The Arkansas Bowhunter

Fighting for Common Ground

2025-07-26T06:44:00.004-05:00

A united fight for our nation's public lands

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

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

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

Polls Reflect Our United Love for Public Lands

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

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

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

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

Public Lands Narrowly Survive Political Battle

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

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

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

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

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

Uncertain Future for Public Lands

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

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

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

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

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

United We Stand

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

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

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

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

Jim Taylor

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

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

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

2025-05-18T07:54:00.002-05:00

2025-02-17T10:34:00.004-06:00

Press Release-

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

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

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

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

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

Patrick Fitzmorris

2024-07-03T06:05:00.001-05:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Can You Name America's Greatest Conservation Program?

2018-07-04T15:54:00.002-05:00

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

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

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

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

photo: DOI

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

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

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

the refuge systems highest priorities for LWCF investment.

photo: Jim Taylor

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

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

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

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

photo: usfws

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

http://bit.ly/2Q2uzUb

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

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

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

Modified Bow-holder tip for Public Land Hunting

2018-01-07T13:46:00.003-06:00

NRA vs Hunters

2017-01-14T08:10:00.000-06:00

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

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

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

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

Arkansas' Top 25 Public Deer Lands

2017-01-09T06:17:00.001-06:00

Wattensaw WMA- Number 15 on the list.

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

Arkansas Public Land Deer

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

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

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

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

Canned "hunts"- It Aint Hunting

2016-11-22T08:59:00.002-06:00

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

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

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

Our Public Wild-Lands Under Attack

2016-01-19T10:44:00.002-06:00

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

San Isabel National Forest- Colorado

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

Caribou National Forest -Idaho

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

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

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

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

Coeur d'Alene National Forest- Idaho

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

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

Uncompahgre National Forest- Colorado

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

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

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

National Forest Lands- Idaho

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

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

Jim Taylor

The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation

2016-01-08T06:59:00.000-06:00

Gates Closed on White River NWR? No Problem.

2015-12-08T21:39:00.000-06:00

5 Tactics for Refuge Whitetails.

2015-09-19T11:45:00.003-05:00

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

2015-08-21T10:50:00.000-05:00

I'm fast becoming a fan of Clay Hayes.

"I started this project in the spring of 2012 with the dream of changing the face of hunting media. I knew what I wanted to say; what I wanted to show and represent. What I never expected was the level of interest from both hunter and non-hunters alike for what I’d always felt was a minority interest – the simple, honest, and ethical hunt. The kind of hunt where things like woodsmandship, effort, and wildness – as opposed to record book status and mechanical advantage – take center stage. In other words, I wanted to show what hunting really is, or can be. I wanted this film to be the antitheses of mainstream hook and bullet media." Clay Hayes

His “Untamed” video debuted at the Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Rendezvous in Denver. Since then, it’s toured around the US and Canada with the Hunting Film Tour. It’s also touring with the Outdoor Film Tour & Festival and received the Pope and Young award for best bowhunting film. Learn more about Clay and his work at www.twistedstave.com

Hunt out West? ...Your Public Lands Are in Jeapardy.

2015-05-22T15:23:00.003-05:00

Hunt out West?

Hal Herring's latest article in Field & Stream exposes the truth behind a regurgitated effort by some members of congress to "dispose of certain public lands".

I hunt out West and with few exceptions always on public federal lands. Transfer of national forests, or BLM lands to states and ultimately privatization would be catastrophic for public land hunters.

For the misguided who argue that transferring to states would keep it public. Know this. States have neither the money nor immunity from the torrid of profiteers lying in wait once this land is removed from federal protection. Want proof?

Hal notes: "Western states have been selling their lands since they were awarded them at statehood.

New Mexico has sold off 4 million of its original 13 million acres.

Nevada, awarded 2.7 million acres at statehood, has 3000 acres left.

Montana has sold 800,000 acres of state lands so far. Idaho has sold 1.2 million acres.

Colorado has sold 1.7 million acres.

Arizona has sold off 1.7 million acres. "

Not very reassuring.

Also:
"• In Colorado, 82% of existing STATE lands are completely off limits to hunting, fishing and camping. "

"• In Idaho, recreation is allowed, with a permit, as long as it does not interfere with revenue generating activities.

• In New Mexico, camping on state lands is allowed only with written permission from whoever is leasing them.

