Waterfowl Report

ARKANSAS WATERFOWL REPORT

Lack of rainfall has contributed to poor habitat conditions during the first segment of duck season.

Still, the state hasn't experienced the amount of rainfall required to flood rivers such as the Cache and White for prolonged periods of time, and the absence of extensive flooding in bottomland hardwood forests likely has contributed to lower-than-average duck numbers in the state.

Ducks were prevalent in typical November numbers in areas that had water, particularly the artificially flooded private lands, but observers noted incredible numbers of geese throughout south-central Arkansas in the first week of state's waterfowl season.

Weather models and forecasts by the National Weather Service for the remainder of November show only a trace of rainfall for the state.

There were good reports of ducks in the Saline River bottoms last weekend.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

EARL BUSS BAYOU DEVIEW WMA

South Oliver GTR Mast production has been good. 0 percent flooded with a current gauge reading of 0 feet. There is a small amount of available water 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 0 percent flooded with a current gauge reading of 0 feet.

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 0. Target level is 235.5. 0 percent flooded.

South Woods GTR Mast production is good. The 7-mile gauge is currently at 0 feet. Target level is 234.5 feet with 0 percent flooded.

Simmons Field A good amount of millet, smartweed and sedge is present. Seed production is good. 0 percent flooded.

ST. FRANCIS SUNKEN LANDS WMA

Hunt Area Mast production is considered average within the timber and floodways. Water levels in the huntable areas are dependent on the St. Francis River. The water level at Oak Donnick is 211.40 feet with 90 percent of the huntable area flooded.

Snowden WRA There is a small amount of beneficial wetland plants within the borrow areas. 0 percent flooded.

Payneway WRA There are 70 acres of corn and millet planted throughout the WRA. Pool A is at 0 percent, Pool B is at 0 percent, Pool C is at 0 percent and Pool D is at 0 percent.

SHIREY BAY RAINEY BRAKE WMA

Adam's Brake GTR High abundance of mast crop within the GTR. Water level is 236.5 MSL with a target level of 240.0 MSL. 10 percent flooded.

Rainey Brake GTR High abundance of mast crop within the GTR. 5 percent flooded.

Eagle Pond GTR High abundance of mast crop within the GTR. 0 percent flooded.

Phase III Moist-soil Unit Fair wetland-type vegetation. 20 percent flooded.

Charles Crisp Moist-soil Unit Fair wetland-type vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Ward Field Moist-soil Unit Good abundance of wetland-type vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

River Field Moist-soil Unit High abundance of wetland-type vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

DAVE DONALDSON BLACK RIVER WMA

Upper Island GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 269.6 MSL. Target level is 269.5 MSL. 85 percent flooded.

Lower Island GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is below readable level. Target level is 268.0 MSL. 10 percent flooded.

Upper Reyno GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 265.8 MSL. Target level is 266.9 MSL. 60 percent flooded.

Lower Reyno GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 265.4 MSL. Target level is 266.3 MSL. 50 percent flooded.

Winchester GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is below readable level. Target level is 263.7 MSL. 0 percent flooded.

EAST CENTRAL ARKANSAS

SHEFFIELD NELSON DAGMAR WMA

Mud Slough GTR Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded.

Apple Lake WRA Good mast crop. 90 percent flooded.

Conway George Waterfowl Unit A Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 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. 40 percent flooded.

REX HANCOCK BLACK SWAMP WMA

Main WMA Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded.

Wyeville Unit Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

STEVE N. WILSON RAFT CREEK BOTTOMS WMA

Unit A Excellent stand of native vegetation. 25 percent flooded.

Unit B Excellent stand of native vegetation. 30 percent flooded

Unit C Good stand of native vegetation. 10 percent flooded.

Unit D (Youth Area) Good stand of native vegetation. 50 percent flooded.

Unit E Good stand of native vegetation. 5 percent flooded.

Unit F Good stand of native vegetation. 5 percent flooded.

Unit G Fair stand of millet and native vegetation. 20 percent flooded

Unit H (Mobility-impaired blind) Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 80 percent flooded.

Unit I Conditions are poor. 30 percent flooded.

Unit J (Cypert Tract) Fair stand of native vegetation. 30 percent flooded.

Unit K (Cypert Tract) Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 30 percent flooded.

Unit L (Cypert Tract) Good stand of millet. 5 percent flooded.

HENRY GRAY HURRICANE LAKE WMA

North GTR Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded.

South GTR Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

SULPHUR RIVER WMA

Mercer Bayou Habitat conditions are fair. Drawn down for restoration project. Boat ramps are closed.

Henry Moore WRA Closed to hunting. 0 percent flooded.

