Attracting Ducks and Sportsmen to Arkansas Begins Before Hunt
December 12, 2003
Attracting Ducks and Sportsmen
To Arkansas Begins Before Hunt
****
By Jay Harrod
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
Duck hunting enthusiasts know the migratory routes that make up the Mississippi River Flyway converge in Arkansas, making The Natural State one of the top waterfowl hunting destinations in the world. But these sportsmen may not know how work and planning by successful duck lodge managers contributes to the state's waterfowl reputation.
Danny Pool, owner of Bayou Meto Double D Waterfowl Guide Service and Lodge, said he learned early on there's a lot more to attracting ducks than flooding a harvested rice or soybean field. His property is located near Lonoke and only 30 or so miles west of Stuttgart, which bills itself as "the Duck Hunting Capital of the World." Closer to the White and Mississippi rivers, the Stuttgart area has more ducks migrating south on any given day than does Lonoke -– "new" ducks that aren't weary of fields hunted the day or two before.
While ducks do migrate through the Lonoke area, Pool and his guides know they can't reliably count on such birds. So what does he do to attract ducks and therefore hunters? "We try to get the ducks that do come here to stay," Pool said.
Arkansas is far enough south that some ducks will spend several weeks -– if not the entire winter -– here, especially if there's an abundance of food. And that's how Pool encourages the ducks to linger: by providing rice, soybeans, millet and a variety of grasses that ducks can't resist.
"Ducks like a lot of different types of feed, so we try to give them a smorgasbord," Pool said. In some fields, Pool plants a combination of smartweed and bluestem grasses, a mainstay in the ducks' diet. He keeps those fields flooded most of the summer to prevent unwanted grasses from emerging. Late in the summer, though, he drains the fields so that some taller grasses will be present to provide cover during duck season. In other fields, Pool grows rice, millet and soybeans; and because he plants for the sole purpose of attracting waterfowl, he does not harvest these crops.
"There's enough rice in that field to feed 5,000 ducks all winter," Pool said as he pointed to a 60-acre plot, where one of six blinds -– and 11 pits -– on his 400-acre property is located.
But ducks familiar with an area can become aware of hunting there, too. For that reason, Pool and his guides carefully plan when and where to hunt. This year duck season spans 60 days, but hunts are scheduled for only 24 days at Double D.
"You've got to give the ducks a chance to rest. We usually hunt two or three days, and then give them five days' rest," said Blake Harrison, the operations manager at Double D. "And if we've got ducks everywhere, then we'll hunt on the edges rather than in a field in the middle, which would disturb more of them."
Harrison also said Double D always removes decoys after each hunt and prefers to have groups of 10-12 hunters. "You don't want to bring two or three guys out shooting into 3,000 or 4,000 ducks."
Creating a "magnet field," or a safe haven, for the ducks is one of the most critical components of the Double D wildlife management plan. "Even if some of the ducks that roost in the magnet field become weary of hunting, they still act as natural decoys and will draw in new ducks," Harrison said.
According to Pool and Harrison, following these practices keeps the staff from having to apologize for poor hunts. And considering Pool's goal of creating 20 groups consisting of 10-16 friends -– or business associates or family members –- that book trips every year, apologizing for a slow hunt is the last thing Pool and Harrison want to do.
Pool knows that to create return business there's a lot more involved than bagging ducks for his clients. Like most dedicated guides, Harrison, or one of the other three guides at Double D, awakes two hours before the hunters, checks the weather and makes sure the necessary hunting gear is ready. After the hunt and breakfast at the lodge, the guide cleans the gear and makes plans for the next morning, usually while the hunters watch television and relax. Also, Pool makes it a point to hunt with every group on their first morning.
These extra efforts have paid off. Although Pool's lodge has been in operation less than two years, several groups are hunting for the second season at Double D, and testimonies from satisfied clients have attracted new groups this year.
As is true with many duck hunting lodges, a stay at Double D includes overnight accommodations, guided hunts, all meals and even hot coffee and snacks while in the blind or pit. And, like many of the nicer lodges in Arkansas, guests at Double D don't want for modern conveniences -– and even some luxuries. Pool employs a professional cook who prepares all the meals. And his lodge has hot showers, heating and air, reclining leather sofas and chairs, enough beds to sleep 16, a big-screen television with satellite reception, and a fully stocked bar.
While most Double D guests are avid duck hunters, Pool said he often caters to first-timers. In fact, Double D can provide waders, other clothing and even shotguns for clients.
For more information about the Double D Waterfowl Guide Service and Lodge, phone (501) 676-2191 or visit www.bayoumetodoubled.com.
There are dozens of waterfowl hunting guide services in Arkansas, many of which offer overnight accommodations and other services similar to Double D. The following Web sites provide links to several such businesses in The Natural State:
* http://anythingarkansas.com/recreation/Hunting.html
* www.arkansasduckhuntingguides.com
* www.arkansasduckguides.com
* www.wcflyway.com
To learn more about duck hunting in Arkansas, including licensing and regulation information and public access hunting areas, phone the Arkansas Game and Fish at 800-364-4263, visit www.agfc.com or pick up an Arkansas Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook for free wherever hunting licenses are sold.
