Sporting Paradise in the Heart of the Ozarks

We had barely settled into our stands when the action started. I was scoping out the woodland opening I had chosen to hunt when a fat doe stepped out and slowly made her way across, nosing for acorns. One well-placed shot and she was mine.

A half mile away from where and I sat and deeper in the backcountry, my son Josh was watching a saddle between two mountains when a solid 8-point buck appeared. Josh leveled his rifle, made a clean shot on the whitetail, and soon we were both dragging deer out of the hills.

We had originally come to Mountain View,  a small city of just 2,900 people in north-central Arkansas and situated in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, to do some fishing and squirrel hunting. But on our first outing for bushytails, we saw more deer than squirrels, so Josh and I decided to change our game plan and see if we could bag some venison to take home.

Things played out as we hoped, and after field dressing our deer, we joined a buddy on nearby Norfork Lake and proceeded to load a cooler with bream and catfish. Talk about a surf-and-turf kind of day.

THE TOWN

The amazing variety of options is the allure of Mountain View. It serves as a gateway to a wealth of outdoor opportunities. Visiting anglers find world-class fishing for bass, catfish, four species of trout, panfish and more. Meanwhile, hunters have thousands of rugged acres to target the abundant deer, squirrels, turkeys, bears and other game that inhabit the area. Of course, some sportsmen come to Mountain View intent on doubling their pleasure, knowing it’s a superb cast-and-blast destination where one can come for both the catch and the stalk.

TOP HUNTING GROUNDS

When it comes to hunting, the region’s crown jewel is Sylamore Wildlife Management Area (WMA), which has a reputation for producing solid bucks, often hiding in remote reaches where steep climbs deter many hunters. This WMA is a wild area of public hunting land spanning more than 182,000 acres across five Ozark counties. Its oak-and–hickory forests, jagged ridgelines and hidden hollows also provide classic habitat for gobblers, bruins and bushytails, along with rabbits and the occasional covey of bobwhite quail.

All these species can be hunted in Ozark National Forest surrounding Sylamore, as well. Developed recreation sites are closed, along with some areas posted by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Otherwise, hunting is permitted pretty much anywhere if you follow all the appropriate state regulations, and in December, you’ll find no shortage of options.

Archery deer season runs through February, and modern-gun and black-powder hunters still have select dates. Healthy mast crops have made Sylamore a squirrel-hunting stronghold, and you’ll find lots of them cutting acorns and hickory nuts from daylight to dark this time of year. Rabbit hunters get plenty of shots in grown-up fields scattered around the WMA, while upland bird hunters can chase quail where food plots create openings in the timber.

For a change of pace, check out Devil’s Knob Natural Area, just 15 miles north of Mountain View on the eastern edge of Sylamore WMA. This 822-acre tract mixes huntable acreage with a scenic 1.25-mile trail that winds through cedar glades and centuries-old Ashe’s junipers. It’s a pocket-sized treasure where deer, squirrels, rabbits and quail can all be found, and where the views are worth the walk, whether you’re carrying a shotgun or a camera.

FISHING THE WHITE AND BEYOND

The White River is the heartbeat of winter fishing in north-central Arkansas. Cold fog rolling across the water softens the beautiful mountain scenery along this renowned river that draws trout-fishing fanatics from around the world. With miles of water to fish, from Bull Shoals Dam to Allison, anglers have an abundance of trout, including fat browns, rainbows, crimson-finned brookies and the occasional cutthroat, to test their skill. Most locals float-fish, drifting bait and lures along trout feeding lanes, but lots of nice fish fall to patient bank anglers, too.

At Norfork Lake, a 22,000-acre reservoir northeast of Mountain View, fishing tactics shift. Here, striped bass and hybrids roam deep water like hungry wolves, corralling schools of shad along channels and points. Drop a live bait or jigging spoon, and the ensuing strike will be bone-jarring. Crappie pile into brush in 20 to 30 feet of water, thick enough to light up a sonar screen. Walleyes hug the bluff walls and steep drops, slipping out at dusk to feed, while blue and channel cats prowl creek bends, eagerly munching on minnows, crawfish and cut-bait.

