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. 5, 2007.

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. Highs around 60. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph in the morning...becoming north 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph in the evening...decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight.

Thursday...Mostly sunny. Highs around 60. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night...Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Friday...Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 60s. South winds 5 to 10 mph in the morning...increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night...Mostly cloudy. Warmer. A slight chance of showers during the night. Lows in the lower 50s. The chance of precipitation 20 percent.

Saturday...Partly sunny. A slight chance of showers in the morning...then a chance of showers in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. The chance of precipitation 30 percent.

Saturday Night...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers. Lows in the mid 50s. The chance of precipitation 40 percent.

Sunday...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers. Highs in the lower 70s. The chance of precipitation 40 percent.

Sunday Night...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers. Lows in the mid 50s. The chance of precipitation 40 percent.

Monday...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers. Highs in the upper 60s. The chance of precipitation 40 percent.

Monday Night...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers. Lows in the lower 50s. The chance of precipitation 40 percent.

Tuesday...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers. Highs in the mid 60s. The chance of precipitation 40 percent.

 

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS –

 

Dave Donaldson Black River WMA:

Percent Flooded:  Lower Reyno GTR is approximately 80 percent flooded with the gauge reading of 267.3 MSL, and the Upper Reyno GTR is 95 percent flooded with a gauge reading of 266.9 MSL. The Lower Island is 90 percent flooded with a gauge reading of 268.68 MSL, and the Upper Island is 100 percent flooded with a gauge reading of 269.8 MSL. The Winchester GTR is 70 percent with a gauge reading of 263.4 MSL. There is no trace on the Hubble and Brookings gauges for Little and Big Black Rivers. The current Corning stage is 1.92 feet.  

Habitat Conditions:  Good, with moderate abundance of mast crop within the GTRs.

Weather Conditions:  Highs for the week will range from 47 to 56 degrees. A 50 percent chance of rain is scheduled for Thursday. Lows for the week will range from 30 to 40 degrees. 

Duck Abundance:  Moderate numbers have been observed on the WMA and moist soil unit.

Hunter activity/Success:  Fair to moderate numbers of ducks have been harvested on the area over the weekend.  

Comments:  Please remember to keep all boats off the levees, so AGFC personnel can access the area.  Boats will be moved that are blocking access.

 

Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA:

Percent Flooded: The Adam’s Brake GTR is 80 percent flooded and the Rainey Brake GTR is 100 percent flooded. The Phase III, River Field, Charles Crisp and Ward Field moist soil units are 0 percent flooded.

Habitat Conditions: Fair mast crop.

Weather:  A chance of rain moving back in on Thursday and Saturday.

Migrations/Observations:  A few ducks were observed moving into the management area earlier in the week, but have moved out as of today.

Duck Abundance: Low

Hunter Activity/Success:  A few ducks were taken over the weekend but hunter success remains poor. Hunter activity has been very light.

 

St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA:

Percent Flooded:  The Snowden Waterfowl Rest Area is 70 percent flooded and Payneway WRA is at 50 percent of capacity.  The current St. Francis River level at Oak Donnick is 212.11 MSL.

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:  Partly cloudy through Thursday with a 30 percent chance of rain on Friday and Sunday. Highs in the middle 50s throughout the week. However, by the weekend, temperatures will reach into the upper 60s.

Migrations/Observations: No new ducks have been seen flying into the area.

Duck Abundance:  Fair.

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair 

      

Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA:

Percent Flooded:  The current Thompson Tract gauge reading is 1.46 feet with the South Oliver Tract gauge reading at 1.9 feet.  The Thompson and South Oliver Tracts are considered flooded at full pool.

Habitat Conditions:  Acorn production is considered fair. 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:  Colder temperatures, then warming up towards the end of the week.  A high temperature of 66 degrees during the day and low of 33 degrees at night.  A 30 to 60 chance of rain is expected Sunday through Tuesday.

Migrations/Observations:  A fair number of ducks with most utilizing adjacent agricultural fields.

Duck Abundance:  A few ducks are using the timbered areas.

Hunter Activity/Success:  A high number of hunters over the weekend had a decent amount of success on Saturday.  Sunday was considered poor, possibly due to weather conditions.

 

Big Lake WMA:

Percent Flooded: Area is 99 percent flooded in the timber. Ditches are 100 percent flooded. Target is 235.5 MSL in the north woods with a present reading of 235.4 MSL. Target is 234.5 MSL in the south woods with a present reading of 235.0 MSL. Simmons Field unit is 100 percent flooded.

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Weather Conditions: Fair this week.

Migrations/Observations:  Fair numbers of ducks are being seen flying over the area to the north and east and then returning to Big Lake NWR.

Duck Abundance: Fair to moderate.

