Quail Forever Chapter #3339 Fort Smith/Fort Chaffee

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Quail Forever Chapter #3339 Fort Smith/Fort Chaffee Quail and Pheasant Forever Chapter for Fort Smith/Chaffee AR is a 501(c)3 Conservation organization serving the Fort Smith/Fort Chaffee AR Area.

Our mission is to conserve wildlife through habitat improvements, public access, education, and advocacy.

Cedar is the quiet killer of quail country.Why does one eastern red cedar matter? Left unchecked, it hogs water, shades ...
10/13/2026

Cedar is the quiet killer of quail country.

Why does one eastern red cedar matter? Left unchecked, it hogs water, shades out native grasses and forbs, crowds out brood-rearing cover, and cuts grazing capacity. The goal is simple: sunlight at ground level again.

A practical FALL/WINTER starting point:

• Cut smaller trees first, and remove the stump/root crown as completely as practical.
• Start at the seed source (fencerows, old pastures, and cedar thickets) and work outward.
• Cut in FALL/WINTER, when the work is often easier to see and access.
• Follow up with prescribed fire or herbicide where appropriate. Cut cedar without follow-up can come back through new seedlings and missed plants.

This is slow, multi-year work: one cedar at a time, with steady follow-up.

Cedar encroachment is one of the habitat issues our chapter works on locally, including on Fort Chaffee ground. Farm Bill and AGFC biologists can help landowners plan the work and explore cost-share options.

START HERE:
LABEL: Contact your local Farm Bill or AGFC biologist to discuss a treatment plan, timing, and possible assistance.
LABEL: Before burning or using herbicide, follow current AGFC and local regulations and all product directions.

Our next get-together is MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026.
LOCATION: LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED

A special thank-you to the Neumeier family for generously providing their facility for the past four years. We hope to keep them involved in the years ahead.

How are you dealing with cedar on your own ground? Share what is working, and what you are learning. We would love to hear from you and see you at an upcoming gathering.

Three weeks until the quail opener. Get your dog ready before you get yourself ready.Build stamina gradually. Road your ...
10/12/2026

Three weeks until the quail opener. Get your dog ready before you get yourself ready.

Build stamina gradually. Road your dog and add short sessions rather than going from the couch to a full day in the field. October afternoons can still be warm, so plan for water and breaks. After every run, check boot pads and ears for burrs, cuts, or irritation. Pack a basic field first-aid kit with gauze, vet wrap, tweezers, and any vet-recommended essentials. A tired dog hunts poorly and is easier to lose, so keep an eye on your partner in the field.

NEXT GET-TOGETHER MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026
LOCATION: TO BE ANNOUNCED (the Whippoorwill has closed)

SEASON OPENS NOVEMBER 1, 2026

FORT CHAFFEE GROUP HUNT SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2026
PERMITS: $20

A special thank-you to the Neumeier family for generously providing their facility for the past four years. We hope to keep them involved in the years ahead.

Bring a young or new hunter along. We would love to welcome them.

How do you get your dogs ready, and what do you always keep in your field kit?

Ever wonder what a covey rise really feels like? For a first-time quail hunter, it happens fast: a sudden roar of wings,...
10/07/2026

Ever wonder what a covey rise really feels like? For a first-time quail hunter, it happens fast: a sudden roar of wings, birds breaking in different directions, and a strong instinct to swing on the whole bunch.

The first shot is usually the easiest, but it is also the one many new hunters miss. Pick one bird. Keep your head down on the stock. Once the bird is in your safe shooting lane, move the safety deliberately, mount the gun smoothly, and follow through. Do not rush the shot or stop your swing after pulling the trigger.

After the rise:
• Mark where the birds went.
• Do not chase the covey. Work the singles with the dogs.
• Let the dog settle and stay steady.
• Hunt upwind where practical so the dog can use its nose effectively.

On a group hunt, give a pointing dog room to work. Do not crowd the point. Wait for the dog handler’s cue, know your safe shooting lanes, and stay in your lane. Good communication and patience make the hunt safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

Nobody expects a first-time hunter to know all of this already. We welcome new hunters, and members bringing someone new this season.

NEXT GET-TOGETHER
DATE: MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026
LOCATION: TO BE ANNOUNCED
The Whippoorwill has closed, and we are working on a new meeting place.

A special thank-you to the Neumeier family for generously providing their facility for the past four years. We hope to keep them involved in the years ahead.

