Perhaps fresh rainfall will provide more sheetwater and more expanses of water for ducks in The Natural State. While western Arkansas was expected to get the heaviest amount of rain, central, northeast and eastern Arkansas were predicted to see 3-4 inches over Wednesday and Thursday, while the south and southeast portions were looking at 2-3 inches.
"This rain is what we've been needing," Luke Naylor, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission waterfowl program coordinator, said. "At least we'll finally have extensive habitat for ducks to find. Hopefully it'll last."
At the beginning of the week, though, the latest water conditions throughout the state as reported by AGFC biologists indicated little to no change in levels. Some areas such as Dave Donaldson Black River Wildlife Management Area and Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA in northeast Arkansas have been at 100% coverage in most units for several weeks. Others, such as Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA, still need moisture.
At Bayou Meto WMA, Buckingham Flats and Temple Island units were at 100% coverage. Most units at Ed Gordon Point Remove Creek WMA are 80% to 85% flooded, but those levels have stalled as conditions remain fairly dry for late December. Alex Zachary, biologist at Ed Gordon WMA, said that duck use on the WMA has been low to moderate, and hunter success has been generally poor.
James Foster, an AGFC biologist who works WMAs in northeast Arkansas, reports that a few ducks were moving through the area at Big Lake WMA and at Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA in the past week. Earl Buss is about half flooded. Reports from hunters to the AGFC office did note good hunting in areas south of Jonesboro, which include some fields in the Arkansas Waterfowl Rice Initiative Conservation Enhancement program, or WRICE, that are available for permit hunting on weekends.
Arkansas' regular waterfowl season continues uninterrupted to its close at sunset Jan. 31.
*Water levels listed in this report were taken Monday and do not reflect any rainfall Tuesday and Wednesday.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
BIG LAKE WMA
North Woods GTR Mast production is good. The Bo Dock gauge currently reads 236. Target level is 235.7 with 100% flooded.
South Woods GTR Mast production is fair. The 7-mile gauge is currently at 235.2 feet. Target level is 234.5 feet with 100% flooded.
Simmons Field A good amount of millet and sedge is present. Seed production is very good in the North Unit, Middle and South fields. North field contains 5 acres of millet. 100% flooded.
DAVE DONALDSON BLACK RIVER WMA
Upper Island GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 269.5. Target level is 269.5. 100% flooded.
Lower Island GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 268.6. Target level is 268.5. 100% flooded.
Upper Reyno GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 267.45. Target level is 266.9. 100% flooded.
Lower Reyno GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 265.95. Target level is 266.3. 100% flooded.
Winchester GTR Moderate mast crop. Target level is 263.4. A levee broke in the Winchester GTR recently, but it has been repaired. Water levels should improve soon.
EARL BUSS BAYOU DEVIEW WMA
South Oliver GTR Mast production has been good. The area is 50% flooded with a current gauge reading of 0.5 foot. Water is rising in the GTR.
Thompson Tract GTR Mast production has been good. The area is 40% flooded with a current gauge reading of 0.95 feet.
Lake Hogue WRA Primarily deep open water habitat. Normal pool level.
SHIREY BAY RAINEY BRAKE WMA
Adam Brake GTR Good mast crop. Water level is 240.1. 90% flooded.
Rainey Brake GTR Good mast crop. 100% flooded.
Eagle Pond GTR Good mast crop. 100% flooded.
Phase III Moist-Soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 75% flooded.
Charles Crisp Moist-Soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 70% flooded.
Ward Field Moist-Soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 100% flooded.
River Field Moist-Soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 100% flooded.
ST. FRANCIS SUNKEN LANDS WMA
Hunt Area Mast production is good. Water levels in the huntable areas are dependent on the St. Francis River. The water level at Oak Donnick is 212.
Snowden WRA Mixed grasses are present. 10% flooded.
Payneway WRA Pools A,B, C, and D have mixed smartweed and barnyard grasses, Moderate mast in Pools A,B, and C. Pool A is at 0%. Pool B is at 0%. Pool C is at 0% and Pool D is at 5%.
EAST CENTRAL ARKANSAS
HENRY GRAY HURRICANE LAKE WMA
North GTR Good mast crop. Glaise Creek gauge at 192.12. Full pool.
South GTR Fair mast crop. Glaise Creek gauge at 192.12. Full pool.
REX HANCOCK BLACK SWAMP WMA
Gregory GTR Good mast crop. 15 percent flooded.
Wyeville Unit Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100% coverage.
SHEFFIELD NELSON DAGMAR WMA
Mud Slough GTR Good mast crop. 15% flooded.
