Mule Deer Foundation Gets Buck Nekkid in Arkansas
February 2, 2012
Macy L. Brooks, co-founder of Buck Nekkid BBQ in Fayetteville, Ark., signed a Chapter Charter with the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) last week. A fundraising banquet will be held in April at the restaurant, which can seat upwards of 400 people.
At 21 years of age, Brooks is the youngest-ever Chapter Chair for the organization. This is also the first-ever MDF chapter in the Razorback state.
Why Arkansas? Why MDF? Why now? A number of factors figured into Brooks’ decision to come on board with MDF. First of all, she shares an acquaintance and mutual respect with MDF Regional Director Charlie Stockstill, who joined MDF last year and is charged with expanding the organization in the south. Brooks’ family also owns some mule deer habitat in New Mexico, and she knows numerous Arkansas hunters who travel to both Texas and New Mexico in pursuit of muleys.
Brooks said, “I have been hunting since I was able to walk. My dad took me out, and we would hunt with my uncle and his family in New Mexico. There are no mule deer in Arkansas.” She continued, “In recent years, I’ve made special trips to New Mexico to work on improving the habitat there.”
By joining forces with the Mule Deer Foundation, Brooks intends to raise funds for additional projects in New Mexico. She also wants to help facilitate local wildlife education programs, as well as contribute to the University of Arkansas Shooting Team, of which she is a member.
Stockstill said, “With young people like Macy, I think the future of conservation is in good hands!” MDF is expecting a real shot in the arm with the addition of this Ozark Mountain chapter.
Last year, Fayetteville was honored as a Volunteer Community of the Year at the Annual Municipal League Conference. According to the League, there were some 30,000 active volunteers in Fayetteville who contributed more than 600,000 hours of volunteer work in the community.
Add to that volunteerism spirit the fact that Fayetteville is considered by many business publications to be one of the best places for starting a new business and for doing business, and the Mule Deer Foundation cannot help but emit a “Wooo, Pig, Sooie” hog call of hopeful anticipation that deer and habitat will benefit greatly from this Razorback association!
For more information about the new chapter in northwest Arkansas, visit www.muledeer.org or contact Regional Director Charlie Stockstill.
Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Mule Deer Foundation Gets Buck Nekkid in Arkansas
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission Offers New System to Turn in Poachers
January 26, 2012
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is offering a new way to anonymously report outdoor-related violations to the agency’s Enforcement Division agents. It’s called tip411 and is as simple as sending a text message.
CitizenObserver, the tip411 provider, uses technology that removes all identifying information before the AGFC receives the text so that the AGFC cannot identify the sender.
To send the anonymous tip via text message to the AGFC, text AGFC with the tip to tip411 (847411). You will then receive a thank you text acknowledging that the text has been received.
According to AGFC Assistant Chief of Enforcement Todd Smith, the system is a completely anonymous way for people to report violations via text messaging.“Our dispatch center will be monitoring all incoming texts 24 hours, 7 days a week,” Smith said. “We will respond to the reporting person, gather required information, then pass it on to the appropriate officer,” he explained.
With the increase in technology along with the way our society communicates these days, this venture should open the door for those who would not have called in a violation, Smith said. “There are many other agencies across the country that have initiated this way of communicating with law enforcement,” he added.
An iPhone app is also under development and will be available soon. Citizens all may anonymously report tips by calling 800-482-9262.
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National Hunting Guru and Renowned TV Host Chad Belding Goes on Tour
July 25, 2011
July 25, 2011: National hunting guru and renowned television host Chad Belding is set to launch the inaugural 2011 Banded Calls North American Tour – presented by the Sportsman Channel, Otis Technology, HEVI-Shot, and HiViz. The tour will be hosted by Scheels All Sports, Cabela’s and Mack’s Prairie Wings sporting goods stores, with the first three stops coming at Scheels in Fargo, N.D. (7/29), Mankato, Minn. (7/30-31), and Sioux City, La. (8/5-7).
Belding will be giving hunting seminars to share his knowledge and insight with fellow hunters and enthusiasts while promoting his Banded Nation brand endeavors – including his custom designed duck and goose calls (Banded Calls), hunting gear (Banded Gear), and hunts (Banded Hunts). Belding will also be showcasing his newest series on the Sportsman Channel Dead Dog Walkin’ and third season of The Fowl Life with Chad Belding.
“Banded Calls is honored and humbled to have partners like Cabela’s, Mack’s, and Scheels carry our product lines,” Belding said.
During his appearances, Belding will be signing autographs and taking photos with fans at each stop. There will also be giveaways that include t-shirts and posters from The Fowl Life with Chad Beldingand Dead Dog Walkin.’
“Everything is happening so fast,” Belding said. “We just started the company in January of this year and five months later, we are delivering hundreds of calls to the top retailers in the country. We understand what this means to our brand and the added credibility it gives our company.”
