by Walter Scott
Living in a small rural community, everyone knows everybody, and know that each individual in the community has a specialty.
A person knows who to call when there is something that needs to be done or fixed.
In our little community, I have become known as the wildlife expert. Sometimes that is good, other times, not so good.
If a person saw a moose in southern Iowa, I was the first to be notified. This only happened once. There is not a lot I could do about it, but at least I was informed.
If someone saw a strange bird, I was the logical one to call.
"It is brownish black, about the size of a sparrow, only bigger. Its beak and feet are yellowish orange and it seems to just be hopping around my yard."
A description like this narrows it down a lot. I knew the strange bird was not a blue heron or a great horned owl, but it could have been just about anything else.
"A deer has been hit on the highway and is injured. Don't you think you should go take care of it?"
"Yes, I think someone should call the game warden, and that would probably be my job."
From receiving calls like this, I have come to expect almost anything. This is why I was not all that surprised when a neighbor called to inform me of the presence of a sick skunk at the local store.
Who else would they turn to in a time of crisis? Duty called and I knew the community relied on me to do the right thing.
I grabbed a shotgun, jumped on the four wheeler and zipped over to the store. There indeed was a sick skunk, walking in circles, and occasionally falling down.
He obviously had rabies or some other terminal disease and for public health reasons, needed to be removed from in front of the town's only store. I casually noticed a well dressed man in the phone booth near the entrance of the store. I knew he was from out of town because people in our area do not dress like that on Sunday afternoon.
Even the preacher puts on his blue jeans for that relaxing time between Sunday services.
The visitor on the phone seemed disinterested in me, and the skunk as he looked at us and continued his conversation. I thought this a bit odd, but I know how city dwellers are.
If I was in a phone booth in a strange town with a rabid skunk walking circles outside and a guy driving up on a four wheeler carrying a shotgun, I would be concerned.
However, city people probably see this all the time, or at least want to appear as though they do.
I loudly dispatched the unfortunate skunk. Knowing I could not leave the possibly contagious carcass in front of the store, I hopped back on the four wheeler and sped off as the guy in the phone booth continued talking.
I do not know to whom he was talking or what he must have been saying, but I can only assume it was important.
I dropped off the shotgun and grabbed a shovel and plastic bag to clean up the remains. As I neared the parking lot, I could still see the man in the phone booth. As I got closer, he suddenly slammed down the phone and sprinted to his car.
As I pulled in front of the store, he sped off without so much as a wave good-by. I have never seen this man in town again.
Like I said, every member of a community has their place. I am apparently in charge of all "wildlife."
The time in between -- just before turkey and fishing season and after deer season -- is difficult for most outdoors people.
My wife is the exception. She can enjoy the outdoors just for the sake of being there. A walk does not require a particular starting or stopping point and she does not even need to carry a gun to feel complete.
One Sunday, she convinced me to go with her on a walk, just for the joy of walking and being in the outdoors.
I have never been one to walk for no apparent reason. I will walk for important things, such as hunting deer or pheasants, but walking just to walk never seemed quite right.
When I need to get from one place to another, I have a truck. If it is too rough for the truck, there is always the horse.
At first, I was skeptical of her idea, but before long, I started to enjoy her type of outdoor recreation.
Our walk started with following a route around the pond.
We walked and watched as several blue birds flew above us and by us. Cresting the dam, we saw a flock of turkeys. One old gobbler was in full strut. I was surprised to see this so early in the season, but warm weather and sunshine makes even the wildlife a bit more happy.
We walked up the trail to the woods watching deer bolted across the path ahead of us.
We checked the latest beaver activities and the erosion on the creek crossings from the last rain. By the time we completed the loop back to the truck, I was sure going for a walk was more work than going hunting.
I must admit though, my wife did have a good idea.
A walk in the woods is an enjoyable way to enjoy nature when there are no hunting seasons open.
It is an acceptable form of recreation, but will never replace hunting.
The Calvary Christian Lady Eagles softball team opened the season Tuesday on the road at SW Christian in Little Rock.
SW Christian won both games of the scheduled doubleheader, taking the opener 14-2 and winning the nightcap 7-6.
Calvary will host Macon Road today.
The Palestine-Wheatley Patriot baseball team will play at Clarendon today beginning at 4 p.m.
The Lady Patriot fast-pitch softball team will play the Forrest City Lady Mustangs Friday, April 2, at the Sports Complex.
The members of the OVO (Our Very Own) Forrest City Beagle Club held its third Field Trial of the year last Friday and Saturday for 13-inch females and 15-inch males. The top owners in the 13-inch female beagle competition held Friday were Herman Nance, Larry Tubbs, James Lee and his handler Willie Lockett and the Next Best Qualified, Devin McKnight.
On Saturday, the competition was held for the 15-inch male beagles. The top owners and dogs were Larry Tubbs, Devin McKnight, Leonard Robinson, Quinton Dodson and Next Best Qualified Herman Nance.
The next Field Trials will be held on April 10 &11 and will be the Dubbie Trial for dogs under 18 months old. Judging last weekend's event were AKC Qualified judges Keith Jordan and Keith Condroy. The club holds the field trials on the running ground owned by Scott Carroll of Forrest City.