If you hunt public timber in Arkansas, you already know the ground does not take care of itself. Boat ramps fill up with trash, access gets harder every season, and the blinds and ramps that youth and mobility-impaired hunters count on need hands to keep them usable. The Public Timber Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit built around one simple idea: hunters and citizens who volunteer for duck habitat conservation in Arkansas can leave public land better than they found it. Here is how to get involved and what a work day actually looks like.
Why duck habitat volunteers matter on Arkansas public land
Arkansas has some of the best public flooded timber duck hunting anywhere, and much of it sits on wildlife management areas and green tree reservoirs managed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Those agencies carry the load on water management and habitat, but they cannot be at every boat ramp every weekend. That gap is where volunteers come in.
In our first year, The Public Timber Project organized over 100 boat ramp cleanups and hands-on projects that directly improved the public hunting experience and the well-being of ducks. None of it happened without people who gave up a Saturday. We are not political, we have no enemies, and we work alongside agencies, landowners, scientists, and local communities to get real work done where progress is visible and shared. More on that on our About page.
What a WMA work day actually looks like
Most projects are boat ramp and site cleanups, litter removal in the timber and along access roads, maintenance on duck blinds and access ramps for youth and mobility-impaired hunters, or light construction and habitat work coordinated with the managing agency. A typical day runs like this.
- Morning meetup at the boat ramp. Coffee is usually on. A project leader walks through the plan, the safety notes, and who is doing what.
- Work in crews. Some people run boats and haul bags, some walk the bank, some handle tools. Nobody is asked to do anything they have not been shown how to do.
- Lunch break. On most full-day events we provide trash bags, coffee, and lunch.
- Load out and count up. We track tons of trash removed and volunteer hours, and you will see the results in a truck bed before you leave.
Our first cleanup of the coming season, a St. Francis River clean-up, runs 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Bring gloves and waders; everything else is provided, and all experience levels are welcome.
How to sign up for a volunteer work day
- Go to the events page. Every upcoming cleanup is listed with date, time, and location, and volunteer work days show a Sign up and RSVP button.
- Fill out the short sign-up form. First name, last name, email, and phone. That is it.
- Sign the volunteer waiver online, once. If it is your first time, the waiver appears in the same form and you sign it electronically by typing your name. If you have already signed within the past year, you will not be asked again.
- Watch your inbox for a confirmation and event details.
If online sign-up is ever unavailable for an event, email info@publictimberproject.org to reserve a spot, or sign up in person when you arrive.
The volunteer waiver, explained
Every volunteer signs a Volunteer Waiver and Release. It is standard for outdoor service work: an acknowledgment that projects may take place on private land or on land managed by state or federal agencies, an assumption of the normal risks of working outdoors (terrain, weather, tools, insects, poison ivy), a release of liability for The Public Timber Project and partnering agencies, and permission to use event photos and video for education and promotion.
- The online waiver is for adults 18 and older.
- Volunteers under 18 are welcome, and they complete a paper waiver with a parent or guardian at the event.
- A signature is good for a year, so you sign once and keep showing up.
You can read the full agreement on the volunteer waiver page before you commit to a date.
What to bring to a public land work day
Dress for the ground, not the truck: waders or knee boots if the event calls for them, work gloves, layers, a hat, and water. If you have a boat and are willing to run it, tell us on the sign-up form or when you arrive. Leave firearms and dogs at home. And follow the same rules we ask of hunters on the education page: keep the ramp clear, pack it in and pack it out, and respect the people working around you.
Other ways to support waterfowl conservation in Arkansas
Not everyone can make a Saturday on the river. Donate to the general fund or to a specific campaign, like our current duck blind and access ramp maintenance project for youth and mobility-impaired hunters; gifts to a 501(c)(3) may be tax-deductible. And if you represent a business or organization, ask about becoming a Friend of PTP.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a duck hunter to volunteer?
No. Plenty of our volunteers hunt, but the work is picking up trash, hauling bags, and maintaining blinds and ramps. If you care about public land in Arkansas and can spend a day outside, you are qualified.
Does it cost anything to volunteer at a work day?
No. Work days are free. On most full-day events we provide trash bags, coffee, and lunch.
Can I bring my kids to a cleanup?
Yes. Volunteers under 18 are welcome with a parent or guardian. Our online sign-up and waiver are for adults, so minors complete a paper waiver with a parent or guardian at the event.
How do I hear about new work days?
New cleanups and projects are posted on our events page as soon as they are scheduled and shared on Facebook and Instagram. Email info@publictimberproject.org to ask about projects near you.
The Public Timber Project is hunters and citizens getting real work done on public ground. Pick a date, sign up, and come see what a work day is about. This website and its online event sign-up and waiver were built by Sundae Software Solutions in Benton, Arkansas; you can read about how the Public Timber Project site was built on their site.