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Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, (501) 682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"
Attracting Ducks and Sportsmen
To Arkansas Begins Before Hunt
****
By Jay Harrod
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
Duck hunting enthusiasts know the migratory routes that make up the Mississippi River Flyway converge in Arkansas, making The Natural State one of the top waterfowl hunting destinations in the world. But these sportsmen may not know how work and planning by successful duck lodge managers contributes to the state's waterfowl reputation.
Danny Pool, owner of Bayou Meto Double D Waterfowl Guide Service and Lodge, said he learned early on there's a lot more to attracting ducks than flooding a harvested rice or soybean field. His property is located near Lonoke and only 30 or so miles west of Stuttgart, which bills itself as "the Duck Hunting Capital of the World." Closer to the White and Mississippi rivers, the Stuttgart area has more ducks migrating south on any given day than does Lonoke -– "new" ducks that aren't weary of fields hunted the day or two before.
While ducks do migrate through the Lonoke area, Pool and his guides know they can't reliably count on such birds. So what does he do to attract ducks and therefore hunters? "We try to get the ducks that do come here to stay," Pool said.
Arkansas is far enough south that some ducks will spend several weeks -– if not the entire winter -– here, especially if there's an abundance of food. And that's how Pool encourages the ducks to linger: by providing rice, soybeans, millet and a variety of grasses that ducks can't resist.
"Ducks like a lot of different types of feed, so we try to give them a smorgasbord," Pool said. In some fields, Pool plants a combination of smartweed and bluestem grasses, a mainstay in the ducks' diet. He keeps those fields flooded most of the summer to prevent unwanted grasses from emerging. Late in the summer, though, he drains the fields so that some taller grasses will be present to provide cover during duck season. In other fields, Pool grows rice, millet and soybeans; and because he plants for the sole purpose of attracting waterfowl, he does not harvest these crops.
"There's enough rice in that field to feed 5,000 ducks all winter," Pool said as he pointed to a 60-acre plot, where one of six blinds -– and 11 pits -– on his 400-acre property is located.
But ducks familiar with an area can become aware of hunting there, too. For that reason, Pool and his guides carefully plan when and where to hunt. This year duck season spans 60 days, but hunts are scheduled for only 24 days at Double D.
"You've got to give the ducks a chance to rest. We usually hunt two or three days, and then give them five days' rest," said Blake Harrison, the operations manager at Double D. "And if we've got ducks everywhere, then we'll hunt on the edges rather than in a field in the middle, which would disturb more of them."
Harrison also said Double D always removes decoys after each hunt and prefers to have groups of 10-12 hunters. "You don't want to bring two or three guys out shooting into 3,000 or 4,000 ducks."
Creating a "magnet field," or a safe haven, for the ducks is one of the most critical components of the Double D wildlife management plan. "Even if some of the ducks that roost in the magnet field become weary of hunting, they still act as natural decoys and will draw in new ducks," Harrison said.
According to Pool and Harrison, following these practices keeps the staff from having to apologize for poor hunts. And considering Pool's goal of creating 20 groups consisting of 10-16 friends -– or business associates or family members –- that book trips every year, apologizing for a slow hunt is the last thing Pool and Harrison want to do.
Pool knows that to create return business there's a lot more involved than bagging ducks for his clients. Like most dedicated guides, Harrison, or one of the other three guides at Double D, awakes two hours before the hunters, checks the weather and makes sure the necessary hunting gear is ready. After the hunt and breakfast at the lodge, the guide cleans the gear and makes plans for the next morning, usually while the hunters watch television and relax. Also, Pool makes it a point to hunt with every group on their first morning.
These extra efforts have paid off. Although Pool's lodge has been in operation less than two years, several groups are hunting for the second season at Double D, and testimonies from satisfied clients have attracted new groups this year.
As is true with many duck hunting lodges, a stay at Double D includes overnight accommodations, guided hunts, all meals and even hot coffee and snacks while in the blind or pit. And, like many of the nicer lodges in Arkansas, guests at Double D don't want for modern conveniences -– and even some luxuries. Pool employs a professional cook who prepares all the meals. And his lodge has hot showers, heating and air, reclining leather sofas and chairs, enough beds to sleep 16, a big-screen television with satellite reception, and a fully stocked bar.
While most Double D guests are avid duck hunters, Pool said he often caters to first-timers. In fact, Double D can provide waders, other clothing and even shotguns for clients.
For more information about the Double D Waterfowl Guide Service and Lodge, phone (501) 676-2191 or visit www.bayoumetodoubled.com.
There are dozens of waterfowl hunting guide services in Arkansas, many of which offer overnight accommodations and other services similar to Double D. The following Web sites provide links to several such businesses in The Natural State:
* http://anythingarkansas.com/recreation/Hunting.html
* www.arkansasduckhuntingguides.com
* www.arkansasduckguides.com
* www.wcflyway.com
To learn more about duck hunting in Arkansas, including licensing and regulation information and public access hunting areas, phone the Arkansas Game and Fish at 800-364-4263, visit www.agfc.com or pick up an Arkansas Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook for free wherever hunting licenses are sold.
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, (501) 682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: info@arkansas.com
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"