Along the Mississippi Flyway, a small Arkansas town hosts one of the most important roosting points for migrating ducks

When you roll into the town of Stuttgart, Arkansas, you’re greeted by a sign that reads, “Welcome to Stuttgart, Rice and Duck Capital of the World.” At first glance, that seems like a bold claim, but this town’s track record validates such a lofty legacy. For decades Stuttgart has been considered the mecca of waterfowl hunting, calling hunters from around the world to experience everything the Mississippi Flyway has to offer.

In the time it took to build this reputation, a lot of strain has been placed on the flooded timber environments that attract the ducks during migration. The timber wood was being overharvested, the rest areas for ducks were shrinking, and the hunting was increasing as the reputation of Stuttgart grew. And beyond the environmental degradation, the local economy is reliant on the money that flows in from the hunt. From the iconic waterfowl hunting outfitter, Mack’s Prairie Wings, to the dozens of local guides, and the many surrounding lodges, there are thousands of livelihoods that are dependent on the success of the annual migration.

A detrimental formula like this is threatening to turn hallowed ground into nothing more than a memory, but the work of the Five Oaks team is helping to rewrite the future for Stuttgart’s waterfowl hunting. Five Oaks is a gold-standard duck destination, spanning over 6,000 acres of flooded timber and rice fields.

It was acquired in 1983 by the Dunklin family and has garnered notoriety as a premier hunting destination with lodging and dining accommodations worthy of a Michelin Key. The current owner and manager, George Dunklin Jr, has always had an affection for the sport of waterfowl hunting, but his true passion lies within the world of conservation. If you were to sit down with him over a cup of coffee, he would be the first to tell you that his number one goal is to leave the land better than he found it.

Because of his deepest desire to educate others on the importance of conserving our natural resources, George founded Five Oaks Agricultural Research and Education Center, a non-profit agricultural research and education organization that works in tandem with the Five Oaks property. The goal of this incredible non-profit is to educate adults and youth alike on the importance of conservation efforts, as well as sparking an interest in the next generation of biologists, conservationists, and scientists.

Ryan Askren is the director of the Five Oaks Agricultural Research and Education Center, and he and his colleagues are constantly in the field studying the landscape and learning what needs immediate action. “We want to restore, protect, and really improve the entire area”, Ryan says. “It requires disturbance, it’s not a hands-off thing—we’re conservationists, not preservationists so we’re doing some really active management.”

Yet at other times, being hands-off is exactly what the ducks need, “We provide lots of sanctuary for the ducks. We only hunt about 30% of our property at a time and leave the rest for the ducks. And because of that, we’ve maintained great duck numbers on our properties over the years. We’re not hunting them that hard, and we’ve got lots of areas for them to rest, feel comfortable, and stick around.”

There’s a clear understanding that without the work of his team, Five Oaks wouldn’t be the prosperous environment it should be, “It’s not productive for us to let it go to an old state and be untouched. For instance, thinning certain parts of the land mimics the natural processes that makes it a more productive and healthier ecosystem.” The Five Oaks Agricultural Research and Education Center is only a few years into their work, but they’re already seeing positive change not just on their 6,000 acres, but across duck populations in the entire Mississippi Flyway.

Responsible conservation efforts and extra cautious hunting practices like this are on the rise in Stuttgart. Like every other domino effect that happens in nature, these positive impacts that are happening to the ducks will translate across the people, community, and culture of the area—all in an effort to keep Stuttgart the duck capital of the world.

To learn more about Five Oaks and get involved in their conservation efforts, visit https://www.fiveoaksducklodge.com/