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. 12, 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...Cooler. Rain with isolated thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 50s. Temperatures steady or slowly falling in the afternoon. North winds 10 to 15 mph in the morning, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation 80 percent. Average rainfall 1/10 to 1/4 inch.

Tonight...Rain in the evening. Isolated thunderstorms during the night. A chance of rain after midnight. Lows around 40. North winds 5 to 10 mph. The chance of precipitation 80 percent in the evening, decreasing to 50 percent after midnight. Average rainfall 1/4 to 1/2 inch.

Thursday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s. Northwest winds 5 mph.

Thursday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 30s. Northeast winds 5 mph.

Friday...Partly sunny. A slight chance of rain in the morning... Then a chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs around 50. East winds 5 to 10 mph. The chance of precipitation 40 percent.

Friday Night...Rain likely. Lows in the mid 30s. The chance of precipitation 70 percent.

Saturday...Colder. Rain and snow likely in the morning...then a chance of rain and snow in the afternoon. Light snow accumulations. Highs in the upper 30s. The chance of precipitation 70 percent.

Saturday Night...Partly cloudy. Colder. Lows in the mid 20s.

Sunday...Sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.

Sunday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.

Monday...Mostly sunny. Highs around 50.

Monday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s.

Tuesday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s.

 

 

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS –

 

Dave Donaldson/Black River WMA:

Percent Flooded:  Lower Reyno GTR is 80 percent flooded with the gauge reading of 267.5 MSL. The Upper Reyno GTR is 95 percent flooded with a gauge reading of 267.1 MSL. The Lower Island is 95 percent flooded with a gauge reading of 269.8 MSL. The Upper Island is 100 percent flooded with a gauge reading of 268.8 MSL. The Winchester GTR is at 70 percent with a gauge reading of 263.5 MSL.  There is no trace on the Hubble and Brookings gauges for Little and Big Black Rivers. The current Corning stage is 7.4 feet.  

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

Weather Conditions:  Highs for the week will range from 43 to 64 degrees.  A 90 percent chance of rain is forecast for Wednesday.  Lows for the week will range from 35 to 44 degrees. 

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

Hunter activity/Success:  Low numbers have been harvested in the timber, but moderate to good numbers have been taken in the surrounding fields.  

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

 

Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA:

Percent Flooded: The Adam’s Brake GTR is 90 percent flooded at 239 MSL 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:  Rain and thunderstorms through Wednesday. Turning cooler by the end of the week with highs in the low 40s with partly cloudy skies.

Migrations/Observations:  A fair number of ducks were observed moving in and out of the management area this week but many ducks have left the area since Sunday due to recent storms.

Duck Abundance: Poor

Hunter Activity/Success:  A few ducks were taken over the weekend but hunter success remains poor. Hunter activity is light with few hunters observed at the Horseshoe Lake Access and the Big Eddy Access.

 

St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA:

Percent Flooded:  The Snowden Waterfowl Rest Area is 35 percent flooded and Payneway WRA is at 30 percent of capacity. The current St. Francis River level at Oak Donnick is 212.05 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:  60 percent chance of rain on Wednesday and a 30 percent chance on Thursday. However, the remainder of the week will be sunny. Highs will be in the upper 40s and lower 50s. 

Migrations/Observations: Several geese are flying over the area, but no new ducks have been seen.

Duck Abundance:  Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair 

      

Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA:

Percent Flooded:  The current Thompson Tract gauge reading is at 1.3 feet with the South Oliver Tract gauge reading at 1.72 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 within the natural sloughs and along the edges of Lake Hogue Waterfowl Rest Area.

Weather Conditions:  Temperatures are expected to range in the low 50s during the day and low 30s at night. A 60 percent chance of rain is expected through Wednesday. Partly cloudy conditions will continue the rest of the week.

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

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

Hunter Activity/Success:  Hunter activity has decreased with fair success.

 

Big Lake WMA:

Percent Flooded: Area is 100 percent flooded in the timber. Ditches are 100 percent flooded. Target is 235.5 MSL in the north woods with a present reading of 235.5 MSL. Target is 234.5 MSL in the south woods with a present reading of 235.1 MSL. Simmons Field unit is 100 percent flooded.

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Weather Conditions: Lows dropping into the low to mid 30s by the end of the week.  There is a chance of rain and thunderstorms throughout the 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:  Average number of hunters having moderate success.  There were a high number of hunters having moderate success over the weekend.

General Comments:  Be aware of logs near the surface in the ditches.  Be careful of launching at the Simmons structure. Stop logs are being removed because of high water.

