Weekly Waterfowl Report
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Keith Stephens (501) 223-6342, e-mail: kastephens@agfc.state.ar.us

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's waterfowl report for Dec. 6, 2006.
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: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. North-northwest wind around 5 mph

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. North-northwest wind between 5 and 10 mph

Thursday: Partly sunny, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 43. North northwest wind between 10 and 15 mph

Thursday night: Clear, with a low around 21. North wind between 5 and 10 mph

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 44. North northwest wind around 5 mph

Friday night: Clear, with a low around 26. South wind around 5 mph

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 53. South wind between 5 and 10 mph

Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 34. South-southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph

Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a high near 54. South wind around 5 mph

Sunday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56.

Monday night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Tuesday: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS –

Dave Donaldson/Black River WMA:
Percent Flooded:  80 percent in the GTRs and 80 percent in the moist soil units.  The Black River is on the rise to a current stage of 10.3 feet at Corning. The river is expected to hit around 10.9 feet by Thursday.  The Lower Island is at 268.1 MSL, Winchester is 264.2 MSL, Brookings is 266 MSL, Upper Reno is 266.6 MSL and the Lower Reno GTR is 267.15 MSL. The area should reach the 100 percent mark this week.
Habitat Conditions:  Still remain good.
Weather Conditions: The week will start off cool and remain so throughout the week. Highs for the week will range from 41 to 48 degrees. Mostly clear skies are forecast. Lows for the week will range from 20 to 31 degrees. 
Duck Abundance:  Moderate numbers are on the area. Lake Ashbaugh has high numbers. Ducks are not moving off the lake until later in the mornings or after the noon hour. Most ducks have been harvested in the woods and a few in fields.  
Hunter activity/Success:  Fair to moderate success depending on location. The timber hunters have had better success with many taking limits.  The crop and field hunters have not been as successful. Hunting pressure picked up over the weekend. 
 
Shirey Bay-Rainey Brake WMA:
Percent Flooded: The Adam’s Brake GTR and Rainey Brake GTR are 100 percent flooded. The Phase III, River Field, Charles Crisp and Ward Field moist soil units are 100 percent flooded.
Habitat Conditions: Good mast crop. Flooding from the Black River has placed water across the road in several locations, but has not stopped vehicles from passing.
Weather: Sunny through the weekend with highs in the 40s and low in the 20s.
Migrations/Observations: No new ducks have been observed moving into the area this week. Flooding from the Black River has caused a lot of ducks to leave the area.
Duck Abundance: Fair.
Hunter Activity/Success: Hunter activity was heavy with good success on Saturday. Hunter success was fair on Sunday.

St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA:
Percent Flooded: The Snowden Waterfowl Rest Area is 60 percent flooded and the Payneway Waterfowl Rest Area is 50 percent flooded.  The St. Francis River level at Oak Donnick was 212.94 MSL on Dec. 6.
Habitat Conditions:  The Snowden WRA has a good stand of smartweed, panic grass, millet and sedges. The Payneway WRA has a higher abundance of smartweed within the borrow areas. Acorn production within the floodways is considered good.
Weather Conditions:  Temperatures in the high 40s and lows in the low 30s with no rain expected throughout the week. The weekend is expected to have sunny skies with a high of 48 with lows dipping into the high 20s.        
Migrations/Observations: Some ducks and geese have been seen migrating into the area. 
Duck Abundance:  Fair.
Hunter Activity/Success: Hunting pressure slowed down over the weekend.   
  
Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA:
Percent Flooded: The Thompson and South Oliver Tracts are 100 percent flooded with current gauge readings at 1.32 feet and 1.78 feet, respectively.
Habitat Conditions: Acorn production is considered good. A good stand of smartweed and sedges is located within the natural sloughs and along the edges of Lake Hogue Waterfowl Rest Area.
Weather Conditions: Mostly sunny with highs in the low 50s and lows in the 20s throughout the week.
Migrations/Observations: A few ducks, with most utilizing adjacent agricultural fields.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Hunting pressure is low, with poor success.