SEASON OPENS: NOVEMBER 1, 2026
FORT CHAFFEE GROUP HUNT: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2026
PERMITS: $20

First-timers, what do you want to know before your first hunt? Seasoned hunters, what advice would you give? Bring your questions on the 19th: we would love to see you there.

Before the NOVEMBER 1 opener, take a morning to find out what your ground is holding.A fall covey count is one of the ch...
09/28/2026

Before the NOVEMBER 1 opener, take a morning to find out what your ground is holding.

A fall covey count is one of the cheapest ways to see whether your habitat work produced birds, and where those birds are using the property.

HOW TO COUNT:
• Set listening points at least 1,000 YARDS apart so you do not count the same covey twice.
• Reach your first point 45 MINUTES BEFORE SUNRISE. Calling usually peaks about 25 minutes before sunrise, and the chorus is short.
• Write down every “koi-lee” covey call. Mark the direction on an aerial photo or map of your ground.
• Repeat the same route on at least 3–4 mornings. One morning tells you very little.

TIMING: The LAST TWO WEEKS OF OCTOBER are usually the most consistent calling window in our area, right before Arkansas’s NOVEMBER 1 opener.

What do the numbers tell you? Coveys counted, multiplied by average covey size, give you a rough fall population estimate. Run the same route each year and you can see whether your management is trending up or down.

Keep it honest: this is an index, not a census. Weather, wind, and moon phase can all affect how much birds call.

Are you hearing birds on your ground this fall? Tell us how many coveys and where, and we will compare notes at our MONDAY, OCTOBER 19 get-together.

LOCATION: TO BE DETERMINED. The Whippoorwill has closed. We appreciate the Neumeier family for generously providing their facility for the past four years, and we hope to keep them involved in the years ahead.

We would love to see you there.

Fort Chaffee is an active military training center, so access works differently than a standard WMA.Our quail hunt is SA...
09/23/2026

Fort Chaffee is an active military training center, so access works differently than a standard WMA.

Our quail hunt is SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2026. Permits are now $20.

1. GET YOUR PERMIT
Purchase your RecAccess permit at fortchaffee.recaccess.com before you hunt.

2. CHECK IN AND OUT
Use the portal for your assigned compartment. Every hunter must check in and out, even for a short walk.

3. VERIFY THE COMPARTMENT
Training schedules change, and compartments can close at any time. Confirm your area is open the morning of your hunt, and have a backup plan.

4. KNOW THE RULES
Fort Chaffee quail dates can differ from the statewide NOVEMBER 1 opener. Check the current AGFC Fort Chaffee WMA page and RecAccess rules for dates, bag limits, and installation-specific requirements.

5. HUNT WITH A PARTNER
Come with someone who knows the area, or join us on DECEMBER 12 and we will point you in the right direction.

Our chapter's first hunt of the season is dedicated to "Woody" Shank, our chapter's first guide, who passed away in 2023.

Questions? Ask in the comments or bring them to our get-together MONDAY, OCTOBER 19. LOCATION: TO BE DETERMINED.

Thank you to the Neumeier family for generously providing their facility for the past four years. We hope to keep them involved in the future.

NOTE: Follow all current AGFC and Fort Chaffee requirements. Access rules and compartment availability can change at any time.

SIX WEEKS until Arkansas quail opener on NOVEMBER 1! If you’re hunting Fort Smith or Fort Chaffee ground, now is the tim...
09/22/2026

SIX WEEKS until Arkansas quail opener on NOVEMBER 1! If you’re hunting Fort Smith or Fort Chaffee ground, now is the time to prepare while cover is still standing and dogs can find coveys.

A practical checklist:

• SCOUT NOW: Walk the ground you plan to hunt and identify likely covey areas.
• LOOK AT THE HABITAT: Pay attention to brood-rearing cover and native warm-season grasses on the ground.
• CONDITION YOUR DOG: Build stamina gradually. Avoid asking a bird dog to go from rest to a full day in the field.
• CHECK YOUR GEAR: Pattern your sh***un, check your shells, and make sure your boots are ready for rough ground.
• KNOW THE RULES: Review current AGFC regulations and any WMA-specific rules for the area you plan to hunt.

CHAPTER DATES
MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, Next get-together. Location to be determined.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, Fort Chaffee quail hunt. Permits are $20.

