Take a decoy home
Duck decoy painting will take place at 5 and 6:30 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. Saturday at the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith. Guests will paint their own duck decoy to take home. All materials are provided. Call the center, (501) 710-6285 to register.
See stars at Hobbs
Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area and the Sugar Creek Astronomical Society will host a free night of astronomy fun and education at 5 p.m. Saturday.
The indoor program starts in the visitor center.
Night sky viewing begins around 6 p.m. through high quality telescopes provided by the society. Planets and constellations will be seen provided the sky is clear. Patrons should bring binoculars, a lawn chair and an optional flashlight with a red lens covering. Call the visitor center at (479) 789-5000 for information.
Fly casting 101
Learn to cast a fly rod from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center in Springdale. The free class starts indoors with an overview of fly fishing equipment and how it works. Guests will then go outside to practice casting with rods provided by the center. Register at register-ed.com or call the center, (833) 356-0847 for registration information.
Hikers circle Lake Atalanta
Hill 'n Dale Hiking Club will hike trails at Lake Atalanta in Rogers on Jan. 29. Hike distance for both trails is 3.8 miles. Interested hikers should email hillndalehike@gmail.com for more details. Club information is available at bvhikingclub.com.
New squirrel challenge date
Big Squirrel Challenge statewide squirrel hunting contest, hosted by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, has been moved to Feb. 7-8 because of snow forecast for the original dates. Teams of squirrel hunters bring three squirrels for weighing to Game and Fish nature centers or other Game and Fish facilities at noon on Feb. 8. Visit agfc.com for complete Big Squirrel Challenge rules.
Rent a cozy cabin
Arkansas State Parks offers a special winter rate of a 15% discount on all lodging and camping through March 1. The offer includes all overnight accommodations including lodge rooms, cabins, camper cabins, campsites, yurts and Rent-A-RV. Weekends are included in the offer.
Cook with wild game
Dutch oven cooking takes place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith. Campfire chefs will prepare venison and other wild game in Dutch ovens for patrons to sample. Dutch oven care will also be discussed. Register at register-ed.com or call the center, (501) 710-6285, for registration information.
Youths, veterans hunt waterfowl
The statewide youth waterfowl hunt is Feb. 8-9. Youths 15 and younger may harvest ducks and geese. Youths who have not completed hunter education must be accompanied by a mentor 21 or older. Mentors may not hunt, but may call waterfowl. Shooting hours and bag limits are the same as regular duck and goose seasons. Youth hunters may hunt on wildlife management areas 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset during the youth hunt. Wildlife management area general use permits are not required for youth hunters.
The active duty military and veterans waterfowl hunt is Feb. 9. Hunters need to have a hunting license and state and federal waterfowl stamps and a copy of a document showing their military service. A wildlife management area general use permit is also required. View complete regulations at agfc.com for the youth and military service hunts.
Trail recovery continues
More trails have opened as Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area continues to recover from tornadoes May 26 that sent some 2,500 trees falling across the park's 54 mile trail network.
Current open trails are Shaddox Hollow (1.5 miles), Bashore Ridge Loop (3 miles), Dutton Hollow Loop (3 miles) Historic Van Winkle (0.5 miles), Sinking Stream (0.5 miles), Ozark Plateau Loop (0.75 miles) and Dry Creek Loop of the Pigeon Roost Trail (4.1 miles).
Call the visitor center at (479) 789-5000 for more information.