Upcoming Tour Stops:
- Fargo, ND – July 29 | Scheels
- Mankato, MN – July 30 & 31 | Scheels
- Sioux City, IA – August 5-7 | Scheels
- Kansas City, MO – August 12-14 | Cabela’s
- Dundee, MI – August 19-21 | Cabela’s
- Sioux Falls, SD – August 26-28 | Scheels
- La Vista, NE – September 16-18 | Cabela’s
- Stuttgart, AR – September 23-25 | Mack’s Prairie Wings
- Stuttgart, AR – September 30 & October 1 | Mack’s Prairie Wings
- Gonzales, LA – October 1 & 2 | Cabela’s
- Stuttgart, AR – November 25-27 | Mack’s Prairie Wings
About Chad Belding: Chad Belding’s success started with his reality hunting show called ‘The Fowl Life with Chad Belding’ which launched on Sportsman Channel and WILD TV in 2008, and airs in more than 40 million homes in North America. Fans across the nation have watched as Belding and his crew hunt in more than 15 states across the U.S., incorporating a local guest in each location who offers advice on their local hunting ground and participates in the hunt. Now approaching season three, ‘The Fowl Life with Chad Belding’ is becoming the must-see reality series for hunters across the nation. Belding also launched a new show focused on predator hunts and wildlife conservation called ‘Dead Dog Walkin,’ which began airing on Sportsman Channel and WILD TV March 2011.
About Banded Nation: Launched in January 2011, Banded Nation is comprised of hunters, editors, graphic designers, producers, videographers and on-camera personalities dedicated to bringing a new approach to outdoor television and outdoor style. Banded Nation was founded by renowned outdoor hunting show host Chad Belding and acts as the parent company to a wide variety of properties including Sportsman Channel and WILD TV’s award winning national television series ‘The Fowl Life with Chad Belding,’ the new predator hunting television series ‘Dead Dog Walkin’ and Banded Gear. Visit www.bandednation.com for more information.
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Arkansas Outdoors Expo Announces Title and Gold Sponsors
June 15, 2011
Conway, AR- The Arkansas Outdoors Expo announces Sunrise Marine in Searcy Arkansas as the title sponsor and Murphy USA as Gold sponsor.
The Arkansas Outdoors Expo will be held Aug. 20 and 21 at Conway’s brand new, 45,000 sq. ft. Conway Expo Center. The expo will include hundreds of outdoor vendors, as well as a jam-packed weekend of events that include a duck calling competition, steak cooking contest, 3D archery tournament, the Ultimate Air Dogs, and multiple seminars and demonstrations from industry pros. Additionally, a portion of the expo’s proceeds will benefit Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Vendor booth space and sponsorship opportunities are still available. Visit www.ArkansasOutdoorsExpo.com for more information, or email Matt at Matt@ArkansasOutdoorsExpo.com
RNT Duck Calls founder Butch Richenback will offer a free duck calling clinic on Saturday, August 20. Perfect for youth hunters just taking up the sport of duck hunting, or for experienced duck hunters looking to fine-tune their skills.
Arkansas State Duck Calling Contest – Team Real Duck will be on-hand giving callers the chance to win prizes and walk away with bragging rights as the Natural State’s finest caller.
Outdoor Channel Outfitters – Stop by and see Outdoor Channel Outfitter’s Wild Game Exhibit, visit with Outdoor Channel Outfitter TV show hosts and listen to expert seminars.
Arkansas 3D Archery Tournament – Only five weeks before Arkansas’s archery season opens, contestants will have the opportunity to take aim on a number of outdoor 3D targets for cash and prizes.
Ultimate Air Dogs- One of the premier dock dog jumping organizations in the country, Ultimate Air Dogs offers high-flying dog jumping including retrieving, tricks and more. You can even enter your own dog!
Casting and Fly Tying Lessons – John Gulley, Orvis’s 1998 Fly Fishing Guide of the Year will be on-site providing free fly tying demonstrations & casting lessons.
The Great Steak Cook-Off – Cooking teams are invited to enter the Great Steak Cook-Off for cash and prizes. Porterhouse steaks will be provided to teams. Additional steaks will also be provided to the crowd!
Hunting and Fishing Swap Meet – The Arkansas Outdoors Expo Sportsman’s Swap Meet is your chance to trade with other sportsman around the state. And best of all, it’s free to bring your stuff in with paid admission at the door.
Contact:
Matt Livingston
870-304-6934
matt@ArkansasOutdoorsExpo.com
www.ArkansasOutdoorsExpo.com
Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Arkansas Outdoors Expo Announces Title and Gold Sponsors
A Warning To Outdoor Users About Echinococcus, From Worms
December 14, 2009
This is a warning to outdoor users about a potentially deadly biological event that could result from one’s curiosity to poke at and kick through scat from wolves, coyotes and foxes. Of course not everyone knowingly does this but many hunters, trappers and simply the curious, want to know what these animals have been eating.
Picture This!
October 28, 2009
With all the great stories, equipment, adventures and people out there I thought it would be great to get some pictures. If you have any pictures from a hunt, your gear or best of all you geared up that would be great. If you send in pictures I will post on our site as well as putting some of the best pictures on all our sites. Things I am looking for, but not limited to.
