ARKANSAS WATERFOWL REPORT

The 2015-16 Arkansas duck season ends Sunday, and hunters looking for a bright spot in a largely lackluster season won’t find it in the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s latest aerial waterfowl report.

AGFC biologists conducted this season’s final aerial survey last week and reported numbers basically were unchanged from the annual midwinter survey conducted earlier this month. The Delta duck population index was just less than 1 million total ducks, including about 600,000 mallards. Observers counted about 20,000 ducks in southwestern Arkansas, almost 15,000 of which were mallards, and about 47,000 ducks (about 34,000 mallards) in the Arkansas River Valley survey area.

The Delta mallard estimate was well below the long-term average and had declined slightly from the 2016 midwinter survey earlier in January.

The latest survey was cut short by winter weather last week, likely leading to lower population estimates. The L’Anguille and Little River Ditches survey zones weren’t completed, and those survey zones typically account for about 8 percent of the Delta’s mallard population, so if they had an average number of mallards during this survey period, the overall Delta mallard total might have been closer to 715,000.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

EARL BUSS BAYOU DEVIEW WMA

South Oliver GTR Mast production has been good. 100 percent flooded with a current gauge reading of 1.8 feet.

Thompson Tract GTR Mast production has been good. 100 percent flooded with a gauge reading of 1.3 feet.

Lake Hogue WRA A small amount of beneficial wetland plants is located along the east side of the lake. 100 percent normal pool level.

BIG LAKE WMA

North Woods GTR Mast production is good. Bo Doc gauge currently reads 236.6. Target level is 235.5. 100 percent flooded.

South Woods GTR Mast production is good. The 7-mile gauge is currently at 235.9 feet. Target level is 234.5 feet with 100 percent flooded.

Simmons Field A good amount of millet, smartweed and sedge is present. Seed production is good. 100 percent flooded.

ST. FRANCIS SUNKEN LANDS WMA

Hunt Area Mast production is above average within the timber and floodways. Water levels in the huntable areas are dependent on the St. Francis River. The water level at Oak Donnick is 212.97 MSL. The huntable area is 100 percent 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 the borrow areas. Pool A is at 100 percent, Pool B is at 100 percent, Pool C is at 100 percent and Pool D is at 100 percent.

SHIREY BAY RAINEY BRAKE WMA

Adam’s Brake GTR Good mast crop within the GTR. Water level is 240.0 MSL with a target level of 240.0 MSL. 100 percent flooded.

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

Eagle Pond GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.

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

Charles Crisp Moist-soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Ward Field Moist-soil Unit Average 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 Good abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 270.2 MSL. Target level is 269.5 MSL. 100 percent flooded.

Lower Island GTR Good abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 269.45 MSL. Target level is 268.0 MSL. 100 percent flooded.

Upper Reyno GTR Good abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 267.55 MSL. Target level is 266.9 MSL. 100 percent flooded.

Lower Reyno GTR Good abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 266.9 MSL. Target level is 266.3 MSL. 100 percent flooded.

Winchester GTR Good abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 264.55 MSL. 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. 100 percent flooded.

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

Lee LeBlanc Unit Good stand of 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 (Youth blind) 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. 100 percent flooded.

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

Unit K Good stand of native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Unit L Good stand of native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

HENRY GRAY HURRICANE LAKE WMA

North GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded. The gauge at Mitchell Corner exceeds 194.0. The target level is 192.0.

South GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded. The gauge at Mitchell Corner exceeds 194.0. The target level is 192.0.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

SULPHUR RIVER WMA

Mercer Bayou Habitat conditions are good. The area is 3 feet above normal.

Henry Moore WRA Closed to hunting. 100 percent flooded.

Millwood Lake Habitat conditions are good. Water level is 262.82 MSL.

DR. LESTER SITZES III BOIS D’ ARC WMA

Bois d’Arc Lake WRA Closed to hunting. Water level is normal.

Red Slough WRA Closed to hunting. Water level is 90 percent.

