The second segment of duck season will begin Thursday, but military veterans and active-duty personnel may enjoy the first Special Active Duty Military and Veterans Waterfowl Hunt on Saturday.
The hunt will coincide with the first Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission established the special hunt in October to allow all active-duty military personnel and veterans who served in the active military and were discharged under conditions other than "dishonorable."
Shooting hours and bag limits will remain the same as regular duck and goose seasons. Active-duty and veteran hunters on wildlife management areas will not have shotshell restrictions and will be allowed to hunt from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset.
All veteran and active-duty hunters must possess a valid hunting license, state waterfowl stamp, federal waterfowl stamp and current Harvest Information Program registration. Veterans must possess a WMA General Use permit to hunt on wildlife management areas. Youths do not have to carry a General Use permit.
Veterans participating in the hunt must possess a DD214, a Veteran Benefit Card, Retired Active Military ID, Veteran License or Active Duty ID card.
Youths participating in the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt must be accompanied by a mentor ages 21 or older if they have not completed a hunter education course. Youths who have completed hunter education and have the card can be mentored by someone 18 or older.
*Water levels listed in this report were taken Monday and do not reflect any rainfall Tuesday and Wednesday.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS
BIG LAKE WMA
North Woods GTR Mast production is good. The Bo Dock gauge currently reads 237.8. Target level is 235.5 with 100 percent flooded.
South Woods GTR Mast production is fair. The 7-mile gauge is currently at 236.8 feet. Target level is 234.5 feet with 100 percent flooded.
Simmons Field A good amount of millet and sedge is present. Seed production is very good in the North Unit and middle field. South field was stripped in Japanese millet with strips of wild millet and sedge that did very well. 100 percent flooded.
DAVE DONALDSON BLACK RIVER WMA
Upper Island GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 269.9. Target level is 269.5. 100 percent flooded.
Lower Island GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 269.1. Target level is 268.5 100 percent flooded.
Upper Reyno GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 267.8. Target level is 266.9. 100 percent flooded.
Lower Reyno GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 267.2. Target level is 266.3. 100 percent flooded.
Winchester GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 264.7. Target level is 263.7. 100 percent flooded.
EARL BUSS BAYOU DEVIEW WMA
South Oliver GTR Mast production has been good. The area is 90 percent flooded with a current gauge reading of 0.9 feet. Water is rising in the GTR.
Thompson Tract GTR Mast production has been good. The area is 100 percent flooded with a current gauge reading of 1.85 feet.
Lake Hogue WRA Primarily deep open water habitat. Normal pool level.
SHIREY BAY RAINEY BRAKE WMA
Adam Brake GTR Good abundance of mast crop. Water level is 239.8 with a target level of 240. 75 percent flooded.
Rainey Brake GTR Good abundance of mast crop. 100 percent flooded.
Eagle Pond GTR Good abundance of mast crop. 100 percent flooded.
Phase III Moist-Soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 45 percent flooded.
Charles Crisp Moist-Soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 75 percent flooded.
Ward Field Moist-Soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 55 percent flooded.
River Field Moist-Soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 70 percent flooded.
ST. FRANCIS SUNKEN LANDS WMA
Hunt Area Mast production is good. Water levels in the huntable areas are dependent on the St. Francis River. The water level at Oak Donnick is 213.18.
Snowden WRA Mixed grasses are present. 10 percent flooded.
Payneway WRA Pools A,B, C, and D have mixed smartweed and some mowing has occurred for open water use. Pool A is at 10 percent. Pool B is at 10 percent. Pool C is at 25 percent and Pool D is at 50 percent.
EAST CENTRAL ARKANSAS
HENRY GRAY HURRICANE LAKE WMA
North GTR Good mast crop. Glaise Creek gauge at 193.34.
South GTR Fair mast crop. Glaise Creek gauge at 193.34.
REX HANCOCK BLACK SWAMP WMA
Main WMA Good mast crop. 90-95 percent flooded.
Wyeville Unit Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent coverage.
SHEFFIELD NELSON DAGMAR WMA
Mud Slough GTR Excellent mast crop. 60 percent flooded.
Apple Lake WRA Fair mast crop. 100 percent flooded.