Hunter Activity/Success:  Low numbers of hunters having moderate success.

General Comments:  Be aware of logs near the surface in the ditches.

       

EAST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS -

 

Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA

Percent Flooded: 10 percent. White River at Augusta is rising. Augusta is at 12.2 feet and Georgetown is at -.79 foot.

Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.

Weather:  Cold.

Migrations/Observations:  Low numbers of ducks.

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: 10 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.

Weather: Cold and rain.

Migrations/Observations: Low population of ducks.

Duck Abundance:  Low.

Hunter Activity/Success: Poor

General Comments: Water conditions are low and will need significant rainfall for improvement.

South GTR: 

Percent Flooded: 10 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop

Weather: Cold weather and rain

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.

 

Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent          

Habitat Conditions:  Main impoundments are at flood pool.

Weather: Some rain and cooler weather.

Migrations/Observations: A few flights observed Friday and Saturday.

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

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 opening day. A computer online draw established for (5) stations and (one) mobility impaired blind throughout season. Access to hunting stations will be improving due to recent rainfall.

 

Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA:

Percent Flooded:  100 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good acorn crop.

Weather:  Cold and rain.

Migrations/Observations: No new flights noted.   

Duck Abundance: Low

Hunter Activity/Success: Poor

General Comments: The Cache River at Patterson is presently at 9.8 feet.

and Cotton Plant reading is 10.1.

 

Dagmar WMA:

Percent Flooded:  0 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.

Weather: Mild conditions.

Migrations/Observations: No new flights observed.

Duck Abundance: Few ducks observed, mostly wood ducks, gadwall and a few teal.

Hunter Activity/Success: Poor

General Comments: Only permanent water available on Dagmar. No water in the woods. Bayou DeView is rising but still extremely difficult to navigate. 

Mud Slough GTR:

Percent Flooded: 5 percent

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 extreme low water conditions on the Cache and Bayou DeView. Cache River is presently at 10.1 feet at Cotton Plant gauge.

Apple Lake Rest Area:

Percent Flooded: 50 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good acorn crop.

Weather: Cooler weather.

Migrations/Observations: A few wood ducks using the lake. 

Duck Abundance: Low

Hunter Activity/Success: Closed to access.

General Comments:  Low water conditions.

 

CENTRAL ARKANSAS -

 

Bell Slough WMA:

Percent Flooded: 50 percent

Habitat Conditions: Moderate mast crop.

Migrations/Observations: Fair numbers of wood ducks.

Duck Abundance: Very low.

Hunter Activity/Success: Hunter activity has pushed the ducks out of the area.

General Comments: Little to no water. Waiting on rainfall.

Rest Area:

Percent Flooded: 20 percent

Habitat Conditions: Excellent seed production.

Migrations/Observations: None

Duck Abundance: No Ducks

General Comments:  Borrow ditches are full.  Waiting on rainfall.

 

Holland Bottoms WMA:

Percent Flooded: 0 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good mast crop.

Migrations/Observations:  Fair numbers of wood ducks in the ditches.

Duck Abundance: Very low.

Hunter Activity/Success: None

General Comments: Waiting on rainfall.

Rest Area:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions: Excellent seed production.

Migrations/Observations:  A couple of groups of teal are using the area.

Duck Abundance: Low

 

Harris Brake WMA:

Percent Flooded: 95 percent

Habitat Conditions: Moderate mast crop.

Migrations/Observations: None

Duck Abundance: Very low.

Hunter Activity/Success: Hunter activity has pushed the ducks out of the area.

General Comments: Fair numbers of wood ducks.

 

Lake Conway:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions: Normal

Migrations/Observations: None

Duck Abundance: Very few ducks.

Hunter Activity/Success: Hunter activity has pushed the ducks out of the area.

General Comments: Only Pierce and Dix Creeks are open to waterfowl hunting. 

 

 

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS -

 

Bayou Meto WMA:

Upper Vallier:

Percent Flooded: 85 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:  Moderate

Duck Abundance:  Moderate

Hunter Activity/Success: Moderate

            Lower Vallier:

Percent Flooded: 95 percent.

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:   Low to moderate.

Duck Abundance:  Low to moderate.

Hunter Activity/Success:  Moderate

            Government Cypress:

Percent Flooded: 95 percent.

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:  Moderate

Duck Abundance:  Moderate

Hunter Activity/Success:  Moderate

            Buckingham Flats:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent.

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:   Low

Duck Abundance:  Low

Hunter Activity/Success:  Low

            Temple Island:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent.

Habitat Conditions: Good

Migrations/Observations:  Low

Duck Abundance:  Low

Hunter Activity/Success:  Low

Halowell Rest Area:

Percent Flooded: 40 percent.