Big Lake WMA:
Percent Flooded: Area is 100 percent flooded in the timber. Ditches are 100 percent flooded. Target water is 235.5 MSL in the north woods with a present reading of 236.0 MSL. Target water is 234.5 MSL in the south woods with a present reading of 235.0. Simmons Field unit is 100 percent flooded.
Habitat Conditions: Acorn production is good in the timber. The Simmons Field Units have millet and sorghum in the 80-acre tract in the north field on the east side. There is millet, smartweed and sedges scattered throughout the area.
Weather Conditions: Clear and sunny throughout the week. Highs in the 40s to low 50s. Lows in the upper 20s to low 30s.
Migrations/Observations: No new ducks have been observed over the past week.
Duck Abundance: Fair.
Hunter Activity/Success:  Hunting pressure is starting to fall off. Success is fair.
       
EAST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS -

Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA:
Percent Flooded: 90 percent.
Habitat Conditions:  Good acorn crop.
Weather: Colder conditions are expected throughout this week.
Migrations/Observations:  No new flights reported.
Duck Abundance: Fair.
Hunter Activity/Success: Fair.
General Comments: The Cache River at Patterson was at 8.6 feet and rising on Dec. 6.

Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA:
Percent Flooded: 90 percent          
Habitat Conditions:  Impoundment A is at full pool. Impoundment B is two inches below full pool.
Weather: Cold temperatures have remained in place following the recent cold front. Ice could be expected on much of the area if temperatures remain below freezing.
Migrations/Observations: New flights reported.
Duck Abundance: Moderate.
Hunter Activity/Success:  Moderate number of hunters having fair success.
General Comments:  A quota permit draw (two hours before official shooting hours) is held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sundays throughout waterfowl season. A computer online draw has been established for five stations and one mobility-impaired blind throughout the season.

Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA
Percent Flooded: 100 percent. White River at Augusta was at 30.9 feet and Georgetown was at 17.3 feet as of Dec. 6.
Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.
Weather: Cold weather is expected all week and some icing may occur.
Migrations/Observations:  Some new flights are being reported in the area.
Duck Abundance:  Moderate.
Hunter Activity/Success: Moderate.
General Comments: Water is rising due to recent rains, and Hurricane Lake Road (the main access road) is closed due to flooding.
North GTR:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.
Weather: Cold weather is expected all week and some icing may occur.
Migrations/Observations: Some new flights being reported.
Duck Abundance:  Moderate.
Hunter Activity/Success: Moderate.
General Comments:  Water is rising due to recent rains.
South GTR: 
Percent Flooded: 100 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.
Weather: Cold weather is expected all week.
Migrations/Observations: Some new flights being reported.
Duck Abundance: Moderate.
Hunter Activity/Success: Moderate.
General Comments: Water is rising due to recent rains.

Dagmar WMA:
Percent Flooded: 20 percent.
Habitat Conditions:  Bayou DeView is falling.
Weather: Cold conditions.
Migrations/Observations: No new flights observed.
Duck Abundance: Few ducks, mainly wood ducks.
Hunter Activity/Success: Moderate to poor.
 General Comments: Most sloughs are icing over. Cache River at Cotton Plant was at 13.5 feet and falling as of Dec. 6.
Mud Slough GTR:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.
Weather: Cold conditions.
Migrations/Observations: No new flights.
Duck Abundance: A few wood ducks are using the GTR.
Hunter Activity/Success: Moderate to poor.
General Comments: A few wood ducks have moved back into the GTR. Very few mallards are being reported.
Apple Lake Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 50 percent
Habitat Conditions:  Good acorn crop.
Weather: Cool conditions.
Migrations/Observations: No new flights observed. 
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Closed to access.
General Comments:  Apple Lake will remain closed to access until after waterfowl season closes. 

CENTRAL ARKANSAS -

Bell Slough WMA:
Percent Flooded: 60 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Moderate mast crop.
Migrations/Observations: Several new flights seen.
Duck Abundance: Very few.
Hunter Activity/Success: A few groups are managing to limit out in Grassy Lake.
General Comments: The recent cold front pushed a few new ducks into the area.
Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 30 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good seed production.
Migrations/Observations: None.
Duck Abundance: Few ducks.

Holland Bottoms WMA:
Percent Flooded: 20 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good mast crop.
Migrations/Observations:  Fair numbers of wood ducks in the ditches.
Duck Abundance: Very few.
Hunter Activity/Success: None noted.
General Comments: Rainfall required for overflow flooding.  
Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Moderate seed production.
Migrations/Observations: None noted.
Duck Abundance: No ducks.

Harris Brake WMA:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Moderate mast crop.
Migrations/Observations: A few new flights of ducks.
Duck Abundance: Plenty of wood ducks.
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor success.
General Comments: Closed Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
 
Lake Conway:
Percent Flooded: 60 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Normal.
Migrations/Observations: Few ducks seen.
Duck Abundance: Very few ducks.
Hunter Activity/Success: None noted.
General Comments: Lake drawdown in progress through December. Only Pierce and Dix Creeks are open to waterfowl hunting. 