Conway George Waterfowl Unit A Good mast crop. 100 percent flooded.
Conway George Waterfowl Unit B Natural slough area with beneficial wetland plants. 90 percent flooded.
Conway George Waterfowl Unit C 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 millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit C Good stand of native vegetation. 95 percent flooded.
Unit D (Youth Area) Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit E Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 90 percent flooded.
Unit F Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 55 percent flooded.
Unit G Fair stand of millet and native vegetation. 85 percent flooded.
Unit H (Mobility-impaired blind) Excellent stand of native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit I Poor stand of native vegetation. 70 percent flooded.
Unit J (Cypert Tract) Excellent stand of native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit K (Cypert Tract) Excellent stand of native vegetation. 65 percent flooded.
Unit L (Cypert Tract) Excellent stand of native vegetation. 0 percent flooded.
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. 100 percent flooded.
Palarm Creek WRA Units 1 & 2 Millet was planted as a cover crop within the moist-soil units. 85 percent flooded.
CYPRESS BAYOU WMA
Hunt Area Good mast crop. 75 percent flooded.
Red Cut Slough Tract Unit 1 Good stand of millet and native vegetation. Water level 55 percent.
Unit 2 Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. Water level 25 percent.
Unit 3 Good stand of millet and native vegetation. Water level 85 percent.
Unit 4 Good stand of native vegetation. Water level 85 percent.
Unit 5 Good stand of native vegetation. Water level 40 percent.
Unit 6 Good stand of native vegetation. Water level 35 percent.
HARRIS BRAKE WMA
Harris Brake Upper Unit Good mast in the GTR. 85 percent flooded.
Harris Brake Lower Unit Good mast in the GTR. 60 percent flooded.
HOLLAND BOTTOMS WMA
Hunt Area Good mast. 40 percent flooded.
Lake Pickthorne WRA Excellent conditions. East cell 100 percent flooded. West Cell is 55 percent flooded.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS
DR. LESTER SITZES III BOIS D' ARC WMA
Bois d'Arc Lake WRA Closed to hunting. Normal.
Red Slough WRA Closed to hunting. Water level 15 percent.
GTR Good mast production. Water level 5 percent.
Little Grassy Habitat is good. Water level 60 percent.
MILLWOOD LAKE Habitat is good. Water level 260.46.
OZAN WMA
Unit 1 Habitat good. 0 percent flooded.
Unit 2 Habitat good. 0 percent flooded.
Unit 3 Habitat good. 0 percent flooded.
Unit 4 Habitat good. 0 percent flooded.
Unit 5 Habitat good. 0 percent flooded.
SULPHUR RIVER WMA
Mercer Bayou Habitat conditions are fair. Water level is low. No boat access.
Henry Moore WRA Closed to hunting. 10 percent flooded.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS
BERYL ANTHONY LOWER OUACHITA WMA The WMA has good hard mast production. The only water on the WMA currently is in the sloughs and in the 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 on the river.
TRUSTEN HOLDER Habitat conditions good. Flooding is river dependent.
SEVEN DEVILS SWAMP WMA Habitat conditions good. Below gauge. Water levels are variable depending on Cut-Off Creek levels.
CUT-OFF CREEK WMA
Hunt Area Habitat conditions are good. 0 percent flooded.
Pigeon Creek WRA Habitat conditions are good. 0 percent flooded.
BAYOU METO WMA
Upper Vallier GTR Good habitat. Water level 178.6 feet, full pool at 180 feet.
Lower Vallier GTR Good habitat. Water level 178.6 feet, full pool at 179 feet.
Government Cypress GTR Good habitat. Water level 178.7 feet, full pool at 179 feet.
Buckingham Flats GTR Good habitat. 176.4 msl. First phase of pumping completed.
Temple Island GTR Good habitat. 20 percent flooded. First phase of pumping in progress.
Cannon Brake Good habitat.177 msl. Full pool at 177 msl.
Halowell WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered flooding of units. 50 percent flooded. Good numbers of ducks on south units
Wrape Plantation WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered flooding of units.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS
DARDANELLE WMA
McKennon Bottoms Heavy stand of perennial vegetation due for disking next spring. 100 percent flooded.
