Waterfowl habitat conditions continued to improve across the state during the past week, and water levels have risen significantly at many of the state's most popular wildlife management areas for duck hunting.
Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA has benefited from flooding on the Cache River, while water levels also have improved at Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA. At Bayou Meto WMA, most impoundments are at or near full-pool levels.
Weather forecasts are calling for chances of winter precipitation later this week, and air temperatures will remain cold through the weekend.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists are conducting the annual Midwinter Aerial Survey this week, and updated population estimates should be available in next week's weekly waterfowl report.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
EARL BUSS BAYOU DEVIEW WMA
South Oliver GTR Mast production has been good. The area is currently 20 percent flooded. Most of the available water is present within the natural slough on the north end of this GTR and south end of the North Oliver Tract.
Thompson Tract GTR Mast production has been good. The area is 5% flooded. The boat lane is flooded with sheet water along the northeast run in the direction of the pipeline.
Lake Hogue WRA A small amount of beneficial wetland plants is located along the east side of the lake. Normal pool level.
BIG LAKE WMA
North Woods GTR Mast production is good. Bois d'Arc gauge currently reads 236.9. Target level is 235.5. 100 percent flooded.
South Woods GTR Mast production is good. The 7-mile gauge is currently at 236.3 feet. Target level is 234.5 feet with 100 percent flooded.
Simmons Field A good amount of millet, smartweed and sedge is present. Seed production is good. 100 percent flooded.
ST. FRANCIS SUNKEN LANDS WMA
Hunt Area Mast production is considered fair within the timber and floodways this year. However, there are some spotty areas among the higher elevations that have above average mast production. Water levels in the huntable areas are dependent on the St. Francis River. The water level at Oak Donnick is 212.85 feet with 100 percent of the huntable area flooded.
Snowden WRA There is a small amount of beneficial wetland plants within the borrow areas. Conditions are currently poor within the waterfowl rest area. Twenty percent flooded.
Payneway WRA There is a small amount of beneficial wetland plants within the borrow areas. Conditions are currently poor within the waterfowl rest area. Pool A is at 10 percent, Pool B is at 15 percent, Pool C is at 25 percent and Pool D is at 40 percent.
SHIREY BAY RAINEY BRAKE WMA
Adam's Brake GTR Good mast crop within the GTR. Water level is 240.0 MSL with a target level of 240.0 MSL. 100 percent flooded.
Rainey Brake GTR Good mast crop within the GTR. 100 percent flooded.
Eagle Pond GTR Good mast crop within the GTR. 100 percent flooded.
Phase III Moist-soil Unit Average wetland-type vegetation. 60 percent flooded.
Charles Crisp Moist-soil Unit Average wetland-type vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Ward Field Moist-soil Unit Good abundance of wetland-type vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
River Field Moist-soil Unit Good abundance of wetland-type vegetation. 10 percent flooded.
DAVE DONALDSON BLACK RIVER WMA
Upper Island GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 269.7 MSL. Target level is 269.5 MSL. 100 percent flooded.
Lower Island GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 268.5 MSL. Target level is 268.0 MSL. 100 percent flooded.
Upper Reyno GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 268.6 MSL. Target level is 266.9 MSL. 100 percent flooded.
Lower Reyno GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 266.6 MSL. Target level is 266.3 MSL. 100 percent flooded.
Winchester GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 264.0 MSL. Target level is 263.7 MSL. 100 percent flooded.
EAST CENTRAL ARKANSAS
SHEFFIELD NELSON DAGMAR WMA
Mud Slough GTR Good mast crop. 60 percent flooded.
Apple Lake WRA Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.
Conway George Waterfowl Unit A Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 90 percent flooded.
Conway George Waterfowl Unit B Natural slough area with beneficial wetland plants. 100 percent flooded.
Conway George Waterfowl Unit C Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
REX HANCOCK BLACK SWAMP WMA
Main WMA Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.
Wyeville Unit Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 90 percent flooded.
STEVE N. WILSON RAFT CREEK BOTTOMS WMA
Unit A Excellent stand of native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit B Excellent stand of native vegetation. 100 percent flooded
Unit C Excellent stand of native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit D Good stand of native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit E Good stand of native vegetation. 20 percent flooded.
Unit F Good stand of native vegetation. 20 percent flooded.
Unit G Habitat conditions are poor. 10 percent flooded
Unit H (Mobility-impaired blind) Good stand of native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit I Conditions are poor. 15 percent flooded.
HENRY GRAY HURRICANE LAKE WMA
North GTR Good mast crop. Zero percent flooded.
South GTR Good mast crop. Zero percent flooded.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
SULPHUR RIVER WMA
Mercer Bayou Habitat conditions are fair. The water level is normal.
Henry Moore WRA Closed to hunting. Zero percent flooded.
MILLWOOD LAKE Habitat conditions are good. Water level is 259.87 MSL.
DR. LESTER SITZES III BOIS D' ARC WMA
Bois d'Arc Lake WRA Closed to hunting. 0.5 feet below normal.
Red Slough WRA Closed to hunting. Water level is 100 percent.
GTR Good mast production. Water level is 100 percent.
