Arkansas waterfowl report

— The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s waterfowl report for Wednesday: NORTHEAST ARKANSAS DAVE DONALDSON BLACK RIVER WMA

Waterfowl 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. 270.6 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

The access roads to boat launching sites are under water because of recent flooding. Use caution when launching from other locations.

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

Rainey Brake GTR Fair to good conditions, 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. Because of recent heavy rainfall and high water levels, the ducks appear to be scattered. Woody debris is present, making boat navigation difficult. Please use caution while boating.

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 more than 3 feet. Most of the area is accessible by boat only. Most roads are under water and inaccessible by vehicle.

Thompson Tract GTR Mast production is fair. 100 percent flooded with a current gauge reading of more than 3 feet. Most of the area is accessible by boat only. Most roads are under water.

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

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 239.

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 238 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. Water has rapidly dropped out of area.

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

HARRIS BRAKE WMA

Harris Brake GTRs Fair to moderate mast crop. 100 percent flooded.

LAKE CONWAY

Pierce and Dix Creeks Normal conditions. 100 percent flooded.

EAST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS HENRY GRAY HURRICANE LAKE WMA

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 33.5 feet and rising. Access roads at Mitchell Corner are under water.

South 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 33.5 feet and rising.

STEVE N. WILSON RAFT CREEK BOTTOMS WMA

West entrance through Jones Island Road is inaccessible. Access gained by Jones Island Road at Georgetown. Limited available cover because of extremely high water conditions. Hunters need to be cautious of high waves during windy conditions.

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. Flood water is beginning to top the impoundment levees. Water levels are extremely high. White River is at 24.2 feet on the Georgetown gauge.

REX HANCOCK BLACK SWAMP WMA

Good acorn crop. Water levels are still high. Cache River is at 11.7 feet on the Patterson gauge. The WMA is considered to be at full pool when the Cache River at Patterson reaches 8 feet. The Railroad Dump Access at Gregory has been closed because of high water. The Float Road Access (south of the Railroad Dump Access) and Howell Access (East Side) remain open.

SHEFFIELD NELSON DAGMAR WMA

Mud Slough GTR Good acorn crop. 100 percent flooded. Cache River at Cotton Plant is currently at 19.9 feet. The main access road is closed because of high water and unsafe driving conditions. Dagmar County Road and main access gate will reopen when water recedes to a safe level for vehicle access.

Apple Lake WRA Very high water levels.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS BAYOU METO WMA

Upper Vallier GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.

Lower Vallier GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.

Government Cypress GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.

Buckingham Flats GTR Good mast crop.

100 percent flooded.

Temple Island GTR Good mast crop. 70 percent flooded.Wwalk-in only because of bridge closure.

Halowell WRA Excellent moist-soil plants.

75 percent flooded.

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

CUT-OFF CREEK WMA Good conditions. 100 percent flooded. Boat access is possible to Deep Slough Dam.

Pigeon Creek WRA Good conditions. 100 percent flooded.

SEVEN DEVILS SWAMP WMA Good conditions. 100 percent flooded.

TRUSTEN HOLDER WMA Arkansas River below Pendleton Bridge, including Post Lake, Merrisach Lake and Moore’s Bayou. Good conditions. Open backwater conditions.

Pendleton Bridge gauge is 26.75 CHOCTAW ISLAND WMA

Mississippi River Good conditions.

Mississippi River gauge at Arkansas City is at 26.8 feet. Variable levels of backwater flooding.

BERYL ANTHONY LOWER OUACHITA WMA Habitat conditions are fair. The hard mast is not as available because of recent heavy rains. 95 to 100 percent flooded. The area begins to flood at 65.0 feet and is currently at 76 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 261.4. Discharge is 29,600 cfs. Normal water level is 259.20.

SULPHUR RIVER WMA

Mercer Bayou Habitat conditions are good. Overflow conditions.

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. Everything in the bottoms is completely flooded.

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

Petit Jean River level near Centerville on Highway 7 was at 16.37 feet on Dec. 28.

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 MSU 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 Flooded green timber, good hard mast production and native grasses.

The lake level was at 355.88 feet on Dec.

28.

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.

Sports, Pages 22 on 12/31/2009

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