Everything a hunter could want is at the Arkansas Big Buck Classic, which ends tonight at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds.
The Big Buck Classic is the state's premier hunting show. At its core, it celebrates Arkansas's deer hunting culture, but it has something for hunters of all kinds. Especially turkey hunters. Custom turkey call makers, mostly from Arkansas, are prominent. Bill Rhodes of Sheridan is there, as is Eddie Horton of Camden, Turk Magnet of Conway, Patrick Frachiseur of Dierks and Yellow Yelper of Rison.
There is not a more noble use of fine walnut than a gun stock, but turkey box calls are the most noble use of every other kind of wood. Rhodes had three calls made of ebony on display, and they were gorgeous. They promise to be rare, too, because he said he doesn't intend to make many more.
"Ebony is expensive, and it's hard to work," Rhodes said. "You get that heavy dust all in your face. I don't like it."
But it's so pretty.
"Yeah, but it don't sound near as good as one of these mahogany calls."
He's right, and now he has one less.
Shayne Warbritton of Conway is the owner and founder of Turk Magnet and I met him at the 2014 Big Buck Classic. His calls were nice, but this year they look more refined and more evenly finished.
He said he sold about 40 box calls last year and 50-60 pot calls. Like Rhodes, Warbritton uses many different woods, and his finishes really bring out the grain. They sound great, too.
"I like using exotic woods that are native to South America and Africa," Warbritton said. "A lot of the colors and grain designs are eye catching. That's what brings them in. Once they play it, that kind of seals the deal."
Warbritton started making calls as a hobby that has gone well beyond. He said his calls are meant to be used.
"I get a big kick out of knowing something I made with my hands, a guy or a girl can call in a turkey and kill it," Warbritton said.
You can also find plenty of opportunities to use a new turkey call.
A number of outfitters from around the region have booths in the Hall of Industry, including Kansas Unlimited. Tony Brickley of Mayflower is the firm's local representative, and he said the Big Buck Classic is one of its most successful venues. Kansas Unlimited specializes in bowhunts for trophy whitetails and turkey hunts.
While it's primarily a deer hunting event, Brickley said Kansas Unlimited didn't sell a single deer hunt here last year, but booked eight turkey hunts.
"This show does a very good job for our market," Brickley said. "Arkansas has a very strong turkey hunting heritage, and we see a lot of families here."
To appeal to that demographic, Kansas Unlimited offers a free hunt for a youth if an adult mentor books a hunt.
"By offering a youth hunt, we can put a young hunter in a blind and give them an excellent chance to harvest a turkey," Brickley said. "It's a good way to introduce a young hunter, to get them early success and get them coming back."
Kansas has been a major destination for Arkansas hunters since about 2005, when turkey numbers started plunging in our state. Nebraska has overshadowed Kansas as the place to be in recent years, but Brickley said Kansas is still very popular.
"It's just the sheer numbers of birds, like it used to be here," Brickley said. "We call them 'television turkeys' because they're like the turkeys you see on TV. People don't understand that, but it is. The farmers there consider them a nuisance."
Brickley said Kansas had a good hatch last year, and he expects spring to bring a banner number of gobblers.
You can also book a Utah elk hunt, a Saskatchewan whitetail hunt or a Great Plains pheasant hunt.
The array of vendors is more narrowly focused than in years past. Tom Murchison, the show's chief promoter, said he did not invite the flea market vendors whose wares ventured out of the family hunting arena.
There's plenty to see and do, but the highlight starts about 5 p.m., when the biggest buck taken in Arkansas during the 2014-15 season is announced in Barton Coliseum. It's quite a show.
Sports on 01/25/2015