Despite some rainfall earlier this week, dry conditions persist for much of The Natural State, and many Arkansas wildlife management areas will remain mostly dry for the first segment of the annual Arkansas youth waterfowl hunt Saturday.
The first segment of duck season closed Sunday and reopens Dec. 8, but hunters younger than 16 years old will be able to hunt ducks, geese, coots and mergansers Saturday. The second part of the youth waterfowl hunt will be Feb. 4, 2017.
Youth hunters who have completed a hunter education course must be accompanied by a mentor 18 years or older; a mentor 21 or older must accompany youth hunters who haven’t completed hunter education. Mentors may not hunt, but may assist with calling. Shooting hours and bag limits are the same as the regular waterfowl season, although youth hunters may hunt on Arkansas Game and Fish Commission WMAs from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset. Sweet 16 WMA permits aren’t required for youth hunters.
Seasons for snow, blue and Ross’ geese, Canada geese and white-fronted geese remain open during the duck season split, but goose seasons are closed to hunters 16 and older during Saturday’s youth waterfowl hunt.
The water levels and gauge readings in this week’s report were taken Monday as rain was falling across the state. Readings may not accurately reflect current water levels, but because of the extremely dry conditions that existed prior to Monday’s rain, hunters shouldn’t expect significant increases in WMA water levels.
Arkansas hunters should be aware of two significant changes in waterfowl hunting regulations on AGFC wildlife management areas: the use of decoys that simulate wing movement and any mechanical devices that create movement or ripples on the water except a traditional jerk string is prohibited on WMAs, and hunters must exit inundated areas of WMAs by noon. Waterfowl hunters also should be aware that It is unlawful to operate a boat in any manner that is hazardous to persons or property on any part of a WMA including ramps, structures, boat lanes or other areas. Intentional violation of boating safety laws carry a fine of up to $5,000, a possible jail sentence of up to 90 days, revocation of the ability to access any WMA in Arkansas for one year and the loss of hunting and fishing privileges for one year.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
EARL BUSS BAYOU DEVIEW WMA
South Oliver GTR The area is currently 15% flooded. All of the available water is present within the natural slough on the north end of this GTR and south end of the North Oliver Tract.
Thompson Tract GTR Mast production has been good. The water level is zero percent.
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 234.4. Target level is 235.5. 70 percent flooded.
South Woods GTR Mast production is good. The 7-mile gauge is currently at 233.3 feet. Target level is 234.5 feet with 60 percent flooded.
Simmons Field A good amount of millet, smartweed and sedge is present. Seed production is good. Zero percent flooded.
ST. FRANCIS SUNKEN LANDS WMA
Hunt Area Mast production is considered fair within the timber and floodways this year. However, there are some spotty areas among the higher elevations that have above average mast production. Water levels in the huntable areas are dependent on the St. Francis River. The water level at Oak Donnick is 206.01 feet with less than 5 percent of the huntable area flooded.
Snowden WRA There is a small amount of beneficial wetland plants within the borrow areas. Conditions are currently poor within the waterfowl rest area. Zero percent flooded.
Payneway WRA There is a small amount of beneficial wetland plants within the borrow areas. Conditions are considered below average with the waterfowl rest area. Pool A is at zero percent, Pool B is at zero percent, Pool C is at zero percent and Pool D is at zero percent.
SHIREY BAY RAINEY BRAKE WMA
Adam’s Brake GTR Good mast crop within the GTR. Water level is 234.8 MSL with a target level of 240.0 MSL. 70 percent flooded.
Rainey Brake GTR Good mast crop within the GTR. 95 percent flooded.
Eagle Pond GTR Good mast crop within the GTR. 95 percent flooded.
Phase III Moist-soil Unit Average wetland-type vegetation. 10 percent flooded.
Charles Crisp Moist-soil Unit Average wetland-type vegetation. 5 percent flooded.
Ward Field Moist-soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 95 percent flooded.
River Field Moist-soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
DAVE DONALDSON BLACK RIVER WMA
Upper Island GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 269.5 MSL. Target level is 269.5 MSL. 100 percent flooded.
Lower Island GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 268.2. Target level is 268.0 MSL. 100 percent flooded.
Upper Reyno GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 266.8 MSL. Target level is 266.9 MSL. 100 percent flooded.
Lower Reyno GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 265.9 MSL. Target level is 266.3 MSL. 95 percent flooded.
Winchester GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 263.2 MSL. Target level is 263.7 MSL. 90 percent flooded.
EAST CENTRAL ARKANSAS
SHEFFIELD NELSON DAGMAR WMA
Mud Slough GTR Good mast crop. Zero percent flooded.
Apple Lake WRA Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.
Conway George Waterfowl Unit A Good stand of millet and native vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Conway George Waterfowl Unit B Natural slough area with beneficial wetland plants. 100 percent flooded.
Conway George Waterfowl Unit C Good stand of millet and native vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
REX HANCOCK BLACK SWAMP WMA
Main WMA Good mast crop. Zero percent flooded.
Wyeville Unit Good stand of millet and native vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
STEVE N. WILSON RAFT CREEK BOTTOMS WMA
Unit A Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Unit B Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Unit C Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Unit D Good stand of millet and native vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Unit E Good stand of millet and native vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Unit F Good stand of millet and native vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Unit G Habitat conditions are poor. Zero percent flooded.
