Arkansas Out-of-Doors March/April 2010

Arkansas Out-of-Doors March/April 2010 - 1

cyan blackyellowmagenta

MARCH/APRIL 2010

Nonprofit OrganizationU.S. Postage Paid

Permit 128Russellville, Ark.

72801

T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E A R K A N S A S W I L D L I F E F E D E R AT I O N V O L 3 8 N O 1A F F I L I AT E D W I T H T H E N AT I O N A L W I L D L I F E F E D E R AT I O N

Trumpeter SwansPhoto by Tim Carr

2 - Arkansas Out-of-Doors March/April 2010

"BeOutThere"movement,sponsoredbyNationalWildlifeFederationaswellastheArkansasWildlifeFederation,isaprogramIhopeallparentscangetbehind.BeOutThere program is part of a nation wideprogram to re-connect children with theoutdoors. Doyou remember the fun you had as achild playing outside? It has been a longtime ago for me but I still remember thefuntimeswehadoutsideasachild.WhereIgrewupwasasmalltownandwedidnthavetheelectronicgadgetswehavetoday,sowehadtofindthingstodotohavefun.Iremembercatchingmyfirstfishonahickorylimbwithlineandhook.Iremembermysonanddaughtercatchingtherefirstfish,aswellasmygrandsonscatchingtherefirstfishinourpond.Itwasjustasmuchfunformetowatch them catch therefirst fish as itwasforthem.AsItoldyouinapreviousletter

aboutmygrandsonstaying5dayswithmelastsummerandthefunandtherelationshipwebuilttogether,arememoriesthatwillbewithusfortherestofourlives. BeOutTheremovementhopetoreturnchildren to what this generation has lost.Studies show that children obesity rate asincreasedourcost topublichealthsystem.Children today are deficient in vitaminD which may increase bone problems,heart disease, diabetes, as well as otherhealth issues. Studies show the averagechild spends 53 hours per week watchingare playing electronic games. AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics recommends atleast60minutesadayofoutdooractivitiesfor children as essential part of childrensphysical and mental health for bettersocialdevelopment.Studiesalsoshowthatchildrenwho spend regular time outdoorsare healthier, happier and grow upwith a

betterunderstandingofourenvironmentaswellasmore respect forwildlife.To learnmoregotowww.beoutthere.org AWF held a meeting at UALR with acoalitionoforganizations concernedaboutchildren and getting children outside, onApril 10. We discussed how together wecandevelopplanstoconnectchildrentotheoutdoors.Planstoworktogethertogetstateagencytodevelopandsupportactionplansto connect childrenwith the outdoors.Weare planning another meeting to get moreorganizationinvolvedwith theprogram.IfyouareinterestedpleasecontactAWF.

Other AWF activities going on. AWFhassubmittedagranttoNationalForestFoundationtoworkwiththeUSForest Service to improve and enlargethe Bear Cat Hollow CooperativeHabitatProject,upbyGeneRushWMAthis is a 3 phase project. Plans are toclean several areas and replant nativegrasses and plants. To enlarge the lakeareaformorerecreationalopportunities.Toremoveoldfencematerialsandmakelandmore suitable forwildlife habitat.Phase Iwork to start sometime in June2010 and go thruMay of 2011. If you

would like to help with this projectpleasecontactusatAWF. Also AWF is co-sponsor withCollaboration of the Art a state widecontest for K-12 grade students inArkansas, competition for PhotographicEssay, Painting, Drawing, or CollageArt.StatewideartcontestwillbeheldatRiver Front Park in Little Rock onMay14,2010,pleasetrytocomeandsupporttheyouthartcontest. AlsoAWFheldaworkshoponForestsand Carbon Sequestration, CarbonFootprint and how to get involved atArkansas Tech University on April 1.We had a diverse group of 45 peopleattend. Speaker were Dr. Nick Brownfrom NWF and U of A Fayetteville,Dick Kempka VP for Equator LLC,Joel LevinVP ClimateAction Reserve.Sponsored by NWF, AWF, YCWF andPEWCharitableTrust.Tolearnmoregotowww.climateactionreserve.org AWF appreciates your support andcontribution to issues that concernfish, wildlife, and our naturalresources inArkansas.AWFwants tobe your voice, let us know what [email protected]

Another group of young Iowa trumpeter swans willmoveintoanewwinterhometoday.Its thethirdyearofascheduledthree-yearprojecttorelocateswansinanattempttoencouragetheirmigration. Somewherearound15first-year trumpeterswillbebroughtby IowaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesbiologists toHollaBendNationalWildlifeRefugenearDardanelle,wheretheywillbereleased. The goal isnt to establish a population of trumpeterswansinArkansasbuttoencourageIowaswanstoflysouthforthewinter. GrowingnumbersoftrumpetersareusinglittleMagnessLakeeastofHeberSpringsasawinterhome.Thebiologists,whoareworkingwithKarenRoweof theArkansasGameandFishCommissionand thestaffofHollaBendRefuge,are trying to re-establish a migration pattern into thetrumpeters,whichhavebeenrestoredtotheupperMidwestoverthepastcoupleofdecades. Somewherealongtherestorationyears,theswansforgottogo

Band # Collar Sex Hatch Year Origin

HollaBendNWR 1959-01408 0P8 F 2007 LakeWapelloStatePark 1/24/2008

HollaBendNWR 1959-01409 0P9 M 2007 LakeWapelloStatePark 1/24/2008

HollaBendNWR 1959-01410 1P0 F 2007 LakeWapelloStatePark 1/24/2008




HollaBendNWR 1959-01401 0P1 M 2007 Palmer 1/24/2008

HollaBendNWR 1959-01402 0P2 F 2007 Palmer 1/24/2008

HollaBendNWR 1959-01405 0P5 F 2007 MarshallCCB 1/24/2008

HollaBendNWR 1959-01406 0P6 F 2007 MarshallCCB 1/24/2008

HollaBendNWR 1959-01403 0P3 F 2007 Behnken,Blaine 1/24/2008



BuffaloRiverMIA 1959-01414 1P4 M 2007 IdaCCB 1/23/2008 Dead1/26/08

BuffaloRiverMIA 1959-01415 1P5 M 2007 IdaCCB 1/23/2008 Dead1/26/08

BuffaloRiver 1959-01416 1P6 M 2007 IdaCCB 1/23/2008



towarmerregionswhenwinterarrived.HundredsremaininMinnesota, Iowa,Wisconsin andMichigan duringwinter,requiringfeedingbystatewildlifeagenciesandvolunteers.InArkansas,though,thebirdsareabletofendforthemselvesfornaturalfood. ThehopeisfortheyoungbirdswinteringatHollaBendtoreturnnorthandmigratewithotherswanstothesouthinfuturewinters.

Rowsaidthereleaseofthe2010groupofyoungswansformIowawillbeat10:30atHollaBend.Participantsandthebirdswillmeetatrefugeheadquartersthenwilldrivetoareleasesite.Birdenthusiastsareinvitedtowatch. HollaBendRefugeisaboutsixmilessouthofDardanelle.

Be sure to check-out page 10 of this issue for moreinformationontheTrumpeterSwan.

Trumpeter Swan migration efforts continue to proove fruitful


Arkansass forests provide a diversityof important benefits to include wildlifehabitat,recreationalopportunities,watershedprotectionandaestheticvalues,nottomentionproducts produced through timber harvestlike wood fiber used in paper products,furnitureandhouses.Wildlifebiologistshavefoundthatthroughactivemanagementwhichisplannedsuchastimberharvesttoincludethinning,groupselectionorevenaremovalcut as well as the use of prescribed fire,forestscanbemorehealthyanddiversewhileproviding important habitat for many rareoruniquespecies. Becauseof thecomplexnatureofforestsandtheplantsandanimalsthat live there,onesizefitsallmanagementsimplydoesntwork. Arkansas has now 17.2 million acres offorest land.The forestswithin the state aredivided into three principal regions: theloblolly, short-leaf pine of the West GulfCoastal Plain and OuachitaMountains; themixed short-leaf hardwoods of the OzarkMountains; and the bottomland hardwoodsof the alluvial plains of eastern Arkansas.Threenationalforests(theOzark-St.FrancisNFsandtheOuachitaNF)haveatotalof2.3millionacres. It would be hard to imagine Arkansaswithoutforests.Theforestsoftodayhavebeentoalargeextentshapedbytheactionsofman.Tobetterunderstandthis,oneshouldlookatthe history ofArkansas and particularly thehistoryofforestmanagementthroughtime.

History of Arkansas Hernando Desoto was the first EuropeantovisitthelandthatwouldbecomeArkansasin 1541, which had already been occupiedbyNativeAmericansforsome11,000years.Marquette and Joliet followed in 1673 andin 1682 LaSalle claimed possession of theterritory in the name of France. The firstpermanent European settlement in what isnow Arkansas was established by HenriDeTonti in1686atArkansasPost. In1803,the United States purchased the LouisianaTerritory (includingArkansas) from Francefor $15 million, bringingArkansas for thefirsttimeundertheU.S.flag. In 1819, the Arkansas Territory wasorganizedandArkansaswasadmittedtotheUnionasastatein1836.

