Reprinted with permission from The Modern Times, Harrisburg, Arkansas December 5, 2002
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LUCKY DUCK - Graham Byrom, 12, of Huntsville, AL, proudly displays his first duck of the season. It was also Byrom's first shot of the season and the duck just happened to be banded in Alabama. Byrom killed the banded duck on Tony Heeb's farm south of Harrisburg where he and his father hunt every year. (The band has been identified as an AWA issued band.)
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Duckhunters from all over the nation poured into Harrisburg two weeks ago as Saturday- Nov. 23 marked the beginning of duck season.
Local business owners said that sales obviously increased as the hunters helped to raise the local economy. "There's no question it boosts sales," said Steve Good, manager of Food Giant. Good said that he had noticed many out of state shoppers buying not only hunting equipment but also food and other items. "Our sales were up over 20 percent compared to an average weekend," said Good, after the first weekend of the season.
Another local business that profits from the area's outstanding duck hunting is the Mallard Inn at 1107 N. Illinois St. "Oh no," says manager Janet Meridith when asked if the motel had any vacancies. "We've had these next two weekends booked up for the last two and a half months" said Meridith.
Some avid hunters even own houses in Harrisburg so that they can stay here for about four weeks out of the year.
It is not just businesses that stand to profit from duck season, many area farmers hold back water on land reserved just for hunting. Local land owners also maintain duck blinds on there land that could rent for as much as $5,000 to $12,000."Additional funds raised from the duck season helps area farmers whose crop production may not have had the best year.
It's great for some additional income for the winter time, said local farmer Tony Heeb. "I've had about nine guys coming out to hunt on my land for over 13 years," said Heeb. He said that he's leased duckblinds to hunters from Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas. "They're a mix of lawyers, doctors, dentists, engineers and other professionals, you want to make sure you get a good group of guys," said Heeb.
Although most area farmers lease blinds on their property, there is some work involved in preparation and holding water for ducks and maintaining blinds.
"After standing all year we clean them up and pump all the water out, then getting the field ready is like flooding rice for the first time," said Heeb. He went on to say that for the last 30 years a personal pit has been kept on his land for just family and friends to hunt in.
"This is something that keeps growing every year, it brings in people from all over the country," said Harrisburg mayor Donnie "Buzzy" Faulkner. He said that the town is not as commercialized as Stuttgart but continues to grow. "Over the last six or seven years this business has really bloomed." said Faulkner.