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

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

White River Refuge- If You Want Easy, Don't Come Here.

Abundant  Acorns- Overcup here.  

Yes, I still make annual excursions to bowhunt the  refuge, but it had been ten years since I'd applied for the refuge's annual  muzzleloader  hunt.

Here's my adventure.

Friday October 17th,  Refuge Scouting:
Finding concentrated deer activity on the refuge can be difficult and always requires  a lot of foot work.   As I began scouting I found Overcup and Nuttall acorns carpeting the forest floor. It's counter intuitive I know, but the bumper crop of acorns this year didn't make it any easier.   Yes, plenty of fall food for deer; but when acorns are scattered in this way, deer are also scattered.    With my daylight to dark wide ranging scouting effort I  was able to find  three  promising stand locations to choose from.

Fresh scrapes line the lake.

Saturday October 18th. Opening Day (Lakeside location.)

Saturday morning no deer sighted.

Saturday afternoon about 5pm, a young fork horn stealthily appeared  fifty yards to my right skirting the lake's cypress lined edge. He was about to pass between me and the lake when he finally caught my scent, reversed course and  bolted a short distance,  only to resume his stroll until he was out of sight.

Other than a midday lunch break and lake side nap  I remained in my  Summit climber till dark. Throughout the day,  I  never heard or encountered another hunter. Excepting a few faintly heard, far off distant shots as the day passed, I was totally alone.  Thanks to the remoteness of the refuge's 160,000 acres and the laziness of most hunters  it is still possible to hunt in solitude. (Enthusiasm for the lost art of walking seldom propels today's hunters more than a 100 yards from their truck or ATV),

Lunch and nap on lakes edge.

As  evening came, the lake behind me held on to the fading light of dusk  much longer than the darkening forest in front.   With light too dim to now shoot I carefully cracked open the breach of my gun,  plucked out the gold colored 209 primer  and lowered my muzzleloader to the leaves below.

Remote unnamed lakes still exist on the refuge. 

Light cast from my small flashlight was barely sufficient to guide me through the ritual of unhooking my Summit climber from the soft barked tree  I had just descended.   As I readied my stand for packing....reality crept into my thoughts;  As seductive as this unnamed lake was,  I knew it was unlikely my schedule would permit me to return this year. The thought of not returning saddened me.

With treestand now strapped to my back I quietly began my trek out.   I had made the decision that tomorrow morning I will relocate along the rivers edge 12 miles South.

Sunday Morning-October 19th,  (Rivers edge location.) 
A few years back I gave an old  aluminum mountain pack frame new life by zip-tying  it to the bottom of my climbing treestand.  The wider padded straps and hip belt offered  more comfortable weight distribution on longer hikes than the circulation robbing cheap-o straps supplied by the treestand folks.

Rivers edge. 

So with my modified treestand on my back and my day-pack "piggy backing" on my treestand,  I marched off  into the predawn darkness, flashlight in one hand,  gun clutched in the other.

The weight of my  stand, pack, gun and  early morning darkness  made the hike seem uncharacteristically  longer than the three quarter mile jaunt it was.  The 15 foot cone of hazy light  projecting from my bobbing flashlight did  little to show where I was  going...only where I  needed to place each successive step.   My GPS  provided continued corrections to my heading while my flashlight  showed me where I needed to place each step along the way.

I arrived at the rivers edge just as twilight  began to reveal potential trees that I might ascend.  The open sky above the  river allowed light to hit the forest floor much sooner than might elsewhere.  I quickly positioned my climber  high enough to survey the open forest in front, while behind me the rivers edge would channel any flanking deer to within 75 yards.  

As the rising sun began to scatter golden like lazer beams across the forest floor a coyote appeared.  He hopped up on a log, then stopped, as if to soak up the warm rays for few seconds before continuing off  with that purposeful gait that coyotes always seem to have. They  never linger and always seem like they have some place else to be.  But on this day his schedule permitted him to stop and linger in the sun's warmth.