Forest History TheearlyinhabitantsofArkansaslivedinan area thatwas about 95 percent forested.Early explorers described Arkansas asteeming with all kinds of wildlife from

buffalo,blackbear,deer,andcougartoawidevarietyofbirdsandfish.Thestatecontainedvaststandsofvirginpineandhardwoodwhenin 1541, the Spanish explorerHernando deSoto first touched ground inArkansas nearthepresentMississippiRivertownofHelena. The first settlement began in 1686 atArkansasPost, a fewmiles inland from theMississippi River. Early settlers used theabundant timber primarily for shelter andfuel forheatingandcooking. Occasionallythelandwasclearedforfarming. Some pioneers began cutting timbercommerciallyasearlyas1826andArkansasfirst steam-powered sawmill was believedto have began operations in Helena atabout this time. In 1883, Arkansas andMissouri lumber manufacturers organizedthe first trade association in the South. Insome regions, such as the Ozark-Ouachitamountain regions,white and red oakswerecutforbarrelstavesandwagonstock. When timber supplies in the NorthernUnitedStatesbegantodwindle,eyesturnedtowardtheSouthforanewsourceoftimbertomeetthedemandsofthegrowingcountry.TheinitialeraoftimbercuttinginArkansasbegan in the 1890s and lasted up to 1920.As local timber supplies declined, landspeculatorsandlumbercompanymillmencametoArkansasfromtheNorthlookingforcheap timberland.The 1876 revision of theSouthernHomesteadLawof1866aidedlandspeculators in their purchase ofmillions offorestedacresinArkansas.Largetractsoftimberlandscameundersingleownershipbysawmill operators or timber companies andthepushtoharvestthegreattimberresourceofArkansasbegan. By 1909, there were two dozen bigsawmillsinArkansas.Duringtheseyearsofpeak production, forested areawas reducedfrom 32million to 22million acres withinthe state. The amount of lumber producedrangedfrom79millionboardfeetin1869to2billionboard feet in1909whenArkansasrankedfifthnationallyinlumberproduction. Lack of an adequate railroad system totransporttimbertosawmillshinderedinitialeffortstoharvestmuchoftheStatestimber.Insomeareas,navigablestreamsandriverswere used to float logs downstream tosawmillsorrailroaddepots.Asthedemandforwoodproducts increased, timbercompaniesoftenbuilttheirownrailroads.Wholetownssprangup to serve communities of loggers,millworkers,andrailroadworkers.Astimberin an area was depleted, these companytownsoftenrelocated,exemplifyingthecut-

out andget-out philosophyof the time. Insomecases,buildingsweremovedonrailcarsdownthetracktothenextloggingsitewheretheywereunloaded toprovidehouses foranewcommunity. During this period of time, there wasvery little thought given to how loggingwas adversely impacting other resources(water, wildlife, fisheries, etc.). A generalhistoryofArkansas forests from1600-1988revealsmany changes. Frompre-Europeansettlement to the late 1800s, the abundanttimberwasusedprimarilyforshelterandfuelfor heating and cooking; occasionally landwasclearedforfarming. The Big Cut era occurred in Arkansasfrom1890to1920.AstheresourcedwindledintheSouthsomeeyesturnedtothePacificNorthwest for a new source of timber,whereas others stayed in the South andappliednewlydevelopedforestmanagementconceptstotheremaininglands. The creation of the Arkansas ForestryCommissionin1931helpedcontrolthefiresthat yearly destroyed millions of acres oftimberlandintheState.Lumberproductionwas suppressed during the Depression, butwiththeadventofWorldWarII,productionbegan to increaseagain.During the1950s,sawmillsbecamefewerinnumberbutlargerin size, whereas pulp mills increased innumberandsize.Forestareadecreasedduringthe1960s and1970sbutbegan increasingagaininthe1980s.Duringthisera,thefirstnationalforestintheSouthwasestablishedinArkansas.TheArkansasNationalForestwasestablishedin1907inwest-centralArkansasandwaslaterrenamedtheOuachitaNationalForestin1926.AreasinsoutheastOklahomawereaddedlaterundertheadministrationofPresidentTheodoreRoosevelt. In 1908, the Ozark National Forest wascreated in northwest Arkansas. Federallyunappropriated public lands made up avast portion of these forests, but some tax-delinquentlandswereaddedaswellasforestlandscutoverbylumbercompaniesandlaterpurchasedbythefederalgovernment.Athirdnational forest, the St. Francis, was createdin1960alongthesouthernendofCrowleysRidge in eastArkansas.Today, these forestscovernearly2.3millionacreswithinthestate. ThisinitialperiodofexploitationseverelydepletedArkansas forest resources. Timberwasviewedasanever-endingresource. Astimber became scarcer in the South, manycompanies turned to thePacificNorthwest.Whereas some lumber companies movedwestinsearchofvirgintimber,othersstayedand applied forest management conceptsto the remaining resources. The scienceofForestrywascomingofageandreforestationtechniqueswerebeingstudiedandimprovedupon.Atthissametime,otherresourceareassuchaswildlife,fisheries andwaterquality

werebeginningtoplayavaluableroleinthefutureoftimbermanagementwithinthestate.TheArkansas Game and Fish CommissionandtheArkansasStateForestryCommissionhave been instrumental in shaping thedirectionoftimbermanagementinthestate. FederalandStateassistanceprogramshavehelpedtoconvertmillionsofacresofidlelandinto productive timberland. Programs suchas the Agriculture Conservation Program(ACP), the Conservation Reserve Program(CRP),andtheForestryIncentivesProgram(FIP)havepaidfundstoprivatelandownerstohelpdefraythecostofplantingtreesandmanaging the timber on their land. Undernewprograms,suchastheCRP,manyacresof land cleared in the1960s and1970s intheArkansasDeltaarenowbeingreforested.

Did you know - Statewidetoday,thereare18,778,660acresof forest land representing approximately 56%of the total landbase.Of this, 27% ispine, 17% is mixed hardwood and pine,39% is upland oak-hickory forests, andthe remaining 16% are bottomland speciesincluding some oak, cypress, cottonwood,andelm.Totalforestacreageinthestatehasincreasedby6.5%since1988. Private landowners including farmers,ranchers, and other individuals own over58%oftheforestlandinthestateandmanyactivelymanagetheirlandswiththehelpoftheArkansasForestryCommissionaswellastheArkansasGameandFishCommission. National Forests account for 12.4% (2.3million acres) of Arkansass total forestedacreage.ArkansassNationalForestsinclude189milesofrivers,morethan3,526acresoflakesandreservoirs,2,653milesoffishablestreams,and926milesofrecreationaltrails.Forestresourcecompaniesownorlease25%ofthestatesforestland. Forests are always changing with treesdying because of disease, drought, buginfestations,fireorstormswhileyoungtreesbegintogrowtakingtheirplace. Forestsarealwayschangingandthisisasitshouldbe.Therearethosewhobelievetheforest isperfectas it isnowso theywishtopreservewhat theynowhave. Timeandchangewait for noone andpreservationofa forest is simplynotpossible. Ice storms,bug infestations, tornados,fires,drought,orevenageaffecthowlongatreewillsurvive.Itiswisetounderstandthatthefuturehealthoftheforestandtheplantsandanimalsthatlive therewilldependonwisemanagementactionsmadeovertime. WeareveryfortunateinArkansastohavetheforestswehaveandhopefortheirfuturelooksbright.

Article written by Ralph Odegard, retiredwildlifebiologist.

Arkansas Forests A Treasured Resource


ByStevenBender;RegionalRepresentative,NationalWildlifeFederation

Thisyearmarkedthe74thAnnualMeetingof theNationalWildlife Federation and tocelebrate that landmark NWF decided todo something special. Insteadof a typicalmeeting,wedecidedtohostalivewebcastentitled, Be Out There. At this eventNWF was able to entice some wonderfulspeakers to the podium to talk aboutkids and the importance of getting themoutdoors.SpeakersincludedActingDeputySurgeon General David Rutstein, M.D.,as well as taped remarks from GovernorsMark Parkinson of Kansas, Secretary ofthe Interior, Kent Salazar and MissourisGovernorandFirstLadyNixon. In addition, there was a fantastic paneldiscussionledbyNWFBoardmemberandForensic Psychiatrist Lise Van Sustreren,M.D. Thepanelwasfocusedonstrategiesto combat the indoor child with livelyremarks and discussion by allmembers ofthe panel. Before and after the webscast

therewereworkshopshostedbyNWFstaffand led by NWF staff and NWF affiliatesincluding the Association of NorthwestSteelheaders (OR), the Delaware NatureSociety, theWisconsinWildlifeFederationandtheTennesseeWildlifeFederation. Overall, thewebcastwas a great successwith the only hiccups coming when theremotemicrophonesdecidedtogiveout.Buttheproblemswerehandledwithcalmaction.Therewereseveralgroups thatcongregatedaround the country in order to view thewebcastanddiscusswiththoseattendingtheneedforactiontogetkidsoutdoors.OnesuchmeetingwasheldhereinArkansas,howeverthereweresomemajor technicaldifficultiesandthegroupwasunabletoviewthewebcast.However, that group did have discussionsabout what can be done in Arkansas andintendtohavefollow-upincludingstartingalistservesothatindividualscancommunicateanddiscussstepsthatcanbetakentoformacoalitiontogetkidsoutdoors. The need to get kids outdoors is animportant issue that needs to be addressed

ByJimWood,AWFRepresentativeApril8-10,myselfasAWFRepresentativealongwithAlternateGayneSchmidt,attendedthe National Wildlife Federation 2010AnnualMeetingattheJWMarriottHotelinHouston.Themeofthis74thAnnualMeetingwasBeoutThereConnectingChildrenandtheOutdoors.NWFislaunchingacampaigntogetkidsoutsideandreconnectedwiththenatural world through a National Summiton Children and the Outdoors and whichinclude concurrently holding state satellite

summitsatsitesacrosstheUS.Atthestatelevel,severalstateaffiliatesandpartners areworkingwith governors officesto develop state strategic plans to reconnectchildrenwiththeoutdoors.Atthefederallevelseveral campaigns have been launched inCongresstosecurefundingandcreatepolicysolutionstoconnectchildrenwiththeoutdoors,includingtheDept.ofInteriorsYouthCareersin Nature program, the First Ladys LetsMove childhood obesity initiative, theNo Child Left InsideAct, along with otherenvironmentaleducationlegislation.

