WATERFOWL REPORT

Results from the midwinter waterfowl survey conducted Jan. 6-8 showed a slight increase in overall duck numbers from the December aerial waterfowl survey.

While the early January numbers were significantly below the five-year average for the time period, the mallard estimate was the second-highest in the past five years and made up nearly 90 percent of the total duck estimate.

Duck season closes at sunset Sunday. A special youth-only waterfowl hunt will take place statewide Feb. 1-2.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS EARL BUSS BAYOU DEVIEW WMA South Oliver GTR Mast production has been good. 100 percent flooded with a current gauge reading of 1.9 feet.

Thompson Tract GTR Mast production has been good. 100 percent flooded with a current gauge reading of 2.0 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 North Woods GTR Mast production is good. Bois d’Arc gauge currently reads 236.5. Target level is 235.5. 100 percent flooded.

South Woods GTR Mast production is good. The 7-Mile gauge is currently at 236.5 feet. Target level is 234.5 feet with 100 percent flooded.

Simmons Field A fair amount of millet, smartweed and sedge is present. Seed production is fair. 100 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 214.19 feet with 100 percent of the huntable area flooded.

Snowden WRA There is a small amount of beneficial wetland plants within the borrow areas. 100 percent flooded.

Payneway WRA There is a small amount of beneficial wetland plants within Pool C, Pool D and the borrow areas. Pool A is at 100 percent. Pool B is at 100 percent. Pool C is at 100 percent. Pool D is at 100 percent.

SHIREY BAY RAINEY BRAKE WMA Adam’s Brake GTR Good mast crop within the GTR. 100 percent flooded.

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

Phase III Moist-soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Charles Crisp Moist-soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 90 percent flooded.

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

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

DAVE DONALDSON BLACK RIVER WMA Upper Island GTR Low abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 270.3. Target level is 269.5 MSL. 100 percent flooded.

Lower Island GTR Low abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 269.5. Target level is 268.0 MSL. 100 percent flooded.

Upper Reyno GTR Low abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 267.5. Target level is 266.9 MSL. 100 percent flooded.

Lower Reyno GTR Low abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 267.2. Target level is 266.3 MSL. 100 percent flooded.

Winchester GTR Low abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 264.7. Target level is 263.7 MSL. 100 percent flooded.

EAST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS SHEFFIELD NELSON DAGMAR WMA Mud Slough GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.

Apple Lake WRA Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.

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

Conway George Waterfowl Unit B Natural slough area with beneficial wetland plants. 100 percent flooded.

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

REX HANCOCK BLACK SWAMP WMA Main WMA Good mast crop. 75 percent flooded.

Wyeville Unit Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

STEVE N. WILSON RAFT CREEK BOTTOMS WMA Unit A Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded. Unit B Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded. Unit C Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded. Unit D Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Unit E Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Unit F Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded. Unit G Habitat conditions are poor. 100 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. 70 percent flooded.

HENRY GRAY HURRICANE LAKE WMA North GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.

South GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS SULPHUR RIVER WMA Mercer Bayou Habitat conditions are good. The area is six inches above normal.

Henry Moore WRA Closed to hunting. 95 percent flooded.

MILLWOOD LAKE Habitat conditions are good. 259.45 MSL.

DR. LESTER SITZES III BOIS D’ARC WMA The water level in the GTR is still increasing.

Bois d’Arc Lake WRA Closed to hunting. Normal water level.

Red Slough WRA Closed to hunting. 100 percent flooded.

GTR Good mast production. 100 percent flooded.

Little Grassy Habitat is fair. 100 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. 100 percent flooded.

HOLLAND BOTTOMS WMA Hunt Area Good mast crop. 50 percent flooded.

Lake Pickthorne WRA Excellent habitat. East cell is 100 percent flooded. West cell is 100 percent flooded.

BELL SLOUGH WMA Bell Slough GTR Fair mast crop. 100 percent flooded.

Palarm Creek WRA Fair seed production from the natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS BERYL ANTHONY LOWER OUACHITA WMA There has been fair soft and hard mast crop production on the WMA. There is minor flooding on the area, mostly in sloughs and oxbow lakes.

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 21.13 feet and rising on the Arkansas City gauge.

TRUSTEN HOLDER WMA Habitat conditions are good. Variable flooding on the WMA. Arkansas River is at 26.59 feet on the Pendleton gauge.

SEVEN DEVILS SWAMP WMA Hunt Area Habitat conditions are good. 100 percent flooded.

CUT-OFF CREEK WMA Hunt Area Habitat conditions are good. 100 percent flooded.

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

BAYOU METO WMA Upper Vallier GTR Good conditions. 180.3 feet. Full pool is 180 feet. 100 percent flooded.

Lower Vallier GTR Good conditions. 179.4 feet. Full pool is 179 feet. 100 percent. Use caution around water control structures.

Government Cypress GTR Good conditions. 179.4 feet. Full pool is 179 feet. 100 percent. Use caution around water control structures.

Buckingham Flats GTR Good conditions. 100 percent flooded.

Temple Island GTR Good conditions. 100 percent flooded.

Canon Brake Good conditions. 177.0 feet. Full pool is 177 feet. 100 percent. Use caution around water control structures.

Halowell WRA Good conditions. Staggered unit flooding.

Wrape Plantation WRA Good conditions. Staggered unit flooding.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS DARDANELLE WMA Johnson County WRA Moist soil and green trees. 100 percent flooded.

McKennon Bottoms Moist soil. 100 percent flooded.

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 of capacity.

LLOYD MILLWOOD NIMROD WMA Nimrod GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.

FROG BAYOU WMA Unit 1 Native millet and smartweed. 100 percent flooded.

Unit 2 Poor conditions. 50 percent flooded.

Unit 3 Excellent native millet and smartweed. 100 percent flooded.

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. 100 percent flooded.

Unit 7 Poor conditions. 25 percent flooded.

GALLA CREEK WMA Galla Creek GTR Natural vegetation including a mixture of barnyard and smartweed. 100 percent flooded.

PETIT JEAN RIVER WMA Santa Fe GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.

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

Black Lands Moist-soil Unit Golden millet. 100 percent flooded.

Slaty Crossing Moist-soil Unit Golden millet. 60 percent flooded.

Pullen Pond Habitat condition is poor. 100 percent flooded.

Pond Creek GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.

Slaty Pond GTR Good mast crop. 60 percent flooded.

Black Lands Duck Area Golden millet. 100 percent flooded.

ED GORDON POINT REMOVE WMA Most waterfowl impoundments are near or at capacity. Nearly all impoundments have good to excellent stands of natural vegetation, including smartweed and wild millet. Duck use and hunter success on the area have been low to moderate.

Willow Island Natural vegetation. 40 percent flooded.

Little Hole Natural vegetation. 60 percent flooded.

Red Gate Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Pig Trough Natural vegetation. 90 percent flooded.

Cedar Ridge Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Duck Trap Natural vegetation. 90 percent flooded.

Salt Lick Natural vegetation. 80 percent flooded.

Bobby’s Pond Natural vegetation. 80 percent flooded.

Race Track Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Controversy Corner Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Remmel Marsh Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Mud Pond Natural vegetation. 25 percent flooded.

Turkey Pond Natural vegetation. 70 percent flooded.

Teeny Pond Natural vegetation. 25 percent flooded.

Sports, Pages 22 on 01/23/2014

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