Arkansas waterfowl report

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s weekly waterfowl report:

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

DAVE DONALDSON BLACK RIVER WMA

Hunters should be aware of hangers and submerged logs within the boat runs and GTRs. Exercise caution when accessing the area.

Upper Island GTR Fair mast production within the GTRs. 270.1 msl 100 percent flooded.

Lower Island GTR Fair mast production within the GTRs. 269.7 msl 100 percent flooded.

Upper Reyno GTR Fair mast production within the GTRs. 267.7 msl 100 percent flooded.

Lower Reyno GTR Fair mast production within the GTRs. 267.0 msl 100 percent flooded.

Winchester GTR Fair mast production within the GTRs. 264.6 msl 100 percent flooded.

SHIREY BAY RAINEY BRAKE WMA

Access roads on the area have been graded and repaired.

Adam’s Brake GTR Fair to good habitat, with moderate abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. 100 percent flooded.

Rainey Brake GTR Fair to good habitat, with moderate abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. 100 percent flooded.

Phase III Moist-soil Unit Fair production of wetland vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Charles Crisp Moist-soil Unit Fair production of wetland vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Ward Field Moist-soil Unit Fair production of wetland vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

River Field Moist-soil Unit 50 percent good wetland vegetation and 50 percent excellent Japanese millet. 100 percent flooded.

ST. FRANCIS SUNKEN LANDS WMA

There is patchy but fair acorn production in most areas within the floodways. Water levels in huntable areas are dependent on St. Francis River flows. The water level at Oak Donnick is 212.41 feet, and approximately 90 percent of the huntable area is flooded. Low numbers of ducks are being reported in the area, but numbers are beginning to rise. Woody debris is present, making boat navigation difficult.

Snowden WRA There is a fair stand of beneficial wetland plants along the east side of the impoundment and within the borrow areas. 80 percent flooded.

Payneway WRA There is a good stand of beneficial wetland plants along the north side of the impoundment and within the borrow areas. 45 percent flooded.

EARL BUSS BAYOU DEVIEW WMA

South Oliver GTR Mast production is fair.

100 percent flooded, with a current gauge reading of 1.8 feet.

Thompson Tract GTR Mast production is fair. 100 percent flooded, with a current gauge reading of 1.56 feet. Boaters should use caution while using the Thompson Tract boat run.

Lake Hogue WRA A small amount of beneficial wetland plants can be found along the east side of the lake. Normal pool.

BIG LAKE WMA

When the Ditch 81 extension gauge near Manilla (upstream of Big Lake north-end control structure) reads 17.5 feet, water is beginning to come over the north levee degrade on Big Lake WMA. When the Ditch 81 extension gauge reads 18.0 feet or higher, the water level on the WMA will rise extremely fast and hunters should exercise caution while on the area. Be aware of underwater logs in boat runs and hangers in trees.

North Woods GTR Acorn production is good in the timber. Gauge reading is 235.6.

Target level is 235.5. 100 percent of the north woods are flooded.

South Woods GTR Acorn production is good in the timber. Gauge reading is 234.9.

Target level is 234.5. 100 percent of the south woods are flooded.

Simmons Field Fair, with some beneficial plants in the smaller Simmons Field open areas. 100 percent of the unit is flooded.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS BELL SLOUGH WMA

Bell Slough GTR Fair to moderate mast crop. GTR is 100 percent flooded

Palarm Creek WRA Excellent seed production on native vegetation and millet. 100 percent flooded.

HOLLAND BOTTOMS WMA

Fair to moderate mast crop. Heavy rainfall in the Cabot area is required to flood large portions of the WMA.

Lake Pickthorne WRA Excellent seed production on millet. 100 percent flooded.

HARRIS BRAKE WMA

Harris Brake GTRs Fair to moderate mast crop. 35 percent flooded. Flooding in progress.

LAKE CONWAY

Pierce and Dix Creeks Normal habitat.

100 percent flooded.

EAST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS HENRY GRAY HURRICANE LAKE WMA

Access roads are under water. All water control structures are locked down.

North GTR Impoundment gauge is at 194.5 feet. Good acorn crop. Available food is hard to find because of high water levels.

The White River at Augusta is at 31.36 feet and rising.

South GTR Impoundment gauge is at 194.5 feet. Good acorn crop. Available food is hard to find because of high water levels.

STEVE N. WILSON RAFT CREEK BOTTOMS WMA

Flood water is beginning to top the impoundment levees. Water levels are extremely high. White River is at 21.00 feet and rising on the Georgetown gauge.

The west entrance via Jones Island Road is temporarily closed. Access is available from the east end of Jones Island Road at Georgetown

Units A, B, & C All units are above flood pool. Fair hunting conditions. Duck numbers are fair.

Unit H (mobility-impaired blind) Unavailable because of high water.

Units E & F Flooded

Units G & I Flooded REX HANCOCK BLACK SWAMP WMA

Good acorn crop. Water levels are still high. Cache River is at 7.33 feet on the Patterson gauge and falling. The WMA is considered to be a full pool when the Cache River at Patterson reaches 8 feet.

Waterfowl habitat is limited because of the lower water levels.