Shared duty to protect this dwindling habitat.   

Time 8:15am. Ninety yards in front of me  under a tall Overcup,  a chocolate racked buck appeared heading my direction.  As he moved closer I cocked and  readied my muzzle-loader.  At 60 yards I raise to shoot; I aim, I  squeeze, the hammer falls, snap!  But no boom, just silence as the buck, still unaware of my dryfire continues to close the distance.  In my rush of excitement combined with my un-practiced hand I had flipped the safety/hammer block the wrong way preventing the falling hammer from striking the pin.   As the buck moved ever closer,   panic sets in as I fumbled to re-cock the hammer, the buck now almost under me.  This time...snap- boom!  The 50 caliber 200 grain Sabot bullet found its mark, humanely dropping the heavy horned nine point buck like a sack of potatoes. And down just fifteen yards from the base of my tree.

Drag system in place. 

Fifteen yards from the base my tree  BUT a very long three quarters of a mile through the refuge timber to my  4-wheeler.

Fortunate thoughts.

After climbing down I  rushed  over to admire what the refuge had produced; and had now provided me.  There was no longer a need to rush though, because from here forward, I wanted time to slow  down.

As I knelt next to him  I tried to process the conflicting  emotions that sometimes haunt me when I take the life of such a majestic animal. Though a strong hunter's instinct resides inside me I have always felt a huge sense of respect for all wildlife and a sense of duty to protect this ever dwindling habitat in which they reside.

To the leaders before me who had the forethought  to set aside this slice of vanishing bottomland  wilderness we now call Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge, I  remain forever thankful.  For without  their wisdom and unselfish ability to look beyond their own generation I would not be able to experience these adventures.

The Greater the Effort...
As I leaned into the first twenty five yards of dragging my trophy I must admit three quarters of a mile started to seem a little daunting.  It made me think of  those hunters who refuse to venture too far off the road. If they could see me now, would they gloat? Would they say; "I told you so?"  My response would be that few things worth having are free from effort or sacrifice.  If you want easy; go buy your burger at Walmart. Don't come here.

Light from the rivers edge shines behind me.

Over five hours later, I sent a final text to my  worried wife that I had managed to get all my gear, treestand and my prized chocolate horned buck to the truck.

The saying "The greater the effort the sweeter the reward" rang very true for me.  With  my energy and strength nearly exhausted, and the once seemingly monumental task now completed, the reward was feeling mighty darn sweet.

Jim Taylor,

The Real Reason You Aren't Allowed to Take Feral Hogs on WMA's this year.

My wife Teresa,  doing her part to control
 feral  hog numbers while deer hunting.
Near Cascoe, AR Nov 2014 

Feral Hog populations have exploded in Arkansas. Unbelievably prolific, sows can have 2 or 3 litters each year with  8-14 piglets in each litter.   Experts estimate that you would have to kill 70%-85%  of feral hogs each year just to keep the population in check.

So, if you're like me, you might be scratching your head over the AGFC's  new restrictions on killing hogs on most WMA's this year.    My first thought was like: Really?....You've got to be kidding me.  Am I missing something?

Some back ground on the rules.. Active hog hunting has long been banned from WMA's.  It has always been "incidental" taking only. This was to discourage hog hunting activists from releasing hogs into the wild.  Yes it has happened. And by the way its now a felony in Arkansas to do so.

Also the new rules do not apply to private lands. You can still take  hogs by any method year round on your own property.

Let me address some statements the AGFC has put forth  as reasons for the new rule.

1. "Hog trapping is more effective than hunting".
Sure it is.  But what does that have to do with a bowhunter up in a tree shooting a hog that just happens to walk under him? How can it be argued that eliminating this "incidental" taking of hogs as beneficial to the state's efforts to control the hog population?

