Bois d'Arc

Bois d'Arc (pronounced bo-dark — French for "bow wood"), a moraceous hedge tree, common to Arkansas, got it's name from the French explorers. From this flexible, durable, dense wood was made wagon tongues, spoke wheels, fence posts. Indians used it to make bows. In the old days they were planted closely together, making an excellent hedge row to keep cattle in their boundaries.

Today, some duck hunters hang bois d'arc duck calls around their necks — thanks to well-known call makers Andy Bowles, Mark Weedman (Weedy Pinoak calls), Howard Amadon and Chick Majors.

The bois d'arc tree produces an inedible fruit which has been nicknamed the horse apple, hedge apple and Osage orange because ... well ... it looks like an orange. About six inches in diameter, it has been known to keep away moths, roaches and other critters. This yellow-toned wood turns darker in time. It makes a very crisp sounding duck call because of the density of the wood.

The wood Jerry Billy uses in Snazz calls comes from the Pollard Farm Lane, just 3 1/2 miles southwest of Gregory, Arkansas. The land is currently owned by Gregory Farm, Inc. It's also just down the road about 4 1/2 miles west of the Black Swamp Duck Hunting Grounds. You dont get much more country than that!

$100

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