       

EAST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS -

 

Dagmar WMA:

Percent Flooded:  0 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Bayou DeView is low.

Weather: Mild conditions.

Migrations/Observations: No new flights observed.

Duck Abundance: Few ducks observed. Mostly wood ducks and gadwall.

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

General Comments: Only permanent water available on Dagmar.  Most sloughs are full, but very little water in any timber.

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 in the slough pockets and some mallards reported being harvested.

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

General Comments: Unable to flood the GTR because of extremely low water conditions on Cache and Bayou DeView. Cache River is at 12.45 feet at Cotton Plant.

Apple Lake Rest Area:

Percent Flooded: 50 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good acorn crop.

Weather: Mild conditions.

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

Duck Abundance: Low

Hunter Activity/Success: Closed to access.

General Comments: Low water conditions.

 

 

Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA

Percent Flooded:  15 percent. White River at Augusta is 12.96 feet and Georgetown is at 1.78 feet.

Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.

Weather:  Overcast.

Migrations/Observations:  Low numbers of ducks.

Duck Abundance: Low

Hunter Activity/Success: Low

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

North GTR:

Percent Flooded: 15 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.

Weather: Cool and wet.

Migrations/Observations: Low numbers of ducks.

Duck Abundance:  Low

Hunter Activity/Success: Low

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

South GTR: 

Percent Flooded: 20 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.

Weather: Cloudy and cool.

Migrations/Observations: Low duck numbers.

Duck Abundance:  Low

Hunter Activity/Success: Low

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

 

Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA:

Percent Flooded:  90 percent.

Habitat Conditions:  Good acorn crop.

Weather:  Wet and cool.

Migrations/Observations: A few new flights noted. 

Duck Abundance: Fair number of ducks.

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

General Comments: The Cache River at Patterson is at 6.8 feet.

 

Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent of capacity.  

Habitat Conditions:  Main impoundments are at full pool.

Weather: Warmer with rain during the early part of the week and clearing and cooler later this week.

Migrations/Observations:  New flights seen using Impoundment D and A.  Good number of ducks on adjacent properties.

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: N/A

General Comments:  A quota permit draw (two hours before official shooting hours) is held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sundays throughout waterfowl season. Approximately 18 permits will be drawn on site opening day. A computer online draw established for (5) stations and (one) mobility-impaired blind throughout season.  Hunting stations within Impoundments D and A can be accessed by boat.  Hunting stations not within impoundments D and A will be accessed by walking.  White River stage at Georgetown is 1.8.

 

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 few 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:

General Comments:

Upper Vallier:

Percent Flooded: 85 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:  Moderate

Duck Abundance:  Moderate

Hunter Activity/Success:  Moderate

            Lower Vallier:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent.

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:  Low to moderate.

Duck Abundance:  Low to moderate.

Hunter Activity/Success:  Moderate

            Government Cypress:

Percent Flooded: 100 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: 75 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:  Moderate

Duck Abundance:  Moderate

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 at 0 msl (below gauge).

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:  Low

General Comments:   Arkansas River gauge at Pendleton Ferry at 26.2 feet on Dec. 10.

 

Choctaw Island WMA:

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

Habitat Conditions:  Fair

Migrations/Observations:  Moderate

Duck Abundance:  Moderate

Hunter Activity/Success:  Good

Comments:  Mississippi River gauge at Arkansas City at 7.2

feet on Dec. 10.

 

Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA:

Percent Flooded: 0 percent

Habitat Conditions: Fair

Migrations/Observations: A few gadwall, mallards and pintails are being reported in the area, but none on the WMA.

Weather Conditions: For this week, low temps range from 34-40, high temperatures range from 53-58 with a 30 to 40 percent chance of rain Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.  A few scattered showers may appear on Friday and Saturday.

Water Levels: 66.0 feet MSL above and 54.4 feet MSL below the Felsenthal Lock and Dam. 

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

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair north of WMA, none on the WMA.

General Comments: The area will begin to flood when water levels exceed 65.0 feet MSL below the dam.  The water levels are rising at 0.1 feet per day above the dam.

 

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS -

 

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

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good

Weather: should be cooler this week

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: 80 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good

Weather: Should be cooler this week.

Migrations/Observations: A few mallards and wood ducks.

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: N/A

General Comments:  Rest area completely closed to duck hunting.

            Greentree Reservoir:

Percent Flooded: 75 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good mast crop, conditions should improve with rain and cooler weather.

Weather: Should be cooler this week.

Migrations/Observations: Some mallards and gadwall.

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

Little Grassy:

Percent Flooded: 60 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good

Weather:  Should be cooler this week.

 Migrations/Observations: Few ducks.

