congress diverts most of the $900 million in royalties it collects, misusing funds intended for conservation. Worse yet, oil industry lobbyists are pressuring Congress to abandon the half-century-old agreement entirely. These lobbyists wield significant influence because they provide campaign funding to many members of Congress.

Think about it.   As a land-owner, how upset would you be to have an oil company negotiate a deal to drill on your property, strike oil, promise you compensation,  then renege on your promised royalty payments? In slick, ruthless oil baron fashion, this is exactly how our parks, wildlife refuges and the outdoor loving American public are being swindled.

Hunting is permitted on most public wildlands purchased with LWCF money.

photo: usfws

Broken promises in Washington are nothing new. But this is one promise we must hold them to. I say, so long as offshore wells and drilling remain, royalties should be collected as originally promised and utilized for the establishment and protection of our ever diminishing habitats by means of national wildlife refuges, national parks, and other public wild-land programs.  All who cherish Arkansas's wildlife; all who hunt, fish, hike, bike, and bird watch should take action now and urge your congressman to support full funding and permanent reauthorization of the LWCF before it's too late. 

 http://bit.ly/2Q2uzUb

Author- Jim Taylor,  public land advocate, and bow- hunter. Jim often shares his thoughts on conservation, public lands, and bowhunting in Arkansas through his blog at www.BowhunterChronicles.com

1. Act was passed in 1965. http://lwcfcoalition.org/about-lwcf.html
2. Center for Responsive Politics, Top Interest Groups Giving to Members of Congress, 2016 Cycle https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/mems.php?party=A&cycle=2016



Learn more
Federal Funding for Conservation Programshttp://www.rff.org/files/sharepoint/WorkImages/Download/RFF-BCK-ORRG_LWCF.pdf
http://lwcfcoalition.org/about-lwcf.html

Modified Bow-holder tip for Public Land Hunting

NRA vs Hunters

Hunting writer Bobb Robb recently ranked the NRA as "number one" on his list of "Top 10 Pro-Hunting organizations"?  Yes, even ahead DU, Safari Club, Boone & Crockett,  and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.  

The NRA is the nation's premier gun lobby organization. They deserve a HELLUVA lot of credit where credit is due....but NOT as our nation's #1 Pro-Hunting group.  Over the years I've watched the NRA morph into something most hunters can't even recognize anymore.  Pro-gun they are, and I'm thankful for them, but they long ago stopped lobbying on behalf of hunters, wildlife conservation, and the public lands in which we pursue our sport.

In the South, we cherish our guns like family heirlooms. But the reality is, most guns(aside from your CCP pocket pistol), would likely just sit gathering dust without the wild places in which to hunt with them.  For that reason, we must also remember to support true pro-hunting/conservation groups that aggressively advocate for wildlife, conservation, and habitat in which that wildlife lives.

As the NRA has become more narrowly focused they no longer offer one-stop shopping for hunters wishing to donate money for their hunting related causes.   Sure, support the NRA.  But if you also care about wild places and want a place to hunt with your guns,  you can't call it "one and done" by donating to the NRA.     There are many fine hunting organizations battling for wildlife, habitat and conservation causes that need your help too.  Some well know groups I also support are Back Country Hunters & Anglers, DU, & Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.  Support em!

Arkansas' Top 25 Public Deer Lands

Wattensaw WMA- Number 15 on the list.

Can you name Arkansas' most productive public hunting area?  I analyzed AGFC's deer harvest data from all 131  wildlife management areas(WMA) and national wildlife refuges(NWR).   Rather than just looking at the total deer taken,  I compared each WMA's deer harvest numbers to the total land area within each WMA to arrive at a “harvest per square mile” ratio.   This enabled me to find the true producers among Arkansas'  public deer hunting lands.

Arkansas Public Land Deer 

First I focused on popular  WMA's and NWR's of at least 5,000  acres in size.  I then ranked/sorted them in order of the most productive deer producers in the chart below. This is a more reliable method of comparing deer hunting productivity of public lands than just looking at the total number of deer taken.  For example, a hunter might be initially impressed by the 807 whitetails harvested this season on  White River National Wildlife Refuge,  until you consider its vast expanse.   Its 250 square miles gives it a harvest ratio of 3.2,  which is slightly better than the state WMA average but puts the refuge in the bottom spot on our 2016 list of top 25 deer hunting lands in Arkansas.

Like it has for many of the previous seasons, the primitive weapons-only area of  Trusten Holder reigns supreme as Arkansas's most productive public land for deer hunting.   At 9.9 deer harvested per square mile,  Trusten Holder is 4.5 times more productive than the average 2.2 deer bagged per square mile on public hunting lands within the state. 

**Gene Rush WMA located near Jasper  was vaulted to the number 2 position due to more liberal rules imposed after the discovery of CWD in that area.  I dont look for it to last at this position.