Tenpolicyresolutionswerepassed.AWFco-sponsoredwithEnv.Advocates ofNYaResolution addressingHydraulic Fracturinggas drilling in shale formations now takingplace in AR Fayetteville Shale, as wellas in New York, Pennsylvania and Texas.Much the same violation problems weveexperiencedinAR,regardingADEQissuingno-discharge gas drilling fluid disposalpermitsforlocationsthattestshaverevealedactuallyresultindischargestowatersoftheState,isoccurringelsewhere.Thereisnotableconcern about gas drillers being allowed

to treat the chemical content of hydraulicfracturingdrillingfluidsas tradesecretsnotavailabletotheaffectedpublic.AnnualMeetingagendasincludesplittingtheUSintoeightregionsforsharingRoundtableDiscussionsaboutissueconcernsineachstate.Our region includesAR, LA,MO, OK andTX.OKnolongerhasastateaffiliate.ThisyearsNationalConservationAwardfor Special Achievement went to ChrisMadson, Cheyenne,WY who is Editor ofWyomingWildlife, theStateGame&Fishmagazine,andJimRangefromCraig,MT.North CarolinaWF was awardedAffiliateof theYear recognition.A specialprogramfocused upon recognizing NWF and Stateaffiliate leaders that have passed awayover the last year, andwhich included ourownRalphGillham. Forty of us delegatesattendedtheAstrosvs.PhilliesFridaynightgame,$37costofa ticket to sit in the leftfieldfoullinearea.AremarkwasmadethatHoustonisnowthe fourth largestUS city, and Imust say,airserviceisgreat,butitsanotherbigcitywhere those of us raised inARwould notchoose to live.And a short visit serves torenewmyappreciationforYellCountyandthose thingsweoften take forgranted thatmakeARtheNaturalState.

soon and on many fronts. Kids spendnearly seven hours a day in front of someformofelectronicmediaandthisnumberisincreasing.Childhoodobesityisatthepointofepidemic.Kidsarelesshealthy,lessactiveand therefore in danger of becoming lesshealthythantheirparents.Wearetaughtthateverygenerationbecomeshealthierbecauseof medical breakthroughs and better care;howeverthatmaynotbethecaseanylonger.States like Kansas,Maryland andMissourihavealltakenexecutiveactiontobringstateagencies and non-profits together to createplansdesignedtoensurethatkidshavemore

opportunitiestogetoutdoorsandexperienceunstructured play that will not only makethemhealthierbutalsomakethemmoreabletolearn.Thisiscriticalforthedevelopmentof young minds during the grade schoolyears. The National Wildlife Federationand the Arkansas Wildlife Federation areboth committed tofindingways toget kidsoutdoors and formingpartnerships thatwillfacilitateopportunities. Toget involveyoucancontacttheAWFandfindoutmoreabouttheir programs or go to http://nwf.org/Get-Outside.aspxtofindoutmoreabouttheworkthatNWFisdoingtohelpkidsbeoutthere.

The 2010 NWF Annual Meeting

NEED CAPTION FOR THIS PHOTO (WHOS IN IT?) IN ORDER, LEFT TO RIGHT.

National Wildlife Federation Annual Meeting


LakeDardanelleStateParkistheproudhome of the one of a kind TournamentFishing Weigh- in Pavilion. Ourtournament facility has become a majorstop onmany national tournament trails,aswellasbeingagreatresourcethatlocalfishing clubs use to hold their events.Each year up to 40 tournaments can goacross the pavilions stage. All of thisactivitysometimesraisesconcernsamongbothfishermenandnon-fishingspectatorsabout what happens to the fish that arecaught during all these tournaments.While a single tournamentmay not haveasignificantimpactonafishpopulation,collectively they are part of the totalanglingimpactsustainedbyafishery. ThatiswhereIcomein.IamtheAquaristatLakeDardanelleStatePark,and it ismyjob to provide catch and release servicesfor the tournaments held at the weigh inpavilion. Ethical practices and protectionof natural resources are very important toall Arkansas State Parks and a successfulcatch and release program is part of howwe accomplish our conservation goals hereatLakeDardanelle. Iusemyknowledgeasa biologist in conjunctionwith our state oftheartfacilitiestodomyverybesttoinsurethat asmany fish as possiblemake it backintosuitablehabitatinthelake.Iworkveryhardtoachievethisgoal,butthetruthisthatthefateofatournamentcaughtfishisoftendetermined by its treatment long before itreachesmyhands.

Thisiswhereyoucomein.WhenyouarefishingonLakeDardanelle,oranybodyofwater,therearesimplethingsyoucandotomaximize thesurvivalof thefishyoucatchwhentheyarereturnedtothewater. FirST: when you hook a fish land it asquicklyaspossible.Playingafishoutcausesa lot of stress that makes it harder for the

fish to recover later. Make sure to alwayshandle fish with wet hands and never letthemflop around on the deck of your boatortheground.Handlingfishwithdryhandsor letting them bang around damages theirscalesandprotectiveslimecoat,whichopensthewayfordisease. SeCoNd:Keepitcool.Manytournamentsare held in the summertimewhen it is hot.Coolwaterholdsmoreoxygenandslowsfishmetabolism down much better than warmwater,whichhelpstoreducestress.Carryicewithyoutocoolyour livewellwaterdownabout tendegreesbelow the temperatureofthewaterthefishcameoutof.Smallblocksoficeorwaterfrozeninjugslastslongerthanchiporcubedice.Alsomakesuretochangeoutthewaterinyourlivewelleverycoupleof hours to reduce the buildup of harmfulwastesthefishgiveoff. THird: Treat your water. Treating livewellwaterhelpsreducestressandallowsthefish touse lessenergy trying to regulate itsbodyprocesses.Thiscanbedoneusingoneofmanycommercialproductsthatareonthemarket, or you can use non-iodized salt ata rateof1/3cup tofivegallonsofwater toachieveagoodresult.Dontforgettoreplacethesaltwhenyouchangethewater! FiNAllY: Minimize time out of waterduringweighin.Thesmallamountofwaterin a fish bag doesnt hold much oxygen,really only a couple of minutes worth, sotimeisoftheessence.Getyourfishweighedandtakeapictureofthattrophyposthastesothefishcangetbackintosomewaterassoonaspossible. Simple practices such as these can go along way towards ensuring that the hawgyoujustcaughtwilllivetofightanotherday.Publicperceptionofbassfishingisimportantto the acceptance of the sport we love, soplease joinmeandall theotherpeopleandorganizationsthatsupportcatchandrelease,andhelpusputembackalive.

Catch & release:What you can do to help

A PEEK AT THE CREEK:Crooked Creek EcosystemAn Advanced Project WILD Educator Workshop

LOCATION: Fred Berry Conservation EducationCenter851 Conservation Lane, Yellville, AR 72687

Wed-Thurs, June 23-24, 2010Experience free-flowing, scenic Crooked Creek in the heart of the Ozarks as you delve into the ecology of the stream and its surrounding terrain.

Educators and biologists representing each of the sponsoring agencies will provide hands-on instruction in areas of their expertise.

Sponsored by theArkansas Game and Fish Commission, in Cooperation with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, and the Arkansas

Forestry Association

Upcoming EvEnts

Watersheds

Riparian Buffer Zones

Bats, Butterflies, and Botany

Amphibians and Reptiles

Fish and Macroinvertebrate Sampling

Participants will receive free books, posters, and lesson materials!

COST: $40 (to cover the cost of food)

Lunch and an evening fish fry will be provided on Tuesday.

Light morning snacks and Lunch will be provided on Thursday.

Limited to 20 participants, so register early!

Minimum Registration is 15.

Upon completion, participants will receive 12 hours of Professional Devel-opment credit.

For more information about the workshop and other teacher training opportunities at the Fred Berry Conservation EducationCenter call (870) 449-3484.


