WATERFOWL REPORT

Thursday, November 21, 2013

For the second consecutive year, Arkansas duck hunters will find relatively dry conditions when they go afield for Saturday’s season opener.

Although precipitation is slightly above average for the year, most of the state’s public duck hunting areas remain fairly dry.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists have been conducting the season’s first aerial waterfowl surveys this week, but numbers aren’t yet available. Anecdotal reports from around the state show that some ducks have made their way into Arkansas ahead of opening day.

Several cold fronts over the past few weeks likely pushed ducks into Arkansas from more northern latitudes, and a cold front that is expected to pass through the state Friday could provide another push of ducks.

Preliminary reports from the AGFC’s aerial surveys show about 25,000 ducks, about half of which are mallards, on Lake Ashbaugh waterfowl rest area at Dave Donaldson Black River WMA, and another 4,000 ducks of various species at Wrape Plantation and Halowell Reservoir rest areas at Bayou Meto WMA.

This year’s duck season runs from Saturday through Dec. 1, Dec. 5-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 26.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS EARL BUSS BAYOU DEVIEW WMA South Oliver GTR Mast production has been good. 5 percent flooded with a current gauge reading of 0.0 feet.

Thompson Tract GTR Mast production has been good. 20 percent flooded with a current gauge reading of 0.0 feet.

Lake Hogue WRA A small amount of beneficial wetland plants is located along the east side of the lake. Normal pool level.

BIG LAKE WMA When the Ditch 81 extension gauge near Manila (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 Mast production is good. Bois d’Arc gauge is currently at 233.2 feet. Target level is 235.5 feet with 5 percent of the area flooded.

South Woods GTR Mast production is good. The 7-mile gauge is currently at 232.8 feet. Target level is 234.5 feet with 10 percent flooded. Simmons Field A fair amount of millet, smartweed and sedge is present. Seed production is fair. 5 percent flooded.

ST. FRANCIS SUNKEN LANDS WMA Hunt Area Mast production is average within the floodways. Water levels in the huntable areas are dependent on the St. Francis River. The water level at Oak Donnick is 210.12 feet and approximately 75 percent of the huntable area is flooded.

Snowden WRA There is a small amount of beneficial wetland plants within the borrow areas. 0 percent flooded.

Payneway WRA There is a small amount of beneficial wetland plants within Pool C, Pool D and the borrow areas. 0 percent flooded.

SHIREY BAY RAINEY BRAKE WMA Adam’s Brake GTR Good mast crop within the GTR. 90 percent flooded.

Rainey Brake GTR Good mast crop within the GTR. 100 percent flooded.

Phase III Moist-soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 33 percent flooded.

Charles Crisp Moist-soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Ward Field Moist-soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

River Field Moist-soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

DAVE DONALDSON BLACK RIVER WMA About 25,000 ducks are on Lake Ashbaugh, about half of which are mallards. Waterfowl hunters should be aware of hangers and submerged logs within the boat runs and GTRs.

Upper Island GTR Low abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Current level is 269.7 MSL. Target level is 269.5 MSL. 100 percent flooded. Lower Island GTR Low abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Current level is 268.2 MSL. Target level is 268 MSL. 100 percent flooded.

Upper Reyno GTR Low abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Current level is 267.1 MSL. Target level is 266.9 MSL. 100 percent flooded.

Lower Reyno GTR Low abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Current level is 266.6 MSL. Target level is 266.3 MSL. 100 percent flooded. Winchester GTR Low abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Current level is 263.3 MSL. Target level is 263.7 MSL. 75 percent flooded.

EAST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS SHEFFIELD NELSON DAGMAR WMA Mud Slough GTR Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded.

Apple Lake WRA Good mast crop. The lake is low.

Unit A Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Unit B Natural slough area with beneficial wetland plants. 75 percent flooded.

Unit C Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

REX HANCOCK BLACK SWAMP WMA Main WMA Good mast crop. The area is dry and the only available water is in the Cache River, which is very low. Access by boat to the area will be very limited.

Wyeville Unit Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 80 percent flooded.

STEVE N. WILSON RAFT CREEK BOTTOMS WMA Unit A Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 90 percent flooded.

Unit B Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 80 percent flooded.

Unit C Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 55 percent flooded.

Unit D Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 50 percent flooded.

Unit E Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 25 percent flooded.

Unit F Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 65 percent flooded.

Unit G Habitat conditions are poor. 90 percent flooded.

Unit H (mobility-impaired blind) Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Unit I Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 45 percent flooded.

HENRY GRAY HURRICANE LAKE WMA North GTR Good mast crop. Very low water levels in the GTR. There is water in the five lakes, but the levels are extremely low.

South GTR Good mast crop. Very low water levels in the GTR. There is water in the five lakes, but the levels are extremely low.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS SULPHUR RIVER WMA Mercer Bayou Habitat conditions are good. 100 percent flooded.

Henry Moore WRA Closed to hunting. 75 percent flooded.

MILLWOOD LAKE Habitat conditions are good. 259.4 MSL.

