The time of year is upon us when daydreams turn to duck camp and the anticipation of how the upcoming season will go. Will we have the water? Will the cold fronts push the big duck numbers this far south?
With another season around the bend, we hope the fourth annual edition of Arkansas Business’ Greenhead helps the worrying subside and turns our readers’ thoughts to good times and amazing experiences afield.
This year’s edition features a story by veteran outdoor writer Kenneth Kieser on doing business in the duck blind. Arkansas’ history is filled with stories of duck blinds replacing boardrooms and golf courses as an opportunity to conduct big city business.
Frequent Greenhead contributor John Gordon shares the amazing story of northeast Arkansas waterfowler Pat Pitt and his lab, Ace, who made his 8,000th retrieve. Yes, his 8,000th.
Award-winning Arkansas Business Senior Editor Mark Friedman takes a look inside the evolving duck boat-manufacturing industry, which is dominated by Arkansas based companies. Talented freelance writer Sam Eifling profiles Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor and his role on the United States Fish and Wildlife Services Migratory Bird Commission.
Veteran sportswriter Jeff Reed gives hunters insight into choke tubes and the technology to make shotguns more accurate. Reed also takes a look at some alternate dog breeds favored by Arkansas duck hunters.
We again profile various Arkansas executives and their enjoyment of the sport. And I was fortunate to ride with Arkansas Game and Fish Wildlife Officer Randy Rhodes and document our day during the final weekend in Bayou Meto WMA. Acclaimed writer Rex Nelson concludes with a look at how his priorities have evolved and encourages others to preserve the heritage of our sport.
A big thank you goes to my friends, Douglas Jackson, Sr. and his son Douglas Jr. on sharing some of their amazing historic photos. We also appreciate the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce, the Museum of the Arkansas Grand Prairie and the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies for their contributions to the photo essay.
Once again, we appreciate our advertisers for supporting the magazine and allowing us to share stories and photos of the sport that evokes so much passion within our state.
I would like to dedicate this magazine to my good hunting buddy, Benson Cashion. In mid-December, Benson suffered a near fatal abdominal aneurysm while hunting with my Dad just east of Humnoke. Despite a touch and go situation for several months, Benson has made a steady recovery and I am looking forward to sharing time at duck camp with him this season.
Good luck out there this year. Maybe this is the one where all the conditions line up to be a great one!
Brent Birch
Editor
