| Name & Zone: |
Earl Buss-Bayou DeView
WMA Zone 210 |
PDF Map
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| County: |
Poinsett |
AGFC Interactive Map
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| Location: |
It is in western Poinsett County. The area has approximately 4,254 acres. The area lies along the Bayou DeView River from state highway 17 to just north of state highway 214. |
| Phone: |
1-877-972-5438 |
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| About the Name: |
For many years the Earl Buss-Bayou DeView WMA was known as the Weiner Area or Bayou DeView.
The name Bayou DeView originated from the Bayou DeView River that meandered through the area years ago, but was channelized many years ago to provide improved drainage for the ever-increasing farming community.
On December 17, 1984, the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission voted to re-name the area in memory of Earl Buss who was a caretaker for the Thompson Duck Club, a privately owned entity, that through acquisition, became a part of the management area. Mr. Buss was retained by the commission because of his first hand knowledge of the area and became its first area manager. Earl Buss was well liked and a respected part of the Weiner community and is justly remembered through the renaming of the area. |
| Ownership: |
It is owned entirely by the commission in fee simple. |
| Age: |
Acquisition of the area began in 1958 and continued through 1967. |
| Purpose: |
The area was purchased many years ago in response to public interest in land acquisition programs by the commission. The Weiner area is one of the principal rice producing areas in the state and is considered by many sportsmen as one of the best duck hunting areas in Arkansas. |
| Description: |
The area is comprised of three separate tracts of land, namely, the Thompson, Oliver and Martin tracts. These names are derived from previous owners. The Oliver tract is the southernmost tract and is bounded on the south by state highway 14 and on the north by a county road west of Weiner. The Thompson tract is located immediately north of the Oliver tract, bounded on the north by state highway 214. The Martin tract is the northernmost of the three tracts and lies about 1/2 mile north of the Thompson tract and extends to a county road that ends on the eastern border. |
| Access: |
The area can best be reached by county roads west out of Weiner on state highway 49 or off state highways 14 or 214. |
Hunting
Opportunities: |
The Thompson and Oliver tracts were developed specifically as wintering waterfowl areas. During the
late 50’s and early 60’s waterfowl populations around Weiner area were in excess of one-half million birds. Flooded pin oak flats attracted this concentration of waterfowl and the abundant rice fields provided recreational opportunities for many sportsmen. Earl Buss- Bayou DeView is a remnant of many top quality, green tree hunting clubs that have all but disappeared as a result of the demand for agricultural land. The management area is one of the few remaining blocks of bottomland hardwood timber left in western Poinsett County and still provides good quality waterfowl hunting.
Fall squirrel hunting is also a heavily utilized resource. The squirrel population tends to cycle between high and low numbers with varying food supplies associated with acorn production in the bottom land hardwoods of the area. As a rule, hunter success is fair to good.
The area supports a healthy deer population. Hunting has been limited to archery-crossbow only in recent years due to the small size of the area. Trophy class bucks are taken on and around Bayou DeView area every hunting season. Please refer to the current regulations guide for details of season dates and regulations. |
Management
Practices: |
Due to the importance of the area to migratory birds and wintering waterfowl, waterfowl management is emphasized on the Thompson and South Oliver Tract. A deep well pump supplies water to the Thompson tract.
Water can be pumped from bayou De View ditch into the south Oliver impoundment if there is an adequate level in the ditch. Unfortunately, flooding of the South Oliver impoundment is not always possible by the beginning of duck season because of the lack of rainfall in early fall months.
Many resident forest game and fur bearing wildlife are found on the area. Substantial populations of deer, turkey, raccoon, squirrel, rabbit, doves and ducks benefit from management practices used toward
both game and non-game species. Some of these management practices include water level
manipulation, beaver population control, specialized plantings of small grain crops and legumes and forestry management and are used to provide an optimum diversity of habitat types for all species. Selective thinning of trees has improved forest health and increased habitat diversity for a wide variety of species. |
Recreation
Other Than
Hunting: |
Lake Hogue is a 300-acre impoundment located on the East Side of the Bayou across from the south end of the Oliver tract. Access to the lake is off state highway 49, south of Weiner about 2 miles. Crappie, bream, bass and catfish provide good fishing year around. |
| Camping: |
Primitive camping areas are provided on each of the management area’s three tracts. Except for graveled parking areas, there are no other improvements to camping facilities. |
Restaurants
and Other
Facilities: |
Accommodations may be found in Jonesboro, 25 miles; Newport, 22 miles and Harrisburg, 25 miles. There are stores and a restaurant in Weiner. |
Special
Facilities: |
A boat launching area and parking lot are available at the check station facility on the Thompson tract to
accommodate waterfowl hunters. The South Oliver Tract provides walk-in hunting. While boats are
allowed on the South Oliver Tract, they generally are not needed and no launching ramps are provided.
Signs designate ATC trails designated for use by holders of Handicapped access permits. |
| Safety: |
Wade in hunters should be aware of deep-water areas in boat lanes and sloughs.
Boating safety rules and laws are especially important in the Thompson tract Impoundment. The launching area may be crowded, especially on weekends and holidays.
Mosquitoes and biting flies are a nuisance in warm weather and insect repellent is essential. Venomous
snakes including Cottonmouths, Copperheads and Timber Rattlers are present. While it is illegal to
indiscriminately kill snakes, they should be avoided and left alone when possible.
Maps of the area may be obtained from area employees or from Commission offices. Topographic maps are Weiner and Risher, available from the Arkansas Geological Commission (501) 296-1877. |