LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s weekly waterfowl report: NORTHEAST ARKANSAS DAVE DONALDSON BLACK RIVER WMA
Hunters using Canal Access at the northeast corner of Lake Ashbaugh are encouraged to prepare for launching in the upper parking lot and expeditiously use the lower lot for launching purposes to avoid congestion. Recent rains have opened previously dry areas to waterfowl hunting opportunities and water levels will continue to rise.
Upper Island GTR Good to above average mast production. 271.0 msl. Target level is 269.5 msl. 100 percent flooded.
Lower Island GTR Good to above average mast production. 269.0 msl. Target level is 268.0. 100 percent flooded.
Upper Reyno GTR Good to above average mast production. 268.4 msl. Target level is 267.5. 90 percent flooded.
Lower Reyno GTR Good to above average mast production. 268.1 msl. Target level is 267.0. 95 percent flooded.
Winchester GTR Good to above average mast production. 265.6 msl. Target level is 265 msl. 100 percent flooded.
SHIREY BAY RAINEY BRAKE WMA
The Black River has receded and the water is off the roads.
Adam’s Brake GTR Fair mast crop. 100 percent flooded.
Rainey Brake GTR Fair mast crop. 100 percent flooded.
Phase III Moist-soil Unit Good moist soil vegetation and volunteer millet production. 100 percent flooded.
Charles Crisp Moist-soil Unit Good millet production. 90 percent flooded.
Ward Field Moist-soil Unit Poor wetland vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
River Field Moist-soil Unit Good wetland vegetation. 40 percent flooded.
ST. FRANCIS SUNKEN LANDS WMA
Fair mast production in hunting area. Water levels in huntable areas are dependent on St. Francis River flows. The water level at Oak Donnick is 214.91 feet, and about 100 percent of the huntable area is flooded.
Snowden WRA Fair stand of wetland plants in the borrow areas. 10 percent flooded.
Payneway WRA Fair stand of wetland plants in Units C and D, and in the borrow areas. 30 percent flooded.
EARL BUSS BAYOU DEVIEW WMA
South Oliver GTR Good acorn production. 100 percent flooded, with a current gauge reading of 1.96 feet.
Thompson Tract GTR Good acorn production. 100 percent flooded, with a current gauge reading of 2.2 feet. Boaters should use caution while using the Thompson Tract boat run.
Lake Hogue WRA A small amount of beneficial wetland plants along the east side of the lake. Normal conditions.
BIG LAKE WMA
The Bois d’Arc gauge is currently at 236.7 msl. Target water level is 235.5 msl. The area is 70 percent flooded. When the Ditch 81 extension gauge near Manilla (upstream of the 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 quickly and hunters should exercise caution while on the area. Be aware of underwater logs in boat runs and hangers in trees.
North Woods GTR Good mast production.
South Woods GTR Good mast production. The 7-mile gauge is at 236.7 msl. Target water is 234.5. The area is 100 percent flooded.
Simmons Field A fair amount of millet and sedge is present. Seed production is fair. 100 percent flooded.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS BELL SLOUGH WMA
Bell Slough GTR Fair mast crop. 100 percent flooded.
Palarm Creek WRA Fair seed production on natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
HOLLAND BOTTOMS WMA
Good conditions and good mast crop in hunting area. 100 percent flooded.
Lake Pickthorne WRA Good conditions. East cell is 100 percent flooded; west cell is 95 percent flooded with a good stand of millet.
HARRIS BRAKE WMA
Harris Brake GTRs Poor acorn crop. Lower unit is 100 percent flooded. Upper unit is 85 percent flooded.
CRAIG D. CAMPBELL LAKE CONWAY RESERVOIR
Waterfowl hunting is open until noon on Pierce Creek, Dix Creek, Palarm Creek Bay and Caney Creek Bay. Normal conditions. Stable water levels.
EAST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS HENRY GRAY HURRICANE LAKE WMA
North GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded. The Mitchell Corner gate is closed because of rising water levels. It will remain closed until after duck season. It will reopen when water levels reach 191.5 msl.
South GTR Good acorn crop. 100 percent flooded.
STEVE N. WILSON RAFT CREEK BOTTOMS WMA
Rising river levels may cause the closure of Jones Island Road coming in from Showalters Corner. Hunters may have to access the area from the east end of Jones Island Road at Georgetown or Heathscott Road.
Units A, B and C Good stand of millet and a variety of sedges. 100 percent flooded and accessible by boat.
Unit H (mobility-impaired blind) Fair stand of smartweed and wild millet and a variety of sedges. 100 percent flooded. Access by ATV by disabled hunters may be limited by high water.
Units E and F Fair stand of smartweed, wild millet and a variety of sedges. Unit E is 100 percent flooded. Unit F is at 70 percent. Both units accessible by foot and boat.
