Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

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 Jan. 2, 2008.

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. Highs in the upper 30s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Lowest wind chill readings 10 to 15 in the morning.

Tonight...Mostly clear. Lows around 15. North winds 5 mph in the evening...becoming light and variable after midnight.

Thursday...Sunny. Highs in the lower 40s. East winds 5 mph in the morning...becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Thursday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows around 20. South winds 5 mph.

Friday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. South winds 5 to 10 mph in the morning...increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.

Friday Night...Mostly cloudy. Not as cool. Lows around 40.

Saturday...Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of showers. Highs around 60. The chance of precipitation 20 percent.

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

Sunday...Partly sunny. Breezy. A slight chance of showers. Highs in the mid 60s. The chance of precipitation 20 percent.

Sunday Night...Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of showers. Lows in the mid 50s. The chance of precipitation 20 percent.

Monday...Mostly cloudy. A slight chance of showers. Highs in the upper 60s. The chance of precipitation 20 percent.

Monday Night...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms. Lows in the lower 50s. The chance of precipitation 30 percent.

Tuesday...Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and isolated thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 60s. The chance of precipitation 30 percent.

 

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS –

 

Dave Donaldson Black River WMA:

Percent Flooded:  Lower Reyno GTR is 100 percent flooded with a gauge reading of 267.7 MSL, and the Upper Reyno GTR is 100 percent flooded with a gauge reading of 267.0 MSL. The Lower Island is 100percent flooded with a gauge reading of 268.9 MSL, and Upper Island is 100 percent flooded with a gauge reading of 270.2 MSL. The Winchester GTR is 100 percent flooded with a gauge reading of 264.6 MSL. Hubble gauge on Little River is at 268.6 MSL, and Brookings gauge for Big Black River is at 267.1 MSL. The current Corning stage is 7.79 feet.  

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

Weather Conditions: Highs for the week will range from 35 to 52 degrees.

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

Hunter activity/Success: High numbers have been harvested in the timber, and 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 will be moved that are blocking access.

 

Shirey Bay-Rainey Brake WMA:

Percent Flooded: The Adam’s Brake GTR and the Rainey Brake GTR are 100 percent flooded. The Phase III and Charles Crisp moist soil units are 100 percent flooded. The Ward Field and River Field moist soil units are 15 percent flooded.

Habitat Conditions: Fair mast crop and good water conditions.

Weather:  Much colder on Wednesday with highs in the mid 30s and lows in the mid-teens.

Migrations/Observations:  No new migrations this week.

Duck Abundance: Poor

Hunter Activity/Success:  Hunter activity moderate with poor success over the weekend.

Comment: Hunters can expect ice in the GTR mid-week with highs around freezing and lows in the mid-teens.

 

St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA

Percent Flooded:  The Snowden Waterfowl Rest Area is 85 percent flooded, and Payneway WRA is at 50 percent of capacity. The current St. Francis River level at Oak Donnick is 213.79 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 good.

Weather Conditions:  Partly cloudy for the rest of the week with highs in the upper 30s during the first part of the week, but warming up to the upper 50s and lower 60s by the weekend. 

Migrations/Observations:  Some new geese and ducks have been seen flying into the WMA. 

Duck Abundance:  Moderate numbers are flying over the WMA.

Hunter Activity/Success:  Hunters are reporting fair harvest rates.

     

Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA:

Percent Flooded:  The Thompson Tract gauge is currently 1.5 feet, with the South Oliver Tract gauge at 2 feet.

Habitat Conditions:  Acorn production is 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: Very cold but becoming warmer by the weekend.

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:  Hunter activity has been high with fair success rates.

 

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 235.5 MSL. Simmons Field unit is 100 percent flooded.

Habitat Conditions: Good

Weather Conditions: High temperatures are expected to range from the mid 30s to high 50s, and low temperatures from the high teens to the 40s.  Migrations/Observations:  Good numbers of ducks are being seen flying over the area to the north and east and then returning to Big Lake NWR.

Duck Abundance: Moderate to good.

Hunter Activity/Success:  Above average number of hunters having poor to fair success rates.

General Comments:  Beware of logs near the surface in ditches. 

       

EAST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS -

 

Dagmar WMA:

Percent Flooded:  50 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Bayou DeView is up and navigable.

Weather: Cold but turning milder by the weekend.

Migrations/Observations: No new flights observed.