Rank	Management Areas	Harvest YTD	WMA in Acres	Harvest Per Square Mile
1	Trusten Holder WMA	126	8,173	9.9
2	Gene Rush WMA	303	19,944	9.7
3	Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA (East &West units)	94	9,501	6.3
4	Moro Big Pine Natural Area WMA	158	16,000	6.3
5	Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA	85	8,694	6.3
6	Lafayette County WMA	139	16,739	5.3
7	Holla Bend NWR	58	7,057	5.3
8	U of A Pine Tree Experimental Station WDA	95	11,850	5.1
9	Fort Chaffee WMA	477	66,000	4.6
10	DeGray Lake WMA	100	14,000	4.6
11	Cache River NWR	482	68,000	4.5
12	Big Timber WMA	291	41,111	4.5
13	Pond Creek NWR	189	27,000	4.5
14	Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA	49	7,221	4.3
15	Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA	123	19,184	4.1
16	Petit Jean River WMA	99	15,502	4.1
17	Poison Springs WMA	138	22,162	4.0
18	Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA	108	17,524	3.9
19	Beaver Lake WMA	48	8,007	3.8
20	Harold E. Alexander Spring River WMA	81	13,939	3.7
21	W.E. Brewer Scatter Creek WMA	29	5,002	3.7
22	Norfork Lake WMA	56	10,000	3.6
23	Wedington WMA	83	16,000	3.3
24	Casey Jones WMA	277	54,066	3.3
25	Dale Bumpers White River NWR – North & South Units	807	160,000	3.2

 

Canned "hunts"- It Aint Hunting

Shooting an animal trapped inside a fence does not make you a hunter. 

You want to feed and raise a penned animal to kill and eat it?  Fine, I'm a meat eater too and won't be hypocritical. But like Stolen Valor, don't represent yourself as a hunter because you ain't worthy.   

As ethical, fair chase hunters who respect the game we pursue and the wild habitat in which they thrive, we should be enraged these for profit shooting operations continue to masquerade as "hunts".   Call em what they are; caged animal shoots. 

Our Public Wild-Lands Under Attack

Anti-government radicals have brought a lot of attention to our nation's public lands.  Armed with guns and a twisted agenda, they've taken over one of our nation’s oldest wildlife refuges, Malheur Refuge near Burns, Oregon.  With comical claims that it's illegal for the federal government to own land, they've vowed to remain until the refuge relinquishes ownership.

San Isabel National Forest- Colorado

I chuckle as the media  broadcasts the Bundy brigade's demands to have the refuge "returned to the people". Returned to who? I want to ask.  Bundy and his militia? For 107 years the refuge has belonged to all Americans. You, me and future generations of Americans. It is not their private land, never has been. These guys need a history lesson.

Caribou National Forest -Idaho 

Like most public lands in the West, the birth of Mahleur Refuge can be traced back to unclaimed federal land. Land so rugged, so economically un-viable and inhospitable, that the hardiest of settlers avoided it. Even when offered up free for the taking under the Homestead Act. So, in a story common to the birth of many refuges, this land offering no economic incentive to develop nor hope to profit from it, was left vacant and unwanted.

The concept of national wildlife refuges as a tool to protect wild habitats was first conceived in 1903 by one of our oldest hunting organizations, the venerable Boone and Crockett Club and its influential founder, Teddy Roosevelt.

Roosevelt, an avid hunter, had witnessed the near extinction of American buffalo as well as wading birds decimated for their plumes. Demand for fashionable ladies hats combined with unregulated hunting meant that a safe-haven or " refuge" for wildlife was needed. From its 3 acre start with

Pelican Island in 1903, our system of refuges now protects a network of over 95 million acres of our lands that are critical to wildlife from Key West to Kodiak.

Coeur d'Alene National Forest- Idaho

Roosevelt and fellow Boone and Crockett Club members had the rare ability to look beyond their generation.  Because of their forethought, modern sportsmen are able to experience these wild places much as they were 100 years ago. Intact and unspoiled.

Here in Arkansas our position within the Mississippi flyway has benefited us with the establishment of ten national wildlife refuges. Most protect dwindling bottomland forest and wetlands along flood prone rivers that serve as stop-over points for migratory waterfowl. Though they have a "wildlife first" mandate they  also provide some of the finest deer and duck hunting in the nation.

Uncompahgre National Forest- Colorado

Arkansas sportsmen may be quick to dismiss this call by armed radicals to turn over refuge lands so far away. We shouldn't. Because these homegrown terrorist, with their twisted ideologies, are hell-bent on slitting the throats of ALL public wild lands.

The attack on Mahleur, should be a wake up call. A warning, like the canary in the coal mine, to all sportsmen about this growing threat toward our public wild lands.

As America grows more crowded and disconnected from nature (94% of the US population lives in metropolitan areas) public lands will be increasingly vulnerable to changing  political winds, exploitation, and indifference.

National Forest Lands- Idaho

Public wild-lands need an enduring voice. Someone to step up and speak out against lawmakers who view our BLM lands, National Forests and Wildlife Refuges as a burden. Simply unused real-estate to be developed or resources extracted. A taxpayer asset to be divvied up and bargained away during elections.

