Local sportsmen lead WMA cleanup efforts

BRINKLEY — A few conservation-minded hunters have been busy during the last few weekends sweeping away litter and debris from parking areas, trails and boat lanes on a few Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wildlife management areas. One last opportunity still exists for hunters interested in helping tidy up the University of Arkansas Pine Tree Experimental Station Wildlife Demonstration Area as well.

According to David Luker, the AGFC’s Wildlife Management Division assistant chief, 34 volunteers worked across five WMAs to clear trails and boat lanes and clean up litter at parking lots. Volunteers stepped up and pitched in at the following WMAs: Dave Donaldson Black River WMA, Big Lake WMA, Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA, W.E. Brewer Scatter Creek WMA and George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto WMA.

“We had some volunteers arrive with chainsaws and four-wheelers to help clear out fallen trees from boat lanes as well as handicapped access trails,” Luker said. “AGFC staff met up with the volunteers on Saturday, Sept. 13, and Saturday, Sept. 20, to lay out the day’s work and take comments on how to improve the effort next year. We had a few volunteers offer to bring other types of equipment to make things more efficient, and we had some volunteers suggest an additional workday after waterfowl season to be able to boat into some areas to work. We’ll look into those ideas in the future.”

In addition to volunteers grinding away at obstructed boat lanes, a group of students from Manila School District, led by their teacher, Creighton Polk, collected trash at the parking areas on Big Lake WMA.

“It was particularly nice to see some of tomorrow’s conservationists out helping where they could during the cleanup,” Luker said. “Picking up trash isn’t glamorous or even what some volunteers had in mind when they first arrived, but it’s a huge contribution that doesn’t get the credit it deserves. I imagine some of these kids will likely be the people we can count on to support conservation throughout their lives, whether by hunting and enjoying the outdoors or through their participation in other AGFC events.”

Some help came in the form of large groups, but some areas benefited from the help of a single individual or two, looking for ways to make a difference.

According to Josh Stockwell, AGFC conservation program technician on W.E. Brewer Scatter Creek WMA, one volunteer, Jessie Floyd, helped remove several sections of woven wire and barbed wire fencing along one tract of the area, offering better access for hunters as well as wildlife.

“The removal of that fence also will help with future prescribed burns, as we won’t have an unplanned obstacle sitting out there in case we need to move to an area quickly,” Jason Carbaugh, AGFC assistant regional supervisor, said.

Carbaugh said he really appreciated the effort that all volunteers provided.

“Both organized cleanup dates were typical September days, hot and humid,” Carbaugh said. “I wish we could have gotten an even better turnout, but the people who showed up were ready to work and do what they could to make the WMA better for everyone.”

Johnny Waldrup, AGFC regional supervisor in Brinkley, says one more cleanup is planned for Oct. 4 at the U of A Pine Tree Experimental Station WDA in Colt (St. Francis County).

“This is the fifth year for that cleanup, which is headed up by local sportsmen Keith Price and Charles Gaines,” Waldrup said. “They’ll be out there from 8 a.m. to noon on (Oct. 4), and they’ll wrap up with lunch and drinks for everyone who participates.”

Anyone interested in pitching in for the Pine Tree WDA cleanup can reach out to Price at 870-317-6742 or Gaines at 870-261-5330.

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CUTLINES:

SAWING TREE
Volunteers helped clear windthrown trees from boat lanes on Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA.

TEENS IN PARKING LOT
Students from the Manila School District cleaned up trash in the parking lot at Big Lake WMA.

TRAILER WITH TRASH
A volunteer at W.E. Brewer Scatter Creek WMA helped remove an old wire fence to aid with hunter access and wildlife movement through the area.