2. "For trapping to be effective the area must be undisturbed."
How has the AGFC's rule against  the "incidental" taking of hogs on WMA's changed anything regarding disturbance? The bowhunter will still be in the same tree. The dog hunters will still be running their nine or ten barking and baying dogs.  In the grand scheme of things I hardly think bowhunters are the source of any disturbance or hindrance in the trapping of wild hogs.

Active Hog Hunting is the Real Problem

Outfitted for hog hunting

The real problem stems from a few bad apples that have been actively hunting hogs with dogs while masquerading as squirrel or coon hunters. Examples provided; AGFC officers have encountered some hunters outfitting their dogs with cut vests and cut collars. (items made of heavy canvas to  protect the dog from a hogs slicing tusks)   Yet when questioned by officers these hunters claim that they are just squirrel hunting and any hogs they kill are "incidental".

Unpopular Options
One might argue that the most objective and effective solution would be for the AGFC to simply ban dog hunting on the WMA's.  I'm certainly not advocating that.  It would be unfair to punish legitimate law abiding dog hunters.  But for discussion sake you would have to agree that it would eliminate the real "disturbance" issue.

On one hand the AGFC is pushing for  rules that will reduce illegal "active hog hunting" yet on the other they don't want to alienate any particular group of hunters. Their solution as we now know it today, is to eliminate incidental taking of hogs on WMA's for not just dog hunters but, bowhunters and  small game hunters as well. In this way no one group is singled out or picked on, but the terrible bureaucratic trade off is that we have this seemingly nonsensical rule.

Jim Taylor

One other thing.  You may ask; What about federal refuges like our White River NWR  following the rule?   The AGFC requested that ALL refuges go along with the new rules.  Being federal, our refuges are not obligated to follow state wildlife management actions but felt a need to be a "team player", and not conflict with state rules. After expressing their  reservations  refuge managers reluctantly agreed.

White River NWR's Race Against Foreign Land Buyers

by Jim Taylor

A foreign buying spree of U.S. forest lands is underway.   A Sept 27, 2013 report from the USDA  documents the dramatic rise in foreign ownership of U.S. timberlands.  Foreign ownership of US timberlands  doubled from approximately 7 million acres in 2005 to 14 million acres in 2011.*   Arkansas  has 780,544 acres of land under foreign ownership.**   

AndersonTully/Forest Lands Group LLC., one of the largest private timber holding companies in the United States, has expressed interest in selling land to White River NWR, located in Southeast Arkansas.  The property, 70,000 acres of prime river bottom habitat, sits just South of the refuge’s border.

Currently the refuge is prohibited from making an offer since the property lies just outside the refuge’s current acquisition zone, so it has been just talk up to this point.  Yes, even if Anderson Tully/FLG offered it up at a  bargain price  or even to donate it, they would  be out of luck.  For this reason the refuge initiated a proposal last year to expand their acquisition zone to include this ecologically important forest.

The proposal has garnered enthusiastic support from Arkansas sportsman as well as businesses in the surrounding communities. Sportsman stand to benefit tremendously from the added hunting and fishing opportunities while area business will reap the added economic activity it will generate.

Though it will be a windfall both environmentally and economically to the region some  leaseholder /hunting-clubs within the area are disgruntled at the thought of their land owner, EVER having talks with a potential buyer.  While we might understand their plight,  their self serving efforts to scuttle the refuge’s proposed acquisition zone will not stop AndersonTully/FLG from selling.  The actions of the leaseholder/hunting-clubs have not only put them in direct conflict with the land owners best interest, but it could also put this  property at risk for easy pickings by foreign real estate investors.  

A fire sale on US real estate to
foreign buyers is underway

Yes, the potential to lose this property to foreign investors is very real. Consider the following. If the refuge is eliminated as a potential buyer, Anderson Tully/FLG’s ability to sell such a sizable block of forest will be greatly diminished. Obviously the market for 70,000 acres of flood prone bottomland is very limited.  Excluding the refuge from the buying process would open the door to foreign real estate investors who would swoop in to buy it cheaply.

