66 Volunteers Clear Trails on Arkansas Public Lands

When triple-digit temperatures finally broke in Arkansas this September, 66 volunteers showed up ready to work. They spent their Saturday clearing boat lanes, removing litter, and improving trails at seven wildlife management areas across the state.

The volunteer workday program started small three years ago after hunters requested ways to help maintain the public lands they love. Now it's become an annual tradition coordinated by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

Big Lake Wildlife Management Area in northeast Arkansas drew the biggest crowd with 24 volunteers. They cleared boat lanes and trails that will serve hundreds of duck hunting parties this fall. Storms throughout the year knock down trees and branches, creating obstacles that commission staff often can't address while juggling habitat improvement work across multiple properties.

At Rick Evans Grandview Prairie, volunteers removed 350 yards of old barbed wire fence. The cleanup improves both access and land management, making it easier for staff to conduct controlled burns that maintain healthy habitats.

Seven volunteers tackled trail work at Bayou Meto, clearing paths to Government Cypress and Brushy Slough. Others focused on campground cleanups, tackling areas where people had illegally dumped trash on public land.

David Luker, assistant chief of wildlife management for the commission, says the coordinated volunteer days make a real difference. Staff members spread thin across multiple properties can focus on habitat work while volunteers handle access improvements. Tasks are matched to what each location needs most and what can realistically get done in a day.

The Ripple Effect

Every cleared boat lane and cleaned campground multiplies the impact far beyond one Saturday. Families planning their first duck hunting trip will find clear access. Mobility-impaired visitors will navigate trails more easily. Future prescribed burns will proceed without fence line obstacles, improving wildlife habitat for years to come.

The volunteer spirit continues beyond September. The sixth annual Pine Tree Wildlife Demonstration Area Cleanup happens next, giving high school students a chance to earn required service hours while giving back to public lands. Local sportsmen organize the event each year, providing lunch for everyone who participates.

These volunteers prove that public lands thrive when communities show up to care for them.