Unit G Unit designed as a permanent water source; food availability is fair around the shallow edges. Full pool and accessible by foot traffic only.
Unit I Good stand of millet and a variety of sedges. 100 percent flooded. Accessible by foot traffic only.
REX HANCOCK BLACK SWAMP WMA
Recent rainfall has raised the Cache River. Area is 85 percent flooded.
Access by boat may be limited in certain areas of the WMA.
Wiville Unit Good mast crop. Approximately 14 acres and is 100 percent flooded. Access by foot traffic only.
SHEFFIELD NELSON DAGMAR WMA
Mud Slough GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent and water levels are rising.
Apple Lake WRA Good mast crop. Lake level is rising.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS BAYOU METO WMA
Upper Vallier GTR Good mast crop. 179.5 msl. Full pool is at 180.0 msl.
Lower Vallier GTR Good mast crop. 179.5 msl. Full pool is at 179.0 msl.
Government Cypress GTR Good mast crop. 179.5 msl. Full pool is at 179.0 msl.
Buckingham Flats GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.
Temple Island GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.
Halowell WRA Good moist-soil habitat. Staggered unit flooding.
Wrape Plantation WRA Good moist soil habitat. Staggered unit flooding.
Canon Brake Good moist-soil habitat. 100 percent flooded CUT-OFF CREEK WMA
Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded. Water levels are extremely high. Use caution on all access roads and trails.
Pigeon Creek WRA Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded SEVEN DEVILS SWAMP WMA
Good conditions. 100 percent flooded. Water levels are extremely high.
TRUSTEN HOLDER WMA
Arkansas River (below Pendleton Bridge, including Post Lake, Merrisach Lake and Moore’s Bayou) Good mast crop. Arkansas River is at 26.28 feet on Pendleton gauge.
FREDDIE BLACK CHOCTAW ISLAND WMA DEER RESEARCH AREA
Mississippi River River is at 15.42 feet on the Arkansas City gauge. Pothole Lake not accessible from Kate Adams Lake.
BERYL ANTHONY LOWER OUACHITA WMA
Good mast crop. 10 percent flooded. Water in sloughs and owbow lakes.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS DR. LESTER SITZES III BOIS D’ ARC WMA
Bois d’ Arc Lake WRA Closed to hunting. Low water levels.
Red Slough WRA Closed to hunting. 40 percent flooded.
GTR Good mast production. 100 percent flooded.
Little Grassy Habitat is fair. 1 percent flooded.
MILLWOOD LAKE
Habitat conditions are good. Current level is 259.4. Normal is 259.2.
SULPHUR RIVER WMA
Mercer Bayou Habitat is fair with good seed production. Water level is 1 foot below normal pool. Recent rains have improved conditions on the WMA.
Henry Moore WRA Closed to hunting. 60 percent flooded NORTHWEST ARKANSAS ED GORDON POINT REMOVE WMA
While recent rains have brought much needed water, duck use on the area remains low and hunter success has been generally poor.
Willow Island Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Little Hole Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Red Gate Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Pig Trough Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Cedar Ridge Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Duck Trap Millet/natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Salt Lick Millet/natural vegetation. 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/natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Mud Pond Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Turkey Pond Millet/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 4.18 feet.
Santa Fe GTR 100 percent flooded.
Olin Cain MSU 100 percent flooded.
Blacklands MSU100 percent flooded.
Slaty Crossing MSUs 100 percent flooded.
Pullen Pond 100 percent flooded.
Pond Creek GTR 100 percent flooded.
Slaty Pond GTR 100 percent flooded.
Black Lands Duck Area 100 percent flooded.
GALLA CREEK WMA
Galla Creek GTR Natural vegetation, including mixture of buttonbush and smartweed. 0 percent flooded. The GTR will not be flooded this year because of ongoing reforestation efforts.
FROG BAYOU WMA
Unit 1 Native moist soil plants. Unit is full.
Unit 2 Native moist soil. Unit is dry.
Unit 3 Millet. Unit is full.
Unit 4 Native moist soil. Unit is 50 percent flooded.
Unit 5 Native moist soil. Unit is 50 percent flooded.
Unit 6 Millet. Unit is full.
Unit 7 Native moist soil. Unit is dry.
LLOYD MILLWOOD NIMROD WMA
Nimrod GTR Poor mast crop and native grasses. 100 percent flooded.
OZARK POOL
Dyer Lake Cells Some millet in east cells; plantings failed in south and west cells. East cells are fully flooded; south and west cells are dry.
DARDANELLE WMA
Johnson County WRA Moist soil vegetation, including millet, is good. 60 percent flooded.
McKennon Bottoms Habitat is fair to good. 100 percent flooded.
Potter’s Pothole/Hartman Waterfowl Unit 0 percent flooded.
Sports, Pages 24 on 01/24/2013