Improved timber harvest practices seem to be having a positive effect on the deer herd throughout this area, and the same could be said about the long-term results of the major ice storm a few years back. Whatever the ultimate reason, a large number of good bucks are being taken from the area. Donald Troup of Ashdown is the latest in that line, taking a 21-point non-typical that scored 199 4/8 B&C points last season -- almost from his front porch!

Again, limited hunting access may be what helps Pond Creek the most. Muzzleloader season consists of ten days in October, gun season just two days after Thanksgiving. The "slot limit" approach to antler restrictions (deer must have four points on one side or less than 4 points total) also seems to be working.

Primary access is by state Highway 71 between Lockesburg and Ashdown. The number to call for information and to obtain permits is (870) 364-3167.

When hunters consider the mountain ranges of the Natural State, most think first of limitless beauty, along with expansive public hunting opportunities. Few think about trophy whitetails.

Last year, something so rare as to seem positively abnormal occurred on the Arkansas big-buck scene: For the first time in known history, two B&C deer were taken in the same year from the Ozarks Mountains region. Both Richard Little's "barbed-wire" buck, taken near Lincoln, and Kylan McCutcheon's big 25-point non-typical, killed near Jasper, are products of an area of the state not really known for its trophy production.

B&C BUCKS BY REGION
Region	Number
Delta	77
GCP	17
Ozarks	8
Ouachitas	6

Since upland food sources are limited by generally thinner and less nutritious soil, and since genes are below average, age has to be the primary factor when a big buck gets taken here. Because of their sheer size, the two mountainous regions hide remote pockets in which deer live out their lives pretty much free of human intrusion. If you hunt bigger bucks, you have to find such spots.

The high doe harvest of a few years back, which some think almost wiped out the herd, did bring buck-to-doe ratios more into line than at any other time in my memory. That's a good thing, as it creates more competition among bucks for breeding rights, which will gradually improve the gene pool. Herd numbers also appear to be rebounding throughout the region, thanks to reduced doe harvests.

Muddy Creek WMA is an Ouachita area lying southeast of Waldron, at a point where Yell, Scott and Montgomery counties meet. Accessible by state Highway 28, it is a large area of some 146,206 acres, mostly covered in pines, along with occasional belts of hardwoods. The terrain consists of steep ridges cut by deep draws. Names like Polecat Mountain, Red Buck Ridge, Teague Ridge and Skaggs Mountain indicate spots deep within the area's interior where an old buck may sun himself on a warm winter day. Spots where fruit trees have gone wild around old homeplaces can be good bets, especially in years when the mast crop is light.

Located mostly east of Fort Smith, Fort Chaffee WMA is a staple for the area's bow-hunting crowd. This sprawling 66,000-acre area differs from most hunting lands in this part of the state in that it is relatively flat, consisting mostly of gently rolling hills. Forest openings created by the military provide feeding locations, and more food plots are now being planted.

Locals report that the resident deer have come to understand the various troop movements. More than one hunter with local knowledge has said that good bucks are often seen inside the impact areas, leaving when the firing starts and returning as soon as it's over. Since those spots are off limits to hunters, it makes you wonder just how much deer really do think!

Gun hunting is limited to a two-day muzzleloader hunt; and a two-day modern gun hunt, with 650 permits for each day. Special rules apply, including the purchase of a $15 bi-annual sportsmen's permit and attendance of an on-base orientation class. Call (479) 484-3995 for more information.