Apple Lake WRA Good mast crop. 50% flooded.
Conway George Waterfowl Unit A Good millet and native vegetation. 100% flooded.
Conway George Waterfowl Unit B Natural slough area with beneficial wetland plants. 100% flooded.
Conway George Waterfowl Unit C Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100% flooded.
STEVE N. WILSON RAFT CREEK BOTTOMS WMA
NOTE Raft Creek Bottoms WMA is open to waterfowl hunting Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday only. Saturday and Sunday hunting has both in-person draws and an online permit draw via www.agfc.com. On Tuesday and Thursday, permits need to be picked up before hunting and returned to the permit box kiosk after the hunt. The Youth blind, Mobility-Impaired blind and the Magellan Tract are available Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday by online draw. Online draws for other weekend duck holes are held the Thursday-Sunday before the week of hunt.
Unit A Excellent stand of native vegetation. 100% flooded.
Unit B Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 95% flooded.
Unit C Good stand of native vegetation. 100% flooded.
Unit D (Youth Area) Good stand of native vegetation. 100% flooded.
Unit E Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 100% flooded.
Unit F Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100% flooded.
Unit G Fair stand of millet and native vegetation. 100% flooded.
Unit H (Mobility-impaired blind) Excellent stand of native vegetation. 100% flooded.
Unit I Poor stand of native vegetation. 85% flooded.
Unit J (Cypert Tract) Excellent stand of native vegetation. 65% flooded.
Unit K (Cypert Tract) Excellent stand of native vegetation. 60% flooded.
Unit L (Cypert Tract) Fair stand of native vegetation. 15% flooded.
Unit M (Magellan Tract) Fair stand of native vegetation. 90% flooded.
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 Poor to moderate mast crop. 70% flooded.
Palarm Creek WRA Natural vegetation and planted millet. 70% flooded.
CYPRESS BAYOU WMA
Hunt Area Good mast crop. 90% flooded.
Red Cut Slough Tract Unit 1 Good stand of millet and native vegetation. Water level 60%.
Unit 2 Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. Water level 100%.
Unit 3 Good stand of millet and native vegetation. Water level 100%.
Unit 4 Good stand of native vegetation. Water level 100%.
Unit 5 Good stand of native vegetation. Water level 30%.
Unit 6 Good stand of native vegetation. Water level 20%.
HARRIS BRAKE WMA
Harris Brake Upper Unit Average mast in the GTR. 100% flooded.
Harris Brake Lower Unit Average mast in the GTR. 100% flooded.
HOLLAND BOTTOMS WMA
WRA Moist Soil Unit (East/West) Excellent conditions. 15% flooded.
Lake Pickthorne WRA Excellent conditions. East cell 25% flooded. West Cell is 75% flooded.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
DR. LESTER SITZES III BOIS D' ARC WMA
Bois d'Arc Lake WRA Closed to hunting. Normal.
Red Slough WRA Closed to hunting. Water level 80%.
GTR Good mast production. Water level 90%.
Little Grassy Habitat is good. Water level 85%.
MILLWOOD LAKE Habitat is good. Water level 259.66.
OZAN WMA
Unit 1 Habitat good. 5% flooded.
Unit 2 Habitat good. 5% flooded.
Unit 3 Habitat good. 5% flooded.
Unit 4 Habitat good. 5% flooded.
Unit 5 Habitat good. 5% flooded.
SULPHUR RIVER WMA
Mercer Bayou Habitat conditions are fair. 70% flooded.
Henry Moore WRA Closed to hunting. 80% flooded.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
BERYL ANTHONY LOWER OUACHITA WMA The WMA has good hard mast production. The only water on the WMA currently is in the sloughs and in the 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 on the river.
TRUSTEN HOLDER Habitat conditions good. Flooding is river dependent.
SEVEN DEVILS SWAMP WMA Habitat conditions good. 129.8. Fair water for hunting.
CUT-OFF CREEK WMA
Hunt Area Habitat conditions are good. Gauge is at 128.8 ft. Water is in the woods and slowly rising.
Pigeon Creek WRA Habitat conditions are good. Water rising.
BAYOU METO WMA
Upper Vallier GTR Good habitat. Water level 179.42 feet, full pool at 180 feet.
Lower Vallier GTR Good habitat. Water level 179.36 feet, full pool at 179 feet.
Government Cypress GTR Good habitat. Water level 179.79 feet, full pool at 179 feet.
Buckingham Flats GTR Good habitat. 176.47 msl. First phase of pumping completed.
