State Agencies Purchase "devils Eyebrow" Area

[Quillback]

This area is located on the upper reaches of the Indian Creek arm of Beaver lake, running along 3 miles of shoreline totaling 1,375 acres. It is owned now by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and was funded by the 1/8 percent conservation sales tax. Hunting seasons for the area to be announced in 2014. No camping or off road vehicles allowed. The commission is going to vote on final approval to acquire an additional 351 acres in August. The AGFC is also acquiring 220 acres adjacent to the site. Total area will be 1,952 acres when the additional purchases are finished.

[Feathers and Fins]

Ok that is very cool. great deer hunting and one of the very few areas I have seen turkey around the lake.

[J-Doc]

So would this become like Hobbs where you have to draw a number to hunt there?

[Quillback]

So would this become like Hobbs where you have to draw a number to hunt there?

Article did not say, just said they would have hunting regs out in 2014.

And the only place I have seen a turkey on Beaver (I've heard gobbles in the hills from time to time) was back in Indian Creek one spring day about 5 years ago. Big old gobbler was out strutting away not far from the bank.

[Guest]

There's a ton of deer in that area,

Hobbs pales in comparison.

Im curious to see if its got any grasslands or all woods.

[bfishn]

Is that the old Cooper tract?

[Quillback]

Is that the old Cooper tract?

Didn't say anything about it in the article. It's a chunk of land that runs north from Indian Creek on Beaver almost to Garfield.

[Quillback]

An update from AGFC:

Steep and rugged Devil’s Eyebrow is a new facility

GATEWAY – Devil’s Eyebrow. That name alone draws instant interest in Arkansas’s newest natural area and wildlife management area.

Devil’s Eyebrow is a facility of the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. It was formally dedicated a month ago, and somewhat fittingly, the dedication was on the day of the state’s first May snowfall.

In Benton County on the north side of Beaver Lake, Devil’s Eyebrow covers 1,954 acres and is open to the public. But you will have to walk.

A parking area is reached off U.S. Highway 62 about a half-mile east of Gateway and the intersection with Arkansas Highway 37. A gravel road turns south of the highway and leads to the parking area. From there on, visitors must walk. No cars or trucks, no all-terrain vehicles, no horses and mules can be used by anyone.

Not far south of the parking area, the terrain slopes down steeply and eventually runs to the Indian Creek arm of Beaver Lake. The area has a number of old logging roads that visitors can walk. Features of Devil’s Eyebrow include small creeks, rocky bluffs, waterfalls, a host of unusual and interesting plants and a variety of wildlife. Trimble Mountain, elevation 1,720 feet, is the highest point on Devil’s Eyebrow.

The unusual name of the area stems from a 19th century comment by a local resident, according to a history of Benton County.

"In 1880, when the surveyors were doing their preliminary work on the location of the Frisco Railroad, Archibald 'Uncle Arch' Blansett (one of the pioneer settlers in the area) with other neighbors were greatly interested in the proposed route through their neighborhood. Discussing the route with one of the railroad party, he is credited with saying: 'Build a railroad right through these mountains? You can't do it, man; you can't do it. You might as well try to build a railroad on the Devil's eyebrow as to undertake to build one in such a place.'

"The railroaders were so amused by the remark that from then on it was always known, even in Frisco literature, as the 'Devil's Eyebrow'. The name still sticks."

As an AGFC wildlife management area, Devil’s Eyebrow will be linked with Beaver Lake WMA. Deer and bear hunters are restricted to shotguns or muzzle-loading rifles during the 2013-2014 season. Devil’s Eyebrow may be limited to archery hunting only for deer in the future.

Mark Hutchings, urban wildlife biologist for northwest Arkansas said, “There are deer and turkey on Devil’s Eyebrow, and we’ve been told an occasional bear is seen here.” Squirrel numbers also appear good.

Botanists are interested in Devil’s Eyebrow because it is the only place in Arkansas where the rare black maple tree is found. It is also a popular roosting area in winter for bald eagles.

Devil’s Eyebrow was obtained by the two state agencies through a route that has been successful a number of times in recent decades.

When owners of the land, who had bought it before the downturn in residential development a few decades back, indicated a willingness to sell, The Nature Conservancy of Arkansas stepped forward and bought it until Natural Heritage and Game and Fish could arrange funds for the purchase.

[nathanhooper]

I live and hunt about a mile away from the area. It's the track of land that was going to become eagles bluff. Not sure if their website is still up.

There are no deer or turkey. You also won't find any bear from time to time. The only thing there is some panthers. Mean suckers.

In all seriousness, it is going to be a part of beaver lake WMA. It has the same rules. Talk is it may become bow only. But for sure it is walk in only an you bet your butt they will enforce it good for a while.

I'll be out there this fall. Probably before scouting it out. For those who like to get out away from it all this place will be nice. It is pretty rugged, but I guess I'm used to it hunting where I do now. You'd be suprised at where deer will go in hills such as these.