By Buck Horton
The sign says $5 a bird. I had some buddies come in from Wisconsin to shoot mallards in the flooded timber of Arkansas and the weather was sub-optimal, but we scratched out a few. These boys had never heard of the duck pickers, so we stopped in to have their birds plucked whole, and to add some culture to my Yankee companions. When we opened the door we were greeted by the smell of smoldering Black & Milds and duck feathers, and the friendly faces of Skip and E.J.
“Where have you been all season, I’m about to run out of money to spend at the casino if we don’t get more birds to pick,” Skip berated me. I did feel a little guilty; it was already the end of December, and this was the first time I had duck hunted all year. One of my hunting companions asked if Skip and E.J. were ready for the new year and if they get a break. E.J. took a long pull off of his Black & Mild and replied, “Son, if duck season is in, we are here; this is how we make our money in the winter.”
The Old Ways
You see, these two gentlemen come from the days of old. There used to be duck pickers all over the state. However, dwindling waterfowl populations have put many out of business, or they aren’t with us anymore. It is a lost trade; however, when you open the doors to this shop and you look at the 100-year-old butcher block in the center of the room, you get taken back to the older times. To a time when you could shoot lead and Arkansas was filled with birds.
We spent some time in the shop swapping small talk and Skip and I giving each other a hard time. I practically grew up in that shop, being in there multiple times a week during the duck season for the last 15 years or so. Skip and E.J. were down 1,000 birds compared to last year and even more compared to the last three. It’s sad to see the bird that put Arkansas on the map slowly but surely dwindling down. I’m afraid when I have a child the duck pickers will be something of the past; however, with the time we have left, it’s important to soak the tradition and the stories in.
Ducks Dressed
Skip has passed away since last season and we will miss him dearly — another legend of the past and carrier of the tradition gone too soon. E.J. remains — still there picking birds. I stopped in and saw my old friend last week, bringing him a few mallards to dress. This duck hunting has been better, and E.J. was in good spirits.
If you find your way to Arkansas this duck season, swing by a local picker, or make the trip to Humphrey. Bring E.J. a Black & Mild, and get your ducks dressed.
