Ouachita National Forest (NF) covers almost 1.8 million acres in west-central Arkansas and southeast Oklahoma. It is the South’s oldest and largest national forest. When first established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907, it was named Arkansas NF. President Calvin Coolidge renamed it to Ouachita in 1926.
The name Ouachita (pronounced wash-i-tah) is appropriate. It is the French spelling of a Native American word meaning “good hunting grounds,” and the national forest lands are certainly that. Hunters can pursue common game like deer, turkeys, bears, quail and rabbits. But most hunters here turn their eyes to the treetops for gray squirrels and fox squirrels, both abundant in tracts of oaks and hickories. The two species often occupy the same areas, but fox squirrels are typically found in more open woods, usually near the forest edge. Gray squirrels, on the other hand, prefer dense stands of trees in deeper woods.
Hunting Tips
Jim Spencer of Calico Rock, Arkansas, provided some helpful suggestions for Ouachita squirrel hunters. He has spent hundreds of hours pursuing bushytails in the national forest and developed several successful strategies.
“When acorns and hickory nuts are available,” he says, “I scout for nut cuttings [gnawed shells] that indicate squirrels are in an area. I usually start at the top or bottom of a slope and work my way up or down the hill until I find a level where trees are producing mast. Then I stick with that level when hunting. Some years, only black oaks on the hilltops are producing nuts, and that’s where I’ll find squirrels. Other years, white oaks along the lower slopes are more productive, so I’ll concentrate my hunting efforts in lower elevations.”
Spencer usually works the north slopes first when hunting the mountains, especially in the Ouachitas, one of the most arid mountain regions in the southern U.S.
“The north slopes are more protected from sunlight and tend to retain moisture better,” he says. “Consequently, north slopes usually have more hardwoods, better mast crops and more squirrels.”
Where to Go
Six Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wildlife management areas (WMAs) in the national forest provide excellent squirrel hunting. These are Caney Creek WMA 12 miles southeast of Mena in Polk, Howard, Montgomery, Pike and Polk counties (85,000 acres); Muddy Creek WMA 10 miles northwest of Mt. Ida in Montgomery, Scott and Yell counties (150,000 acres); Howard County WMA 10 miles north of Dierks in Howard County (23,000 acres); Lake Greeson WMA four miles northwest of Murfreesboro in Pike and Howard counties (36,200 acres); Petit Jean River WMA 12 miles south of Dardanelle in Yell County (15,500 acres); and Winona WMA four miles south of Perryville in Perry and Saline counties (174,782 acres).
Those seeking a more backcountry hunting experience should plan a hunt in the national forest’s designated wilderness areas (Was) where no vehicles are allowed. In Arkansas, that includes 50,000 acres within Black Fork Mountain, Caney Creek, Dry Creek, Flatside and Poteau Mountain Was. Squirrel hunting is available throughout most of the remaining Ouachita NF lands as well.
While There
In Ouachita NF, outstanding mountain views coupled with picturesque streams, rivers and lakes provide a unique and highly valued setting for outdoor recreation. The forest offers high-quality nature-related sightseeing, scenic driving, fishing and camping. More than 700 miles of trails provide for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.
For info, visit www.fs.usda.gov/ouachita. Seasons and hunting regulations can be found on the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website at www.agfc.com/en/hunting/.
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