ARKANSAS SPORTSMAN: DU award honors Stuttgart legend

— Ducks Unlimited honored a waterfowling giant Tuesday when it presented Marion “Mack” McCollum with the sixth annual Jerry Jones Sportsman’s Award at Chenal Country Club.

McCollum, a Stuttgart native, is best known as the founder of Mack’s Prairie Wings, the nation’s premier waterfowl hunting outfitter. His store has the same stature among waterfowl hunters that Bass Pro Shops has among fishermen and Cabela’s has among big game hunters. Its presence solidifies Stuttgart’s reputation as the duck hunting capital of the world.

Past award recipients are Jerry Jones, Sheffield Nelson, former Gov. Mike Huckabee, U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor and Arkansas Game and Fish Commissioner George Dunklin.

“It’s a very great tribute to the past recipients,” McCollum said. “I wonder how I got chosen, but so be it. I accept it. I’m very humbled by it, but I love it!”

McCollum, who also served on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said he never envisioned his business becoming the waterfowl hunting industry’s retail and mail order leader. Nor did he envision it would become a tourist destination for visitors from all over the world.

“In 1992, we were still on Michigan and Grand with just 3,000 square feet, includingthe warehouse,” McCollum said. “We chose to put out a catalog, and it took four years to get a profit back. We moved out north of Stuttgart in 2000. That’s what put us on the map. That’s when it became a true destination.”

Among a roomful of notable personalities were Kim Ward and John Ward, founder and general manager, respectively, of War Eagle Boats in Monticello. John Stephens, one of the greatest duck callers of all time and owner of RNT Calls in Stuttgart, was also there, as were Dr. Doyne Williams, who’s enshrined in the Trapshooting Hall of Fame and Nancy Williams, another crack shot known in these parts as the “Queen of Dimes.” Scott Perry, cofounder of McAlister sporting apparel, attended as well.

IGFA HONORS WOOD

The International Game and Fish Association will induct Forrest Wood of Flippin into its Hall of Fame tonight at the IGFA Hall of Fame Museum in Dania Beach, Fla.

Wood, who helped build Bull Shoals Dam in the 1950s, started his career as a fishing guide on the White River. He turned a boat repair business into a boat-building enterprise, and turned it into the most successful and most recognizable brand in the fishing boat industry. Wood also pioneered such innovations as the onboard livewell, which allows anglers to keep their fish alive so they can be released later. The invention was instrumental in making tournament fishing acceptable to the general public.

A member of the Arkansas Outdoor Hall of Fame, Wood also served on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.

DEER SEASON PREVIEW

On Thursday Nov. 4, Brad Miller, deer program coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, will give a deer season forecast at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center in downtown Little Rock from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Miller will review deer tallies from last season and talk about the status of the deer herd this year in terms of overall numbers, forage availability and habitat conditions. He’ll also discuss the five-deer limit and what the commission hopes to accomplish by providing the additional opportunity. He’ll also discuss season expectationsin each zone and what the commission hopes hunters will accomplish in the different regions.

This will be the last major program of the year at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center. Seating is limited, and this event will probably attract a lot of people, so call (501) 907-0636 early to reserve a spot. The nature center sits above the Arkansas River, behind the River Market.

COLLEGE BASS FISHING

Teams representing three Arkansas colleges will be in a 20-team field competing Nov. 4-6 in the FLW College Fishing Central Regional Championship at Lake Monroe, near Bloomington, Ind.

Representing the UALR will be Brian Duckett of Little Rock and Trent Gephardt of Benton. Gephardt was on the UALR team that won the Under Armor Bass Fishing National Championship on Lake Maumelle in 2008.

Representing Henderson State will be Justin Westall of Nashville and Michael Jennings of Arkadelphia.

Seth Presley and Todd Johnson, both of Harrison, will represent Harding.

The winning team will get a Ranger 177TR boat and 90-horsepower outboard wrapped in its school colors, as well as $25,000 cash for its school.

Sports, Pages 24 on 10/28/2010

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