The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Weekly Waterfowl Report

for Nov. 30, 2005.

The following report is a compilation of state reports and waterfowl surveys from across Arkansas. This report provides a look at habitat conditions across the state.

Weather Forecast:
Today: Sunny, with a high around 52. South southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 37. South southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west northwest.

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high around 55. North northwest wind around 10 mph.

Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low near 34. North wind around 10 mph becoming east.

Friday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 53. Southeast wind around 10 mph.

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain after 9 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. South southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 4 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a high near 63. South wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Saturday Night: A 30 percent chance of rain. Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. North northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Sunday: A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before noon. Partly cloudy, with a high around 54. North northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph.

Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of rain before 9 p.m. Partly cloudy, with a low near 38.

Monday: Partly cloudy, with a high near 49.

Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Tuesday: Partly cloudy, with a high around 49.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS -

Dave Donaldson/Black River WMA:
Percent Flooded: 85%
Habitat Conditions: Good with an excellent mast crop.
Migrations/Observations: Few ducks observed. Recent cold front may bring more ducks to the area. 
Hunter Activity/Success: Moderate numbers of hunters killed very few ducks over the last week
General Comments: Black River crested at 8.5 feet at the Corning gauge on Nov. 26 but is starting to fall. Recent rains may stabilize river levels.
Upper and Lower Island GTR’s:
Percent Flooded: 100%
Mervin, Viney and Barnes Slough GTR’s:
Percent Flooded: 100%
Winchester Road, Rest Area and Canal Access GTR’s:
Percent Flooded: 65%

Shirey Bay-Rainey Brake WMA:
Percent Flooded: The Adam’s Brake GTR is 70% flooded at 238.4 MSL. The Rainey Brake GTR is 70% flooded at 238.0 MSL. The Phase III moist soil unit is 50% flooded.
Habitat Conditions: Clear water with a good mast crop.
Weather: Partly cloudy with no rain in the forecast.
Migrations/Observations: No ducks observed moving into the area.
Duck Abundance: Duck abundance low, mostly wood ducks.
Hunter Activity/Success: Hunter activity was light over the weekend. Hunter success was poor with few ducks being killed, mostly wood ducks.

St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA:
Percent Flooded:  The Oak Donnick gauge is at 211.98 MSL. At this level a portion of the timber between the St. Francis floodway levees is inundated. The Payneway moist soil units are 55% flooded. The Snowden moist soil unit is 70% flooded.
Habitat Conditions:  The Payneway moist soil unit has a good stand of panic grass and wild millet, with a fair stand of smartweed and yellow nut sedge mixed within.  The Snowden moist soil unit has a higher abundance of the same vegetation.  Acorn production is considered excellent within the timber.
Weather:  Cold front pushing through after today bringing the temperatures down to the 30s for the lows and highs in the 50s with a small chance of rain over the weekend.   
Migrations/Observations:  Few ducks, with a fair amount of snow geese can be seen flying south. 
Duck Abundance:  Few ducks are using the moist soil units.  A few wood ducks are using the St. Francis River and drainage ditches off of the river
Hunter Activity/Success:  Few hunters are having success.

Earl Buss / Bayou DeView WMA:
Percent Flooded:  The boat lanes within the Thompson Tract are flooded with shallow areas scattered throughout. The current Thompson Tract gauge reading is 0.12 inches. The Martin and South Oliver Tracts are primarily dry due to lack of rainfall. A few natural sloughs with water may be found in the area.
Habitat Conditions:  Acorn production is excellent.
Weather:  Colder temperatures with a chance of rain expected later in the week.
Migrations/Observations:  A few wood ducks may be seen using the natural sloughs. A few flocks of snow and white-fronted geese are moving through the area.
Duck Abundance:  Very few.
Hunter Activity/Success:  A few hunters harvesting wood ducks.
General Comments:  Boaters be aware of submerged logs in shallow areas.

Big Lake WMA
Percent Flooded: The area is 30% flooded in the timber. Ditches are 100% flooded. Target is 235.5 MSL in the north woods with the present reading of 234.8. Target is 234.5 MSL in the south woods with a present reading of 233.6.
Habitat Conditions:  Acorn production is excellent in the timber. The Simmons Field Units have millet, sedges and smartweed scattered throughout.
Weather Conditions:  Cold front this week.
Migrations/Observations:  Low number of ducks observed migrating across the area.
Duck Abundance: Poor
Hunter Activity/Success: Very few hunters are using the area. Less than one bird per hunter on average is being harvested.
General Comments: Water level in the timber is low.                    