You can bet that any foreign owners will not likely be the “good stewards” of our natural resources as Anderson Tully/FLG has proven to be over the years.

The US government tracks forest ,  agriculture, and other  real estate sales to foreign corporations/investors.      

* Foreign Holdings of U.S. Agricultural Land through December 31, 2011, by the Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture.,  Figure 7, Trends in Foreign Holdings of Agricultural Land  by Type of Use for the Period 2001 - 2011

**. Foreign Holdings of U.S. Agricultural Land through December 31, 2011, by the Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture., page 13, U.S. Agricultural Land holdings of Foreign Investors By State as of December 31, 2011.

No Habitat. No Hunting.

What would bowhunter and conservationist Fred Bear
say about the attitudes of today's hunters?  

by Jim Taylor Why should Arkansas' hunters support the new habitat expansion proposed for White River National Refuge?

Renowned bowhunter, conservationist, as well as my childhood idol, Fred Bear summed it up best:  "If you are not working to protect hunting, then you are working to destroy it."
Did you know that only 10% of Arkansas' bottomland forest remain today?  You don’t have to have a PhD in Wildlife Management to understand why such habitat loss is a  problem. 

It’s real simple for me, as it should be for all true hunters. For you to have successful hunting experiences you have to have abundant game.   If you  want abundant game to hunt you have to have equally suitable habitat in which the game can thrive.  If you want suitable habitat  you must support efforts to protect and expand it.  

Bottom line is this. We  have a  once in a generation opportunity to  acquire wildlife rich  bottomland habitat bordering our White River NWR.  We can acquire it using our own sportsman derived funds like “duck stamps" (not general tax dollars) from willing sellers.

Listen, it’s not  about being a touchy-feely treehugger, or weakening your conservative armor.  It’s just a common sense approach for protecting our hunting heritage, not only for ourselves but for our children’s children.   

ABA Members to Show Support for White River Refuge's Proposed Expansion

by Jim Taylor

Jim Myers, Arkansas Bowhunters Association's newly elected president, has announced his organization's endorsement of White River National Wildlife Refuge’s, proposed expanded "land acquisition areas." He has made a "call to action" for all his ABA members to write letters of support for the proposal.

In endorsing the plan Mr Myers noted that this proposal simply allows the refuge to buy from timber companies or landowners that are WILLING sellers. The proposal does not force anyone to sell if they choose not to.

Only about 10% of Arkansas forested wetlands remain. This proposal helps conserve what is left of some of our states most ecologically valuable bottomland forest in the lower Mississippi River Delta.

If approved it could open up an additional 125,000 acres to public access while conserving it for future generations. A large portion of this would possibly be purchased from a large private commercial timber company who has expressed interest in selling. Currently, even if the timber company wanted to donate its land to the refuge, the refuge would be prohibited from accepting it, simply because it falls outside the approved acquisition areas. This proposal would fix that.

Mr Myers noted that as with so many ABA conservation initiatives this effort will benefit ALL Arkansas sportsman not just bowhunters.

Members are asked to send support email/letters to the following:

1. US Fish Wildlife:
Tina  Chouinard,
Natural Resource Planner,
US Fish and Wildlife Service.   
email is:  tina_chouinard@fws.gov   

Please include "White River NWR Acquisition Boundary" in the subject line.

2. Congress:

Congressional Contacts:  Phone                FAX                   Email Link

Senator Mark Pryor (D- AR)	202-224-2353	202-228-0908	http://www.pryor.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Contac …
Senator John Boozman (R- AR)	202-224-4843	202-228-1371	http://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/e-mail …
Representative Rick Crawford (R - 01)	202-225-4076	202-225-5602	http://crawford.house.gov/contact/
Representative Tim Griffin (R - 02)	202-225-2506	202-225-5903	https://griffin.house.gov/contact-me/email-me
Representative Steve Womack (R - 03)	202-225-4301	202-225-5713	http://womack.house.gov/contact/
Representative Tom Cotton (R - 04)	202-225-3772	202-225-1314	https://cotton.house.gov/contact/email-me

Public outrage over the government shutdown of our refuges.

