Arkansas hunters harvest fewer than 30,000 pintail ducks annually, but Arkansas is one of the larger pintail harvest states in the Mississippi Flyway. (Special to The Commercial/Arkansas Game and Fish Commission)
Meador wins series finale
Steven Meador won the Beaver Lake Elite Series two-day championship end of season bass tournament held Oct. 11-12 at Beaver Lake. His two day total of 10 bass, five each day, weighed 33.28 pounds.
David Louks placed second with 10 bass at 28.28 pounds. Travis Fox was third with 10 bass at 27.15 pounds.
Fourth through 10th, all with 10 bass unless noted, were: fourth, Rick Carpenter, 26.35; fifth, Carter Carlton, 26.32; sixth, Jason Sandidge, 25.28; seventh, Mike White (nine bass); 23.86; eighth, Derek Perona, 23.46; ninth, Wes Usrey, 23.3; 10th, Drew Sagely, 23.24.
Sponsor a stream team
A free training course for new stream team sponsors is set for 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith and at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Hunt Family Nature Center in Springdale. The training introduces the concepts used in stream team monitoring such as hydrology, natural and human impact on streams and monitoring methods.
There will be hands-on training to conduct water quality testing and macro-invertebrate sampling. This training will be in water so come dressed to get wet. Waders will be available for those who don't want to wade wet or students may bring their own waders. Call (501) 710-6285 to register.
Wizard of Hobbs
Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area will host its annual "Living Forest" event Saturday. This year's theme is "Wizard of Hobbs" with volunteers costumed as Oz charaters who will guide families on the "Yellow Brick Road" along the Ozark Plateau Trail. The trail is hard surface and 0.25 miles long near the visitor center. Sessions are from 10:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Information tables and craft making will take place inside the visitor center. After hiking, visitors can enjoy s'mores, hot chocolate and tea at the education pavilion.
The not-scary event is perfect for ages 4 and up. It's presented in partnership with the Northwest Arkansas Master Naturalists. Call the visitor center, (479) 789-5000 for details.
Hike Round Top Mountain
Hill 'n Dale Hiking Club will hike the Round Top Mountain Trail in Jasper Oct. 29. The distance is 3.5 miles. Interested hikers may email [email protected] for more details. Club information is available at bvhikingclub.com.
A free program on basic duck calling will be at 6 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith. Michael Meredith, an avid duck hunter, will teach basic calling techniques. Each participant will get a duck call to keep, or they may bring their own calls. Registration is required. Call (501) 710-6285 to register.
Ducks, geese for dinner
Learn various ways to cook waterfowl during a free program at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith. Call (501) 710-6285 to register.
What's that duck?
A free program on duck identification will be at 1 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Hunt Family Nature Center in Springdale. Participants will learn the differences between dabbling and diving ducks, their unique characteristics and how to use eBird to find local waterfowl viewing hot spots.
Family duck hunt
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will host a guided duck hunt for women and families tentatively set for Dec. 31. Hunters will meet at 5 a.m. at the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith. Advanced registration is required. Contact Karen Westcamp-Johnson, [email protected] for more information and registration information.
Cash in on carp
An effort to reduce the number of grass carp in Bella Vista lakes comes with a chance to win a monthly $100 prize. Bella Vista Property Owners Association members and their guests may remove grass carp with hook and line or bowfishing.
Anglers taking a grass carp should register their catch with the lakes ranger at (479) 876-9581 or the fisheries staff, (479) 855-5068. Each catch is good for a ticket that's entered into a monthly drawing for a $100 prize. The more carp taken the more tickets one receives. The contest ends Oct. 31.
All fishing in Bella Vista, hook and line or bowfishing, is open only to property owners association members and their guests.
Burn shoreline driftwood
The Army Corps of Engineers Beaver Lake office is accepting applications from adjacent landowners to burn driftwood and other flood debris on public land around Beaver Lake through Aug. 15 2026.
Property owners must obtain written permission from the Corps before conducting any burning or debris removal. Corps officials will evaluate each request on a case by case basis. Standing vegetation may not be cut, burned or removed. Call the Beaver Lake office in Rogers, (479) 636-1210 to apply or for more information.
Fish for grand slam
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission invites anglers to fish for a 2025 Grand Slam Award. Resident and nonresident anglers of any age are eligible to participate. Catch at least one trout, bass, catfish, sunfish and crappie during 2025. There is no minimum size requirement on any fish.
Bass can be any species called bass such as largemouth bass, striped bass or white bass. Submit a photo and information about each fish to qualify. Grand Slam winners get a colorful Grand Slam Award sticker. Once all five species are caught and photographed, visit agfc.com/grandslam to submit photos and details.
Email [email protected] for more information or call (501) 604-3962.