Duck Abundance: Moderate.

Hunter Activity/Success: Hunter activity has been heavy with fair success rates.

General Comments: Heavy rains have inundated much of the area. Cache River reading at Cotton Plant is 18.4 feet.

Mud Slough GTR:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good acorn crop.

Weather: Cold but turning milder by the weekend.

Migrations/Observations:  No new flights.

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: Hunter activity has been heavy with fair success rates.

General Comments: GTR is overflowing.

Apple Lake Rest Area:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good acorn crop

Weather: Cold but turning milder by the weekend.

Migrations/Observations: Ducks are beginning to use the lake.  

Duck Abundance: Good

General Comments:   Lake is at full pool. 

 

Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA

Percent Flooded: 40 percent. The White River at Augusta is 18.8 feet, and 8.7 feet at Georgetown.

Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.

Weather:  Colder weather expected over the next few days, but milder for the weekend.

Migrations/Observations:  Fair numbers of ducks.

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success:  Fair

General Comments: Water conditions are good and access roads are closed.

North GTR:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.

Weather: Colder temperatures mid-week but warming toward the weekend.

Migrations/Observations: Fair numbers of ducks moving into the area.

Duck Abundance:  Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

General Comments: Hunter numbers have increased.

South GTR: 

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop

Weather: Colder temperatures mid-week but warming toward the weekend.

Migrations/Observations: Fair numbers of ducks moving into the area.

Duck Abundance:  Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

General Comments: Hunter numbers have increased.

 

Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA:

Percent Flooded:  100 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good acorn crop.

Weather:  Cold mid-week, with below-freezing temperatures at night, but warming trend toward the weekend.

Migrations/Observations: Some new flights noted.

Duck Abundance: Good

Hunter Activity/Success: Heavy hunting pressure with good success.

General Comments: The Cache River at Patterson is currently at 9.4 feet.

 

Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA:

Percent Flooded: 75 percent           

Habitat Conditions:  Main impoundments are flooded.

Weather: Colder conditions mid-week but warming.

Migrations/Observations:  New flights have been observed.

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

General Comments: The White River level at Georgetown is 8.7. A quota permit draw is held two hours before official shooting time on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays during waterfowl season. Approximately 18 permits will be drawn. A computer on-line draw has been established for five stations and one mobility-impaired blind throughout the season. Hunting stations within Impoundments D and A can be accessed by boat. Hunting stations outside impoundments D and A are walk-in access.   

 

CENTRAL ARKANSAS -

 

Bell Slough WMA:

Percent Flooded: 90 percent

Habitat Conditions: Moderate mast crop.

Migrations/Observations: A few large groups noted in the area.

Duck Abundance: Low

Rest Area:

Percent Flooded: 80 percent

Habitat Conditions: Excellent seed production.

Migrations/Observations: None

Duck Abundance: Few ducks.

Holland Bottoms WMA:

Percent Flooded: 25 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good mast crop.

Migrations/Observations:  None noted.

Duck Abundance: Very low.

General Comments: Area floods by overflow.

Rest Area:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions: Excellent seed production.

Migrations/Observations:  Plenty of mallards using the rest area.

Duck Abundance: High

 

Harris Brake WMA:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions: Moderate mast crop.

Migrations/Observations: None

Duck Abundance: Few

 

Lake Conway:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions: Normal

Migrations/Observations: Several large groups of diving ducks have been seen on the lake.

Duck Abundance: Low

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

 

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS -

 

Bayou Meto WMA:

General Comments:   Emergency de-watering is under way. Exercise caution around Lower Vallier, Five Forks and Cannon Brake structures.

Upper Vallier:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:  Good

Duck Abundance:  Good

Hunter Activity/Success:  Moderate to good.

            Lower Vallier:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:  Good

Duck Abundance: Good

Hunter Activity/Success:  Moderate to good.

            Government Cypress:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:  Good

Duck Abundance:  Good

Hunter Activity/Success:  Moderate to good.

            Buckingham Flats:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations: Good

Duck Abundance:  Good

Hunter Activity/Success: Hunter activity is moderate with good success rates.

            Temple Island:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:  Low

Duck Abundance:  Low

Hunter Activity/Success: Moderate

Halowell Rest Area:

Percent Flooded: 90 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:  Good

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: 30 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:  Few 

Duck Abundance:  Low

Hunter Activity/Success:  Poor

General Comments:  Deep Slough is at 129.0 MSL with a slow rise.

