Growing up in rural Arkansas, hunting and fishing were two activities that almost seemed expected for every man. Pictures pinned on the local general store communication board and family frames displayed in almost every home across my county made these unwritten expectations evident.
Editor’s Note: This three-part series explores the role of hunting in Arkansas. For a complete list of Arkansas Hunting Seasons and Hunting Guide, visit the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission website.
Read PART TWO | Hunting in Arkansas: Lessons from the Woods
Read PART THREE | Hunting in Arkansas: Economy, Commerce and Culture
Written by Josh Franks
As a boy who admired his father and wanted to follow his example in life, I wanted to hunt like Dad did. The thought of having a picture on the bragging board or in a frame of my own seemed to be just what I would need to “arrive” as a competent, manly man. Little did I know that hunting would become more than just a proving ground in the walk of life. It became a true passion and fulfilling activity that I still strive to enjoy today.
Before I was even capable of shouldering a rifle, I remember well being granted permission to tag along on my first deer hunt. Dad was in a tree stand with a .270 rifle watching a draw that ran through the middle of a hayfield, and I was perfectly content being at the base of the tree with my toy muzzle loader. I knew my gun could not accomplish the goal if an opportunity presented itself, but what mattered to me was the fact that I was actually on a real hunt with my father. Though my view from the ground didn’t include the draw or much of the field, I was able to see the squirrels along the fence row and the birds that would temporarily land near me in the brush. I watched every move Dad made and tried my best to stay quiet and still.
We came home empty handed after that particular hunt, but the experience helped show me the value of the stillness and quiet of simply being immersed in a natural setting.
The first hunt gave me a new perspective to help understand all of the hunting stories that I’d heard and would continue to hear as I grew up. Each successive hunt I went on proved to be a learning experience both in the woods and during conversations following the hunt. Dad taught me where and how to look for the best areas that might hold game and the travel corridors they used to move from place to place. He also stressed the importance of abiding by the laws set by the Game and Fish Commission as both an act of personal integrity and protecting the game we pursued as renewable resources.
In the beginning, harvesting a game animal was definitely the main goal for me, but as time progressed I learned to appreciate the aftermath of the hunt. Dad taught me the importance of cleaning and caring for the game to ensure quality table fare. Eating wild game together was a staple in my family’s house. Venison, squirrel, and quail were components of some of my favorite meals… and still are today.
I have many fond memories of my time in the woods with my dad. Today I have three children of my own that I love to teach animal behavior. I strive to help them appreciate the importance of hunting as a wholesome pastime and an effective means to manage and utilize game animals to provide food for our family.
Though every hunt is not a guaranteed success story for filling a tag, the memories created, teachable moments captured, and time spent together far outweigh taking a trophy animal.
Lessons from the Woods
As Summer gives way to Autumn, you can feel change in the air: the start of a new school year, a brand-new football season where anything is possible, the excitement of a county fair. Then you hear it: the distinctive sound of gunshots.
Josh Franks was born in Independence County and raised on a small beef farm just outside of Cushman, Arkansas. After high school, he attended College of the Ozarks where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural business along with a Horticulture minor. He later achieved a Master of Natural Sciences degree from Missouri State University. Josh is an ISA Certified Arborist and currently works for Hansens Tree Service located in Reeds Spring, Missouri. He lives in Hollister, Missouri, where he enjoys life with his wife, three children, dog, cats, and chickens.