Little Grassy Habitat is fair. Water level is 85 percent.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
CRAIG D. CAMPBELL LAKE CONWAY RESERVOIR
Habitat and water levels are normal on both Pierce and Dix creeks.
HARRIS BRAKE WMA
Harris Brake GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.
HOLLAND BOTTOMS WMA
Hunt Area Good mast crop. 25 percent flooded.
Lake Pickthorne WRA Excellent mast crop. East cell 100 percent flooded. West cell 40 percent flooded.
BELL SLOUGH WMA
Bell Slough GTR Average mast crop. 65 percent flooded.
Palarm Creek WRA Fair seed production from natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
BERYL ANTHONY LOWER OUACHITA WMA The WMA has good soft and hard mast production. The WMA is less than 10 percent flooded.
FREDDIE BLACK CHOCTAW ISLAND WMA DEER RESEARCH AREA Habitat conditions are good. There is variable flooding associated with the Mississippi River. Mississippi River is at 14.89 feet with predicted rise on the Arkansas City gauge to 16.3 feet and rising to 19.6 feet by Sunday. Use extreme caution when boating in the river.
TRUSTEN HOLDER Habitat conditions are good. Variable flooding on the WMA. The Arkansas River is at 26.3 feet and steady on the Pendleton gauge.
SEVEN DEVILS SWAMP WMA Habitat conditions are good, with an excellent acorn crop. 100 percent flooded.
CUT-OFF CREEK WMA
Hunt Area Habitat conditions are good, with an excellent acorn crop. 25 percent flooded. Some water in the sloughs.
Pigeon Creek WRA Habitat conditions are good, with an excellent acorn crop. 30 percent flooded. Sporadic pumping as water levels allow.
BAYOU METO WMA
Upper Vallier GTR Good habitat. Water level is 179.6 feet. Full pool is 180 feet.
Lower Vallier GTR Good habitat. Water level is 179.6 feet. Full pool is 179 feet.
Government Cypress GTR Good habitat. Water level is 179.6 feet. Full pool is 179 feet.
Buckingham Flats GTR Good habitat. 100 percent flooded.
Temple Island GTR Good habitat. 100 percent flooded. Water is being pumped.
Canon Brake Good habitat. 100% flooded. Use caution and watch for current near water control structure.
Halowell WRA Excellent habitat. The final unit is flooding.
Wrape Plantation WRA Excellent habitat. The final unit is flooding.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
DARDANELLE WMA
Johnson County WRA Fair habitat. 80 percent flooded.
McKennon Bottoms Very poor habitat. 90 percent flooded.
Potter's Pothole Hartman Waterfowl Unit Poor habitat. 100 percent flooded.
OZARK POOL
Dyer Lake Cells Millet and moist soil. Units 1 and 2 are at 50 percent capacity.
LLOYD MILLWOOD NIMROD WMA
Nimrod GTR Good mast crop. Zero percent flooded.
FROG BAYOU WMA
Unit 1 Native millet and smartweed. 100 percent flooded.
Unit 2 Habitat is poor. Zero percent flooded.
Unit 3 Native millet and smartweed. 100 percent flooded.
Unit 4 Native moist soil and planted millet. 80 percent flooded.
Unit 5 Native moist soil and planted millet. 80 percent flooded.
Unit 6 Good stand of smartweed and native millet. 50 percent flooded.
Unit 7 Planted millet. 80 percent flooded.
GALLA CREEK WMA
Galla Creek GTR Natural vegetation including a mixture of barnyard and smartweed. 100 percent flooded. The waterfowl impoundment is now at capacity.
PETIT JEAN RIVER WMA
Santa Fe GTR Good mast crop. Zero percent flooded.
Olin Cain Moist-soil Unit This area contains a good stand of desirable native vegetation throughout, with Japanese millet planted in the ditches. 60 percent flooded.
Black Lands Moist-soil Unit This area contains a good stand of desirable native vegetation throughout, with Japanese millet planted in the ditches. 100 percent flooded.
Slaty Crossing Moist-soil Unit This area contains a good stand of desirable native vegetation throughout. 100 percent flooded.
Pullen Pond This area contains a poor stand of desirable native vegetation throughout, with Japanese millet planted along the main ditch. Zero percent flooded.
Pond Creek GTR Good mast crop. Zero percent flooded.
Slaty Pond GTR Good mast crop. 30 percent flooded.
Black Lands Duck Area Good mast crop. This area also contains a good stand of desirable native vegetation and Japanese millet throughout. 75 percent flooded.
ED GORDON POINT REMOVE WMA
Willow Island Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Little Hole Natural vegetation. 15 percent flooded.
Red Gate Natural vegetation. 85 percent flooded.
Pig Trough Natural vegetation. 85 percent flooded.
Cedar Ridge Natural vegetation. 70 percent flooded.
Duck Trap Natural vegetation. 15 percent flooded.
Salt Lick Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Bobby's Pond Natural vegetation. 80 percent flooded.
Race Track Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Controversy Corner Natural vegetation. 40 percent flooded.
Remmel Marsh Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Mud Pond Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Turkey Pond Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Teeny Pond Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Sports on 01/05/2017