Dave Donaldson Black River Wildlife Management Area in northeast Arkansas is on the Ducks Unlimited list of 20 waterfowl hunting hot spots in the United States.
It is difficult to pinpoint just one "top" public waterfowl hunting area in Arkansas. The east-central portion of the state hosts the largest wintering population of mallards in the world, and high-quality duck hunting is the norm rather than the exception on several well-managed public hunting areas.
Duck season in Arkansas opens Nov. 21.
The most famous of these is Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Area near Stuttgart. However, lesser known areas offer duck hunting of equal quality with less hunting pressure. Dave Donaldson Black River Wildlife Management Area, near Corning, is an example.
The area encompasses 25,510 acres, consisting mostly of bottomland hardwood forest. When seasonal rains cause the Black River to spill over into adjacent lowlands, ducks arrive in high numbers.
"I'd say this area draws more than 100,000 ducks when the water spreads out through the timber," says Zack Yancey, a biologist with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
"Because of this abundance, we have considerable hunting pressure. But if they keep looking, most hunters can find a spot where they can work some ducks."
Yancey added that hunting is best when the Black River level is high.
"Most hunters here hunt with john boats," Yancey explains. "You can go anywhere you want with a 25-horsepower outboard."
Shooting is allowed only until noon on Dave Donaldson Black River Wildlife Management Area. Boats must vacate the area by 1 p.m. Also, hunters must obtain a "Sweet 16" wildlife management area permit to hunt this and 15 other Arkansas wildlife management areas.
Sports on 11/10/2015