• Firewood cutting is prohibited in state lands in New Mexico and Montana.

• Access to state lands in Montana, Arizona and New Mexico requires the purchase of a permit.

• Montana requires a special-use permit for trapping, or to camp for more than two nights. "

Field and Stream Blogs The Conservationist The Return of the Public Land Privatizers by Hal Herring.

Donnie Vincent Talks About the Drive to Hunt

2015-01-12T07:33:00.002-06:00

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

2014-12-27T06:54:00.000-06:00

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.

2014-12-11T21:04:00.001-06:00

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.

Senate Approves $10 Price Hike for Duck Stamps

2014-12-02T15:51:00.002-06:00

Another example of hunters paying the way for our nations conservation programs. The Senate yesterday, approved a $10 price hike for the federal duck stamp. The House had approved it just two weeks prior.

The speed at which this bill moved through the House and Senate was an obvious indication that the long overdue increase was well supported on both sides of the political isles. Conservation and the importance of preserving wildlife habitat are things so fundamentally important to all, that they go beyond politics and receive bipartisan support. In fact you may be surprised to know that the lead sponsor of the bill was tea party Louisiana Republican U.S. Rep. John Fleming, who ranks as one of the most solidly conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives. Proof that even the most conservative among us are wise enough to know that supporting the environment and habitat conservation is just plain good business. It's good for tourism. It's good for sportsmen. It's good for the habitat. It's good for wildlife.

The duck stamp bill now heads to President Obama’s desk for his signature before becoming law.

Since the debut of the duck stamp program in 1934, it has generated more than $900 million for the protection of more than 6 million acres. The competition to design the stamps is spirited, and the stamps are collectors’ items.

Jim Taylor

Our Duty

2014-11-20T05:45:00.001-06:00

"short-sighted men who in their greed and selfishness will, if permitted, rob our country of half its charm by their reckless extermination of all useful and beautiful wild things sometimes seek to champion them by saying the 'the game belongs to the people.'

So it does; and not merely to the people now alive, but to the unborn people.

The 'greatest good for the greatest number' applies to the number within the womb of time, compared to which those now alive form but an insignificant fraction. Our duty to the whole, including the unborn generations, bids us to restrain the unprincipled present-day minority from wasting the heritage of these unborn generations.

The movement for the conservation of wild life and the larger movement for the conservation of all our natural resources are essentially democratic in spirit, purpose, and method."

Teddy Roosevelt.

Errant Arrows

2014-10-29T10:17:00.000-05:00

The bright side of a well placed miss. (of which I have much experience.) I get the rush and excitement that I hunt for without having to dress, drag and clean a deer. And that lucky doe; who is now a little wiser, lives to quicken my pulse again another day.

Smiling JIM

White River Refuge Expansion Plan Tabled

2014-10-08T11:44:00.001-05:00

The US Fish and Wildlife Service officially tabled the expansion efforts proposed by leaders at the White River National Wildlife Refuge in a news release issued last week.

No thanks to our congressmen on this unfortunate decision…as they successfully snatched defeat from what was destined to be one of the greatest conservation victories in Arkansas history.

Unbelievably they chose NOT to support Arkansas sportsmen and instead fought the refuge’s plan at the urging of a few “fat cats” that they depend on for donations.

Refuge leaders had proposed a plan to slowly acquire neighboring lands from WILLING sellers using duck stamp money and/or Land and Water Conservation funds.

Each winter this shrinking habitat serves as host to the largest concentration of wintering Mallards in North America. This habitat is why our state is nationally revered for its incredible duck hunting. The plan would have returned millions of dollars in DUCK STAMP monies back to our state. Yet our disconnected congressmen shunned the refuge plan and Arkansas' sportsmen for political gain.

Sportsmen, wildlife enthusiasts, and Arkansas habitat will suffer as the Fish and Wildlife Service is now forced to take our duck stamp money to more receptive states.

JIM TAYLOR

Refuge Expansion in Jeopardy

2014-07-26T17:10:00.000-05:00

After a year long campaign by Arkansas sportsmen and conservation groups the refuge expansion proposal is now in jeopardy. Apparently stalled by politically connected anti-refuge “fat cats” your congressmen depend on for donations.

