ARKANSAS WATERFOWL REPORT
Arkansas has the conditions for the duck season it's been anticipating as the state heads into the stretch run of the season through its close on Jan. 28.
Biologists said that mallards were in good numbers for this period, with an estimate of 949,331 birds among a total of more than 1.2 million ducks in the state.
Weather conditions should be good through midweek, with some of Arkansas reaching into the 60-degree range. However, heavy rainfall and another cold spell are forecast for the state later this week.
Most of the wildlife management areas have ample water at this time. George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto WMA has mostly fully flooded conditions now, and the area is free of ice for the time being. Temple Island Greentree Reservoir is now able to have water pumped in from Salt Bayou Ditch. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has heard good reports of ducks in the WMA.
Gadwalls numbers are higher than usual for this time of year. Also, snow geese were in great numbers still throughout areas such as Arkansas County, where thousands of birds lined U.S. 165 in spots from Humnoke to DeWitt. Some white-fronted geese remained in the area as well.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
EARL BUSS BAYOU DEVIEW WMA
South Oliver GTR Mast production has been good. 70 percent flooded with a current gauge reading of 0.7 feet. There is a small amount of available water 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 area is 50 percent flooded with a current gauge reading of 0.6 feet.
Lake Hogue WRA A small amount of beneficial wetland plants along the east side of the lake. Normal pool level.
BIG LAKE WMA
North Woods GTR Mast production is good. Bo Dock gauge currently reads 236.2. Target level is 235.5 with 100 percent flooded.
South Woods GTR Mast production is good. The 7-mile gauge is currently at 235.2 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 very good. 100 percent flooded.
ST. FRANCIS SUNKEN LANDS WMA
Hunt Area Mast production is considered 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 212.77 feet with 100 percent of the huntable area flooded.
Snowden WRA There is a small amount of beneficial wetland plants within the borrow areas. 0 percent flooded.
Payneway WRA There are 70 acres of corn and millet planted throughout the WRA. Pools A and B are at 0 percent. Pools C and D are at 5 percent.
SHIREY BAY RAINEY BRAKE WMA
Adams Brake GTR High abundance of mast crop within the GTR. Water level is 240 MSL with a target level of 240.0 MSL. 90 percent flooded.
Rainey Brake GTR High abundance of mast crop within the GTR. 90 percent flooded.
Eagle Pond GTR High abundance of mast crop within the GTR. 100 percent flooded.
Phase III Moist-soil Unit Fair wetland-type vegetation. 50 percent flooded.
Charles Crisp Moist-soil Unit Fair wetland-type vegetation. 70 percent flooded.
Ward Field Moist-soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
River Field Moist-soil Unit High abundance of wetland-type vegetation. 0 percent flooded.
DAVE DONALDSON BLACK RIVER WMA
Upper Island GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 269.35 MSL. Target level is 269.5 MSL. 95 percent flooded.
Lower Island GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 268.3. Target level is 268.0 MSL. 100 percent flooded.
Upper Reyno GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 267.24 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. 80 percent flooded.
Winchester GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 263.55 MSL. Target level is 263.7 MSL. 90 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 Good 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 Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
REX HANCOCK BLACK SWAMP WMA
Main WMA Good mast crop. 10 percent flooded and falling.
Wyeville Unit Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
STEVE N. WILSON RAFT CREEK BOTTOMS WMA
Unit A Excellent stand of native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit B Excellent stand of native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit C Good stand of native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit D (Youth Area) Good stand of native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit E Good stand of native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit F Good stand of native vegetation. 60 percent flooded.
Unit G Fair stand of millet and native vegetation. 85 percent flooded
Unit H (Mobility-impaired blind) Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit I Conditions are poor. 80 percent flooded.
Unit J (Cypert Tract) Fair stand of native vegetation. 70 percent flooded.
Unit K (Cypert Tract) Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 75 percent flooded.
Unit L (Cypert Tract) Good stand of millet. 100 percent flooded.
HENRY GRAY HURRICANE LAKE WMA
North GTR Good mast crop. 60 percent flooded.
South GTR Good mast crop. 5 percent flooded.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
SULPHUR RIVER WMA
Mercer Bayou Habitat conditions are fair. Drawn down for restoration project. Boat ramps are closed.
Henry Moore WRA Closed to hunting. 0 percent flooded.
MILLWOOD LAKE Habitat is good. Water level 259.61 MSL.
DR. LESTER SITZES III BOIS D' ARC WMA
Bois d'Arc Lake WRA Closed to hunting. 6 inches low.