Fortunately today's sportsmen remain the strongest advocate and best hope for securing the future of our public wild-lands. Any call to steal our public wild-lands from us will be met with overwhelming objection from those who revere it the most. The American sportsmen.

Jim Taylor

The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation

Gates Closed on White River NWR? No Problem.

5 Tactics for Refuge Whitetails.

Urban hunting?...Not me. No way.

How about public land hunting in  41 or 103 acre WMAs?  Too confining for my sense of adventure. (Yes..Arkansas has a 41 acre WMA..See end note)

I positioned my stand near one 
of the refuges many ox-bow lakes to 
intercept this heavy racked 9 point. 

Tiny, claustrophobic  cubes of  remnant forests where slamming doors and  car horns drown out honking geese overhead have never appealed to me.    I want big.  I want wild.   I want big enough to get lost in.

THE BIG WOODS  CHALLENGE
As a hunter who obsesses over the adventure of the hunt more than the kill, I'm drawn to big forests devoid of artificial advantages created by man.

Like my self limiting bow and arrow, big forests also challenge me. That challenge, that slight edge retained by my quarry, is what lures me to return, with bow in hand each fall to the largest remaining tract of bottom land forest in Arkansas; the 160,000 acre river bottoms of the Dale Bumpers-White River National Wildlife Refuge

But big forests, not yet carved up or cleared by dozers and plows, can challenge modern day bowhunters. Without man-made funnel like effects of hedge rows, barb wire fences, agriculture field lines and corn piles....many simply don't know where to begin when faced with 160,000 acres of untamed river bottoms.

FIVE TACTICS I USE FOR REFUGE WHITETAILS
Any one tactic by itself could put a refuge whitetail in front of me ... but the more I combine into one stand location the better.  

Pinch point -North Unit of the refuge.

1. Locate natural "pinch points" and "bottle necks".  With over 300 lakes on the refuge, consult your topo map to zero in on natural pinch points created by lakes, streams and rivers that lay in close proximity. Locate your stand inside  these natural funnels to intercept traveling deer.

Lush vegetation along rivers edge.  

2. Hunt South Facing River Bluffs.  Natural forest openings carved out by the river allows sunlight to reach the forest floor 30 or 40 yards beyond the river bluff, especially those South facing. This natural occurring “edge effect” created by  bluff openings produces a never ending solar powered buffet of greenbrier, honeysuckle and other  browse for hungry whitetails.

3. Know Preferred Food Sources. 
Persimmons:  Silence interrupted by the sound of a ripe persimmon slapping down through overhead leaves as it torpedoes to a sugar bursting thud onto the ground beneath my treestand is the ultimate confirmation of my refuge setup.   If you're lucky to find one loaded down, (or even better, a group of them) you've got a hot spot.

Loaded Persimmon trees are favorite "hot-spots"

Overcup and Nuttall:   Few oak species are as well adapted to tolerate the seasonal flooding and poorly drained soils  within the refuge  as our Nuttall and Overcup.    Though  important fall food sources, they are so  abundant and wide spread that simply  finding  acorns under a tree won't guarantee you deer activity.   For example, the 2014 mast crop was huge,  I  easily located a  dozen Overcup  trees that had dropped so many acorns they made walking difficult.  Yet I  struggled  to find cracked acorn hulls, deer scat or tracks.  Then, in un-explained randomness,  the next Overcup

Overcup

tree I looked under was littered with feeding activity. What's up?   Deer are creatures of habit and security so I suspect that once they find a tree dropping acorns they utilize it to the exclusion of others, bedding near by and returning to eat at their leisure.

4. Ditch the Public Land Crowds. I'm amused by hunters who complain  about too many hunters  on public lands yet they never get the connection between roads and crowds.  For a host of reasons, these "average Joe hunters" never venture far from access roads and ATV trails.  Maybe it's  fear of getting lost, dread of packing an animal out, or general laziness.  Bottom line is, the further you distance yourself from access roads and ATV trails the more likely you will find undisturbed deer habitat.

5. Sit Tight.   If you hunt public lands it's inevitable, that in spite of your best pre-hunt planning  and scouting, you will sometimes find  yourself encroached by other hunters.  When it happens ... don't sweat it..  just sit tight.   Average hunters are too impatient to sit long.  Never confident in their stand selection, as daylight cracks they are soon out of their stands, aimlessly wandering and stirring up bedded midday deer that they never see..... right past your stand.

Good luck and enjoy your Big Woods  hunting adventure.

Jim Taylor


Three Arkansas based national wildlife refuges that are big enough to get lost in:
Dale Bumpers White River NWR- 160,000 acres
Cache River NWR- 67,000 acres
Felsenthal NWR- 65,000 acres


*Roth Prairie WMA- 41 acres. , Cedar Creek WMA 103 acres