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

                        General Comments: Walk in only.

 

Millwood Lake:

Percent Flooded: 256.27 MSL

Habitat Conditions: Water level is falling slowly.

Weather: Should be cooler this week.

Migrations/Observations: Very low duck numbers because of drawdown

Duck Abundance: Low

Hunter Activity/Success: Low

 General Comments: Navigate the lake with extreme caution because of submerged stumps and logs. The low water level has caused many stumps in the boat lanes to become hazards as well. Unusable boat ramps are at Paraloma, Cotton Shed, Saratoga and Beards Bluff.

 

Sulphur River WMA:

            Mercer Bayou:

Percent Flooded: 75 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good

Weather: Recent rains have improved habitat conditions.

Migrations/Observations: No new flights to report

Duck Abundance: Low

Hunter Activity/Success: Poor

General Comments: Habitat is in good shape from summer rains.

Henry Moore Rest Area:

Percent Flooded:  80 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good

Weather: Recent rains have improved habitat conditions

Migrations/Observations: No new flights to report.

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:  Rain and warm weather.

Migrations/Observations:  Very few.

Duck Abundance: Low

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

General Comments:  No new migrations.

 

Galla Creek WMA:

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

 

Petit Jean WMA:

Percent Flooded:

      Black Lands Moist Soil Units – 100 percent

      Slaty Crossing Moist Soil Unit – 100 percent

      Pullen Pond – 20 percent

      Pond Creek – 5 percent

      Slaty Pond – 15 percent

      Santa Fe – 0 percent

Habitat Conditions: Fair amount of red oak acorns in the timber and millet did well in Blacklands fields.

Weather: Highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s. 

Migrations/Observations: A few new flights are being reported coming down with the cooler winds from the north. Ducks are feeding heavily at night and leaving the fields before shooting light in search of areas to rest during daylight hours. 

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: Most hunters are concentrating on the moist soil units. Success is fair with most hunters staying till noon. 

General Comments:  Need sustained cooler weather in the northern states to push ducks into the area and large amounts of rain to keep them here.  The WMA missed out on the heavy rains last week with only .02 inch reported. More rain is in the 10-day forecast.

 

Lake Nimrod WMA:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions: Fair red oak hard mast crop in the timber and native grasses did well in fields.

Weather: Highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s. 

Migrations/Observations: Average number of mallards, better numbers of wood ducks, gadwall and teal. Ducks are leaving the fields early and concentrating in the timber after sunrise. 

Duck Abundance: Few to fair.

Hunter Activity/Success: Most hunters with boats are launching at either end of the levee and staying till noon to bag their birds, not many with limits.  Walk-in hunters are concentrating on the northwest accesses off of the Upper Duck Pond Road.  Success for both is poor to fair.

General Comments: Need sustained cooler weather in the northern states to push ducks into the area and large amounts of rain to keep them here. 

 

Arkansas River Valley:

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Weather: Mild

Migrations/Observations: A few ducks are starting to arrive with the cold front.

Duck Abundance: Low

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair number of hunters over the weekend.  Some are taking their limits on the river.

General Comments:  Need continued rain and cold weather to push ducks into the area.

 

Dardanelle WMA:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent of capacity.

Habitat Conditions: Good

Weather: Clear and mild.  Recent rains didn’t produce run-off due to the dry conditions.

Migrations/Observations:  A few new ducks have arrived on the management area.

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: Hunter activity was high over the weekend and pressure has pushed mallards out of some areas. Some hunters are taking their limits on the river with ringnecks and buffleheads.

 

Ozark Pool:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Weather: Clear and mild.

Migrations/Observations:  A few ducks were reported over the weekend arriving with the cold front.

Duck Abundance:  Low

Hunter Activity/Success: Few hunters taking their limits of mallards.

General Comments:  Need continued rain and cold weather to push ducks into the area.

 

Dyer Lake Cells:

 Percent Flooded: Moist soil units are 100 percent flooded

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Weather: Rain brought some moisture, but need several inches to put sheet water in surrounding fields.

Migrations/Observations:  Some movement of ducks with the rain.

Duck Abundance: Low

Hunter Activity/Success: Low

General Comments: Need continued rain and cold weather to push ducks into the area.

 

Johnson County Rest Area:

Percent Flooded:  More than 50 percent flooded.

Habitat Conditions:  Moist soil units are good.

Weather: Cloudy, light rain over the weekend.  Didn’t produce run off because of dry conditions

Migrations/Observations:  New ducks are starting to arrive into the area.

Duck Abundance: Fair number of mallards, gadwall and teal on the rest area.