A special thank-you to the Neumeier family for generously providing their facility for the past four years. We appreciate their support and look forward to keeping them involved in the years ahead.

What is the one thing you do in these last few weeks before opening day, or which cover are you scouting? Share your thoughts below.

Our next chapter get-together is still set for MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026. The location is TO BE DETERMINED. The Whippoorw...
09/20/2026

Our next chapter get-together is still set for MONDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2026. The location is TO BE DETERMINED. The Whippoorwill has closed, and we are working on a new meeting place now. We will share the new location as soon as it is confirmed.

Before we look ahead, we owe a sincere thank you to the Neumeier family. For the past FOUR YEARS, the Neumeiers generously allowed our chapter to use their facility. That hospitality gave us a place to meet, to swap stories, and to build friendships that will carry on well beyond those walls. They have been great to us, and we hope to keep them involved in the years ahead.

Our October agenda has not changed. We will talk Arkansas quail season, which opens NOVEMBER 1, along with our Fort Chaffee quail hunt scheduled for SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2026. Permits for the Fort Chaffee hunt are $20.

Watch for the new location announcement, and plan to join us. We would love to see you there.

Your property may be closer to better wildlife habitat than you think.What does a Farm Bill biologist do? They can walk ...
09/17/2026

Your property may be closer to better wildlife habitat than you think.

What does a Farm Bill biologist do? They can walk your ground with you, evaluate existing habitat, and help build a practical property plan around your goals.

That plan might include:
• Prescribed fire to improve plant diversity and reduce woody encroachment
• Native grass management for brood-rearing cover
• Forest thinning, invasive plant control, or habitat edge improvements
• Guidance on available Farm Bill and AGFC Conservation Incentive Program opportunities

The goal is not a one-size-fits-all prescription. It is site-specific planning based on your soils, existing vegetation, wildlife objectives, and what you can realistically manage.

Quail Forever and AGFC biologists can help landowners understand which practices may fit their property and how to take the next step. Technical assistance is free, while program eligibility, cost-share availability, and funding are subject to current requirements.

Do you own land near Fort Smith or Fort Chaffee? What habitat question or management challenge would you like help with? Share it in the comments.

Why can SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER be prime months for prescribed fire in bobwhite habitat?A well-planned late-season burn ca...
09/17/2026

Why can SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER be prime months for prescribed fire in bobwhite habitat?

A well-planned late-season burn can:

• Set back woody encroachment and maintain open structure
• Expose soil and stimulate native forb growth
• Improve brood-rearing cover for the next season
• Boost winter food sources such as ragweed, partridge pea, and native lespedeza
• Cause little disruption because bobwhite nesting is finished for the year

With the right weather and fuel conditions, green vegetation can help keep a fire cooler and safer while still meeting habitat goals. In the Fort Smith/Fort Chaffee area, this can be an important tool for maintaining diverse native warm-season grasslands.

READY TO PLAN A BURN? Start with a written burn plan, appropriate equipment, trained help, and a clear understanding of smoke and fire behavior. Contact AGFC, local prescribed burn associations, and conservation partners about technical assistance and available cost-share options.

*Always follow local regulations and burn only under safe, approved conditions.*

Have you completed a late-season burn for quail habitat? Share your experience with our chapter and help fellow landowners learn what worked.

Opening weekend was just the start. Arkansas's first dove split runs through OCTOBER 25 : there are still plenty of afte...
09/14/2026

Opening weekend was just the start. Arkansas's first dove split runs through OCTOBER 25 : there are still plenty of afternoons left in the field.

Missed the permit draw for Frog Bayou WMA? You are not out of luck. The Power Line Field at Frog Bayou is permit-only for opening weekend (SEPT 5–6), then opens to the general public FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED for the rest of the season. About a 30-minute drive from Fort Smith, it is one of the closest public dove options we have.

A few reminders before you go:
• Non-toxic shot is required on Frog Bayou WMA for migratory birds
• Confirm the field schedule and current AGFC regulations before heading out
• Pack water, shells, eye and ear protection, and plenty of patience

DOVE SEASON: SEPT 5–OCT 25 (FIRST SPLIT) AND DEC 8–JAN 15 (SECOND SPLIT). DAILY BAG: 15.

Who is heading back out this week? Tell us your best public-field tip below!

Address

Fort Smith, AR
72956

Telephone

+14794126320

Website

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