Arkansas Audubon Society

2010 Halberg Ecology CampsWhere Young People

Learn About Natural Science

Download an application blank from www.arbirds.org/ or fill out and return this slip to/email AAS HalbergEcology Camp

2705 N. Fillmore, Little Rock, AR 72207 501-663-9380, [email protected].

Name(pleaseprint)__________________________________________Phone_______________________

Address_____________________________________________City________________________________

State_____Zip______________mail________________________________________________________

Ageattimeofcamp_____(mustbe11or12)

What is it?Twoone-weeksleepovercampsthatofferyoungpeopleanopportunityforhands-onstudyofthenaturalenvironmentinArkansasbeautifulOuachitaMountains.Theywilllearnaboutmammals,snakes,birds,insects,geology,botany,aquaticbiology,andmuchmore.Theprofessionalstaffof16includesagraduatenurseandalifeguard.Studentssleepindormitories,andanadultisstationedineachcabin.

Why is this camp important?Childrenwillhaveanunforgettableoutdoorexperiencethatcanprovidelifelongappreciationandunderstandingofthenaturalenvironment.

Who may attend?Anyperson11or12yearsoldinterestedinlearningabouttheoutdoors.Ineachoftwosessions,50juniorstudentswillbeenrolled.Andthereisopportunityformore:24studentsareinvitedbacktoasecondyearseniorcamp.And12seniorstudentsareinvitedtoathirdyearadvancedecologycampatMt.EaglenearClinton.

When and where will it be held?Sessiononeofthe2010HalbergEcologyCampwillbeginSunday,June13andendFriday,June18;sessiontwowillbeginSunday,June20andendFriday,June25.BothsessionswillbeheldatCampClearfork,intheOuachitaNationalForest,onU.S.Highway270twomileswestofCrystalSprings.Itistheresponsibilityoftheparentstobringchildrentothecampandpickthemupaftercampisover.

What does it cost?Eachjuniorstudentpays$275toattendthecampfortheweek.Thismoneygoestowardthecostofroom,board,andinsurance.TheArkansasAudubonSocietyprovidestheremainderofthe$400-plusneededforeachstudent.Somepartialandfullscholarshipsareavailablefromlocalorganizationsandtuitionassistanceisavailableincaseofneed.Anyoneinneedoftuitionassistancemustfilloutanapplication.EachcamperreceivesafieldguideandaT-shirt.

What about recreation?CampClearforkhassomeuniquerecreationalopportunities.Everyonemayparticipateinteamsports,swimming,fishinghiking,andcanoeing.

INTERNATIONAL MIgRATORY BIRD DAYA Celebration of our most Watchable WildlifeA full day of fun, birdy activitiesfor the whole family!

Sponsored by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Upcoming EvEntscont.

DATE: Saturday, May 8, 2010TIME: 9:00a.m.-4:00 p.m. LOCATION: Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center 602 President Clinton Avenue Little Rock AR, 72201

This event is FREE to the public! Activities Include: 9:00: Birding the River Trail (age 8 to adult)

9:00: Circle Time (4 - 8 year-olds)

10:00: Beginner's Bird Origami (age 5 to adult)

11:00: Birding By Ear (age 8 to adult)

12:00: Beginner's Bird Origami (age 5 to adult)

1:00: Migration Mysteries..how do they do it? (age 8 to adult)

1:00: Migration Madness Game (age 8 to adult)

2:00: Hummingbirds! (age 8 to adult)

3:00: Make-a-Hummingbird Feeder (age 5 to adult) (be sure to bring an empty plastic bottle)

3:30: Migration Madness Game (age 8 to adult)

For more information about this event and future activities at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center call 501-907-0636 OR visit www.centralarkansasnaturecenter.com.



In April 1820, acting Arkansas Gov.Robert Crittenden and Black Fox of theCherokee Nation signed a treaty underan oak tree in Dardanelle, bringing peacebetween the white man and the Osage,Cherokee and Quapaw tribes, saidWayneShewmake, a member of the DardanelleTreeAdvisoryBoard. The historic tree, now known as TheCouncilOak,stillstandsintheeponymousparkonNorthFrontStreetinDardanelle. ItsoneofmanynotabletreesinDardanellethat prompted residents to apply for TreeCity status through theNationalArborDayFoundations, Tree City USAprogram.Dardanelle has, fulfill its final requirementfor the designation with an Arbor Daycelebration,andhasbeenrecognizedasTreeCityUSAandhasplacedsignsonlocationscoming into Dardanelle to acknowledgingthisdesignation. Dardanelle is all about trees, saidMayor Carolyn McGee, who delivered aproclamationaspartofthedaysactivities.The Dardanelle Tree Advisory Boardwill assist Dardanelle Elementary Schoolstudents inplanting2Redbud trees in frontoftheirschoolat2:30p.m.,and1p.m.Boardmemberswill helpDardanelleHighSchoolEnvironmental and SpatialTechnology Lab(EAST)studentsplantanativeTuliptree,attheCouncilOaksCityPark. We need to work on educating ourchildren to understand the importance oftrees and the part they play in everyoneslives.Treesgiveusthecleanairwebreathe,they provide lumber to build homes, andthey provide food and shelter for wildlifeallveryimportanttoahealthyenvironment.Didyouknow theoldest tree isover7000years old and is a California Redwood?An average size tree can produce enoughoxygeninoneyeartosupportafamilyof4withcouldcleanair. Dardanelle has one nationally recognizedrecordtreeandthreestaterecognizedrecordtreesmorethanmostcitiesinArkansas. The Tree City USA program providesdirection, technical assistance, publicattention and national recognition forurban and community forestry programs intownsandcities thatmorethan120million

Americans call home, according to theNational Arbor Day Foundation Web site(www.arborday.org). The benefits of beingnamed a Tree City include creating aframework for action, education, a positivepublicimageandcitizenpride. TobecomeaTreeCity,Shewmake saida city has to fulfill a set of requirementsset by the National Arbor Foundation,whichsponsorstheTreeCityUSAprogramin cooperation with the USDA ForestService and the National Association ofStateForesters. The requirements for each city includea tree advisory board, a community treeordinanceandacommunityforestryprogram,allofwhichDardanellehas.ObservingArborDayistheonlyrequirementlefttofulfillforDardanelle to maintain its recognition as48thTreeCityinArkansas. The Dardanelle Tree Advisory Board aswell as the Dardanelle Garden Club, theYell County Wildlife Federation and otherorganizations were all instrumental in theprocess,Shewmakeadded. InadditiontoMayorMcGeesproclamationat the both the elementary schools event,members of the Dardanelle High SchoolEAST lab will be leading Arbor Dayactivitiesattheelementaryschool,includingdiscussions,coloringandgivingeachstudent

atreeseedlingtotakehometoplant.ThesepinetreeseedlingsweredonatedbyDonaldMobleyofClarksville. Terry Laughinghouse the ElementarySchoolprincipalsaidthattheschoolchildrenwillnamethetreesthatareplantedtoshowownership, and care for them. Over 650+elementarychildrencameouttoobservetheplantingofthetrees,infrontofthereschool. SandyWilliams,whohasbeen theEASTlabfacilitatoratDardanelleHighSchoolfornine years, said that both observingArborDayandbecomingaTreeCityareimportantforDardanelle. Honestly, I just think that if ourchildrencanappreciateourEarth,andcanappreciate our environment that extendsfrom understanding Arbor Day, we havedone something wonderful for them,Williamssaid. WewouldliketothankArkansasForestryCommission,GreenBay ForestryDivision,Dardanelle Elementary School, EAST Lab,DardanelleTreeCommittee,DonaldMobleyofClarksville,ArkansasWildlifeFederationPresident Wayne Shewmake, and MayorCarlyon McGee for there help with thisprogram, and its success in educating ourchildrenonArborDay/EarthDay.Wayne Shewmake President AWF

ByWayneShewmake,AWFPresident

The current Arkansas K-8 ScienceCurriculum Framework containsstudent learning expectations relatedto the environment at all grade levels.AtthehighschoollevelEnvironmentalSciences is available as a scienceelective.Arkansansarefortunatetohavereadyaccesstodiversespacessuchas:forests, farms, freshwater ecosystems,parks, aquariums, caves, and naturecenterswhichcanserveasexperimentallearning environments. TheArkansasWildlife Federation (AWF) has startedthe Youth Conservation Clubs tohelp address and use these outdoorresourcesintheeducationofourstatesstudents. Arkansas has a variety ofstate and local agencies as well asnon-profit organizations that provideenvironmental education programs forteachersandstudents. Why does Arkansas need anenvironmental literacy plan? No ChildLeft Inside Legislation (if passed)will provide federal grants for teachertraining and environmental educationprograms. Only those states withenvironmental literacy plans will beeligible for this funding. Regardless ofthe status of this federal legislation, thehealth of Arkansass future depends oncitizens making informed choices aboutenvironmental issues such aswater use,airquality,andlanddevelopment. According to Steve WILD MANWilson, Public Affairs Coordinatorfor the Arkansas Game and FishCommission says The future of ourfish,wildlifeandothernaturalresourcesisdirectlydependentonhowwellfuturegenerations understand the importanceof their environments. Whether theyhunt, fish, or just enjoy watchingwildlife an environmentally literatepublic is a must in helping keep theNaturalStatenatural. Special thanks for the informationof this article go to the ArkansasEnvironmental Education Association,ArkansasDepartmentofEducation,RobBeadel, Director of Forestry Educationfor the Arkansas Forestry Association,Kevin Beaumont and Cathy Mackey,Science Specialist for the ArkansasDepartment of Education, and JimReynolds, Science Instructor LavacaHigh School and Host of Into theOutdoorsonESPNSportsRadio96.3.

environmental education in Public Schools?

