Hikers Trek at Lake Atalanta
Hill ‘N Dale Hiking Club will hike Thursday at Lake Atalanta Park in Rogers. The hike is three to four miles on paved trails. All hikers are welcome. Meet at 8:30 a.m., at the Harp’s store parking lot in Bella Vista to carpool. The hike begins at Railyard bike park in downtown Rogers. Register for the hike with George Riggin, 913-669-4967, or geo1rig@aol.com.
Park hosts astronomy night
The Sugar Creek Astronomical Society and Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area will hold an astronomy night Saturday at the park on Arkansas 12 east of Rogers. A classroom session begins at 6:45 p.m., at the visitor center. Viewing of the night sky is at dark. Society members will set up telescopes in the parking lot for viewing stars and planets. Patrons may bring lawn chairs, binoculars and a flashlight with a red balloon over the beam. For more information call the park visitor center, 479-789-5000.
Crappie tournament set
The L.O. Vanzant Memorial Crappie Tournament is from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Beaver Lake out of Hickory Creek Marina.
Entry fee is $25 per angler. There is a seven fish limit.
First prize is $1,000. Second prize is $500. For more information call the marina at 479-751-7366
Archery event simulates hunt
A 3-D archery tournament that features true hunting conditions is set for 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Cherokee Bowhunters archery range at Fort Crowder Conservation Area, 18050 Parrot Road, southeast of Neosho, Mo. Archers may shoot either day.
Entry fee is $20 for adults and $10 for youth. Awards go to the top three shooters in each class. The 30-target tournament involves shots made while kneeling, sitting, standing and into narrow gaps between trees as in real bowhunting. For more information call Riley Mayfield, 417-499-0335.
Biologists talk trout
Arkansas chapter of Trout Unlimited will met Monday at Whole Hog Cafe, Fiesta Square in Fayetteville. Dinner is at 6 p.m. with a program beginning at 7. Christie Graham and Kris Nault, trout biologists with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, will talk about creek surveys and other studies on the state’s trout waters, including White River below Beaver Dam.
Bass challenge set
Soldier’s Wish Big Bass Challenge is from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 8 at Beaver Lake out of Prairie Creek park.
Entry fee is $75 per angler. First prize is a Lowrance Gen3 HDS-12 depth finder and $1,000. Second place receives $1,000. Prize money is paid through 10th place.
Register at www.bigbasschallenge.net. For more information call 918-925-0136.
River camping topic of talk
A program on river camping and taking multiday float trips on Ozark streams is set for 2 p.m. April 9 at the Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area visitor center.
Tips include where to float, how to pack, essential gear and how to get a good night’s sleep on a gravel bar.
The 60-minute program focuses on canoe camping, but information is useful for all types of camping from backpacking to car camping.
Flip Putthoff, outdoors reporter at the
Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
and an experienced long-distance paddler, is the presenter. He will show photos from river camping trips and bring some of the gear he uses.
For more information call the visitor center, 479-789-5000,
Author touts edible plants
Join Steven Foster, author, photographer, and herbalist, will present a free photographic presentation on wild edible and useful plants at 8 p.m. April 11 at Devil’s Den State Park amphitheater.
Learn what Ozark native plant had a profound effect on Abraham Lincoln’s childhood. Discover what is surprisingly the most important tea plant in Arkansas, once the beverage tea of choice in the South.
For more information call the park office, 479-761-3325.
Corps hiring park attendants
The Army Corps of Engineers is hiring park attendants at Beaver Lake for the 2017 visitor season.
Positions include a salary and free campsite to park a camping trailer or motor home for the season. Duties include assisting visitors, collecting fees and general cleanup chores in the campgrounds and day use areas. Park attendants are the primary point of contact for most visitors at Beaver Lake. Several positions are available. Contact James Bloxham, 479-636-1210 extension 1719 or email James.M.Bloxham@usace. army.mil.
