10 minutes ago by Flip Putthoff

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Morgan Wyatt with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission lets people touch a king snake Aug. 23 at the Hunt Family Nature Center in Springdale. Visit nwaonline.com/photo for today’s photo gallery. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Flip Putthoff)

Volunteer at nature center

Learn about volunteer opportunities at the Hunt Family Nature Center at 2 p.m. Saturday during a volunteer inquiry meeting at the nature center, 3400 N. 40th St. in Springdale. The center staff will outline how volunteers can help with a variety of needs at the center. They will explain the volunteer application process and announce upcoming volunteer opportunities. Call the center at (833) 356-0847 for details.

Stroll through Bentonville

Ozark Hill Hikers invites all walkers to join a walk Saturday in Bentonville. Registration is 12:30 to 1 p.m. at the Casey’s convenience store, 100 S.E. J St. in Bentonville. There is a fee of $4 for all walkers.

The walk will start and end at Park Springs Park where participants will choose a 5- or 10-kilometer walk. The routes consist of greenway trails, gently rolling park land and scenic neighborhoods.

Membership in the Ozark Hill Hikers is $12 per year prorated $1 for each month remaining in the calendar year. For more information, email bvvohh@gmail.com or call (479) 381-9366.

Hike two trails

Hill ’n Dale Hiking Club will hike the Yellow Rock Trail at Devil’s Den State Park and hike to Moonshiners Cave on Nov. 11. Total distance is 3.4 miles. Interested hikers may email hillndalehike@gmail.com for more details. Club information is available at bvhikingclub.com.

One lane to close

The Army Corps of Engineers will close one lane of Arkansas 187 across Beaver Dam from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 13 for a routine bridge inspection.

Invasive plant pull

The Ozark Society Sugar Creek chapter will host invasive species removal, a hike and lunch at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 14 at Logan Spring Preserve south of Highfill. Chas McCoy, a watershed specialist with The Nature Conservancy will work with volunteers and provide tools. Volunteers should bring work gloves, water and lunch.

Catch, release trout

Catch and release fly fishing season opens Nov. 14 at Roaring River State Park south of Cassville, Mo. Fishing is allowed 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday through Feb. 9. All trout caught must be immediately released. Only flies may be used.

Hair jigs similar to those used to catch crappie are considered flies at Roaring River. Anglers must carry a Missouri fishing license and annual trout permit. Daily tags are not sold during catch and release season.

Goose is cooked

Learn various ways to cook waterfowl during a free program at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith. Call (501) 710-6285 to register.

Identify ducks

A free program on duck identification will be at 1 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Hunt Family Nature Center in Springdale. Participants will learn the differences between dabbling and diving ducks, their unique characteristics and how to use eBird to find local waterfowl viewing hot spots.

Intro to geocaching

A free program on geocaching will be at 2 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Hunt Family Nature Center in Springdale. Students will learn the basics of geocaching and hunt for caches on the nature center grounds. They will also learn how to hunt for caches in their neighborhoods. Call the nature center at (833) 356-0847 to register.

Hunt ducks with family

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will host a guided duck hunt for women and families tentatively set for Dec. 31. Hunters will meet at 5 a.m. at the Janet Huckabee River Valley Nature Center in Fort Smith. Advanced registration is required. Contact Karen Westcamp-Johnson, karen.westcapm-johnson@agfc.ar.gov, for more information and registration information.

Burn shoreline driftwood

The Army Corps of Engineers Beaver Lake office is accepting applications from adjacent landowners to burn driftwood and other flood debris on public land around Beaver Lake through Aug. 15, 2026.

Property owners must obtain written permission from the Corps before conducting any burning or debris removal. Corps officials will evaluate each request on a case-by-case basis. Standing vegetation may not be cut, burned or removed. Call the Beaver Lake office in Rogers at (479) 636-1210 to apply or for more information.

Grand Slamma Jamma

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission invites anglers to fish for a 2025 Grand Slam Award. Resident and nonresident anglers of any age are eligible to participate. Catch at least one trout, bass, catfish, sunfish and crappie during 2025. There is no minimum size requirement on any fish.

Bass can be any species called bass such as largemouth bass, striped bass or white bass. Submit a photo and information about each fish to qualify. Grand Slam winners get a colorful Grand Slam Award sticker. Once all five species are caught and photographed, visit agfc.com/grandslam to submit photos and details. Email tara.bennett@agfc.com for more information or call (501) 604-3962.

fputthoff@nwaonline.com

Flip Putthoff is a staff photographer and outdoors reporter. He’s covered outdoor recreation for the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and its predecessor newspapers for 45 years. Flip invented the Wheezer Scale for gauging the difficulty of hiking up hills. Wheeze wheeze! He’s a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism who always cheers for Mizzou – unless they’re playing the Razorbacks. Contact Flip at fputthoff@nwaonline.com.

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