Dardanelles Arbor Day / Earth Day celebration


Have photos of your family enjoying the great outdoors? If so, email them to us at [email protected], and share them with our readership in an upcoming issue

of the Arkansas Out-Of-Doors Publication!

Enjoying the utdoors


PriortothesettlementofIowa,trumpeterswans(Cyg-nus buccinator) nested throughout the state. However,wetland drainage and unregulated hunting of trumpet-erssoonbroughttheirdemise.Until1998,thelastwildnestingtrumpeterswaninIowaoccurredin1883ontheTwinLakesWildlifeAreasouthwestofBelmond,IowainHancockCounty.In1998,threecygnetshatchedfromawildnestingtrumpeterpairinDubuqueCounty.Thispairhatched5in1999and5againin2000. In2000,asecondpairnestedonaWinnebagoCountyConservationBoardwetland(RussTractatThorpePark)7mileswestofForestCity.Thispairhad5eggs.Unfor-tunatelynonehatched.Wedid,however,adda6theggandithatchedprovidingthispairwithayoungcygnettohelpbondthepairtothewetlandnestsite. Trumpeter swanswerefirst givennationwideprotec-tionin1918whentheUnitedStates,Canada,andMexicosignedtheInternationalMigratoryBirdTreaty.Anation-wideswancountintheearly1930sshowedthatonly69existedinthecontinentalUnitedStateswithallthoseoccurringinRedRockLakesNationalWildlifeRefugeinsouthwestMontana.In1993theIowaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesde-veloped a plan to restore trumpeter swans back to thestate.Ourgoalsareto:(1)establish15wildnestingpairsbacktothestatebytheyear2003and(2)usetheswanstopromotethemanyvaluesofwetlandsnotonlyforwild-lifehabitatbutforwaterqualityandfloodreduction. Iowaswansarebeingobtainedfromzoos,privateprop-agators,otherstateswanprojects,andanyothersourcesthatmighthaveswansavailable.Wearealsoestablishingflightlessbreederpairsatappropriatesites,theyoungofwhichwillbeallowed freeflight.Todate,50breedingpairpartnershipsitesareestablished.Alltrumpeterswansreleased inIowawill bemarkedwith plastic green andredneckcollarsandlegbandsaswellasU.S.FishandWildlifeServicebands.Theplasticneckand legbandsaremarkedwithalphaletterF,H,P,orJandnumbers00through99. We are trying to obtain asmuch out-side funding aspossibleandwearethefortunaterecipientsof$143,000In memory of DavidA. and Robert Luglan Sampson,formerly ofWebsterCity.Numerous individuals, orga-nizations, andcorporationshavecontributed significantsmallerdollaramounts.Considerablesoftmatchin-kindcontributionshavealsobeenmadeandareestimatedatover$250,000. Table 12.1 and Fig 12.1 show the trumpeter swansreleasedinIowasince1994.After threeyearsofmigra-tion observations,most Iowa swans thatmigrate somedistancearewinteringinnortheastandeastcentralKan-sasandnorthwestandwest-centralMissouri.OneIowatrumpeterswandidwinterasfarsouthasOklahomadur-ing thewinterof1998-99,andoneswanwinterednearHeberSprings,Arkansasin1999-2000.IfswanscanfindopenwatermanyofthemwillremainthroughoutthestateofIowa.Migrationmovementsoutofthatnorm,included3swansreleasedatUnionSloughNWRthatmi-gratedtoandwinteredinsoutheastColoradonearFtLyon.TwoofthesewereobservedatMonticello,Minnesotainthespringof1997.Thestraight-lineroundtripmileageforthesebirdsisover1300miles.

Areviewofswansightingsindicatesthatoverthelast5yearsmostareasofstatearenowseeingswansatsome-timeduringtheyear.This isanother indicationthat therestoration effort, although slow, is moving forward.

During2000,34ofourpartnershippairsproduced118young.Sixadditionalnests failed tohatchandabout3dozenof the118younghavediedofvariousmortalitycauses.Unlesswehaveunfortunate luck,weshouldbeabletoreleasenearly80swansduringthespringof2001.TheDNRisexcitedaboutwhatthefutureholdsfortrum-peterswaninthestate. Known mortality to date includes the following: 14have died in powerline collisions, 21 were shot, 2 ofapparent malnutrition, and 9 unknown causes. Severalothermortalities have likely occurred from completelyunknown causes as we have not had any observationsofmanyunmarkedswans.Mortalityratesaresomewhathigherthananticipatedandwilllikelyslowourtrumpeterswanrestorationefforts. A major milestone was reached in 1998, 1999, andagainin2000,whenthefirstandsecondfree-flyingtrum-petersnestedinIowasince1883.Fourfreeflyingfemaleshave bondedmatedwith 4 captive/pinionedmales andhaveproduced eggs.Besides thesewe apparentlyhaveseveralpairsofIowaswansnestinginsouthernMinne-sota (onenearMankato,Minnesota is toutedbeing theMinnesotaDNRs southernmost production) and atleastoneIowabird,amale,ispartofanestingpaironthenorth shoreofLakeOntario.Wearehopeful that2001may add 3 or 4 additional free-flying nesting pairs ofswanstothestate. Asyoumayhavegathered, the IowaDNR's restora-tioneffortsarenotcomplete,norare theyagoitaloneeffort.Thecontinuedsuccessofthisrestorationdependsuponthegenerousityandcommitmentofvolunteersandconcernedcitizens thatvalue the swansand theirhabi-tat.Theseinvolvedandcaringcitizensrangefromschoolchildren to waterfowl hunters. In 1994, the TrumpeterSwan Restoration Committee was formed to assist theDNR's efforts by providing educational opportunities,raising funds, andpublishinganewsletter about Iowa'sswans.Thecommittee isopen toallwithan interest inswanandwetlandrestoration,andwehopethatyouwillconsider teaming with the committee to "Trumpet theCauseforWetlands".

TrumpeterSwanRestorationCommittee

Forthosethatcouldn'tmakeit,thisisapictureoftheTrumpeterSwanreleaseatHollaBendNWRtoday.Wehadagoodcrowdthereandreleased16youngTrumpeterSwans,itwaswellworthyourtime.WayneShewmake

Trumpeter Swan restoration Trumpeter Swan FAQs TrumpeterSwansareincreasinginArkansas,andtheyarethefocusofamulti-agencyexperimentalprograminpartsofthestateapartfromlittleMagnessLakejusteastofHeberSprings,wheretheyhavebeenwinteringsincetheearly1990s.

Some questions and answers from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission:

1) Are Trumpeter Swans an endangered species? Inthe1960's,whentheFederalEndangeredSpeciesActcameinto being, the Trumpeter Swan was considered for this list.At about the same time, a nesting population of about 2,000Trumpeters was discovered in Alaska. The species was thentakenoff the consideration list.However, various states list theTrumpeteraseitherstate-threatenedorstate-endangered.

2) What is a male swan called, a female swan? AmaleiscalledaCob.ThefemaleiscalledaPenandtheyoungoftheyeararecalledCygnets.

3) What do Trumpeter Swans eat? Adultswanseataquaticvegetation,includingtheleaves,seeds,androotsofmanytypesofpondweeds.Incaptivity,swanswilleatcornandothergrainsprovided.Wildswanshavealsoadaptedtofieldfeeding,eatingleftovergrainsandvegetablesthathavebeenharvestedbyfarmers.

4) How many eggs do Trumpeter Swans lay? Theylay,ontheaverage,threetoeighteggs.Onlyoneclutchofeggsislaidperyear.Theswansbuildtheirnestsoutofstemsandleavesfromplantssuchascattailsandsedges.Trumpetersoftennestontopofmuskratorbeaverlodges.

5) How big are Trumpeter Swans? TheyarethelargestwaterfowlinNorthAmerica,weighing25to30pounds.Wingspanisabout8feet.Incomparison,thegiantsubspecies ofCanada geese living inArkansasweigh about 12pounds.Snowgeeseweighabout7pounds.

6) Where can I see Trumpeter Swans in Arkansas? The established viewing area is at Magness Lake, a smalloxbowofftheLittleRedRivereastofHeberSprings.DriveeastonArkansas Highway 110 from its intersection withArkansasHighways5and25justeastofHeberSprings.Go3.9milesfromtheintersectiontoSovereignGraceBaptistChurch,markedwithawhitesign.TurnleftonHaysRoad,apavedcountyroad.MagnessLakeisaboutahalf-miledownthisroad,andagravelparkingareaisatanScurveintheroad.