Arkansas is home to ten national wildlife refuges that are critical in protecting a wide variety of wildlife habitat, providing sportsman needed access to hunting and fishing opportunities as well as providing much needed economic benefits to the communities that surround them. This continuing government shutdown has impacted us greatly and serves to remind us of how vitally important these conservation lands are to the hunters of our great state.

The fact that Washington bureaucrats can direct our wildlife refuges to close visitor centers, national, regional, and local offices where manpower is required is one thing, but to close gates to refuge roads that simply provide access to undeveloped forest lands comes across as spiteful.

I have found inconsistent policies regarding public access to forests after reviewing the various government agency contingency plans for this current shutdown. For instance forest lands of the National Parks Service and Wildlife Refuges have been “closed to public access” yet contingency plans of the National Forest Service and BLM make no such statements and are not denying access to undeveloped forest areas during this shutdown. The BLM simply refers to “Visitor Management” on page 2 of their plan by stating they will close visitor centers and “post signs that no patrols, maintenance...” or other support will be provided to visitors.

I have a simple common sense solution. Adopt language in our refuge contingency plans that allow undeveloped forested areas of our refuges(like the National forest and BLM) to remain open in the event of future government shutdowns. You just know that this is going to be an annual event in Washington. That way future government shutdowns of refuge offices, visitor centers and other facilities can take place without affecting the forest lands that must remain open for the enjoyment of Arkansas hunters and other outdoor enthusiast.

Done..solved!  Now the Washington bureaucrats can go back to entertaining us with their incessant squabbling.

Jim Taylor

White River Refuge Seeks Opportunities to Expand

                                                                                                                          by Jim Taylor

“Something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed .... We simply need that wild country available to us, even if we never do more than drive to its edge and look in.”

― Wallace Stegner, The Sound of Mountain Water

Land owners who have property bordering or near White River National Wildlife Refuge may soon have the opportunity to sell their property to the refuge if they so chose.
Currently, no matter how badly a property owner would like sell his land to the refuge, if his property falls outside of the refuges approved acquisition zone he is just out of luck. At a recent public meeting in Dewitt talk of missed opportunities was common. With reports of large tracts of land bordering the refuge being sold for a bargain price of $800 acre that the refuge missed out on because the property in question fell outside of its "approved acquisition zone". It's easy to see why action needs to be taken. Currently the refuge is forced to sit on the side lines while these bargain basement real estate deals are transacted. These missed bargain buying opportunities are a loss for the refuge and the habitat it seeks to conserve. For the taxpayers and users of the refuge it's a missed opportunity to obtain land at bargain prices. It is a loss for the landowner/neighbor who certainly would have benefited from having one more interested buyer brought to market.

Refuge Manager, Keith Weaver explains "Acquisition boundaries"
 to attendees  at one of three public  input meetings in May.   

Keith Weaver, refuge manager,  is championing the effort to correct this handicap.  But like most things in the government this effort is not easy. The Fish and Wildlife service has  an arduous approval process just to establish/approve the geographic area that  a particular refuge may purchase property.  Many things have to be  taken into consideration in laying out the suggested acquisition boundaries.  Refuge biologist and refuge leadership have to consider the environmental significance,  economic burdens to refuge management and recreational opportunities.     

If approved, what does it mean to landowners who are inside the acquisition zone?   The biggest benefit is that they will  have a serious buyer(Federal Government) injected in the market.   The acquisition area does not change the hunting regulations or your rights as a property owner what so ever.  The refuge will not "claim" your land or force anyone to sell.    You can keep your land forever if you so choose or you may sell it to your brother in law.   The new acquisition zone is an abstract line that gives the refuge permission to make a purchase offer to a landowner if it so chooses.    