       
EASTCENTRAL ARKANSAS-

Henry Gray/Hurricane Lake WMA
Percent Flooded: 0%. White River at Augusta is at 13.8 feet and Georgetown is at 2.2 feet.
Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.
Weather:  Mild conditions.
Migrations/Observations:  Low duck numbers.
Duck Abundance: Low. 
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor.
General Comments: Water conditions are very low and will need significant rainfall for improvement.
North GTR:
Percent Flooded: 0%.
Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.
Weather: Mild conditions.
Migrations/Observations: Low duck numbers.
Duck Abundance:  Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor.
General Comments: Water conditions are low and will need significant rainfall for improvement.
South GTR: 
Percent Flooded: 0%.
Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.
Weather: Mild conditions.
Migrations/Observations: Low duck numbers.
Duck Abundance:  Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor.
General Comments: Water conditions are very low and will need significant rainfall for improvement.

Dagmar WMA:
Percent Flooded:  0%.
Habitat Conditions:  Bayou DeView is very low
Weather: Mild conditions
Migrations/Observations: No new flights observed.
Duck Abundance: Few ducks observed.
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor.
General Comments: Only permanent water is available on Dagmar. Bayou DeView is also extremely low and not navigable.
Mud Slough GTR:
Percent Flooded: 0%
Habitat Conditions:  Good acorn crop.
Weather: Mild conditions. 
Migrations/Observations:  No new flights.
Duck Abundance: A few wood ducks are in the slough pockets.
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor.
General Comments:  Unable to flood the GTR due to extremely low water conditions on the Cache River and Bayou DeView. Cache River is presently at 3.0 feet.
Apple Lake Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 10%.
Habitat Conditions:  Good acorn crop.
Weather: Mild conditions.
Migrations/Observations: A few wood ducks and teal are using the lake.  
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Closed to access.
General Comments:  Very low water conditions. 
Rex Hancock/Black Swamp WMA:
Percent Flooded:  0%.
Habitat Conditions:  Good acorn crop.
Weather:  Mild conditions.
Migrations/Observations: No new flights noted.   
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor.
General Comments: The Cache River at Patterson is presently at 3.0 feet. Very low water conditions exist on the Cache River corridor, but may improve due to recent rains.

Steve N. Wilson/Raft Creek Bottoms WMA:
Percent Flooded: 50%.           
Habitat Conditions:  Main impoundments are 1 foot below full pool.
Weather: Mild conditions.
Migrations/Observations: No new flights reported.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor.
General Comments:  A quota permit draw (two hours before official shooting hours) is held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sundays throughout waterfowl season. Approximately 15 permits will be drawn on site until the area receives adequate rainfall. A computer online draw established for five stations and one mobility impaired blind throughout season. Access to all hunting stations will be difficult until the area receives significant rainfall due to low water conditions


CENTRAL ARKANSAS-

Bell Slough and Camp Robinson WMAs:
Percent Flooded: 45%.
Habitat Conditions: Good mast crop.
Migrations/Observations: Most ducks have moved on.
Duck Abundance: Very few, mostly gadwalls and wood ducks.
Hunter Activity/Success: Moderate activity with very little to moderate success. 
General Comments: The east boat launch has been channeled for easier access to Grassy Lake.
Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 10%.
Habitat Conditions: Moderate seed production.
Migrations/Observations: None.
Duck Abundance: No ducks.
General Comments:  Waiting on rainfall.

Holland Bottoms WMA:
Percent Flooded: 25%.
Habitat Conditions: Good mast crop.
Migrations/Observations:  Fair numbers of wood ducks in the ditches.
Duck Abundance: Very few.
Hunter Activity/Success: Some activity with limited success.
General Comments: Rainfall is needed.
Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 75%.
Habitat Conditions: Moderate seed production.
Migrations/Observations:  A handful of mallards are using the rest area. 
Duck Abundance: Few ducks.

Harris Brake WMA:
Percent Flooded: 95%
Habitat Conditions: Good mast crop.
Migrations/Observations: None.
Duck Abundance: Very few.
Hunter Activity/Success: High activity with limited success. 
General Comments: Fair numbers of wood ducks.

Lake Conway:
Percent Flooded: 100%.
Habitat Conditions: Normal.
Migrations/Observations: None noted.
Duck Abundance: Very few ducks.
Hunter Activity/Success: High activity, but very few in the bag.
General Comments: Only Pierce and Dix Creeks are open to waterfowl hunting.    


SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS-

Bayou Meto WMA:
General Comments: There has not been a sufficient amount of rainfall at this point in the season.
Upper Vallier:
Percent Flooded: 0%.
Habitat Conditions: Fair
Migrations/Observations: Poor
Duck Abundance: Poor
Hunter Activity/Success: Low
            Lower Vallier:
Percent Flooded: 0%.
Habitat Conditions: Fair.
Migrations/Observations: Poor.
Duck Abundance:  Poor.
Hunter Activity/Success: Low.
            Government Cypress:
Percent Flooded: 0%.
Habitat Conditions:  Fair.
Migrations/Observations:  Fair.
Duck Abundance:   Poor.
Hunter Activity/Success:  Low.
            Buckingham Flats:
Percent Flooded: 0%.
Habitat Conditions:  Fair.
Migrations/Observations:  Low.
Duck Abundance:  Poor.
Hunter Activity/Success:  Low.
General Comments: Water levels too low to pump.
            Temple Island:
Percent Flooded: 0%.
Habitat Conditions:  Fair.
Migrations/Observations:  Low.
Duck Abundance:  Poor.
Hunter Activity/Success:  Poor.
General Comments: Water levels too low to pump.
Hallowell Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 70%.
Habitat Conditions:   Good.
Migrations/Observations:   Moderate.
Duck Abundance:   Moderate.
Hunter Activity/Success:   N/A
Wrape Plantation:
Percent Flooded: 30%.
Habitat Conditions:   Good.
Migrations/Observations:   Moderate.
Duck Abundance:   Moderate.
Hunter Activity/Success:   N/A

Cut-Off Creek WMA:
Open Area
Percent Flooded: 5%.
Habitat Conditions:  Good mast crop. Conditions poor due to low water.
Migrations/Observations:  Poor at this time.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Activity is low and success has been poor.
General Comments: Deep Slough is at 129.0 MSL.
Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 5%.
Habitat Conditions:  Good mast crop. Conditions poor due to low water.
Migrations/Observations: Poor.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: N/A.

 Seven Devils WMA:
Percent Flooded: 10%.
Habitat Conditions:  Poor due to low water.
Migrations/Observations: Poor.
Duck Abundance: Low, with a good number of wood ducks.
Hunter Activity/Success: Activity is low and success is poor.
General Comments: Water is too low for boating access.

Trusten Holder WMA at Arkansas River:
Percent Flooded: 100%.
Habitat Conditions: Good
Migrations/Observations: Fair, with mallards, gadwalls, teal and shovelers.
Duck Abundance:   Fair.
Hunter Activity/Success:  Fair.

Choctaw Island WMA:
Percent Flooded: 10%.
Habitat Conditions: Fair.
Migrations/Observations: Low.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success:  Low.
Comments:  The river gauge is 6.5 feet.

Beryl Anthony/Lower Ouachita WMA:
Percent Flooded: 0%.
Weather: Much colder temperatures this weekend.
Duck Abundance: No ducks reported.
General Comments: Area is dependent on the river to flood and it will need a lot of rain before the area floods.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS-

Dr. Lester Sitzes, III/Bois d’ Arc Lake Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 60%.
Habitat Conditions: Good conditions.
Weather: Cloudy and cool.
Migrations/Observations: Few ducks.
Duck Abundance: Low

Dr. Lester Sitzes, III/Bois d’ Arc WMA:
            Red Slough Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 0%.
Habitat Conditions:  Dry.
Weather: Cloudy and cool.
Migrations/Observations: No ducks.
Duck Abundance: Very few ducks.
General Comments:  Good mast production.
            Greentree Reservoir:
Percent Flooded: 10%.
Habitat Conditions: The mast crop is good.
Weather: Cloudy and cool.
Migrations/Observations: Few ducks.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor.
General Comments:  Water should rise some with recent rainfall.
Little Grassy:
Percent Flooded: 10%
Habitat Conditions: Good.
Weather: Cloudy and cool.
 Migrations/Observations: Very few ducks.
Duck Abundance: A few wood ducks.
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor.
            General Comments: Moist soil unit has good seed production and should attract ducks later in the season.

Millwood Lake:
Percent Flooded: 259.2 MSL.
Habitat Conditions: Water is stable.
Weather: Cloudy and cool.
Migrations/Observations: No new ducks.
Hunter Activity/Success: Fair.
Duck Abundance:  Duck numbers are fair. Mallards, gadwall and wood ducks are being reported.

