Arkansas waterfowl report

Ducks are shown flying in this file photo.
Ducks are shown flying in this file photo.

There was a noticeable increase in "field" birds (pintails, shovelers and the like) last weekend in east central Arkansas, particularly in sheetwater-covered fields between Scott and Keo, and south of Stuttgart.

The annual midwinter aerial survey of ducks in Arkansas estimated 1.4 million ducks in the Arkansas Delta, but only about half of those were mallards. The total estimate in the Delta was above the 2010-2020 long-term average of 1.2 million ducks, but the Delta also typically contains about 700,000 mallards in the midwinter survey.

None of Arkansas' neighbors are proclaiming big numbers of ducks this season. Missouri's latest survey, from last week, indicates there are 446,779 total ducks in the Show Me State, which is just above the five-year average of 393,858 ducks for the second week of January. The waterfowl migration throughout the Mississippi Flyway is all about timing and abundance of food and water. What we have heard through other states' biologists' anecdotal reports and through reports forwarded by Ducks Unlimited is a continued improvement in the numbers of waterfowl seen throughout the Central Flyway, through Oklahoma and into Texas. Anecdotally, good reports have come from waterfowl hunters harvesting ducks along the Red River area west of Arkansas.

Arkansas could see a continued buildup of ducks returning on their way north, such as the pintails, ringnecks and shovelers that were prevalent this past week. Also, last year, observers in south central Arkansas noted many more mallards arriving in that area in early February. The last week of the regular season could see an influx of mallards, particularly if we see more rainfall, biologists say. Most of the wildlife management areas have ample water (most are at full pool) at this time.

*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 is above 237.6 Target level is 235.5 with 100% flooded.

South Woods GTR Mast production is fair. The 7-mile gauge is above 236.9 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 and middle field. South field was stripped in Japanese millet with strips of wild millet and sedge that did very well. 100% flooded.

DAVE DONALDSON BLACK RIVER WMA

Upper Island GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 270.5. Target level is 269.5. 100% flooded.

Lower Island GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 270. Target level is 268.5. 100% flooded.

Upper Reyno GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 267.9. Target level is 266.9. 100% flooded.

Lower Reyno GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 267.5. Target level is 266.3. 100% flooded.

Winchester GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 265.45. Target level is 263.7. 100% flooded.

EARL BUSS BAYOU DEVIEW WMA

South Oliver GTR Mast production has been good. The area is 100% flooded with a current gauge reading of 2.3 feet.

Thompson Tract GTR Mast production has been good. The area is 100% flooded with a current gauge reading of 3 feet.

Lake Hogue WRA Primarily deep open water habitat. Normal pool level.

SHIREY BAY RAINEY BRAKE WMA

Adam Brake GTR Good abundance of mast crop. Water level is 241.3 with a target level of 100% flooded.

Rainey Brake GTR Good abundance of mast crop. 100% flooded.

Eagle Pond GTR Good abundance of mast crop. 100% flooded.

Phase III Moist-Soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 45% flooded.

Charles Crisp Moist-Soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 100% 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 217.4.

Snowden WRA Mixed grasses. 15% flooded.

Payneway WRA Pools A,B, C, and D have mixed smartweed and some mowing has occurred for open water use. Pool A is at 50%. Pool B is at 50%. Pool C is at 80% and Pool D is at 100%.

EAST CENTRAL ARKANSAS

HENRY GRAY HURRICANE LAKE WMA

North GTR Good mast crop. Glaise Creek gauge at 196.37. All structures are closed.

South GTR Fair mast crop. Glaise Creek gauge at 196.37. All structures are open.

REX HANCOCK BLACK SWAMP WMA

Main WMA Good mast crop. 90% flooded.

Wyeville Unit Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100% coverage.

SHEFFIELD NELSON DAGMAR WMA

Mud Slough GTR Excellent mast crop. 90% flooded.

Apple Lake WRA Fair mast crop. 95% flooded.

Conway George Waterfowl Unit A Good mast crop. 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 The White River at the Georgetown gauge was 19 feet on Monday. All on-site permit draws for Saturdays and Sundays are suspended until the river recedes to 17.5 feet on the Georgetown gauge.

Unit A Excellent stand of native vegetation. 100% flooded.

Unit B Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 100% flooded.

Unit C Good stand of native vegetation. 100% flooded.

Unit D (Youth Area) Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100% flooded.

Unit E Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 100% flooded.

Unit F Excellent 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. 100% flooded.

Unit J (Cypert Tract) Excellent stand of native vegetation. 100% flooded.

Unit K (Cypert Tract) Excellent stand of native vegetation. 100% flooded.

Unit L (Cypert Tract) Excellent stand of native vegetation. 50% 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 Moderate mast crop. 100% flooded.

Palarm Creek WRA Units 1 & 2 Millet was planted as a cover crop within the moist-soil units. 100% flooded.

CYPRESS BAYOU WMA

Hunt Area Good mast crop. 100% flooded.

Red Cut Slough Tract Unit 1 Good stand of millet and native vegetation. Water level 75%.

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 75%.

Unit 6 Good stand of native vegetation. Water level 75%.

HARRIS BRAKE WMA

Harris Brake Upper Unit Good mast in the GTR. 100% flooded.

Harris Brake Lower Unit Good mast in the GTR. 95% flooded.

HOLLAND BOTTOMS WMA

Hunt Area Good mast. 65% flooded.

Lake Pickthorne WRA Excellent conditions. East cell 100% flooded. West Cell is 90% 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 55%.