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS-

Bayou Meto WMA:
Upper Vallier:
Percent Flooded: 5 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good.
Migrations/Observations: Low.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Low.
            Lower Vallier:
Percent Flooded: 50 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good.
Migrations/Observations: Low.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Low.
            Government Cypress:
Percent Flooded: 30 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good.
Migrations/Observations: Low.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Low.
            Buckingham Flats:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good.
Migrations/Observations: Low.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Low.
            Temple Island:
Percent Flooded: 75 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good.
Migrations/Observations: Low.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Low.
Halowell Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good.
Migrations/Observations: Low.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Wrape Plantation:
Percent Flooded: 90 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good.
Migrations/Observations: Low.
Duck Abundance: Low.

Cut-Off Creek WMA:
Open Area
Percent Flooded: 75 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Excellent.
Migrations/Observations: No new movement.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Low number of hunters with poor success. 
General Comments: Deep Slough was at 130.7 MSL on Dec. 6.
Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Excellent.
Migrations/Observations: No new movement.
Duck Abundance: Low.

 Seven Devils WMA:
Percent Flooded: 20 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Fair.
Migrations/Observations: No new movement.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Low number of hunters with poor success.
General Comments: Water is too low for boat access.

Trusten Holder WMA at Arkansas River:
Percent Flooded: River water only, with variable levels of backwater flooding.
Habitat Conditions: Good.
Migrations/Observations: A few gadwalls, teal and few mallards have been reported in the area.
Duck Abundance: Few.
Hunter Activity/Success: Fair.
General Comments: Arkansas River gauge at Pendleton Ferry was at 26.4 feet as of Dec. 6.

Choctaw Island WMA:
Percent Flooded: River water only, with variable levels of backwater flooding.
Habitat Conditions: Fair.
Migrations/Observations: Low.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Low.
Comments: Mississippi River gauge at Arkansas City was at 14.1 feet as of Dec. 6.

Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA:
Percent Flooded: No water.
Habitat Conditions: Fair
Migrations/Observations: A few wood ducks are in the area.
Water Levels: 52.3 feet above sea level below the Felsenthal Lock and Dam. The area will begin to flood when water levels exceed 65.0 feet above sea level.
Duck Abundance: Very few ducks have been reported by hunters.
Hunter Activity/Success: Low.
General Comments: Ducks will begin to migrate to the area when water levels rise with increased precipitation.


SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS-

Dr. Lester Sitzes, III Bois d’ Arc Lake Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 80 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good.
Weather: Sunny, cold.
Migrations/Observations: No new ducks observed.
Duck Abundance: A few mallards and wood ducks.
Hunter Activity/Success: N/A
General Comments: Lake is closed to duck hunting.

Dr. Lester Sitzes, III Bois d’ Arc WMA:
            Red Slough Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 5 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Poor
Weather: Sunny, cold.
Migrations/Observations: Few wood ducks.
Duck Abundance: Poor.
Hunter Activity/Success: N/A
General Comments:  Rest area completely closed to duck hunting.
            Green Tree Reservoir:
Percent Flooded: 5 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good mast crop. Conditions should improve with rain and cooler weather.
Weather: Sunny, cold.
Migrations/Observations: A few mallards and gadwalls.
Duck Abundance: Poor
Hunter Activity/Success: Fair
General Comments: Walk in hunting only. No boats due to low water conditions.
Little Grassy:
Percent Flooded: Dry.
Habitat Conditions: Poor.
Weather:  Sunny, cold.
 Migrations/Observations: No ducks.
Duck Abundance: Poor.
Hunter Activity/Success: None.

Millwood Lake:
Percent Flooded: 260.18 MSL.
Habitat Conditions: Water level rising slowly.
Weather: Sunny, cold.
Migrations/Observations: No new ducks observed.
Duck Abundance: Moderate.
Hunter Activity/Success: Fair.
General Comments: Some limits were observed over the Thanksgiving holiday.