Unit H (Mobility-impaired blind) Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit I Good stand of millet and native vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
HENRY GRAY HURRICANE LAKE WMA
North GTR Good mast crop. Zero percent flooded.
South GTR Good mast crop. Zero percent flooded.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
SULPHUR RIVER WMA
Mercer Bayou Habitat conditions are fair. The water level is slightly below normal.
Henry Moore WRA Closed to hunting. Zero percent flooded.
MILLWOOD LAKE Habitat conditions are good. Water level is 259.35 MSL.
DR. LESTER SITZES III BOIS D’ ARC WMA
Bois d’Arc Lake WRA Closed to hunting. Water level is 1.8 feet below normal.
Red Slough WRA Closed to hunting. Water level is 25 percent.
GTR Good mast production. Water level is 40 percent.
Little Grassy Habitat is fair. Water level is 25 percent.
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. Zero percent flooded.
Lake Pickthorne WRA Excellent mast crop. East cell zero percent flooded. West cell zero percent flooded.
BELL SLOUGH WMA
Bell Slough GTR Average mast crop. 45 percent flooded.
Palarm Creek WRA Fair seed production from natural vegetation. 35 percent flooded.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
BERYL ANTHONY LOWER OUACHITA WMA The WMA has good soft and hard mast production. Currently, the only water on the WMA is located in the 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 4 feet and rising to 6 feet by next week on the Arkansas City gauge. Use extreme caution when boating in the river.
TRUSTEN HOLDER Habitat conditions are good. Variable flooding on the WMA. The Arkansas River is at 26.1 feet on the Pendleton gauge.
SEVEN DEVILS SWAMP WMA Habitat conditions are good, with an excellent acorn crop. Zero percent flooded. No duck hunting water.
CUT-OFF CREEK WMA
Hunt Area Habitat conditions are good, with an excellent acorn crop. Zero percent flooded. Rain is in the forecast to water levels could change.
Pigeon Creek WRA Habitat conditions are good, with an excellent acorn crop. Zero percent flooded. Water is too low for pumping.
BAYOU METO WMA
Upper Vallier GTR Good habitat. Zero percent flooded. Full pool is 180 feet. No duck hunting water.
Lower Vallier GTR Good habitat. Zero percent flooded. Full pool is 179 feet. No duck hunting water.
Government Cypress GTR Good habitat. Water is below gauge level. Full pool is 179 feet. No duck hunting water.
Buckingham Flats GTR Good habitat. 95 percent flooded.
Temple Island GTR Good habitat. Water is too low for pumping. No duck hunting water.
Canon Brake Good habitat. Zero percent flooded. No duck hunting water.
Halowell WRA Excellent habitat. Zero percent flooded. Water is too low for pumping at the relift, but the pumps on the wells are running.
Wrape Plantation WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered unit flooding.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
DARDANELLE WMA
Johnson County WRA Fair habitat. 20 percent flooded.
McKennon Bottoms Very poor habitat. 90 percent flooded.
Potter’s Pothole Hartman Waterfowl Unit Poor habitat. 100 percent flooded.
OZARK POOL
Dyer Lake Cells Millet and moist soil. Units 1 and 2 are at 50 percent of capacity.
LLOYD MILLWOOD NIMROD WMA
Nimrod GTR Good mast crop. Zero percent flooded.
FROG BAYOU WMA
Unit 1 Native millet and smartweed. 50 percent flooded.
Unit 2 Habitat is poor. Zero percent flooded.
Unit 3 Native millet and smartweed. 75 percent flooded.
Unit 4 Native moist soil and planted millet. 80 percent flooded.
Unit 5 Native moist soil and planted millet. 80 percent flooded.
Unit 6 Good stand of smartweed and native millet. 50 percent flooded.
Unit 7 Planted millet. 80 percent flooded.
GALLA CREEK WMA
Galla Creek GTR Natural vegetation including a mixture of barnyard and smartweed. 25 percent flooded. Staged flooding of the impoundment should be at capacity in the next 7-10 days.
PETIT JEAN RIVER WMA
Santa Fe GTR Good mast crop. Zero percent flooded.
Olin Cain Moist-soil Unit This area contains a good stand of desirable native vegetation throughout, with Japanese millet planted in the ditches. Zero percent flooded.
Black Lands Moist-soil Unit This area contains a good stand of desirable native vegetation throughout, with Japanese millet planted in the ditches. 40 percent flooded.
Slaty Crossing Moist-soil Unit This area contains a good stand of desirable native vegetation throughout. 90 percent flooded.
Pullen Pond This area contains a poor stand of desirable native vegetation throughout, with Japanese millet planted along the main ditch. Zero percent flooded.
Pond Creek GTR Good mast crop. Zero percent flooded.
Slaty Pond GTR Good mast crop. 25 percent flooded.
Black Lands Duck Area Good mast crop. This area also contains a good stand of desirable native vegetation and Japanese millet throughout. Zero percent flooded.
ED GORDON POINT REMOVE WMA
Willow Island Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Little Hole Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Red Gate Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Pig Trough Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Cedar Ridge Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Duck Trap Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Salt Lick Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Bobby’s Pond Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Race Track Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Controversy Corner Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Remmel Marsh Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Mud Pond Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Turkey Pond Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.
Teeny Pond Natural vegetation. Zero percent flooded.