• Gear: Clothes, utility tools, ATV’s…
• Favorite weapons: guns, bows, sticks, stones…
• Best Duck Blind or Hide…
• You, family or friends dressed for the hunt…
• Where you hunt
All I need is a digital picture in any PC compatible format and a description of the picture. You can make the description as long or short as you would like. If there is a story behind the picture we would love to hear about it.
Send Pictures to:
Todd Krater
U.S. Hunting Today
Managing Editor
todd@ushuntingtoday.com
Note: If you want a picture posted and do not have a digital copy I would be willing to scan it for you. Please contact me for details.
US Hunting Today reserves the right to refuse any picture for any reason as well as edit it where appropriate.
Huckabee The Target Of Hunting And Religious Ridicule
January 6, 2008
It’s to be expected when you are running for president of these here United States. But multiply that substantially when you just come off winning the Iowa caucus heading into New Hampshire as the front runner. Let’s face it, when your a nobody, nobody cares. Lead the pack and you’re a target.
Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas has too very large targets on his back, at least so far, and everyone is taking aim. One target has a Bible in the middle of it. Huckabee is a Baptist minister and well, we know how this religion thing sits with some people. The other target has a hunting rifle in it. Mr. Huckabee likes to hunt. Read more
5-Year Old Descendant Of Davy Crockett Kills Him A “Bar”
December 20, 2007
“Born on a mountain top in Tennessee.
Killed him a “bar” when he was only three.
Davy, Davy Crockett.
King of the Wild Frontier”
We all learned the song as a kid growing up (well, those of us with a little age behind us) and about the legend of Davy Crockett. Now, 5-year old Tre Merritt, whose grandfather claims is a ten-times removed great grandson of Davy Crockett, has perhaps written his own legend by bagging a 445-pound black bear, shot and killed in Arkansas.
According to Fox Sports, this isn’t the first time young Tre has taken big game.
According to the report, Tre’s father said his son began shooting when he was 2 1/2 and killed three deer last year. What else would you expect from a decendant of the “King of the Wild Frontier?”
You can watch video of Tre and his grandfather from KATV at this site.
Tom Remington
The Ivory-Billed Woodpecker – To Save Or Not To Save?
December 20, 2007
It was back in late 2003 or early 2004 when I first heard about the possibilities that scientists had rediscovered the existence of the ivory-billed woodpecker deep in the swamps of Arkansas. As a matter of fact, it was so long ago, by cyberspace standards, that the blog I did about it was on my first blog of which I never transfered the stories over to this format – regrettable.
Ever since the claim was made that one of these thought to be extinct woodpeckers was still alive, there has been continual disagreement as to whether it was really seen. After all, it wasn’t like they caught it and put it in a cage. The claiming of rediscovery, if my memory serves me correctly, was a quick snapshot/video of a fleeing bird and some audio sounds that some scientist disputed as being of some other species. At Ivorybill.org, you can read “the story” of the rediscovery.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has formulated a “Draft Ivory-Billed Woodpecker Recovery Plan” that is estimated to cost the taxpayers $27 million. Go to this link and you can download a pdf file of the plan and get information on how to comment on the proposal.
According to an article today in the Memphis Flyer, no further sightings or rediscoveries have occurred since 2004 but scientists are hopeful.
While the woodpecker’s existence has not been confirmed since, tantalizing evidence continues to be gathered in Arkansas, Florida’s panhandle, South Carolina, and other locations across its historic range.
So tell me readers. Is $27 million taxpayer dollars worth the investment on “tantalizing evidence” and a sighting in 2004 that has been questioned?
While intriguing, I think that better substantiated evidence needs to be employed here before I would be willing to spend $27 million on hopefully finding something. I think USFWS tax dollars could be much better spent on other projects.
Leave comments below if you would like.
Tom Remington
EHD Outbreak Widespread And Following Drought
December 20, 2007
As most hunters are aware, several states are experiencing outbreaks of EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease). To date, states involved are, Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey and Montana. In those states, some are experiencing widespread outbreaks while others are sporadic. Either way, it appears that this year’s outbreak is one that could be classified as the most widespread in some years.
J.R. Absher, the Newshound, and I sent a couple emails back and forth this morning about what’s happening with EHD. In one of my emails, I asked J.R. if this was what he would consider a large outbreak from his years of experience in the field. What he told me was that in a previous article he mentioned that he had talked with a friend of his, Doug Markham, information officer for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, about this year’s outbreak.
My good friend Doug Markham, information officer for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, dropped me an email over the weekend saying it’s as bad as he’s ever seen it in his 20 years with the agency.
Some especially hard-hit areas of the Volunteer State could lose half their deer to EHD this year, Markham speculated.
One other thing that J.R. mentioned was that it seemed that the EHD outbreak was following a similar path as this summer’s drought. I’ll have to do some investigating to see if I can find out if that is a common occurrence.
In the meantime, we all need to be praying for some frost and freezes to kill this thing off.
Tom Remington