SHEFFIELD NELSON DAGMAR WMA

Mud Slough GTR Good acorn crop. 100 percent. Cache River at Cotton Plant is currently at 14.7 feet.

Apple Lake WRA 100 percent flooded.

Cache River at Cotton Plant is currently at 14.7 feet.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

BAYOU METO WMA

Temple Island is walk-in only because ofbridge closure.

Upper Vallier GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded. (Full flood pool 180)

Lower Vallier GTR Good mast crop 100 percent. (Full flood pool 179.5)

Government Cypress GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded. (Full flood pool 179.5)

Buckingham Flats GTR Good mast crop.

100 percent flooded.

Temple Island GTR Good mast crop. 30 percent flooded.

Halowell WRA Excellent moist-soil plants. 75 percent flooded.

Wrape Plantation WRA Good moist-soil plants. 75 percent flooded.

CUT-OFF CREEK WMA

Good habitat. 100 percent flooded.

Pigeon Creek WRA Good habitat. 100 percent flooded.

SEVEN DEVILS SWAMP WMA

Good habitat. 100 percent flooded. The gauge reading is 135.0.

TRUSTEN HOLDER WMA

Habitat good. Open backwater conditions. Pendleton Bridge gauge is 26.38.

River water only with variable levels of backwater flooding.

CHOCTAW ISLAND WMA

Mississippi River Good habitat. Mississippi River gauge at Arkansas City is at 24.96 feet. River water only with variable levels of backwater flooding.

BERYL ANTHONY LOWER OUACHITA WMA

Habitat conditions are fair to good. The hard mast is good but not easily obtained.

90-95 percent flooded. The area begins to flood at 65.0 feet and is currently at 75.7 feet.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS DR. LESTER SITZES, III BOIS D’ ARC WMA

Bois d’ Arc Lake WRA Closed to hunting.

100 percent flooded.

Red Slough WRA Closed to hunting. 30 percent flooded.

GTR Good acorn production in woods.

100 percent flooded.

Little Grassy Habit conditions fair to good. 100 percent flooded.

MILLWOOD LAKE

Lake level is at 255.85. Discharge is 2,530 cfs. Normal water level is 259.20.

SULPHUR RIVER WMA

Mercer Bayou Habitat conditions are good. Overflow conditions. Water levels are high.

Henry Moore WRA Closed to hunting.

Normal pool.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

ED GORDON POINT REMOVE WMA

All impoundments are 100 percent flooded. All moist-soil units have relatively poor stands of productive moist-soil plants for waterfowl forage because of the early fall flooding.

Willow Island Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Little Hole Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Red Gate Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Pig Trough Millet. 100 percent flooded.

Cedar Ridge Millet. 100 percent flooded.

Duck Trap Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Salt Lick Millet. 100 percent flooded.

Bobby’s Pond Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Race Track Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Controversy Corner Natural vegetation.

100 percent flooded.

Remmel Marsh Millet. 100 percent flooded.

Mud Pond Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Turkey Pond Millet and natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Teeny Pond Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

PETIT JEAN RIVER WMA

The Petit Jean River level at Centerville is currently at 3.3 feet and falling.

Santa Fe GTR Green timber, good hard mast production. 100 percent flooded.

Olin Cain MSU Brown-top millet, native grasses. 100 percent flooded.

Blacklands MSU Brown-top millet, native grasses. 100 percent flooded.

Slaty Crossing MSUs Native millets and other grasses. 100 percent flooded.

Pullen Pond Buttonbush. 100 percent flooded.

Pond Creek GTR Flooded green timber, good hard mast production. 100 percent flooded.

Slaty Pond GTR Flooded green timber, good hard mast production. 100 percent flooded.

Black Lands Duck Area Flooded green timber, good hard mast production and native grasses. 100 percent flooded.

GALLA CREEK WMA

Galla Creek GTR Buttonbush and smartweed. 0 percent flooded. Because of restoration work on this GTR, the water-control structure will not be closed this year in an attempt to keep the GTR dry for restoration purposes. Flooding will resume when hydrology work is complete and hardwood restoration has been accomplished. This is the second consecutive year the structure has remained open, and it is likely two additional years will be required.

FROG BAYOU WMA

All cells are at maximum capacity.

Unit 1 Volunteer Japanese millet, sprangletop and toothcup.

Unit 2 Primarily horned beakrush.

Unit 3 Planted browntop millet and golden millet.

Unit 4 Volunteer golden millet and barnyard grass.

Unit 5 Perennial smartweed, banyard grass and sprangletop.

Unit 6 Planted golden millet, barnyard grass and sprangletop.

Unit 7 Primarily sheet water and creeping love grass.

LLOYD MILLWOOD NIMROD WMA

Nimrod GTR The lake level is at 342.46 feet.

OZARK POOL

Dyer Lake Cells All cells have been planted in millet, along with some corn and soybeans. All cells are at full capacity.

DARDANELLE WMA

Johnson County WRA Good moist-soil plants. Barnyard grass, smartweed, foxtail and panic grass. Moist soil units are at full capacity.

McKennon Bottoms Good moist-soil plants. Unit is at full capacity.

Potter’s Pothole/Hartman Waterfowl Unit Entire area planted in millet. Unit is at full capacity.