DR. LESTER SITZES III BOIS D’ARC WMA Bois d’Arc Lake WRA Closed to hunting. Water level normal.

Red Slough WRA Closed to hunting. 25 percent flooded.

GTR Good mast production. 75 percent flooded.

Little Grassy Habitat is fair. 65 percent flooded.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS CRAIG D. CAMPBELL LAKE CONWAY RESERVOIR Habitat and water levels are normal on both Pierce and Dix Creeks.

HARRIS BRAKE WMA Harris Brake GTR Good mast crop. 80 percent flooded.

HOLLAND BOTTOMS WMA Hunt Area Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded. Lake Pickthorne WRA Excellent conditions. East cell is 20 percent flooded. West cell is 0 percent flooded.

BELL SLOUGH WMA Bell Slough GTR Fair mast crop. 35 percent flooded.

Palarm Creek WRA Fair seed production from the natural vegetation. 40 percent flooded.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS BERYL ANTHONY LOWER OUACHITA WMA There has been fair soft and hard mast crop production on the WMA. Water is primarily confined to oxbow lakes located on the WMA.

FREDDIE BLACK CHOCTAW ISLAND WMA DEER RESEARCH AREA Habitat conditions are good. There is variable flooding associated with the Mississippi River. Mississippi River is at 5.1 feet and falling on the Arkansas City gauge.

TRUSTEN HOLDER WMA Habitat conditions are good. Arkansas River is at 26.4 feet on the Pendleton gauge.

SEVEN DEVILS SWAMP WMA Habitat conditions are good. 80 percent flooded.

CUT-OFF CREEK WMA Hunt Area Habitat conditions are good. 90 percent flooded.

Pigeon Creek WRA Habitat conditions are good. 0 percent flooded.

BAYOU METO WMA Halowell Reservoir and Wrape Plantation WRAs have a combined 4,000 mixed ducks at this time.

Upper Vallier GTR Good habitat conditions. 174.6 feet Lower Vallier GTR Good habitat conditions. 174.6 feet Government Cypress GTR Good habitat conditions. 174.6 feet Buckingham Flats GTR Good habitat conditions. 100 percent flooded.

Temple Island GTR Good habitat conditions. Too low for pumping.

Halowell WRA Good habitat conditions. Staggered unit flooding.

Wrape Plantation WRA Good habitat conditions. Staggered unit flooding.

Canon Brake Good habitat conditions. Below gauge level.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS DARDANELLE WMA Johnson County WRA Moist soil and green trees. 80 percent and pumping is underway.

McKennon Bottoms Moist soil. 80 percent and pumping is underway.

Potter’s Pothole Hartman Waterfowl Unit Corn and millet. 100 percent flooded.

OZARK POOL Dyer Lake Cells Millet and moist soil. Units 1 and 2 are at 100 percent flooded.

LLOYD MILLWOOD NIMROD WMA River levels are too low to pump.

Nimrod GTR Good mast crop. 5 percent flooded.

FROG BAYOU WMA Unit 1 Native millet and smartweed. 60 percent flooded. Pumping is under way.

Unit 2 Poor conditions. Water is only in ponds. Unit 3 Excellent native millet and smartweed. 80 percent flooded. Pumping is under way.

Unit 4 Fair stand of millet. 100 percent flooded. Unit 5 Golden grass. 100 percent flooded.

Unit 6 Fair stand of smartweed and native millet. 80 percent flooded.

Unit 7 Poor conditions. Water is only in ponds. GALLA CREEK WMA The AGFC will flood the GTR in mid-December. The agency has completed the clearing phase of the restoration project. Sixty acres of hardwood trees were planted in the west end of the GTR in the winter of 2012-13. The AGFC is giving the area plenty of time to go dormant. Galla Creek GTR Natural vegetation including a mixture of barnyard and smartweed. 0 percent flooded.

PETIT JEAN RIVER WMA Santa Fe GTR Good mast crop. 5 percent flooded.

Olin Cain Moist-soil Unit Golden millet. 100 percent flooded.

Black Lands Moist-soil Unit Golden millet. 85 percent flooded.

Slaty Crossing Moist-soil Unit Golden millet. 2 percent flooded.

Pullen Pond Habitat condition is poor. 5 percent flooded.

Pond Creek GTR Good mast crop. 5 percent flooded.

Slaty Pond GTR Good mast crop. 5 percent flooded.

Black Lands Duck Area Golden millet. 85 percent flooded.

ED GORDON POINT REMOVE WRA As of Nov. 18, Remmel Marsh and Controversy Corner moist soil units are full to capacity. All other impoundments remain dry, and pumping is not possible at this time because of insufficient rainfall. Nearly all impoundments have good to excellent stands of natural vegetation including smartweed and wild millets. Duck use on the area has been low to moderate.

Willow Island Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Little Hole Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Red Gate Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded. Pig Trough Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Cedar Ridge Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Duck Trap Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Salt Lick Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded. Bobby’s Pond Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Race Track Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Controversy Corner Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded Remmel Marsh Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Mud Pond Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Turkey Pond Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Teeny Pond Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Sports, Pages 25 on 11/21/2013