MILLWOOD LAKE Closed to hunting. 0 percent flooded.

DR. LESTER SITZES III BOIS D' ARC WMA

Bois d'Arc Lake WRA Closed to hunting. Normal water level.

Red Slough WRA Closed to hunting. Water level is 0 percent.

GTR Good mast production. Water level is 0 percent.

Little Grassy Habitat is fair. Water level is 5 percent.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS

CRAIG D. CAMPBELL LAKE CONWAY RESERVOIR

Habitat and water levels are normal on both Pierce and Dix creeks.

BELL SLOUGH WMA

Bell Slough GTR Moderate mast crop. 25 percent flooded.

Palarm Creek WRA Millet was planted this year following disking within the moist-soil units. 35 percent flooded.

HARRIS BRAKE WMA

Harris Brake GTR Good mast crop with native vegetation. 35 percent flooded.

HOLLAND BOTTOMS WMA

Hunt Area Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded.

Lake Pickthorne WRA Excellent mast crop. East cell 10 percent flooded. West cell 30 percent flooded.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

BERYL ANTHONY LOWER OUACHITA WMA The WMA has fair hard mast production. Currently, the WMA's water is located in the sloughs and oxbow lakes.

FREDDIE BLACK CHOCTAW ISLAND WMA DEER RESEARCH AREA Habitat conditions are good. There is variable flooding associated with the Mississippi River. Use extreme caution when boating in the river.

TRUSTEN HOLDER Habitat conditions are good. Variable flooding on the WMA.

SEVEN DEVILS SWAMP WMA Habitat conditions are good, with an excellent acorn crop. 0 percent flooded.

CUT-OFF CREEK WMA

Hunt Area Habitat conditions are good, with an excellent acorn crop. 0 percent flooded.

Pigeon Creek WRA Habitat conditions are good, with an excellent acorn crop. 0 percent flooded.

BAYOU METO WMA

Upper Vallier GTR Good habitat. 0 percent flooded.

Lower Vallier GTR Good habitat. 0 percent flooded.

Government Cypress GTR Good habitat. 0 percent flooded.

Buckingham Flats GTR Good habitat. 0 percent flooded.

Temple Island GTR Good habitat. 0 percent flooded.

Canon Brake Good habitat. 0 percent flooded.

Halowell WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered flooding of units.

Wrape Plantation WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered flooding of units.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

DARDANELLE WMA

Johnson County WRA Fair habitat. 80 percent flooded.

McKennon Bottoms Good stand of native moist soil vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Potter's Pothole Hartman Waterfowl Unit Good stand of native moist soil vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

OZARK POOL

Dyer Lake Cells Native vegetation. Dry.

LLOYD MILLWOOD NIMROD WMA

Nimrod GTR Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded.

FROG BAYOU WMA

Unit 1 Planted millet and smartweed. 95 percent flooded.

Unit 2 Habitat is poor. 0 percent flooded.

Unit 3 Perennial vegetation. 95 percent flooded.

Unit 4 Native moist soil and planted millet. 95 percent flooded.

Unit 5 Good moist soil vegetation. 95 percent flooded.

Unit 6 Good moist soil vegetation. 90 percent flooded.

Unit 7 Some annual and perennial moist-soil vegetation. 90 percent flooded.

GALLA CREEK WMA

Galla Creek GTR Natural vegetation including a mixture of barnyard and smartweed. 100 percent flooded. 0 percent flooded. Staged flooding is scheduled to begin Nov. 27.

PETIT JEAN RIVER WMA

Santa Fe GTR Good mast crop with native vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Olin Cain Moist-Soil Unit Twenty-five percent native vegetation and 75 percent bare ground. 0 percent flooded.

Black Lands Moist-soil Unit Twenty-five percent native vegetation and 75 percent bare ground. 0 percent flooded.

Slaty Crossing Moist-soil Unit Twenty-five percent native vegetation and 75 percent bare ground. 0 percent flooded.

Pullen Pond Native vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Pond Creek GTR Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded.

Slaty Pond GTR Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded.

Black Lands Duck Area Good mast crop. 10 percent flooded.

ED GORDON POINT REMOVE WMA

Willow Island Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Little Hole Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Red Gate Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Pig Trough Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Cedar Ridge Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Duck Trap Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Salt Lick Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Bobby's Pond Natural vegetation. 10 percent flooded.

Race Track Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Controversy Corner Natural vegetation. 10 percent flooded.

Remmel Marsh Natural vegetation. 80 percent flooded.

Mud Pond Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Turkey Pond Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Teeny Pond Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Sports on 11/23/2017

Upcoming Events