Temple Island GTR Good habitat. Water level 180.23
Canon Brake Good habitat.177.17 msl. Full pool at 177 msl.
Halowell WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered flooding of units.
Wrape Plantation WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered flooding of units.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
DARDANELLE WMA
McKennon Bottoms 8 acres of native millet. 24 acres of fallow ground. 100% flooded.
Potter's Pothole Hartman Waterfowl Unit Good stand of native vegetation. 100% flooded.
OZARK POOL
Dyer Lake Cells Fair stand of nutsedge and toothcup smartweed, and sprangle top. Units 1 and 2 are 100% flooded. Unit 3 south cell is 75% flooded. North cell 0%.
NIMROD LLOYD MILLWOOD WMA
Nimrod GTR Poor mast crop and desirable native vegetation. 50% flooded.
ED GORDON POINT REMOVE WMA
Little Hole (Unit 1) Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.
Willow Island Natural vegetation. 95% flooded.
Red Gate Native vegetation and Japanese millet. 85% flooded.
Pig Trough (Units 4 and 5) Native vegetation. 85% flooded.
Cedar Ridge (Unit 6) Natural vegetation. 85% flooded.
Unit 7A Japanese millet. 85% flooded.
Unit 7B Natural vegetation. 20% flooded.
Unit 8A Natural vegetation. 85% flooded.
Unit 8B Native vegetation. 90% flooded.
Unit 8C Native vegetation. 95% flooded.
Unit 9 Japanese millet. 100% flooded.
Controversy Corner (Unit 10) Natural vegetation and Japanese millet. 95% flooded.
Remmel Marsh Native vegetation Japanese millet. 80% flooded.
Mud Pond (Unit 12) Natural vegetation. 95% flooded.
Turkey Pond (Unit 13A) Natural vegetation and Japanese millet. 90% flooded.
Turkey Pond (Unit 13B) Natural vegetation. 55% flooded.
Turkey Pond (Unit 13C) Japanese millet. 75% flooded.
Teeny Pond (Unit 14) Natural vegetation and Japanese millet. 10% flooded.
Salt Lick (Unit 15) Japanese millet. Water level 60%.
Bobby's Pond (Unit 16) Japanese millet. 80% flooded.
Race Track (Unit 17) Japanese millet. 60% flooded.
FROG BAYOU WMA
Unit 1 Sprangle top, wild millet, smartweed, nutsedge and Japanese millet. 100% flooded.
Unit 2 Good stand of barnyard grass and nutsedge. 100% flooded.
Unit 3 Smartweed, toothcup, nutsedge, barnyard grass, sprangle top and duck potato. 80% flooded.
Unit 4 Barnyard grass, sprangle top, annual smartweed, nutsedge and crabgrass. 100% flooded.
Unit 5 Sprangle top, wild millet, smartweed, knotgrass, nutsedge and duck potato. 60% flooded.
Unit 6 Barnyard grass, smartweed, crabgrass and sprangle top. 90% flooded and pumping.
Unit 7 Excellent stand of barnyard grass, sprangle top and smartweed. 100% flooded.
GALLA CREEK WMA
Galla Creek GTR Moderate stand of native vegetation and millet, including a mixture of barnyard grass and sprangle top. 80% flooded.
PETIT JEAN RIVER WMA
Santa Fe GTR Poor mast crop. 10% flooded.
Sore-Head Moist Soil Unit Moderate to excellent stands of desirable native vegetation throughout. 100% flooded.
Slaty Crossing Moist-Soil Unit Due to ongoing waterfowl habitat enhancement projects, this unit did not grow a desirable native vegetation crop this year. Only about half of the unit produced a crop of millet, but the areas that did produce look amazing. 80% flooded.
Black Lands Moist-Soil Unit Excellent stand of desirable native vegetation throughout. Poor mast crop in the wooded areas. 100% flooded.
Black Lands Duck Area Poor mast in the wooded sections. Moderate to great stands of desirable native vegetation mixed throughout. 100% flooded.
Pullen Pond Due to ongoing waterfowl habitat enhancement projects, parts of the northeastern sections of this area are bare ground. Other parts of this area have spotted sections of great desirable native vegetation. The desirable native vegetation has started to become more and more prevalent with each year of ongoing management work. Water level 70%.
Pond Creek GTR Poor mast crop with good stands of desirable native vegetation in the open lands. 5% flooded.
Slaty GTR Poor mast crop. 5% flooded.
Blacklands Duck Area Millet, native vegetation. 100% flooded.