1) oBTAiN AN AeriAl PHoTo oF THe ProPerTY ANd AdjACeNT lANdS. Recent photos are availablefrom theHighwaydepartment, assessorsoffice,or theFSA(FarmServiceAgency).Someaerialphotosareavailableonthe internet at terraserver.com, msn.com or Google Earth.Laminatethephotoandputafoamboardbackingonit.Thiswill serve as aworking visual aid fromyear to year. Croprotation and timber harvests can be noted using erasablemarkers. Game will change patterns depending on cover,windandfoodlocations.Considerthe1,000acresaroundyouas amanagement area.Use the aerial photos in conjunctionwithtopographicalmaps(availablethroughtheUnitedStatesGeologicalSurvey,ieUSGS)toidentifytheterrain.Inaddition,youmaywanttogetasoilsurveybook(free)fromtheFSA.Thesearebycountyandcangivesomeinsightabouttheterrainandcurrentsoilconditionsoftheareasundermanagement.Asoil surveymap is very beneficial in swamp or bottomlandareas.Also,eachtypeofsoilwillcontainadescriptionofitscharacteristics.Atopographicalmapinaflatswampyareamaynot reflect subtle rises in elevation. A soil surveymapwillreflectdifferentsoilsthatgenerallyarehigherinelevationandcanbekeyintheidentificationoffunnels,foodortravelareas.2) FerTilize THe TiMBer ANd NATurAl SuMMer TiMe FoodS (Weed PATCHeS, HoNeYSuCkle, eTC.). Thiswillboostmastproductiononacornbearingtrees.Inaddition,thebrowseandthemastwill tastebetter to thedeer. Also,use the soil surveymapandaplantidentificationguidetolocategoodnaturalfoods

fordeer.ContactthecountyAgricultureExtensionOfficeforinformationandassistance.TheFSAofficeoralocalfarmercan leadyou to this resource.Makesure tosoil testbeforefertilization.

3) iNCreASe BroWSe AvAilABiliTY. Deer feedon acornsor cropsbut this is a limited food source. Deerarecreaturesoftheedgeandtendtofeedonwhatisgrowingfromfourfeethightotheground.Thiscanbedonebysmalltimber harvests around the edge of the woods, selectivetimber cutting abroad, mowing existing browse or tillingright-of-wayseveryfewyears.Thecreationofbrowsewillincreasetheamountoffoodforgameandwillalsoincreasethecarryingcapacityof the land. Periodic tilling(disking)of overgrown or set aside fields throughout the spring andsummermonthspromotesnewgrowthofnaturalfoods.Thisisoftenalowcostbuthighproductionoffoodavailability.Wherepossible,controlledburningofcertaintypesofterrainisalsobeneficialinthecreationofbrowseandcoverforgame.

4) eSTABliSH good MiNerAl liCkS WiTH A leAST oNe liCk For everY 80-100 ACreS. Usingathreepoundcoffeecanasameasureputinthefollowing:onepartstock(regular)salt, twopartsmineralandvitaminmix(HY-PHOS12%CANBESUBSTITUTEDFORTHETRACEMINERALSALT IFYOUWANTTOGOWITHALOWERSODIUMMIX,THISISPROBABLYBETTERORA GOOD BEEF MINERAL MIXWITH VITAMINSANDESSENTIALMINERALSISPROBABLYBEST)andonepartdi-calciumphosphate(thisissometimescalledHY-PHOSinlessconcentratedforms;howeverthepureformisapproximately19%phosphorusand21%calcium).Thiswillincreasefawnbirthweightandboostantlerdevelopment.The

di-calciumphosphateincreaseslactationandkeepsthegamehealthy.Deerspendthefirstthreeyearsoflifegrowingbonemass.Increasingthebirthweightjumpstartstheprocess.Encourage your neighbors to do the same and everyonewill benefit. Add additional salt if use is not notedwithinacoupleofweeks. Thedi-calciumphosphate isbitterandextrasaltwilloffsetthetaste.Inareasthatarealreadyrichinphosphorussuchasbottomlandsoilscalciumcarbonatecanbeusedinsteadofdi-calciumphosphate,however,thedi-calisbetterallaround.

5) eSTABliSH Cool ANd WArM WeATHer Food PloTS. Youwant plant food plots that providehigh levels of protein inwarmermonths andhigh levelsofcarbohydrates inwinter.Whensummercropsplay-outand the acorns are gone deerwill need nutritional food.Ladinocloverisafavoriteandwillgrowgoodforseveralyears with proper lime and fertilization. It is higher inprotein than other clovers and will grow good in moistconditions. Deer also like turnips, canola (rape), hairyvetch,wheatandoats.Useall availableground thatwillnotbefloodedorput inseasonalcropsorpasture. Plotsshould be large enough to prevent over grazing. Placethem where deer feel secure and a bad neighbor cantpoach them. Plots serve three purposes, surveying thepopulation, attracting deer for harvest and supplementalfoodduringhigh stress periods. Themajority of peopleplantfoodplotstohuntoverthembuttheplotsaremoreimportantforholdingdeeronyourpropertyandcreatingaqualityherd.Latewinterandbeforespringgreen-upisaverystressfultimefordeer.Thisisalsoacriticaltimefor pregnant does especially those carrying buck fawns.

Items & Ideas For Deer Management

IdontwanttobeboringwithmytalesofEvening Grosbeaks, but they make up thegreater number of the birds at my feedersright now. Forme 1973 has been a banneryearasfarastheGrosbeaksareconcerned.Agood-sizedflock,20-25,hasbeenintheyardeverydaynow forover twomonths.And Ifound that the towhee hadnt left and wasstillunderthehedgeinthebackyard.Hehasstayedoveramonth.Thatsthefirsttimeformetohaveatowheestayanylengthoftime. IwasalltornupoverthemockerschasingtheGrosbeaks(theyseemtowarrantit),butafter aweek of fun and frolic, he let themcomebacktothefeeder. Imsurethemembersoftheflockchangefrom time to time with some of the birdsmoving on to new and different feeders intown. However, I know that at least threeGrosbeakshavestayedhere theentire time,becauseeachonehasadistinguishingfeature.I feel like I know them, and I check everydaytoseethattheycomein.Oneisabrightyellowmalewitha fringeofwhite feathersjustunderhisblackcowlthatsetshimapartfrom the other males.Another is a female

whosetailfeathersarespreadlikeafan.Herruddermechanismmust be locked, becauseIhaveneverseenhertailfolded.Thenthereisamalewithacrippledleftleg.SoIknowthatsomenorthernershavespent thewinterinDardanelle. Ifyou thinkdrivingon theInterstategetsmonotonous,tryplayingCounttheHawks.Its fun; any number can play; make yourown rules. Recently our family drove toHumboldt,Tennessee,andwecountedhawkscomingandgoing.Youwillbe surprisedatthenumberof largehawks thatareperchedon fence posts, on highway signs, on treelimbs, and on telephone poles. Nearly allthehawkswesawwerefacingtheroad,soIcouldntseetheirbacksoruppertails,andat75mph,itssomewhatdifficulttopositivelyidentify thesewinter visitors.However, thechances are pretty good that they are Red-tailedhawks.ImsurethatmostofthebirdsI saw were the same species. The greatestconcentrationisintheMorriltonandLonokeareas.Thered-tailedhawkhaslongroundedwingsmeasuringalittleoverfourfeetfromtip to tip and a rather short tail.When the

The red Tailed Hawk By Martha Gillham, reprint from March 1972

hawk turns while soaring, you can see thered coloring. Some of the hawks are dark,and others have a great amount of white.Most that I sawhad light breasts. I did seea different one thatwas gliding lowover afield, and Iwas able to see thewhite rumppatch of the Marsh Hawk. The red-tailedhawk circles high in the sky scanning thegroundforanymovementofhisnextmeal,most likely a mouse or rat. Redtails havebeencalledlivingmousetraps. JustasIpredicted,theCedarWaxwingflockincreased to nearly 200 birds. They stayedaround for10days, and completely strippedthe three hollies, the three haws, and thecherry laurel.Theybelieve in starting at thetop,becausethatsthewaytheystripatreeorbush.Theyeattheirwaydown.Theafternoonthattheyworkedinthelargehollytreeinthefrontyard,theywerecompletelymad,flyingwildlyabouteverytimetheyweredisturbed.Seven birds had crashed into the windowbefore I closed the draperies.Only onewaskilled.Onceaflockflewacrossthestreetandfourwerekilledbyacar.Ihadabadday.Themockingbird was so outnumbered that hedidnteventrytodefendhishollytree.Infact,Ihaventseen thatmockersince theday thewaxwingsattacked.IhopeheistheoneIseeinthebackyardnow.

Investigationsandsurveyshaveprovedthat 55 percent of the red-tails diet iscomprised of rats and mice. This hawkalmostneverbotherspoultry. It is tragicthathawkshavesuchabadname,when,in reality, the red-tail is so beneficial tothe farmer and the small game hunter.Hawkshaveanimportantroleinkeepingthe rodent population under control. Ifthis fails, the rodents could possiblyoverrun the country, destroy crops, andeliminate our ground nesting birds suchas the Bob White. Im afraid they aretrouble,andwearetoo. In the March 24, 1890 issue of theArkansas Gazette, this little articleappeared. The English sparrow hasmade his appearance in Little Rock andhecomes,nottospendthesummer,buttomake this city his permanent residence.Where he came from nobody knows.He as first noticed a short time ago andseems to prefer the western part of thecity.But inayearfromnowLittleRockwill have a million sparrows and notsingle friend. Those who are aquaintedwith him say that he noisy, pugnacious,untidy and completely resistant to anyatempts to make him move on. Howtrue,Howtrue.

