Links

Recommended Links

Arkansas Wildlife Federation’s Official Wildlife Photographer
Tim Carr is one of the most talented wildlife photographers in Arkansas and has contributed many outstanding wildlife photographs that are reproduced in the AWF newspaper – Arkansas Out-of-Doors, the annual AWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards banquet book, and other publications by AWF. Tim Carr has an outstanding website which displays the many wildlife photos he has produced.

The National Wildlife Federation
NWF is America’s largest conservation organization and is the only conservation organization that places a high priority on working with families and children. NWF’s mission is to “inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.”

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services
The mission of the U.S. Fish and WildlifeServices, working with others, is to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitat for their continuing benefits of the American People.

Environmental Protection Agency
The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is to protect human health and to safeguard the natural environment – air, water, and land – upon which life depends.

USDA Forest Service
The phrase “Caring  for the Land and Serving People” captures the Forest Service mission.  As set forth in law, the mission is to achieve quality land management under sustainable multiple-use management to meet the diverse needs of the        people.

The Buffalo National River

This river is consider one of America’s favorite canoeing and hiking adventures. Some one million people visit the Buffalo National River every year. The park is divided up into three segments: 1.) the upper 2.) the middle and 3.) the lower river. The middle and lower segments are in the Twin Lakes Area. The upper segment is about 70 minutes from Mountain Home, Arkansas. Depending on where you are in the Twin Lakes, access to the Buffalo National River is only a few minutes away, or as much as 75 minutes.

The Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

They are really two separate Forests with many differences – distinct in their own topographical, geological, biological, cultural and social differences, yet each makes up a part of the overall National Forest system. The Ozark National Forest covers 1.2 million acres, mostly in the Ozark Mountains of northern Arkansas. The tallest mountain in the State is Mount Magazine, and it has an incredible, living underground cave. The St. Francis National Forest covers 22,600 acres in eastern Arkansas, and is one of the smallest and most diverse forests in the country. These forests are generously endowed with recreational opportunities for camping, hiking, swimming, fishing, hunting, boating, scenic drives, picnics sites, and opportunities for wildlife viewing also abound.  

The Ouachita National Forest

It covers nearly 1.8 million acres in central Arkansas and southeast Oklahoma. It is the oldest and largest National Forest in the Southern Region. When first established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907, it was named the Arkansas National Forest. President Calvin Coolidge renamed it to Ouachita in 1926. Ouachita (pronounced wash-i-tah) is the French spelling of a Native American word meaning “good hunting ground.” The Ouachita is primarily a pine-hickory mix. It has over 700 miles of trails for various activities such as hiking, mountain biking, equestrian, off-road vehicles, and trails that allow for accessibility. There are 35 developed recreation areas, 7 scenic areas, 43 vistas, 5 float camps, 11 shooting ranges, 2 historical sites, 6 wilderness areas, and 1 national recreation area. Most of the developed recreation areas are open April through September, but some sites are open year-round.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

The mission of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is to wisely manage all the fish and wildlife resources of Arkansas while providing maximum enjoyment for the people.

Arkansas State Parks

Since its creation, Arkansas State Parks system has held true to its four basic charges:

• To provide optimum quality recreational and educational opportunities in sufficient quantities and conveniently located to meet the experience needs of state citizens and visitors;
• To safeguard the natural, historical and cultural resources by providing adequate facilities and skilled leadership in state parks;
• To enhance the economy of the state by providing recreation destinations and leisure services closely attuned to the natural, historical and cultural appeal of Arkansas, and ;
• To provide responsible leadership statewide for the conservation of valuable state resources   

Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission

The mission of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission is to identify and protect remaining high-quality natural communities and maintain information on the distribution and status of rare species that live within the state. As Arkansas continues to grow and develop, it is vital that ANHC identify and protect the best examples of Arkansas remaining natural heritage. By focusing its attention upon those natural communities and species that need the most protection, ANHC can help to ensure that Arkansas’s unique natural diversity is not lost. 

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality

The mission of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality is to protect Arkansas’ priceless natural resources – its air, water and land – from the threat of pollution. ADEQ is committed to protect, enhance, and restore the natural environment for the well-being of all Arkansans.

Adopt-A-Stream

Natural Awakenings magazine

River Network

Izaak Walton League of America

Natural Resources Conservation Services/USDA

Affiliates

Affiliates

AWF has several autonomous affiliate organizations throughout the state. Some of these groups were formed to work on specific projects in their local areas, such as the Yell County Wildlife Federation. Other groups that affiliate with the AWF are groups that already exist but want to provide more support on issues affecting the entire state.

Any organization with at least 10 members may apply for affiliation. The affiliation fee is $50 per year. Each affiliate organization will receive Arkansas Out-of-Doors. Any members of the affiliation that would life to receive an electronic PDF copy of the newspaper will receive it for free once they have provided their e-mail address. The affiliate organization can publish its news & upcoming events in Arkansas Out-of-Doors at no charge (contact editor for details). All affiliate applications are subject to approval by the AWF Board of Directors. For more information on affiliation, contact the AWF office:
Email AWF or call (501) 224-9200.