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations: Low

Duck Abundance: Low

Hunter Activity/Success: N/A

Wrape Plantation:

Percent Flooded: 80 percent.

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations: Moderate to fair.

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success:  N/A

 

Cut-Off Creek WMA:

Open Area

Percent Flooded: 5 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good

Migrations/Observations: Few

Duck Abundance: Low

Hunter Activity/Success: Poor

General Comments: Deep Slough is below the gauge reading.

Rest Area:

Percent Flooded: 5 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:   Few 

Duck Abundance:   Low

Hunter Activity/Success: N/A.

 

 Seven Devils WMA:

Percent Flooded: 5 percent.

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:  Few

Duck Abundance:   Low

Hunter Activity/Success:  Poor

General Comments:   No boating access at this time.

 

Trusten Holder WMA at Arkansas River:

Percent Flooded:  River water only, with variable levels of backwater flooding.

Habitat Conditions: Good

Migrations/Observations: Few

Duck Abundance: Low

Hunter Activity/Success:  Fair

General Comments:   Arkansas River gauge at Pendleton Ferry is at 26.19 feet.

 

Choctaw Island WMA:

Percent Flooded:   River water only, with variable levels of backwater flooding.

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:  Moderate

Duck Abundance:  Moderate

Hunter Activity/Success:  Good

Comments:  Mississippi River gauge at Arkansas City is at 7.08 feet.

 

Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA:

Percent Flooded: 0 percent

Habitat Conditions: Fair

Migrations/Observations: A few gadwall, mallards and pintails have been reported outside the area, but none on the WMA.

Weather Conditions: For this week, low temps range from 33 to 51degrees, high temps range from 53 to 73 degrees, a 10 to 20 percent chance of rain early in the week and 10 to 30 percent chance of rain over the weekend.

Water Levels: 65.1 MSL above and 53.5 MSL below the Felsenthal Lock and Dam. 

Duck Abundance: Low to moderate number of ducks have been reported on Felsenthal (north of the WMA).

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair north of the WMA.

General Comments: The area will begin to flood when water levels exceed 65.0 MSL below the dam.

 

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS -

 

Dr. Lester Sitzes, III Bois d’ Arc Lake Rest Area:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good

Weather: Fair weather predicted for this week.

Migrations/Observations: Fair amount of ducks observed.

Duck Abundance: Fair amount of ducks, mostly gadwall.

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: 75 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good

Weather: Fair weather predicted for this week.

Migrations/Observations: A few ducks are starting to use the area.

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: N/A

General Comments:  Rest area is completely closed to duck hunting.

            Greentree Reservoir:

Percent Flooded: 70 percent

Habitat Conditions: Red oak acorn production has been good.

Weather: Fair weather predicted for this week.

Migrations/Observations: Few.

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

General Comments:  The water level is continuing to rise.

Little Grassy:

Percent Flooded: 50 percent

Habitat Conditions: Excellent

Weather: Fair weather predicted for this week.

 Migrations/Observations: Very few observed using the area.

Duck Abundance: Few

Hunter Activity/Success: Low

                        General Comments: Walk in only.

 

Millwood Lake:

Percent Flooded: 256.95 MSL

Habitat Conditions: Stable.

Weather: Fair weather predicted for this week.

Migrations/Observations: Good to fair. Gadwalls and a few mallards have been reported in the area.

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

General Comments: The Corps of Engineers began the 3 foot drawdown Nov. 26.  This will expose vast amount of mud flats.  Access will be limited.  The draw down should be complete on Feb.15, 2008

 

Sulphur River WMA:

            Mercer Bayou:

Percent Flooded: 75 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good. Recent rains have improved habitat conditions.

Weather: Fair weather predicted for this week.

Migrations/Observations: Some new ducks arrived with recent cold front.

Duck Abundance:  Low

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

General Comments: Habitat is in good shape due to the summer rains.

Henry Moore Rest Area:

Percent Flooded:  80 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good. Recent rains have improved habitat conditions.

Weather:  Fair weather predicted for this week.

Migrations/Observations: Some new ducks arrived with recent cold front.

Duck Abundance: Low.

Hunter Activity/Success:  N/A.

General Comments:  Habitat very good, good seed production.

 

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS -

 

Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA:

Percent Flooded: 90 percent

Habitat Conditions: An abundance of natural vegetation.

Weather: Cold

Migrations/Observations: Very few.

Duck Abundance: Low

Hunter Activity/Success: A few hunters are taking a few ducks.

General Comments:  No new migrations.

 

Galla Creek WMA:

General Comments:   This area will not be flooded this year due to channel restoration in progress.

 

Petit Jean WMA:

Percent Flooded:

            Black Lands Moist Soil Units-100 percent

            Slaty Crossing