Preserving a Family Legacy Since 1907
George Dunklin, Jr., the owner of Five Oaks Duck Lodge, is not only in the business of waterfowl, but the business of family tradition.
In 1907, George’s grandfather, Lester A. Black, acquired what is now the land surrounding Five Oaks Duck Lodge. L.A., unbeknownst to him, would begin a legacy of conservation and preservation that would last for generations.
L.A. and his wife had three daughters, one of whom was Mary Elisabeth. Mary Elisabeth married George Dunklin, Sr., and they settled in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where George Dunklin, Sr. was president of Planters Cotton Mill.
Growing up, George, spent a good amount of time visiting his grandfather’s farmland and developed a love for the land. In these formative years, he also began accompanying his father on hunting trips, which sparked a lifelong passion for the sport of waterfowl.
George attended college at the University of Memphis, and upon graduation, he knew what he wanted to do. He looked back on his past to determine his future. So shortly after graduation, George moved to Arkansas County to farm the family land, and he never left.
The original Five Oaks Duck Lodge was built and owned by Memphis Furniture Company, but they leased the hunting land from the Dunklin Family. When the Memphis Furniture Company decided to sell the lodge in 1983, George, Jr. knew he wanted to purchase the piece of property since the Dunklin family owned the land around the lodge.
So, in 1983, Five Oaks Duck Lodge came into existence. For the last 40 years, Five Oaks has served primarily as a duck hunting lodge. Each hunting season, the lodge welcomes generations of hunters from across the country.
George’s abiding passion for and dedicated service to conservation led him to become a member of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission from 2005 to 2012 and served as its chairman from 2011-2012. He joined Ducks Unlimited at the age of 16, and served as president of Ducks Unlimited from 2013-2015.He currently serves on their board of directors, and most recently, was appointed the chairman of Public Policy.
In 2009, when George was named “Budweiser Conservationist of the Year,” he used the accompanying $50,000 grant money to support the Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Area, the public lands adjacent to Five Oaks, because he believes in the sanctity of our public areas.
George is married to Livia Dunklin, and they have three daughters: Megan, Hillary, and Lauren. In 2020, Hillary married Stewart Hornor at Five Oaks Duck Lodge continuing a tradition of cultivating memories and experiences at the property. The couple recently welcomed a baby girl, Georgia, further motivating the family to preserve the land for generations to come.