Rest Area:

Percent Flooded:  25 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good

Migrations/Observations: Few  

Duck Abundance:   Low

 

 Seven Devils WMA:

Percent Flooded: 40 percent

Habitat Conditions:  Good

Migrations/Observations:  Few 

Duck Abundance:  Low

Hunter Activity/Success:  Poor

General Comments:   Gauge reading is 129.0 MSL. Limited boating access on the west side of WMA.

 

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: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

General Comments: Arkansas River gauge at Pendleton Ferry is at 26.38 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:  Low

Comments:  Mississippi River gauge at Arkansas City is at 18.1 feet.

 

Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA:

Percent Flooded: 0 percent

Habitat Conditions: Fair

Migrations/Observations: Some ducks are being reported on and off the WMA.

Weather Conditions: From Wednesday to Friday, low temperatures range from 21 to 39 degrees with highs from 41 to 53, with a slight chance of rain.  The weekend will warm up with lows between 51 and 56 degrees and highs from 65 to 71 degrees with a 30 percent chance of rain.

Water Levels: 68.0 feet MSL above and 61.9 feet MSL below the Felsenthal Lock and Dam. 

Duck Abundance: Some gadwalls have been seen on the area.

Hunter Activity/Success: Poor

General Comments: The area will begin to flood when water levels exceed 65.0 feet MSL below the dam.  There may be increased water on the area because of recent rainfall.

 

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS -

 

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

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good

Weather: Cold and clear midweek but warming toward the weekend.

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: Cold and clear midweek but warming toward the weekend.

Migrations/Observations: A few mallards and wood ducks.

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: N/A

General Comments:  Rest area is closed to duck hunting.

            Greentree Reservoir:

Percent Flooded: 75 percent

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

Weather: Cold and clear.

Migrations/Observations: Some mallards and gadwalls.

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

Little Grassy:

Percent Flooded: 60 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good

Weather:  Cold and clear.

 Migrations/Observations: Few ducks.

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

General Comments: Walk in only.

 

Millwood Lake:

Percent Flooded: 256.57 MSL

Habitat Conditions: Water level has risen slightly.

Weather: Cold and clear but warming toward the weekend.

Migrations/Observations: Very low duck numbers because of the drawdown.

Duck Abundance: Low

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

General Comments: Caution should be used when navigating on the lake because of submerged stumps and logs. Boat ramps at Paraloma, Cotton Shed, Saratoga and Beards Bluff aren’t usable because of low water.

 

Sulphur River WMA:

            Mercer Bayou:

Percent Flooded: 75 percent

Habitat Conditions: Good

Weather: Cold and clear but warming toward the weekend.

Migrations/Observations: No new flights.

Duck Abundance: Low

Hunter Activity/Success: Fair

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: Moderate

Hunter Activity/Success:  Closed to hunting.

 

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS -

 

Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

Habitat Conditions: An abundance of natural vegetation.

Weather:  Colder temperatures midweek but warming toward weekend.

Migrations/Observations:  Some new ducks are moving into the area.

Duck Abundance: Moderate

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

General Comments:  Water levels are falling.

 

Galla Creek WMA:

General Comments:   The 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 – 100 percent

            Pond Creek – 80 percent and rising

            Slaty Pond – 75 percent

            Santa Fe – Falling with the Petit Jean River level.

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

Weather: Highs in the 40s to 70s and lows in the teens to 50s. 

Migrations/Observations: Seeing several new flights of mallards, gadwalls, teal and divers coming down with the cooler winds from the north.  Ducks are feeding in the fields heavily at night and moving to flooded hardwood flats along the river during daylight hours. 

Duck Abundance: Fair

Hunter Activity/Success: Hunters are concentrating on moist soil units, sloughs and the Petit Jean River overflow areas.  Success is fair with most hunters staying until noon to get their limits. 

General Comments:  The Petit Jean River is 9.4 feet and falling at the Highway 7 gauge. The hardwood flats are no longer flooded. Over the last week, the WMA received .15 inches of rain. Cooler weather in the northern states has moved ducks into the area. The area is in good shape but could use a few more inches of rain to fill the remaining partially filled units. 

 

Lake Nimrod WMA:

Percent Flooded: 100 percent

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

Weather: Highs in the 40s to 70s and lows in the teens to 50s. 

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