Sulphur River WMA:
            Mercer Bayou:
Percent Flooded: 50 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Water level is stable. Habitat conditions are poor due to drought conditions.
Weather: Sunny, cold.
Migrations/Observations: No new ducks observed.
Duck Abundance: Low numbers. Mostly wood ducks, gadwalls, blue-wing and green-wing teal along with a few mallards.
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor.
Henry Moore Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 75 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good. Seed production in the moist soil openings has been good.
Weather: Sunny, cold.
Migrations/Observations: No new ducks observed.
Duck Abundance: Good number of ducks.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS-

Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA:
Percent Flooded: 70 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Some cells have been planted with millet and others have natural vegetation.
Weather: Mostly clear and sunny with the highs in the 50s and the lows in the 20s.
Migrations/Observations: Very few.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: A few hunters are taking ducks on the WMA.  
General Comments:  Still seeing new migrations.

Arkansas River Valley:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Still have a lot of beans in the field that need to be harvested which makes for good habitat conditions in the area.
Weather: Mostly clear and sunny with the highs in the 50s and the lows in the 20s.
Migrations/Observations:  Heavy on Thursday of last week.
Duck Abundance: Fair.
Hunter Activity/Success: High.
General Comments: Still seeing new migrations.

Dardanelle WMA:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Moist soil units are 100 percent. High-energy seeds are scattered throughout the area.
Weather: Mostly clear and sunny with the highs in the 50s and the lows in the 20s
Migrations/Observations: Heavy migrations were reported last week.
Duck Abundance: Fair.
Hunter Activity/Success: High.
General Comments: Still seeing new migrations.

Ozark Pool:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Moist soil units are flooded. Good millet crop and moist soil plants.
Weather: Mostly clear and sunny with the highs in the 50s and the lows in the 20s.
Migrations/Observations:  Good migrations are being reported.
Duck Abundance: Fair.
Hunter Activity/Success:  High.
General Comments: Still seeing new migrations into the area.

Dyer Lake Cells:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good habitat conditions. Moist soil area has produced excellent food along with good millet crop.
Weather: Mostly clear and sunny with the highs in the 50s and the lows in the 20s.
Migrations/Observations: Good numbers are being reported.
Duck Abundance: Fair.
Hunter Activity/Success: High.
General Comments: Still seeing new migrations.

Arkansas River Pool 9:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good. Agricultural fields along river have good water.
Weather: Mostly clear and sunny with the highs in the 50s and the lows in the 20s.
Migrations/Observations:  Good numbers of ducks were reported in the area last week.
Duck Abundance: Fair.
Hunter Activity/Success: High.
General Comments: Still seeing new migrations.

Petit Jean WMA:
Percent Flooded:
            Black Lands Moist Soil Units -100 percent
            Slaty Crossing Moist Soil Units - 100 percent
            Pullen Pond - 100 percent
            Pond Creek - 100 percent
            Slaty Pond - 100 percent
            Santa Fe - 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: Excellent hard mast crop in the timber. Millet did well in the Black Lands fields.
Weather: Mostly clear and sunny with lows in the 20s and highs in the 50s.
Migrations/Observations:  Very few ducks -- mainly mallards, wood ducks and gadwalls.
Duck Abundance: Fair number, but scattered.
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor. 
General Comments: Some new ducks have moved into the area, but are scattered.

Lake Nimrod WMA:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Excellent hard mast crop in the timber. Millet did well in the field systems.
Weather: Mostly clear and sunny with the highs in the 50s and the lows in the 20s.
Migrations/Observations: Some new ducks have moved into the area.
Duck Abundance: Fair numbers, but scattered.
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor.
General Comments: The area is 10 inches above normal level.

Galla Creek WMA:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Fair mast crop and clear water.
Weather: Mostly clear and sunny with the highs in the 50s and the lows in the 20s
Migrations/Observations: Very few.
Duck Abundance: Low
Hunter Activity/Success: A few hunters with very little success.  
General Comments: Still seeing new migrations.
 
Johnson County Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 60 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good moist soil units produced excellent food with a good millet crop.
Weather: Mostly clear and sunny with the highs in the 50s and the lows in the 20s.
Migrations/Observations: Very few.
Duck Abundance: Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Very low.
General Comments: Still seeing new migrations.

 Frog Bayou WMA:
Percent Flooded: 95 percent.
Habitat Conditions: Good stands of native vegetation.
Weather: Mostly clear and sunny with highs in the 50s and the lows in the 20s.
Migrations/Observations: New migrations were reported over the weekend.
Duck Abundance: Low to fair. Gadwall, teal and wood ducks in the area.
Hunter Activity/Success: Hunter activity has been light with low success rates.
General Comments: Still seeing new migrations.

*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.