LITTLE ROCK The Arkansas Wildlife Federation recognizes the importance of habitat development and management of private lands in Arkansas to ensure the future of wildlife populations in Arkansas. Each year, the Federation in cooperation with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and Cooperative Extension Service sponsors an awards program for participants in Acres for Wildlife who has performed an outstanding service through the program.
Gov. Mike Beebe presented the awards to the winners during a ceremony at the state capitol in April. For their efforts in promoting the Acres for Wildlife Program and wildlife habitat on private lands in Arkansas, Beebe recognized three individuals for outstanding service to establishing and protecting wildlife habitat in Arkansas. An Arkansas county landowner, an AGFC wildlife biologist and an AGFC wildlife officer were recognized for their efforts in preserving wildlife habitat in Arkansas.
Arkansas County landowner Carl Northcutt, although retired, uses most of his time working to develop a wildlife paradise on his 160-acre property. Over the past 10 years Northcutt has taken his farm out of crop production and started creating wildlife habitat for deer, turkey and quail along with small game and non-game species of wildlife.
Rex Roberg, a University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service wildlife specialist who visited Northcutt's property said that Northcutt's focus on wildlife is clear. "Carl has used several habitat management practices to create premium habitat including prescribed burning, wildlife timber stand improvement, tree planting, native warm-season grass establishment and strip-disking. Much of this work has, and will continue to be part of Carl's Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program, a USDA Farm Bill program," Roberg explained.
Eley Talley, a wildlife biologist with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, has been selected the Acres for Wildlife Biologist of the Year. He has worked as a Private Lands Biologist for the AGFC out of the Perrytown office for the past 10 years and has assisted landowners in his seven-county regional area. He has worked on thousands of acres across southwest Arkansas, introducing landowners to the basics of wildlife management.
According to David Long, State Acres for Wildlife Coordinator, Talley was a clear winner for this year's award. "He has provided tremendous support for the program by coordinating the pick-up and distribution of AFW seed packets each year, conducting habitat evaluations and writing wildlife management plans for landowners and judging the annual landowner contest sponsored each year by the Arkansas Wildlife Federation," Long said. "In addition, he has participated in program reviews/development and made presentations about the program to numerous groups of landowners in the region," Long added.
When asked about the program benefits, Talley emphasized that the Acres for Wildlife program has served as a vehicle to introduce landowners to the idea of providing improved wildlife habitat on their property. "When landowners start out just looking for some seed to plant, but end up implementing comprehensive management plans for their properties as a result of requesting AFW technical assistance, this is exactly what we, as biologist, are hoping for. Additionally, these landowners recruit their neighbors, resulting in even more habitat. The Acres for Wildlife Program is a valuable part of my wildlife management toolbox when working with private landowners," Talley concluded.
During this past program enrollment year, AGFC wildlife officer Ronnie White, assigned to Pike County, has enrolled 264 cooperators covering 27,501 acres. His average enrollment per landowner was 104 acres. In addition to working with landowners in his assigned county, he managed to enroll landowners from surrounding counties that included Cleveland, Howard and Montgomery. The vast majority of his enrollment came from Pike County, covering 25,558 acres and 229 landowners.
White makes many contacts with many landowners while serving in Pike County and takes time to discuss wildlife management opportunities with the many landowners he visits with during his daily travels across the county and encourages them to enroll in the program, Long said. "He has made an impact for wildlife in his county and other counties by not only enforcing fish and wildlife regulations, but also helping landowners with habitat improvement on their lands. Officer White is passionate about fish and wildlife conservation and uses every tool at his disposal to make a difference for the fish and wildlife he protects," Long said.
Long also noted the importance of the program to the future of wildlife in Arkansas. "Approximately 30 million acres of the 34 million acres in Arkansas are owned by private landowners. As a result, they are critical to the future of all wildlife populations found in the state. Landowners like Mr. Northcutt provide a great example of land stewardship and wildlife management by a private landowner, helping to ensure future habitat for a broad range of wildlife species," Long explained.
The AFW program provides limited wildlife food plot packets benefiting primary bobwhite quail but also species such as wild turkey, cottontail rabbits and numerous songbirds and other non-game wildlife. In addition, and maybe the most important benefit of the program, landowners may request technical wildlife assistance from an AGFC biologist to provide them professional recommendations on proper establishment and management of their land to create and maintain premium habitat.
Landowners may contact any AGFC private lands biologist, wildlife officer, county Cooperative Extension Service agent or go on line at www.agfc.com/afw to obtain additional information and print an AFW application for enrolling. Long may be contacted toll-free at 877-972-5438.