For outdoors-men, wildlife enthusiast and hunters this is a win-win program that needs your support.  The refuge is seeking input/comments during this phase of the approval process.  Please take a moment to let the refuge know of your enthusiastic support of the new acquisition zones and to be updated about new development in this project.   .  

I have put together a quick example email for you to  show your support-  Feel free to copy and paste and send your email off today.  We need all the support we can get. 

Please include "White River NWR Acquisition Boundary" in the subject line

send email to:  tina_chouinard@fws.gov 

Tina Chouinard
Natural Resource Planner
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Ref:  White River NWR Acquisition Boundary

Dear Mrs. Chouinard, 

I would like to see our refuge be able to acquire environmentally important woodlands when they become available.  Please consider this email as my voice of support for the proposed acquisition Boundaries on White River NWR.   

Please include me in any future communications, updates, meetings, and decisions regarding this environmentally important project.  

Thank you, 

Your name
Address. 
  

White River National Wildlife Refuge Seeking to Expand

                                                                                                                      by Jim Taylor

Habitat loss of our forests remains the biggest threat to hunting opportunities and wildlife populations in Arkansas.  Here is your opportunity to voice your support for expansion of White River National Wildlife Refuge.

Establishment of our White River Refuge   by President  Franklin D. Roosevelt on September 5, 1935 continues to serve as a shining example what it means to preserve these unique areas. Today the refuge is enjoyed by wildlife enthusiasts of all types.

As noted this is not a federal land grab. It is simply allowing the refuge to purchase land from willing sellers near the refuge.  Now, with funds from duck stamps sales and excise taxes from the sale of guns and bows, the refuge would like to buy additional lands near its borders.

The Refuge has put forth the following Press Release:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service invites you to share your input about a proposal to increase the size of the acquisition boundary for surrounding White River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Land purchases for the refuge can only be made within its approved acquisition boundary. If approved, the acquisition boundary for White River NWR would increase by 125,349 acres and the new acquisition boundary would encompass 297,806 acres in Desha, Monroe, and Phillips Counties, Arkansas, and Bolivar County, Mississippi. Once this new "acquisition boundary" is approved the refuge could buy land from willing sellers.

Proposed Project Schedule

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August 2012 - May 2013: Preliminary information-gathering meetings with government agencies and public officials and key partners within the proposed expansion area. COMPLETED

May 2013 – June 2013: Public scoping period, including three public meetings. -COMPLETED

July 2013: Develop Draft Land Protection Plan and Environmental Assessment along with associated NEPA documentation for Public review and comment.- IN PROCESS

August/SEPTEMBER 2013: Public comment period, including possible public meeting.(As of Aug 5th dates have not yet been established)  

September - October 2013: Develop final Land Protection Plan and Environmental Assessment along with associated NEPA documentation.

Winter 2013-14: Decision by the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

If approved, the Service will draw funding for this land acquisition primarily from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. These are not derived from traditional tax revenues, but are collected from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps, entrance fees from certain national wildlife refuges, and import duties on arms and ammunition (Migratory Bird Conservation Fund), and from the sale of offshore oil leases (Land and Water Conservation Fund). The money is intended for land conservation.

History of hunting on White River National Wildlife Refuge.

Brief History of Hunting on White River NWR 

There is a long history of hunting at White River NWR, which began in 1956 with the first archery deer hunt.  Five years later in 1961 the refuge held its first gun deer hunt.  The refuge was one of the first tracts of public land in the southeastern United States to implement either sex deer hunting, which was very controversial at that time.

1935-1955 Refuge closed to all hunting; Fishing allowed from March 1 to October 31.


1956 Received approval to conduct a bow and arrow hunt for deer. Approval was also received to take
squirrel, bobcat, rabbit, and raccoon with bow. Hunt was conducted from October 18 -31; 288
permits issued and 5 deer killed.

