Delta Dreams – New resort offers duck hunting, shooting sports

Duck Hunting, Hunting, Lifestyles | January 25, 2013 by Sporting Life Arkansas | 0 Comments

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By Janie Ginocchio

For Gary Gibb, a dream decades in the making is coming true.

His Delta Resort and Conference Center, located on 2,000 acres of pristine farmland and flooded timberland near Tillar, Ark., is quickly becoming the destination for hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts who want it all – quality facilities, on-site accommodations and activities for the entire family.

Gibb first visited the area in the late 1970s to duck hunt and “just fell in love with the area,” he said. So when an opportunity came up to purchase the property in 2008, he jumped at the chance.

“It’s been a dream of ours to come and own property here, and we’ve been blessed,” he said.

The property currently has a bed and breakfast, world-class sporting clay and Olympic bunker trap facilities and a hunting club that boasts the best duck hunting in the world.

Under construction is a casual dining restaurant and a pro shop that should be open by November, Gibb said, with a 72-room hotel open by December. The 17,500-square-foot conference center should be open for business in early 2013, and can accommodate groups from a few people to 200-300. Future phases include another hotel and a spa, with planned opening dates in mid-2013, Gibb said.

Hunting club

Located in the heart of the Mississippi Migratory Bird Flyway, haven to 40 million migrating waterfowl annually, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, which makes Delta Resort part of the most abundant waterfowl habitats in North America and some of the best duck hunting in the world. The numerous blinds and pits located throughout the property are immaculately maintained and feature handicap accessibility, according to the Delta Resort website.

The 2012 season will be the first time the property will be open for commercial duck hunting. The hunting package at the resort includes accommodations and meals, a guided hunt, transportation to hunting blinds, and duck processing.

Shooting sports

For those who like shooting targets of the clay variety, the resort utilizes the natural terrain to create four unique courses that offer plenty of challenges. Dynamic clays are thrown that can simulate movements of rabbits, teal and mallards. There are also Olympic bunkers available for trap shooting, and the seasoned professionals at the resort can outfit you with all the necessary gear for your chosen shooting event, even down to guns and ammo. Private and group instruction is also available.

In addition to recreational shooting, the resort has hosted several shooting tournaments, with winning purses worth up to $50,000.

Giving back to the community

While Gibb describes the property as a “resort destination for large corporate businesses” and other visitors, he is also dedicated to giving back to the community in a variety of ways, including making the facilities available to the Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program and by preserving the natural habitat of the area.

But one project he is especially proud of is the Patricia Mizell Hearing Center, a distance learning facility that will allow hearing-impaired children to be “taught by the best in the world,” he said.

“We’re real proud of that,” he said.