Red Slough WRA Closed to hunting. Water level 35 percent.
GTR Good mast production. Water level 100 percent.
Ozan WMA Habitat is good. Water level 55 percent.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS
CRAIG D. CAMPBELL LAKE CONWAY RESERVOIR
Habitat and water levels are normal on both Pierce and Dix creeks.
BELL SLOUGH WMA
Bell Slough GTR Moderate mast crop. 85 percent flooded.
Palarm Creek WRA Millet was planted this year after disking within the moist-soil units. 100 percent flooded.
HARRIS BRAKE WMA
Harris Brake Upper Unit Good mast crop with native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Harris Brake Lower Unit Good mast crop with native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
HOLLAND BOTTOMS WMA
Hunt Area Good mast crop. 40 percent flooded.
Lake Pickthorne WRA Excellent mast crop. East cell 100 percent flooded. West cell 100 percent flooded.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
BERYL ANTHONY LOWER OUACHITA WMA The WMA has fairly hard mast production. There is minor flooding on the area, mostly 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. Use extreme caution when boating in the river.
TRUSTEN HOLDER Habitat conditions good. Variable flooding on the WMA.
SEVEN DEVILS SWAMP WMA Habitat conditions good, with an excellent acorn crop. Water level 129.5 feet msl.
CUT-OFF CREEK WMA
Hunt Area Habitat conditions are good, with an excellent acorn crop. Recent rains have water rising, some water for hunting, not to full pool.
Pigeon Creek WRA Habitat conditions are good, with an excellent acorn crop. 100 percent flooded.
BAYOU METO WMA
Upper Vallier GTR Good habitat. 179.7 feet msl, full pool at 180 feet msl.
Lower Vallier GTR Good habitat. 179.5 feet msl, full pool at 179 feet msl.
Government Cypress GTR Good habitat. 179.5 feet msl, full pool at 179 feet msl.
Buckingham Flats GTR Good habitat. 100 percent flooded.
Temple Island GTR Good habitat. Pumping from Salt Bayou Ditch.
Cannon Brake Good habitat. 100 percent flooded.
Halowell WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered flooding of units.
Wrape Plantation WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered flooding of units.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
DARDANELLE WMA
McKennon Bottoms Good stand of native moist soil vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Potter's Pothole Hartman Waterfowl Unit Good stand of native moist-soil vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
OZARK POOL
Dyer Lake Cells Native vegetation. Dry.
NIMROD LLOYD MILLWOOD WMA
Nimrod GTR Good mast crop. 5 percent flooded.
FROG BAYOU WMA
Unit 1 Planted millet and smartweed. 95 percent flooded.
Unit 2 Habitat is poor. 0 percent flooded.
Unit 3 Perennial vegetation. 95 percent flooded.
Unit 4 Planted millet and native moist-soil vegetation. 95 percent flooded.
Unit 5 Good moist soil vegetation. 95 percent flooded.
Unit 6 Good moist soil vegetation. 90 percent flooded.
Unit 7 Some annual and perennial moist-soil vegetation. 90 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 with native vegetation. 5 percent flooded.
Olin Cain Moist-Soil Unit 25 percent native vegetation and 75 percent bare ground. 30 percent flooded.
Black Lands Moist-soil Unit 25 percent native vegetation and 75 percent bare ground. 10 percent flooded.
Slaty Crossing Moist-soil Unit 25 percent native vegetation and 75 percent bare ground. 10 percent flooded.
Pullen Pond Native vegetation. 10 percent flooded.
Pond Creek GTR Good mast crop. 5 percent flooded.
Slaty Pond GTR Good mast crop. 5 percent flooded.
Black Lands Duck Area Good mast crop. 70 percent flooded.
ED GORDON POINT REMOVE WMA
Willow Island Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Little Hole Natural vegetation. 60 percent flooded.
Red Gate Natural vegetation. 90 percent flooded.
Pig Trough Natural vegetation. 80 percent flooded.
Cedar Ridge Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Duck Trap Natural vegetation. 30 percent flooded.
Salt Lick Natural vegetation. 80 percent flooded.
Bobby's Pond Natural vegetation. 75 percent flooded.
Race Track Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Controversy Corner Natural vegetation. 90 percent flooded.
Remmel Marsh Natural vegetation. 90 percent flooded.
Mud Pond Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.
Turkey Pond Natural vegetation. 15 percent flooded.
Teeny Pond Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.
Sports on 01/11/2018