1. Arkansas Chapter of American Fisheries
2. Arkansas Trappers Association
3. Arkansas Tech University Fisheries & Wildlife Society
4. Cane Creek Homeowner’s Association
5. Creative Ideas
6. Greene County Wildlife Club
7. Little River Bottoms Chapter of the Arkansas Wildlife Federation
8. University of the Ozarks – Clarksville, AR
9. Westark Wildlife
10. White River Conservancy
11. Yell County Wildlife Federation

Staff-Board

AWF Staff and Board Members

Staff

Ethan Nahté
Executive Director

9108 N. Rodney Parham Road, Suite 101
Little Rock, Arkansas 72205
Email
Office – (501) 224-9200

AWF Executive Committee

President: Wayne Shewmake – Dardanelle, AR

1st Vice President: Ellen McNulty – Pine Bluff, AR

2nd Vice President: Jerry Crowe – Dardanelle, AR

Secretary: Lucien Gillham – Sherwood, AR

Treasurer: Gary W. Bush – Marion, AR

Technical Advisor: vacant

Directors at Large

Jim Wood – Dardanelle, AR

Gayne Preller Schmidt – Augusta, AR

Dr. John T. Ahrens – Mountain Home, AR

Lola Perritt – Mabelvale, AR

Odies Wilson, III – Little Rock, AR

Dr. Charles W. Logan,M.D. – Little Rock, AR

Bobby Hacker – Little Rock, AR

Chrystola Tullos – Rison, AR

Mike Armstrong – Little Rock, AR

Clay Spikes – Benton, AR

Regional Directors

District 1: Vacant

District 2: Patty Dell-Duchene – Augusta, AR

Alternate: Linda Cooper – Augusta, AR

District 3: Vacant

District 4: Vacant

District 5: Mary Lou Lane – Dardanelle, AR

National Wildlife Federation Delegate

Wayne Shewmake - Dardanelle, AR

Alternate: Ellen McNulty - Pine Bluff, AR

NWF Regional Representative
Geralyn Hoey – Austin, TX

Advisor to President

Ralph Odegard – Mountain Home, AR

Larry Hedrick – Hot Springs, AR

Charles McLemore, Jr. – Bryant, AR

President Emeritus and First Lady Emeritus

Bob and Rae Apple, Dardanelle, AR

AFFILIATE CLUBS:
Arkansas Tech University Fisheries & Wildlife Society
Jared Schluterman, President – Russellville, AR

Arkansas Chapter of American Fisheries

Arkansas Trappers Association
Gary Helms, President – Texarkana, AR

Cane Creek Hometowner’s Assocation
Jessica Thompson, Sec./Treasurer – Scranton, AR

Creative Ideas
Sharon Hacker, President – Little Rock, AR

Greene County Wildlife Club
Rick Woolridge, President – Paragould, AR

Little River Bottoms Chapter, Arkansas Wildlife Federation
Vickers Fuqua, President – Texarkana, AR
Mike Young, Secretary & Treasurer

University of the Ozarks – Clarksville
Jamie L. Hedges, Director of Outdoor & Environmental Experiences – Clarksville, AR

Westark Wildlife
G. David Matlock, Fort Smith, AR

White River Conservancy
Gayne Preller Schmidt, Augusta, AR

Yell County Wildlife Federation
James Manatt, President – Dardanelle,AR

Arkansas Wildlife Federation Staff
Editor – Ethan Nahté

Editor-in-Chief – Wayne Shewmake

Layout Design – Chris Zimmerman/Zim Creative

Staff Writers – Wayne Shewmake, Johnny Sain, Jr., Gordon Bagby, Ethan Nahté,  Al Wolff, Dr. Robert Morgan, AGFC

Contributing Writers – Lola Perritt, Ellen McNulty, Idun Guenther, Sarah Chronister, Nao Ueda, Jim Wood, NWF, ADEQ, Gail Murdoch, Lauren Ray

Contributing Photographers – Wayne Shewmake, Ethan Nahté, Tim Carr, Johnny Sain, Jr.,  Mike Wintroath, Dr. Robert Morgan

AWF Board Meetings

Typically, the Board of Directors of the Arkansas Wildlife Federation meets once a quarter, on a Saturday in each quarter from 10:00 A.M to 2:00 P.M. Meeting locations vary, so please watch for details on the website calendar or Facebook.com/ArkansasWildlifeFederation.

The Executive Committee meets as called by the president of AWF, which is generally once a quarter prior to the Board of Directors meeting. The AWF annual meeting with the election of officers and awards banquet is usually held in August of each year as set by the AWF Board of Directors.

Events

Events

AWF primary events during the year at this time are the following:

2012 AWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards Banquet – August 25, 2012 at the Center of Bryant, Bishop Park 6401 Boone Rd., Bryant, Arkansas. Doors open at 5:30 PM for banquet. Dinner starts at 6 PM at North end of building by stage Awards Program. Silent Auction – Live Auction – Door Prizes. Tickets $40 Couple/$25 Single. Contact AWF at 501-224-9200. Wayne Shewmake 479-229-2298

AWF Annual Meeting and Election of Officers and Board of Directors – Typically, the AWF board holds the annual meeting and election of officers on the Saturday following the annual Awards Banquet. Meeting locations vary. Check the AWF calendar or the Events section of our Facebook page for more details on time and locations.