GTR Good mast production. Water level 75%.

Little Grassy Habitat is good. Water level 65%.

MILLWOOD LAKE Habitat is good. Water level 261.11.

OZAN WMA

Unit 1 Habitat good. 30% flooded.

Unit 2 Habitat good. 0% flooded.

Unit 3 Habitat good. 30% flooded.

Unit 4 Habitat good. 15% flooded.

Unit 5 Habitat good. 15% flooded.

SULPHUR RIVER WMA

Mercer Bayou Habitat conditions are fair. Water level is low. No boat access.

Henry Moore WRA Closed to hunting. 35% flooded.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

BERYL ANTHONY LOWER OUACHITA WMA The WMA has good hard mast production. The WMA is about 25% flooded.

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. Fully flooded.

CUT-OFF CREEK WMA

Hunt Area Habitat conditions are good. Fully flooded.

Pigeon Creek WRA Habitat conditions are good. Fully flooded.

BAYOU METO WMA

Upper Vallier GTR Good habitat. Water level 180.66 feet, full pool at 180 feet.

Lower Vallier GTR Good habitat. Water level 179.34 feet, full pool at 179 feet.

Government Cypress GTR Good habitat. Water level 180.21 feet, full pool at 179 feet.

Buckingham Flats GTR Good habitat. 177.10 msl.

Temple Island GTR Good habitat. Water level 184.20

Canon Brake Good habitat. 177.20 msl. Full pool at 177 msl.

Halowell WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered flooding of units. 75% flooded. Good numbers of ducks on south units

Wrape Plantation WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered flooding of units.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

DARDANELLE WMA

McKennon Bottoms Heavy stand of perennial vegetation due for disking next spring. 100% flooded.

Potter's Pothole Hartman Waterfowl Unit Some planted millet, good stand of native millet, sprangle top and panic grasses. 100% flooded and currently pumping.

OZARK POOL

Dyer Lake Cells Fair stand of nutsedge and toothcup smartweed, and sprangle top. Unit 3 was impacted by summer flooding and needs disturbance that is scheduled for next year. Units 1 and 2 are 100% flooded. Unit 3 is 100% flooded.

NIMROD LLOYD MILLWOOD WMA

Nimrod GTR Excellent mast crop with a mix of moderate to good stands of desirable native vegetation throughout the open lands. 100% flooded.

ED GORDON POINT REMOVE WMA

Little Hole (Unit 1) Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

Willow Island Planted Japanese millet. 100% flooded.

Red Gate Native vegetation. 100% flooded.

Pig Trough (Units 4 and 5) Planted Japanese and Chiwapa millet and native vegetation. 100% flooded.

Cedar Ridge (Unit 6) Natural vegetation and Chiwapa millet. 100% flooded.

Duck Trap Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

Unit 7A Japanese millet, native vegetation. 100% flooded.

Unit 7B Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

Unit 8A Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

Unit 8B Japanese and Chiwapa millet, native vegetation. 100% flooded.

Unit 8C Japanese millet. 100% flooded.

Unit 9 Japanese millet. 100% flooded.

Controversy Corner (Unit 10) Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

Remmel Marsh Japanese millet. 100% flooded.

Mud Pond (Unit 12) Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

Turkey Pond (Unit 13A) Natural vegetation and Japanese millet. 100% flooded.

Turkey Pond (Unit 13B) Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

Turkey Pond (Unit 13C) Natural vegetation, Japanese millet and Chiwapa millet. 100% flooded.

Teeny Pond (Unit 14) Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

Salt Lick (Unit 15) Native vegetation. Water level 100%.

Bobby's Pond (Unit 16) Japanese millet. 100% flooded.

Race Track (Unit 17) Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

FROG BAYOU WMA

Unit 1 Sprangle top, wild millet, smartweed and nutsedge. 100% flooded.

Unit 2 Good stand of barnyard grass and nutsedge. 50% flooded.

Unit 3 Smartweed, toothcup, nutsedge, barnyard grass, sprangle top and duck potato. 100% 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. 100% flooded.

Unit 6 Barnyard grass, smartweed, crabgrass and sprangle top. 100% flooded.

Unit 7 Lower end of unit planted with millet, upper end with barnyard grass, sprangle top and smartweed. 100% flooded and scheduled to pump full the first week of December.

GALLA CREEK WMA

Galla Creek GTR Moderate stand of native vegetation, including a mixture of barnyard grass and sprangle top. 100% flooded.

PETIT JEAN RIVER WMA

Santa Fe GTR Excellent mast crop. 100% flooded.

Sore-Head Moist Soil Unit Moderate to good stands of desirable native vegetation throughout. 100% flooded.

Slaty Crossing Moist-Soil Unit Due to ongoing waterfowl habitat enhancement projects, most of this unit is bare ground. 90% flooded.

Olin Cain Moist-Soil Unit 25% native vegetation and 100% flooded.

Black Lands Moist-Soil Unit Poor to great stands of desirable native vegetation throughout. Great mast crop in the wooded areas. 100% flooded.

Black Lands Duck Area Excellent 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 southern and western sections are bare ground. The western section of this area has spotted sections of great desirable native vegetation. The northern section produced poor stands of native vegetation. Water level 100%.

Pond Creek GTR Excellent mast crop with excellent stands of desirable native vegetation in the open lands. 0% flooded.

Slaty GTR Excellent mast crop. 10% flooded.

Black Lands Duck Area Millet, native vegetation. 100% flooded.

Sports on 01/23/2020

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