Potter's Pothole Hartman Waterfowl Unit Some planted millet, good stand of native millet, sprangle top and panic grasses. 100 percent flooded and currently pumping.
OZARK POOL
Dyer Lake Cells Fair stand of nutsedge and toothcup smartweed, and sprangle top. Unit 3 was impacted by summer flooding and needs disturbance that is scheduled for next year. Units 1 and 2 are 100 percent flooded. Unit 3 is 100 percent flooded.
NIMROD LLOYD MILLWOOD WMA
Nimrod GTR Excellent mast crop with a mix of moderate to good stands of desirable native vegetation throughout the open lands. 100 percent flooded.
ED GORDON POINT REMOVE WMA
Little Hole (Unit 1) Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Willow Island Planted Japanese millet. 100 percent flooded.
Red Gate Native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Pig Trough (Units 4 and 5) Planted Japanese and Chiwapa millet and native vegetation. 70 percent flooded.
Cedar Ridge (Unit 6) Natural vegetation and Chiwapa millet. 100 percent flooded.
Duck Trap Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit 7A Japanese millet, native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit 7B Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit 8A Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit 8B Japanese and Chiwapa millet, native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Unit 8C Japanese millet. 100 percent flooded.
Unit 9 Japanese millet. 100 percent flooded.
Salt Lick Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Bobby's Pond Japanese millet. 100 percent flooded.
Controversy Corner (Unit 10) Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Remmel Marsh Japanese millet. 100 percent flooded.
Mud Pond (Unit 12) Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Turkey Pond (Unit 13A) Natural vegetation and Japanese millet. 90 percent flooded.
Turkey Pond (Unit 13B) Natural vegetation. 90 percent flooded.
Turkey Pond (Unit 13C) Natural vegetation, Japanese millet and Chiwapa millet. 90 percent flooded.
Teeny Pond (Unit 14) Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Race Track (Unit 17) Natural vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
FROG BAYOU WMA
Unit 1 Sprangle top, wild millet, smartweed and nutsedge. 100 percent flooded.
Unit 2 Good stand of barnyard grass and nutsedge. 50 percent flooded.
Unit 3 Smartweed, toothcup, nutsedge, barnyard grass, sprangle top and duck potato. 100 percent flooded.
Unit 4 Barnyard grass, sprangle top, annual smartweed, nutsedge and crabgrass. 100 percent flooded.
Unit 5 Sprangle top, wild millet, smartweed, knotgrass, nutsedge and duck potato. 100 percent flooded.
Unit 6 Barnyard grass, smartweed, crabgrass and sprangle top. 100 percent flooded.
Unit 7 Lower end of unit planted with millet, upper end with barnyard grass, sprangle top and smartweed. 75 percent flooded and scheduled to pump full the first week of December.
GALLA CREEK WMA
Galla Creek GTR Moderate stand of native vegetation, including a mixture of barnyard grass and sprangle top. 100 percent flooded.
PETIT JEAN RIVER WMA
Santa Fe GTR Excellent mast crop. 100 percent flooded.
Sore-Head Moist Soil Unit Moderate to good stands of desirable native vegetation throughout. 100 percent flooded.
Olin Cain Moist-Soil Unit 25 percent native vegetation and 100 percent flooded.
Black Lands Moist-Soil Unit Poor to great stands of desirable native vegetation throughout. Great mast crop in the wooded areas. 100 percent flooded.
Black Lands Duck Area Excellent mast in the wooded sections. Moderate to great stands of desirable native vegetation mixed throughout. 100 percent flooded.
Slaty Crossing Moist-Soil Unit Due to ongoing waterfowl habitat enhancement projects, most of this unit is bare ground. 10 percent flooded.
Pullen Pond Due to ongoing waterfowl habitat enhancement projects, parts of the southern and western sections are bare ground. The western section of this area has spotted sections of great desirable native vegetation. The northern section produced poor stands of native vegetation.
Pond Creek GTR Excellent mast crop with excellent stands of desirable native vegetation in the open lands. 60 percent flooded.
Slaty Pond GTR Excellent mast crop. 10 percent flooded.
Black Lands Duck Area Millet, native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.
Sports on 12/05/2019