To the northwest, Bull Shoals Lake offers steady winter bass action, as largemouths, smallmouths and spots ambush prey from rocky hideouts in the 45,000-acre lake. Work jigging spoons, Alabama rigs or blade baits low and slow, and the bites will come.

For a quieter option, try Mirror Lake near Blanchard Springs Caverns. This small, spring-fed beauty is stocked year-round with rainbow trout, perfect for a quick bank session with light tackle. North Sylamore Creek winds through the area’s rugged forest, as well, offering scrappy smallmouth and rock bass in its pools. Even in winter’s low flows, a short hike and a few casts can reward you with fish that hit like they own the place.

AFTER THE THAW

The winter months are prime time for deer and trout, but come spring, nimrods turn their attention to the area’s robust wild turkey population. With the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission ranking Sylamore among the state’s top five WMAs for gobbler harvest, few places in the Natural State offer hunters better chances to bag a plump bird. Sylamore’s rugged terrain, mixed timber and limited-access areas create ideal conditions for the pressured but plentiful longbeards. And the Sylamore Walk-In Turkey Hunting Area, covering more than 9,000 acres in Stone County, draws many hunters looking for solitude and quiet.

Also in spring, the area’s fishing action kicks into high gear, with numerous species emerging from the winter doldrums. Crappies move shallow in March, bass begin spawning in April and the topwater action for stripers and white bass lights up local lakes. Whether you’re after a 30-pound striped bass or a limit of tasty slabs, there’s never a bad time for fishing around Mountain View.

Of course, this region is also primo black bear country, but the hunting winds down before December, with archery, alternative firearms and modern gun seasons occurring at various times in September, October and November. Bear baiting is prohibited on public lands, so success takes serious scouting, long hikes and patience measured in miles. But hunters who put in the time and effort have a chance to take down a true trophy-class bruin here.

TRIP PLANNER

• Things to see and do when not in the woods or on the water.

Located at the southern edge of Sylamore WMA, Mountain View is accessible via state highways 5, 14 and 341. The towns of Calico Rock, Norfork and Fifty-Six provide various entry points, campgrounds and basic services. The U.S. Forest Service and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission jointly manage the area, with facilities like Blanchard Springs Caverns, Gunner Pool and Barkshed offering camping, hiking and family-friendly recreation.

The driving throughout the WMA is generally good, with gravel roads providing access to key areas. There’s a free-use rifle range on Highway 5 between Allison and Optimus, as well as numerous trailheads for hiking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing.

Besides the terrific fishing and hunting, this area boasts other great attractions. For instance, Syllamo Mountain Bike Trail has more than 50 miles of IMBA “Epic Ride” loops through Ozark National Forest, and the aforementioned Blanchard Springs Caverns offer awe-inspiring underground tours year-round (be sure to check their winter hours).

In Mountain View, you’ll find a number of great options for music and dining. There’s Downtown Square, where evenings hum with fiddles, guitars and banjos, keeping Ozark music alive in the “Folk Music Capital of the World.” And Ozark Folk Center also offers live mountain music, along with crafts and a rich dive into Arkansas’ cultural roots.

As for chow, PJ’s Rainbow Café, a downtown staple since 1948, serves hearty breakfasts, classic comfort entrées, soups and sandwiches. Anglers Restaurant offers riverside dining featuring steaks, pasta and seafood, plus big breakfasts for early hunters and anglers. In Allison, 7 miles away, JoJo’s Catfish Wharf on the White River is famous for its catfish, steaks, homemade pies and its canoe salad bar.

Visitors will find additional information at mountainviewarkansas.com. For fishing and hunting licenses and regulations, go to agfc.com.

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• This article was featured in the December 2025 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe.

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