(KATV) Sheridan - It is finally that time of
year again. Modern gun deer season starts at sun up Saturday, and a quarter of
a million people in camo and hunter orange are expected to be in the woods this
weekend.
Gibbs Grocery-Hunter's Outpost in Sheridan is a favorite
for hunters on their way to the south. Just a decade ago U.S. 167 in front of Gibbs
was 2 lanes. The owner says hunting season traffic proved to be too much, and
it was the main reason it is now 4 lanes.
You're the odd one out if
you are not decked out in camo in this neck of the woods. Before heading into
the deer woods it is tradition to stop at Gibbs, family owned for 36 years.
Buddy Gibbs says, "This is
like homecoming. We all grew up together."
It is not just a gas
station. The Gibbs know their customers by name and enjoy meeting the younger
generations of hunters, like Alysee Barrett who showed Channel Seven a picture
of her recent kill. It might get a spot on the wall at Gibbs gas station.
The walls tell 30 years of
stories about the tradition that runs deep. Buddy smiles, "We like that, it is
important to us. We have a lot of nice people that stop here."
Hunter, Randy Madden pumps
gas into his ATV's, "I get to see a lot of people I haven't seen in awhile
from school and it's just a good time."
The season is also an economy
booster, bringing in an estimated 370-million retail dollars to the state.
Buddy adds, "We make a little 12 months out of the year and then when this hits,
it's almost like a second Christmas."
Madden says, "I really
don't care if I kill one, I just like being out just being out enjoying
nature."
South Arkansas is popular
because it is timber country. The Game & Fish Commission estimates 200,000 deer
will be killed this year. A small percentage seeing that there's possible a
million deer in the state.
Even with the summer drought,
Arkansas has had rain lately and there are a lot of acorns on the ground,
especially in the south. Acorns attract deer and keep them healthy.