Sulphur River WMA:
            Mercer Bayou:
Percent Flooded:  10%
Habitat Conditions: Poor.
Weather: Cloudy and cool.
Migrations/Observations: No new ducks.
Duck Abundance:  Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor.
Henry Moore Rest Area:
Percent Flooded:  90%
Habitat Conditions: Good.
Weather: Cloudy and cool.
Migrations/Observations: No new ducks.
Duck Abundance: Fair

 
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS-

Ed Gordon/Point Remove WMA:             
Percent Flooded: 5%.
Habitat Conditions:  Lots of millet and natural vegetation
Weather: Two inches of rainfall reported last week.
Migrations/Observations:  None observe. 
Duck Abundance:  Poor.
Hunter Activity/Success:  Poor.    
General Comments:  No power to the area at this time due to the tornadoes. When power is restored pumping will resume.

Arkansas River Valley:
Percent Flooded: 25%
Habitat Conditions: The area received some heavy rains Sunday, but that water has run off leaving some sheet water in fields.
Weather: Portions of the River Valley received up to three inches of rain.
Migrations/Observations:  Snow geese and a few mallards moved into the area over the weekend.
Duck Abundance:  Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Low.  
General Comments: Cold fronts are needed to move birds into the area.

Dardanelle WMA:
Percent Flooded: 100%.
Habitat Conditions: Good.
Weather: Very little rain over the weekend.
Migrations/Observations: A few mallards and snow geese moved in over the weekend.
Duck Abundance: Moderate.
Hunter Activity/Success: A few limits are being taken by hunters in the area.
General Comments: Need cold front to push more ducks into the area.

Ozark Pool:
Percent Flooded: 100%.
Habitat Conditions: Good.
Weather: Warm and mild.
Migrations/Observations: Several flights of snow geese observed.
Duck Abundance: Poor.
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor.   
General Comments:  Need cold fronts to push ducks into the area.

Dyer Lake Cells:
Percent Flooded: 50%.
Habitat Conditions: Good amounts of millet in moist soil units.
Weather: Cool and mild.
Migrations/Observations:  Several flights of snow geese observed.
Duck Abundance: Poor.
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor.  
General Comments: Need general rainfall and cold fronts to move ducks into the area.

Arkansas River Pool 9:
Percent Flooded: 100%.
Habitat Conditions: Good.
Weather: Mild
Migrations/Observations: Several flights of snow geese.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Low.   
General Comments: Need general rainfall and cold fronts to move birds into the area.

Petit Jean WMA:
Percent Flooded:
            Black Lands Moist Soil Units-95%.
            Slaty Crossing Moist Soil Units- 0%.
            Pullen Pond- 0%.
            Pond Creek- 0%.
            Slaty Pond- 0%.
            Santa Fe- 0%.
Habitat Conditions: Not quite as dry.
Weather: Rainfall has given some relief.
Migrations/Observations:  Very few.
Duck Abundance:  Few mallards.
Hunter Activity/Success: Low.
General Comments:  Need general rainfall and cold weather to push birds into the area.

Lake Nimrod WMA:
Percent Flooded: 75%.
Habitat Conditions: A lot of hard mast, some small grains planted in fields
Weather: Warm and mild.
Migrations/Observations: Moderate migrations.
Duck Abundance: Moderately low, some teal and wood ducks
Hunter Activity/Success:  N/A
General Comments:  Very little rainfall, conditions extremely dry.

Galla Creek WMA:
Percent Flooded: 100%.
Habitat Conditions: Good mast crop.
Weather: Two inches of rainfall from the weekend rains.
Migrations/Observations: Very few ducks reported.
Duck Abundance: Poor.
Hunter Activity/Success: N/A   

Johnson County Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 40%.
Habitat Conditions: Good.
Weather: Light rain over the weekend.
Migrations/Observations: Several Mallards moved through over the weekend 
Duck Abundance: High.
Hunter Activity/Success: N/A   
General Comments: No hunting in the rest area. A good number of mallards are using the moist soil units

Frog Bayou WMA:
Percent Flooded: Less than 5%.
Habitat Conditions: Poor.
Weather: Very light rainfall over the weekend.
Migrations/Observations: None observed.
Duck Abundance: No ducks sighted.
Hunter Activity/Success: N/A
General Comments: The only water is in the levee borrow. The area will need significant rainfall to improve conditions.


*Information on river levels can be found at: <http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/> or <http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html> or <http://www.agfc.com/education/waterlevels_details.html>
Sunrise sunset tables are available at: <http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html> and in the Arkansas Waterfowl Regulations Guide.
 

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