AWF quarterly Executive Committee and Board of Directors Meetings – Generally, the AWF Executive Committee and Board of Directors host their meetings the third Saturday for each quarter.

The president of the board of directors or members of the AWF Executive Committee can call a meeting at any time. The AWF Executive Committee typically meets from 10:00 AM till noon prior to the full meeting of the AWF Board of Directors which meets from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Agendas and minutes of previous meetings are sent out by email and in the mail prior to the meetings of the AWF Executive Committee and Board of Directors.

AWF Standing Committees and Meeting Dates – The President of AWF with the approval of the Board of Directors shall appoint all standing committees which shall be, but not limited to: Membership, State Legislature, Ways and Means, Public Relations, Conservation Education and Information, Soil and Water Conservation, Forest and Cover Restoration, Wildlife and Fisheries and National Affairs. Each Committee Chairman shall select committee members from the board or from AWF membership. Additionally, the AWF President and Executive Committee can appoint committees as deemed necessary to carry forward the word of the federation. It is hoped these committees can meet each quarter and provide ongoing reports to quarterly board meetings on committee activities and achievements.

AWF History

The Arkansas Wildlife Federation was founded in 1936. During that time AWF has had many successes, and AWF vitally important work continues today. Listed below are a few of AWF past efforts and some that are ongoing to give an idea of the importance of these tasks. On many of these efforts, AWF worked with other organizations and agencies.

• In 1944, AWF sponsored and worked for the passage of Amendment 35, creating the modern-day, autonomous, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. The Arkansas Wildlife Federation was the major
• conservation organization responsible for supporting state legislation that established  the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, one of the leading wildlife agencies in the nation.
• From the mid 1980s until its adoption in 1996, AWF helped develop and pass the ? of 1% Conservation Sales Tax Amendment that funded programs and operation of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
• In August of 2003, AWF published the Arkansas Wildlife Federation Duck Report, “Improving the Quality of Duck Hunting in Arkansas.” This 60-page research project has received praise throughout the state and nation, and has resulted in changes in duck hunting regulations that will improve the quality of duck hunting in Arkansas.
• AWF successfully fought the Army Corps of Engineers’ plans to channel the Cache River in East Arkansas, one of the nation’s most important regions for waterfowl.
• AWF has been working for years to prevent construction of the Grand Prairie Irrigation Project’s mammoth irrigation pump on the Lower White River. This pump would remove more than 100 BILLION gallons out of the river annually. That’s more than five times the total amount of water that more than 360,000 residents in Central Arkansas use in a year.
• AWF continues to oppose a deeper navigation channel on the Lower White River that would impact one of America’s most important regions of fish & wildlife habitat. The Corps of Engineers is proposing the creation of a 9-foot deep channel from mile 10 to Newport, a distance of approximately 250 miles. In 1988, AWF successfully convinced Congress to de-authorize this channel deepening project, but it was re-authorized in 1996.
• AWF convinced the U.S. Forest Service to reduce clear-cutting in the Ouachita and Ozark National Forests.
• AWF oppose in-stream-gravel mining in Crooked Creek and other high-quality streams and support better regulations to protect streams.
• AWF developed the concept and worked cooperatively on the planning and implementation of the Oak Forest Symposium that dealt with the decline of oaks in Arkansas’ national forests. More than 350 natural resource professionals attended.
• AWF supported the addition of approximately 100,000 acres of wilderness in the Ozark and Ouachita National Forests.
• AWF supported land trades with Weyerhaeuser and Potlatch that resulted in over 100,000 acres of wildlife-rich lands being added to national wildlife refuges and a national forest in Arkansas.
• AWF worked with other conservation groups to convince the government to locate the Great River Bridge downstream from Big Island, protecting valuable habitat.
• AWF publishes  Arkansas Out-of-Doors, a bi-monthly newspaper relating to hunting, fishing and conservation issues impacting wildlife, wildlife habitat and the environment.
• AWF organized regional Farm Seminars to inform farmers of the financial benefits of government programs that encourage conservation.
• AWF conducts waterfowl seminars that deal with habitat management, biology and other topics.
• AWF conducts conservation contests in schools to encourage students to become more aware of wildlife, their habitats and the environment.
• AWF works with the media to promote conservation through the use of news releases, interviews and public service announcements.
• AWF presents Annual Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards to Arkansans who go the “extra mile” to benefit the state’s wildlife, wildlife habitat, and natural resources in promoting Arkansas as “the Natural State.”
• AWF is a part of the Bearcat Hollow Cooperative Project, located in the Ozark Highlands. Bearcat Hollow is a land restoration project to help not only take care of and maintain the land and water, but to help reestablish a rich environment for all forms of animal life in the area. See a video of Volunteers working.
• AWF assists the Traildogs with the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail (LOViT) building project, a 45-mile hiking and biking trail that extends from Mount Ida, Ark. to Blakely Dam along the shoreline and mountains of Lake Ouachita.