Today Trusten Holder WMA is a diamond in the rough in terms of harboring big deer. Roger Milligan, AGFC wildlife supervisor for Region 3, gave some reasons. “As you know,” he remarked, “to produce good deer you have to have a good food source, you have to have good genetics, and you have to have age. On Trusten Holder we’ve always had the first two. And now, on all state facilities here in Region 3, we’ve gone even farther than the statewide 3-point rule and enacted the 4x4 slot.”

(The 4x4 slot restriction, aimed at building an older buck segment in the local deer population, means deer hunters may take a buck only if it has fewer than 4 points total or more than 4 points on one side of its antlers. Refer to the current edition of the Arkansas Hunting Guidebook for other applicable hunting guidelines.)

“We feel that this rule allows us to remove some ‘cull’ bucks from the herd,” Milligan continued. “We realize the term ‘cull’ means different things to different people, but the plan seems to be working, and today we have some very good bucks on Trusten Holder.”

Milligan also touched on the primary reason for Trusten Holder WMA’s place among the prime bowhunting spots in Arkansas, particularly during the late season. “There is no modern-gun hunting on Trusten Holder,” he explained. “We have a single five-day muzzleloader season that takes place in early October” -- permit required, 400 available -- “so the rest of the year, the only hunting allowed is bowhunting.”

Five days of gun hunting and five months of bowhunting! Combined with tight controls on hunter access, local regulations almost guarantee that plenty of big bucks will roam Trusten Holder WMA.

“We probably don’t have quite the trophy prospects they have over on the White River NWR,” Milligan added, “but we do have a number of good deer here, including several in the 140 to 150 class.”

Bucks that size are trophies anywhere. And one more factor promises that the area can turn out big bucks.

“You have White River NWR adjacent to us,” Milligan said, “and you have Choctaw WMA below us. We’ve already talked about the quality (of deer) on White River, and on Choctaw they have a 5x5 slot (restriction) for deer. So pretty much this entire area of the state is under what amounts to quality big-buck management.”

What about food sources? “We plant somewhere in the neighborhood of 60 to 70 acres in food plots,” Milligan offered. “Most of those are on the big area over around Tichnor and on Jardis Point. There are also lots of bearing trees on the facility, with most of those being pecan, particularly in the ‘big area.’ On the Jardis Point side you will see some oaks -- mostly overcup and nuttall. What the entire area does have is exceptional soft mast, primarily in the form of persimmon trees.”

While the bow season ends on White River NWR at the end of January, the season remains open on Trusten Holder WMA until the end of February. This offers bowhunters the opportunity for some prime late-season hunting.

To reach Trusten Holder WMA, take Tichnor Blacktop Road south from Tichnor toward Merrisach Lake and White River Lock and Dam No. 1. The USFWS recently purchased 300 acres of land that runs beside the canal on its south side. Cross the bridge, turn left on Benzal Road, and you’ve entered Trusten Holder WMA. From that point you’re pretty much in uncharted territory, at least as far as hard-surface roads are concerned.

Trusten Holder WMA lies in two flood-prone zones -- Flood Prone Region F and Flood Prone Region H. Call the AGFC toll free at 1-800-440-1477 for recorded gauge readings and closures. For more information about deer hunting at Trusten Holder WMA, call the area office at 1-877-367-3559.