GTR Good mast production. Water level is 100 percent.

Little Grassy Habitat is fair. Water level is 100 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. 30 percent flooded.

Lake Pickthorne WRA Good stand of millet and native vegetation. East cell 100 percent flooded. West cell 100 percent flooded.

BELL SLOUGH WMA

Bell Slough GTR Fair mast crop. 100 percent flooded.

Palarm Creek WRA Natural vegetation and Japanese millet. 100 percent flooded.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

BERYL ANTHONY LOWER OUACHITA WMA There has been fair soft and hard mast crop production on the WMA. The WMA is 100 percent flooded.

FREDDIE BLACK CHOCTAW ISLAND WMA DEER RESEARCH AREA Habitat conditions are good. The Mississippi River was at 35.6 feet on Monday at the Arkansas City gauge. The river is predicted to fall to 28 feet by Saturday. Use extreme caution when boating in the river.

TRUSTEN HOLDER Habitat conditions are good. Variable flooding on the WMA. The Arkansas River was at 26.62 feet at the Pendleton gauge Monday.

SEVEN DEVILS SWAMP WMA Habitat conditions are good. High water. Use caution when boating. 100 percent flooded.

CUT-OFF CREEK WMA

Hunt Area Habitat conditions are good. 100 percent flooded.

Pigeon Creek WRA Habitat conditions are good. 100 percent flooded.

BAYOU METO WMA

Upper Vallier GTR Good habitat. 100 percent flooded.

Lower Vallier GTR Good habitat. Water Level: 179.45 feet. Full pool is 179 feet. 100 percent flooded. Use caution around water control structures.

Government Cypress GTR Good habitat. Water level is 179.4 feet. Full pool is 179 feet. 100 percent flooded.

Buckingham Flats GTR Good habitat. 100 percent flooded.

Temple Island GTR Good habitat. 100 percent flooded.

Canon Brake Good habitat. 100 percent flooded. Use caution around water control structures.

Halowell WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered unit flooding.

Wrape Plantation WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered unit flooding.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

DARDANELLE WMA

McKennon Bottoms Moist soil vegetation habitat. 100 percent flooded.

Potter’s Pothole Hartman Waterfowl Unit Native vegetation habitat. Poor quality. 100 percent flooded.

OZARK POOL

Dyer Lake Cells Millet, toothcup, barnyard grass and sprangletop grass. Cells 1, 2 and 4 are 100 percent flooded.

LLOYD MILLWOOD NIMROD WMA

Nimrod GTR Good mast crop and native grasses habitat. 100 percent flooded.

FROG BAYOU WMA

Unit 1 Excellent stand of wild millet, toothcup and sprangletop grass. 100 percent flooded.

Unit 2 Good stand of barnyard grass and sprangletop grass. 100 percent flooded.

Unit 3 Excellent stand of barnyard grass and sprangletop grass. 100 percent flooded.

Unit 4 Poor stand of planted millet. 100 percent flooded.

Unit 5 Late maturing stand of barnyard grass. 100 percent flooded.

Unit 6 Very little vegetation due to construction improvements. 100 percent flooded.

Unit 7 Poor moist soil response. 100 percent flooded.

GALLA CREEK WMA

Galla Creek GTR Natural vegetation including a mixture of barnyard grass, Japanese millet and smartweed. 100 percent flooded. The waterfowl impoundment is flooded to capacity.

PETIT JEAN RIVER WMA

Santa Fe GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.

Olin Cain Moist-soil Unit Native grasses. 100 percent flooded.

Black Lands Moist-soil Unit Native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Slaty Crossing Moist-soil Unit Native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Pullen Pond Some native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Pond Creek GTR Good mast crop and millets. 100 percent flooded.

Slaty Pond GTR Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.

Black Lands Duck Area Mix of millets and native grasses. 100 percent flooded.

ED GORDON POINT REMOVE WMA

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 Natural vegetation and Japanese millet. 100 percent flooded.

Salt Lick 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 Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Mud Pond Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Turkey Pond Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Teeny Pond Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

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