Story continued on page 12...

GaryBush,AWFBoardDirector


Research has indicated that the antler base (pedicle) of abuckdevelopsduringthethirdmonthofadoespregnancy.If thedoe isnotwellnourishedduring this time thebuckfawnwill nothavegoodhornsdespitegenetics. In somecasesunder-nourisheddoesabortduringthistime.Thisiswherethelong-termbenefitsoffoodplotsandmineralsareseen.

6) Provide SuPPleMeNTAl Feed duriNg HigH STreSS PeriodS ANd ANTler develoPMeNT STAgeS. Makesure that thisdoesnot interferewith localgamelawsduringhuntingperiodsoritisprohibitedbecauseof high deer density. It is important to remember that thisisawayofGETTINGTHEGAMEACOMPLETEDIET.This can be accomplished in severalways. Timed feedersprovideaneasyandlowimpactwayofprovidingdeerwithadditionalfood.Picklocationsthatdeerfeelsafeandawayfromabadneighbor. Remember toprovide foods that arehighincarbohydratesinthewinterandhighinproteinduringwarmermonths.Themethodofsupplementalfeedinghasthehighest potentialwhen placed adjacent to or in establishedfoodplotlocations.Thisbringsthedeertotheplotareaforotherbrowsingandhelpsprovideabalanceddiet.Thisisalsoverybeneficialforbucksduringtheantlerdevelopmentstage.Choosefeedsthatarelowinsodiumbutrichinmineralsandprotein.Severalpeopledeveloptheirownmixwithavarietyoffoodandmineralsupplements.Manypeoplefeedcornbutisdoesnotcontainalloftheessentialaminoacidsnecessaryfor complete nutrition but can bemixed with a variety of

othergrainstomakesupplementalfeedingmoreeconomical.The following is a list of good nutritional supplements:Stabilized Rice Bran with Calcium Carbonate. Alfalfapellets(USUALLY FED IN THE SUMMER MONTHSDURING ANTLER GROWING PHASES AND MIXEDWITH OTHER FEED); HY-PHOS( this contains severaltracemineralsandvitaminswithoutahighsaltcontent);Di-CalciumPhosphateorCalciumCarbonate(Usuallybitterandbestwhenmixedwithothersupplements,feedsorsalt.Thesearejustafewandexperimentationmaybenecessarytogetthedesiredresults.

7) MAke A SANCTuArY. Createordesignateaplace(s)bigenoughfordeertohideanddonthuntit.Donotgointothese areas throughout the year except to replenish minerallicksestablishedinthesanctuaries.Createcoverthatprotectsthedeerfromhuntersandtheweather.Maturebuckstendtolikecoverthathidestheirbodiesfromsightbuttheycanseeover.Thistypeofcoverisreferredtoasscreeningcover.Thedeercanpeekover itbutyoucantgetaclearviewthroughit. Thick brush patches or small stands of evergreens (CRPplantings)aregreatforthis.Thistypeofcovermaybeadjacenttoyourpropertyalready.Maturebucksneedasafeandsecurearea to hide during daylight hours that is free from humanactivity.Thisisessentialtoholdingmaturedeeronyourland.

8) MiNiMize HuMAN ACTiviTY. Limit or restrictscoutingactivitiestooff-seasononly.Asearlyfallapproaches,usuallymid September, bachelor groups of bucks begin todisburseandbeginpre-rutactivity.Toomuchhumanactivity

suchasrepeatedscoutingortheuseofATVsthroughoutthepropertymaypushmaturebucksoffthelandormakethemcompletelynocturnal.Stayawayfromfoodplotsandstandsexcepttohuntandthiswillincreasetheoddsofencounteringmaturedeer.

9) do NoT HuNT iF CoNdiTioNS Are NoT FAvorABle For THe loCATioN(S). Beknowledgeableoftheprevailingwindsinyourareaandplacestandlocationsonthedownwindsidesoftravelcorridorsorfoodplot locations. Restrict or limit thenumberof standson thepropertyanddonothunt them if thewind isnot toyouradvantage.Remembertopracticegoodscentcontrolinadditiontoplayingthewind.Thisisessentialwhenpursuingmaturedeer.

10) SurveY THe Herd ANd CoNTrol THe HArveST. Encourage neighbors to do the same or findoutwhattheirobjectivesare.Establishalong-termplanorgoals for management. Set rules for people to follow andkeeprecordsofdeersightingsandharvest.Mississippihasimplemented quality deer management rules to increaseage structure. Arkansas has the three-point rule and somecountiesinMissourihaveafourpointrule(atleast4pointsononesideoftherack)butsomepeoplearemorerestrictive.Ifoverpopulationisaconcern,takemoredoeswhennecessary.Harvesttheoldestandlargestdoesfirst.Theytendtobreedearlier andhave two femaleoffspring. Theobjective is toincreasetheageclassofthebucksavailableforharvestandbalancetobuck/doeratiocloserto1:1.

...Continued from page 11

In MemoriumAWF would like to thank the following

for their donation to the Ralph Gillham and Garner Jones memorials.

Keri JonesDorchester, Mass

B&G OystersBoston, Mass

Shirley JonesFt. Smith, AR

Bob RitchieLittle Rock, AR

Bruce SingletonFt. Smith, AR

Christina HuntingtonMemphis, TN

Mike WilsonJacksonville, AR

Jim WoodDardanelle, AR

Thomas MosierHuntsville, AR


Arkansas Wildlife Federation9700 rodney Parham rd. Suite i-2 little rock, Arkansas 72227

Telephone: (501) 224-9200 Fax: (501) 224-9214

Your voice for hunting, fishing and conservation since 1936

Arkansas out-of-doors Advertising AgreementArkansasOut-Of-DoorsistheofficialpublicationoftheArkansasWildlifeFederation,a72-year-oldprivate,non-profit,hunting,fishing,andconservationorganizationdedicatedtopromotingthewisestewardshipofournaturalresources.Itisanewsprinttabloidpublicationthatispublished6timesperyearforthefollowingissues:Jan.-Feb.,March-April,May-June, July-Aug., Sept.-Oct.,Nov.-Dec.The publication contains information about hunting,fishingandotheroutdoor-orientedactivities.Italsocontainsarticlesaboutconservation.Itismailedneartheendofthefirstmonthofeachissuedatetoapproximately4500AWFmembersandithasanestimatedreadershipof13,500to17,500peopleeachissue.Thosewhoreadthispublicationenjoythegreatoutdoor,andtheyareinterestedinconservation.

Circle the issue in which the ad is to run:jANuArY FeBruArYISSUE,reservespacebyJan.1.Camera-readyartdueJan.5.MailingdateneartheendofJanuary.MArCH APrilISSUE,reservespacebyMarch1,Camera-readyduebyMarch5.MailingdateneartheendofMarch.MAY-juNe iSSue,reservespacebyMay1.Camera-readyartduebyMay5.MailingdateneartheendofMay.julY-AuguST iSSue,reservespacebyJuly1.Camera-readyartduebyJuly5.MailingdateneartheendofJuly.SePTeMBer-oCToBer iSSue,reservespacebySept.1,Camera-readyareduebySept.5.MailingdateneartheendofSeptember.NoveMBer-deCeMBer iSSue, reservespacebyNov.1.Camera-readyartduebyNovember5.MailingdateneartheendofNovember.

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Plant as your life depended on it:

ByJimWood,Rep.AWF

Currentlyconsistingof180nongovernment,nonprofitgroupsscatteredacrosstheUS,CorpsReformNetworkdelegatesmetin theirAnnualMeetingMarch 14-16, 2010 inWashington,DC.NofederalagencycontinuestoimpactwetlandlossasdoestheCorpsofEngineersthroughtheirCWASec.404dredgeandfillpermittingactions. NeedtoimprovewaterresourcemanagementinARhasbeenaroundoverthepastcentury,butwasjumpstartedwitha1995YellCountyWF resolution toAWFwhichwasmodifiedandsubmitted byAWFRep. RalphGillham to NWF at the1996annualmeetinginWestPalmBeach,FL.TheNetworkbeganformally with a 2001 organizational meeting in Potomac,MarylandwithaSteeringCommitteetodevelopPrinciplesandProcedures.TheNetworkwebsiteiswww.corpsreform.org. Story continued on page 15...