The expansion proposal was the refuge’s noble plan to preserve some of the last remaining bottomland forests near the lower White River, while adding over 125,000 acres of public land for Arkansas hunters. Approval would have allowed the refuge to buy land from willing sellers, using money from hunters Duck Stamp dollars and LWC Funds. (No general taxpayer dollars would be used)

Bowing to pressure from elected officials, the USFWS issued a news release Friday “pausing” the proposed 125,000 acre expansion of the Dale Bumpers/White River National Wildlife Refuge that was widely supported by Arkansas Sportsmen and conservationists. In the press release David Viker, SE Region Chief said: “While there is significant support for the expansion…..we take the concerns of those who oppose it seriously.”

At the outset some opposition was expected from the radical fringes. It was a given based on the size, scope and visibility of the expansion plan. Though it may be a noble effort by the USFWS, it is not practical or realistic to convince every wacko “sovereign citizen” Cliven Bundy rancher to embrace the benefits of having a National

Cliven Bundy vs Public Lands

Wildlife Refuge. These people couldn't give a rats ass about wildlife, the habitat, or conserving them for future generations. If they can't immediately benefit from it or it doesn't make them richer…They're not gonna support it.

If it were up to a vote today, refuge expansion supporters would blow away the naysayers in sheer numbers. Consider the Friends of White River’s 15,000+ FaceBook fans, the 1,200 petition signers, as well as the public support from the thousands of members of the: Arkansas Bowhunters Association, Arkansas Wildlife Federation, Arkansas Audubon Society, ArkLA Squirrel & Coon Hunters, Arkansas Canoe Club, as well as the National Wildlife Refuge Association. With 47% of Arkansas hunters dependent upon public lands it’s not surprising so many Arkansas sportsmen support it.

Frustratingly for Arkansas’ sportsmen, the actions of some of our congressmen confirms what many of you already intuitively knew…., they do not represent the interests of the majority but are instead ruled by the well connected few they so desperately depend on for donations. Their hope is YOU won't pay attention. Their hope is YOU won’t bother to get involved. In this way they can continue to cater to their donors while ignoring the sportsmen of Arkansas. In doing so Arkansas conservation efforts will suffer as potentially millions of dollars in Duck Stamp monies along with LWC Funds will now be diverted to other states.

Arkansas, the natural state.

--->Jim Taylor

Speak up and let them know you support the refuge expansion.

Senator Boozman's Office:
Chris Caldwell
chris_caldwell@boozman.senate.gov
D.C. Office: 202-224-4843
Little Rock Office: 501-372-7153

Senator Pryor's Office:
Russell Hall
Russell_Hall@pryor.senate.gov
FAX: 501-324-5320
D.C. Office: 202-224-2353 D.C.

Little Rock Office: 501-324-6336

Representative Rick Crawford
Call Jay Sherrod
jay.sherrod@mail.house.gov
FAX: 501-843-4955

Little Rock Office: 501-843-3043

Show your support of the refuge by sharing:

How Do You Define Adventure?

2014-04-04T07:31:00.003-05:00

Seems so few of today's "hunting shows" have the talent, ability, or inclination to capture the essence of what hunting is all about. Over and over again most fail miserably in conveying any sense of the adventure and compulsion that drives hunters to do what we do. I have remained uninspired and empty hearted with the quickly woven together, slam bam, thank ya ma'am, condensed "kill porn" sequences of today's hunting shows. Not a romantic nor accurate representation of hunting. A hunt without the elements of the wilds....from its beauty to its struggles, sacrifices, and agonies is not much of a hunt. Donnie Vincent's new trailer makes it clear ....he has the talent to elevate hunting shows to a level I've never seen before.

With breathtaking cinematography in some of the most rugged wilds of North America, this Donnie Vincent trailer gives me comfort and a glimmer of hope that it is possible. We will see.. -Jim Taylor

SICMANTA PRESENTS: Donnie Vincent's Adventure Film Series | Teaser from Sicmanta on Vimeo.

2014-01-13T22:40:00.001-06:00

Get Involved! Make your voice heard... Support the refuges' proposed expansion by signing this ONLINE PETITION. Your letter will be sent to Dan Ashe, Director of the USFWS as well as to your Arkansas elected officials.

Do your part today. Sign it NOW.

“An inch of movement will move us closer to our goals than a mile of intention”.