1957 Bow season October 16-31; 303 permits issued and 15 deer killed.

1958 First hunt plan prepared and submitted 6/5/1959; recommended archery hunt for deer and allowed incidental taking of squirrels, rabbits, and bobcats with bow.

1959 Prepared and submitted amendment to plan recommending gun squirrel hunt. First squirrel hunt;  October 1-31; 4,200 permits issued. Deer archery season; October 8-31; 833 permits issued and
26 deer killed.

1960 Taking of squirrels, rabbit, and deer was approved by Central Office and notice was published in Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Squirrel hunt October 1-7; Archery Deer Hunt October 10-29; 808 permits issued and 27 deer killed.

Arkansas's Most Productive Public Deer Lands

                                                                                                                  by Jim Taylor

The Arkansas Arkansas Game and Fish commission has  reported that  210,000 deer have been harvested so far during the 2012/2013 deer hunting season.  This surpasses the record held since the 1999/2000 season when 194,192 deer were harvested.   These are combined numbers for all methods of deer hunting. 

So this season was good, but what was Arkansas's most productive public hunting area?  I analyzed the year-to-date deer harvest data from Arkansas's 132 wildlife management areas(WMA) and national wildlife refuges(NWR)  for the 2012 season.  Rather than  just looking  at the total number of deer taken,  I compared each wildlife management area's deer harvest numbers to the total area within the WMA to arrive at a “harvest per square mile” ratio. This enabled me to find the true producers among Arkansas's  public deer hunting lands.

To make the data more manageable, I focused on popular  WMA's and NWR's that had checked  at least 100 deer during the 2012/2013 season thus far.  (Through the first week of January 2013) I then ranked/sorted  them  in order of the most productive deer producers in the chart below.  This is a more accurate  method of comparing deer hunting  productivity  than just looking at the total number of deer taken.   For example, a hunter might be initially impressed with the 1,112 whitetails bagged on  White River National Wildlife Refuge, until you consider its vast expanse.   The 250 square miles within the boarders of  White River National Wildlife Refuge produced a deer harvested per square mile ratio of 4.4.   This harvest ratio places the refuge in the  number 8 ranking on our list of  top deer hunting lands in Arkansas.

Like it has for the previous two seasons, the primitive weapons only area of  Trusten Holder  reigns supreme again as Arkansas's most productive public land for deer hunting.  At 10.6 deer harvested per square mile Trusten Holder  is 56% more productive than the newly established Moro Big Pine Natural Area WMA, the number 2 spot on this years list, and a whopping 141% more productive than the popular White River NWR.    

				Deer Harvest
	2012/2013 Harvest Report	Acres	Harvest	Harvest/sq mi.
	Trusten Holder WMA	8173	136	10.6
	Moro Big Pine Natural Area WMA	16000	169	6.8
	Cache River NWR	54000	568	6.7
	Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA	19184	166	5.5
	Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA	17524	146	5.3
	Howard County WMA	26000	193	4.8
	Fort Chaffee WMA	66000	462	4.5
	White River NWR - South Unit+ NORTH	160000	1112	4.4
	Felsenthal NWR	65000	445	4.4
	Dave Donaldson Black River WMA	21150	141	4.3
	Lafayette County WMA	16739	110	4.2
	Poison Springs WMA	17604	115	4.2
	Scott Henderson Gulf Mountain WMA	16739	105	4
	Pond Creek NWR	27000	164	3.9
	Big Timber WMA	37742	204	3.5
	Lake Greeson WMA	38000	144	2.4
	Bayou Meto WMA	33832	120	2.3
	Casey Jones WMA	83832	297	2.3
	Sylamore WMA	150000	496	2.1
	Mount Magazine WMA	120000	318	1.7
	Winona WMA	160000	326	1.3
	Buffalo National River WMA	97730	186	1.2
	Muddy Creek WMA	146206	214	0.9
	Cherokee WMA	105313	144	0.9
	Caney Creek WMA	85000	95	0.7
	Piney Creeks WMA	180000	191	0.7