ByDavidMoulder

This is a quote taken from a native plant group that believesthatthenativefaunareliesontheflorathatweplantanduseinourgarden.Are we changing the structure of our environment withalltheexoticandsometimesinvasivespeciesthatwebringtoourlandscape?Arewesacrificingournativelandscapeforafewbiggerbloomsanda longerbloomingperiod?What impactdowehaveon theenvironment?Thesearesomequestions thatmanypeoplealloverthecountryareasking.Idonotknow,butIwouldhavetobelievethatanytimeyouchangeonethinginnatureithasadominoeffecttochangeothers,Iamsuresomechangesaregood,andsomepeoplethinkthatkudzu,privet,andChinesetallowtreesaregreatplants.Theseplantshavehadadirectinfluenceonthereductionofnativeplants,invasivemeanstometakingcontrolofanarea. Injustabouteverymagazinethatpromotesbringingnaturetoourlandscapearepromotingnon-nativeandsometimesinvasiveplants. In the March issue of Birds and Blooms a group ofregisteredcultivarsofplantsnothingnativearenamedasthe2010hotnewplants.Theirpropagandaisthatthesehotplantsbloomslonger,bigger,andareattractivetohummingbirds,butterfliesandbees. In the same issue the author of BackyardWilderness anarticlethattalksaboutusingnativeplantsforwildlife,wasaskedthisquestion.Whatsyourfavoritefragrantflower?HisreplywastheButterflyBushBuddlejadavidiiaplantfromChinaorJapan. Besidealltheexcellentreasonsforplantingnativeplantssuchastheirbeauty,lowmaintenance,andpromotionofasenseofplace,nativeplantsshouldbethestandardplantsofthelandscapeformanyreasons.Awidediversityofnativeplantsandwildlifeareessentialtoourhealthandoursurvival.Themostvitalreasonisthatnativeplantsprovidevaluablepollinatorswithfoodandplacestoreproduce.Weneedthesepollinatorstohelpusproducefoodcrops. In the next articles Iwill give you some examples of nativeplantsthatcanandshouldbeusedinthelandscape.ItonlysoundsrightTheNaturalStateshoulduseNativePlants.

2010 Corps Reform Membership Meeting Washington, DC


March/April 2010 ISSN0884-9145POSTMASTER: Send form 3579 to:9700 Rodney Parham Rd. Suite I-2, Little Rock, Ark. 72227

Arkansasout-of-doors

oFFiCiAl PuBliCATioN oF THeArkANSAS WildliFe FederATioN

Arkansas Out-of-Doors is published 6 times per year by Arkansas Wildlife Federation, 9700 Rodney Parham Rd., Suite I-2, Little Rock, AR 72227. Third Class postage paid at Russellville, AR and additional mailing offices.POSTMASTER: Send address change to Arkansas Out-of-Doors, 9700 Rodney Parham Rd. Suite I-2, Little Rock, AR 72227, or call 501-224-9200.

This is the official publication of the Arkansas Wildlife Federation. Printed matter includes hunting and fishing news, sporting information, articles on pertinent legislation, with special emphasis on environment and pollution problems. All Arkansas Wildlife Federation members are entitled to receive one copy of each issue of AOOD for one year.Permission is granted to reprint any news article or item printed in Arkansas Out-Of-Doors with credit, please.

Editor ............................................................Craig Woodson

Layout/Design ..........................................Chris Zimmerman ZimCreative

Views and opinions, unless specifically stated, do not necessarily represent the positions of the Arkansas Wildlife Federation.

Deadline Information:

Unless other arrangements are made with the editor, copy for club news, features, columns and advertising must be in the Arkansas Wildlife Federation office by the close of business (noon) on the 20th of the month preceding publication. Thank you for your cooperation.

Arkansas Wildlife Federation officers and

Board of directorsAugust 31, 2009 to September 1, 2010

exeCuTive CoMMiTTeePresident: WayneShewmake,DardanelleFirst vice President: JimmyWitt,DardanelleSecond vice President:JimmyReynolds,GreenwoodSecretary: LucienGillham,SherwoodTreasurer: LarryHillyard,Dardanelle

MeMBer-AT-lArge:JimWood,DardanelleGaynePrellerSchmidt,Augusta

BoArd oF direCTorS AT lArgeDr.JohnT.Ahrens,MountainHomeFredBerry,YellvilleVickersFuqua,Texarkana,TexasRobertLeasure,BradfordDr.CharlesLogan,LittleRockScottTabor,LittleRock

regioNAl direCTorS ANd AlTerNATiveSdistrict 1: BarryWood,Trumanndistrict 1 Alternate: MikeRoach,Trumanndistrict 2:PeteHardy,Lexadistrict 2 Alternate:PattiDuchene,Augustadistrict 3:MelissaReynolds,Greenwooddistrict 4:Vacantdistrict 4 Alternate: MikeYoung,Texarkana,Texasdistrict 5: DebbieDoss,Conwaydistrict 6:NeilGalloway,Stuttgartdistrict 7: CraigMobley,Magnolia

PreSideNT eMeriTuS ANd FirST lAdY eMeriTuS: BobandRaeApple,Dardanelle

NATioNAl WildliFe FederATioN delegATeS:JimWood,DardanelleAlternate:GaynePrellerSchmidt,Augusta

AFFiliATe CluBS:Arkansas Trappers AssociationCindyBass,Sec/TreaseCHoKevinandCindyPride

little river Bottoms Chapter, Arkansas Wildlife Federation

VickersFuqua,President,TrumannMikeYoung,Secretary&Treasurer,Trumann

river valley Wildlife FederationJimReynolds,Greenwood

Save our Streams: KentViers,Lonsdale

St. Francis lake Association MikeRoach,Trumann

Wattensaw Bowhunters AssociationJimHolloway,Hazen

Westark WildlifeG.DavidMatlock,FortSmith

White river ConservancyGaynePrellerSchmidt,Augusta

Yell County Wildlife FederationWayneShewmake,Dardanelle

Youth Conservation Club of Mansfield High SchoolSponsors:TraceySadoskiandBryanMcKay,Mansfield

Youth Conservation Club of lavaca High SchoolSponsor:JimmyReynoods,Lavaca

Arkansas Wildlife Federation StaffCraigWoodsonOfficeManager

Arkansas Wildlife Federation Address:9108RodneyParhamRoadSuite101LittleRock,Arkansas72205Office:501-224-9200Cell:501-658-3901



Enlisting the minimum 10 students To form a Youth Conservation Club

...Continued from page 13

AR member groups include AR Nature

Alliance,ARWildlife Federation,Audubon

AR, Clarendon Chamber of Commerce,

Ecological Conservation Org., Friends of

North Fork&White River, Ozark Society,

River Valley Wildlife Fed. and Yell Co.

WildlifeFed..

November2007,afterfiveyearsofbattling

CongresstoincludefourReformprovisions

in the2007WaterResourcesDevelopment

Act, throughbi-partisan leadershipofSen.

McCain and Feingold, Congress overrode

Pres. Bush veto. And provisions pushed

byCRNtorevisePrinciples&Guidelines,

Mitigation, and Independent External Peer

Review became law. We failed in getting

review and prioritization of the now $60

billion Corps authorized but unfunded

projectbacklog.

March 16 Ken Kopocis, Senior Council

forHouseTransportation and Infrastructure

Committeediscussedstatusofimplementing

new WRDA 07 provisions. Ms Jo-Ellen

Darcy, Asst. Sec. for Civil Works COE,

discussed her role in implementing these

new07provisions,ofwhichthePresidents

Council on Environmental Quality revision

of P&Gs and Independent External Peer

Review has been recently completed---

almost 3 years in the making, shows how

governmentdragsalong.WhenyouseeIEPR

being applied toPineMtn.Dam/LeeCreek

study, it came about through these CRN

efforts.Gotquestions,pleaseletmeknowat

[email protected]

1. Jared Schluterman Paris AR 72855

2. Jonathan Sloan Paron AR 72122

3. Sim Barrow Dover AR 72837

4. Micah Tindall Mtn. Home AR 72653

5. Carl Harris London AR 72847

6. Joel White Russellville AR 72802

7. Brady Fletcher Hot Springs AR 71913

8. Brent Taylor Searcy AR 72143

9. Stuart Brasel Russellville AR 72801

10. James Gregory Russellville AR 72801

11. Clay Spikes Russellville AR 72801

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[email protected] Craig Woodson, Office Manager Ph # 501-224-9200

AWF, 9108 Rodney Parham Rd. Suite 101, Little Rock, Ar. 72205

Youth Conservation Club Name ATU F&W SocietySchool Name -_________________________________City Russellville 1-2010

Adult Sponsor: Assistant Professor of Wildlife BiologyName: Lisa Webb Address: 1701 N. Boulder Ave., 72801Phone: (479) 356-2018Email: [email protected]

(Membership List: Will need $5 per member for membership dues.)


MEMBERSHIPPAGE:

IfyouwouldliketobecomeamemberoftheArkansasWildlifeFederationorwouldliketorenewyourmembership.Pleasefillouttheinformationformbelowandmailitto:

ArkansasWildlifeFederation

9108RodneyParhamRd.Suite101

LittleRock,AR72205

PlaceMembershipformbelow.LetmeknowifyoudonothaveanAWFMember-shipform,Iwilltryandsendyouone.

Thanks,ifyouneedanythingelseletmeknow.

If you would like to become a member of the Arkansas Wildlife Federation or would like to renew your membership. Please fill out the information form below and mail it to:

Arkansas Wildlife Federation9108 Rodney Parham Rd. Suite 101

Little Rock, AR 72205

Support the AWFBecome a MEMBER Today!

Arkansas Wildlife Federation9108 Rodney Parham Rd. Suite 101, Little Rock, AR 72205

www.arkansaswildlifefederation.org

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Arkansas Out-of-Doors March/April 2010