Data, Facts & Maps

Gene Rush

Name & Zone: Gene Rush - Zone 250 PDF Map 660 KB
8.5x11
County: Newton, Searcy PDF Map 741 KB
11x17
   

PDF Map 16.8 MB
11x17 Detailed

   

AGFC Interactive Map

 
  Flash Map - Side 1 5 MB
Flash Map - Side 2 5 MB
Location: The WMA includes approximately 17,652 acres in southeastern Newton County and west central Searcy County. The area is located about 15 miles southeast of Jasper and 15 miles northwest of Marshall. The area is bordered to the north by the Buffalo National River and to the south by the Ozark National Forest. The area has a generally northwest to southeast orientation with approximately 1375 acres in smaller disjunctive tracts lying both north and south of the Buffalo River. Nearly 3,650 acres are located in Searcy County with the remainder in Newton County.
Phone: 1-877-967-7577
1
About the Name: The official name of this wildlife management area is Gene Rush WMA. The area was originally called Buffalo River WMA (due to its proximity to the Buffalo River), but was renamed in honor of Gene Rush, long-time employee, native of Newton County and former chief of the Wildlife Management Division of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission.
Ownership
and Age: 		The area was purchased by the AGFC in two major segments. The first segment totaled 9,198 acres and was purchased during 1966-1973 from Paul Meers, the Eleven Sixty-Six Corporation and some smaller landowners. This first segment is located south of the Buffalo River and west of Cave Creek. The second major segment was purchased from the Sutton family from 1978-1980 and consisted of 7,248 acres (this segment was officially designated the "Sutton Unit". The Sutton Unit lies east of Cave Creek, south of the Buffalo River and west of Richland Creek. The purchase of several smaller tracts of land over the years has
increased the total size of the WMA to 17,652 acres. 
Purpose: The area was purchased to ensure the perpetual integrity of the wildlife habitat and to provide outdoor recreation opportunities for the citizens of the state and country.  
Description: The topography of the area is rolling hills to mountainous with some sheer bluffs with elevations ranging from 800 feet msl to 200 feet msl. The area is about ninety-eight per cent forestland consisting of about sixty per cent upland hardwoods and forty five per cent shortleaf pine/hardwood mixtures with about two per cent of the area in permanently managed openings. Three major creeks flow through the area; Big Creek, Cave Creek and Lick Creek, all flow generally northward and are tributaries of the Buffalo River. There are no lakes of significance or farmed cropland on the area.
Access: Access to the WMA is off US Highway 65 and State Highways 123, 7, and 74 and various county roads from these highways. Highway directional signs point the way from the above mentioned highways at Western Grove (US 65) Carver (state 123) Mt. Judea (state 123 and 74) and south of Jasper (state 7). The WMA is
approximately 30 miles south of Harrison and 100 miles north of Little Rock. 
Hunting
Opportunities: 		The area offers good public hunting opportunities for white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, black bear, elk and squirrels. Hunters should always check the wildlife management area section of the current edition of the Arkansas Hunting Regulations Pamphlet before planning a hunt. Hunting season frameworks, bag limits and specific hunting regulations may differ from the surrounding zone and may be changed from year to year for management purposes.
Management
Practices: 		Wildlife management on Gene Rush WMA involves multiple strategies that include conservative hunting seasons and regulations, more intensive law enforcement efforts, and an ongoing aggressive habitat management program. As previously stated the area is predominantly forested and is therefore managed for indigenous forest wildlife.

Habitat management is accomplished in several ways including the development and management of permanent openings, construction of waterholes, and forest management practices including planned timber harvests, timber/wildlife stand improvement practices and controlled burning.

There are currently about twenty large permanent openings/fields that are five acres in size or larger and thirty smaller permanent openings on the area. All permanent openings are maintained in nutritious grass/legume mixtures, mowed and fertilized on a planned rotation and are limed as needed according to soil test recommendations. Permanent openings are managed to increase the habitat carrying capacity for foraging species such as deer, wild turkeys, elk, black bear and nongame wildlife species. These openings enhance habitat conditions on the area by increasing the volume and distribution of nutritious forage as well as associated insect life and by providing alternative food sources when natural foods fail to produce. Many of these openings also have highly productive edge vegetation such as pokeweed, blackberry, grape and other important browse and fruiting plant species associated with them.

Forest management practices are also an integral part of the overall wildlife management program. The area is divided into sixteen compartments that are bounded by roads, streams or other identifiable land based features. Different compartments are entered each year on a planned schedule. Upon entry a general vegetative inventory is conducted and recorded for each compartment. When completed, an interdisciplinary team reviews the inventory data and a prescription is prepared for various habitat management practices to be implemented. The objective of the timber/habitat management program is to maintain diverse natural vegetative conditions throughout each compartment. The various management practices employed in this program improve habitat conditions for all native wildlife species by improving the quality, quantity and distribution of food, water and cover on the area.
Recreation
Other Than
Hunting : 		Fishing on the area is limited to the nearby Buffalo River and its tributaries. The Ozark highlands hiking Trail crosses the east side of the area and provides access from the Ozark National Forest to the south across the area to the Buffalo National River to the North. The area is also popular for viewing wildlife, especially elk that can often be observed grazing in the managed fields on the area. Horseback riding is an increasingly popular activity on the area as well. It has been necessary to prohibit the use of ATV’s on the area in order to prevent resource damage.
 Other Points
of Interest: 		A Wilderness Check Plot, containing 60 acres, is in Sect. 3, T14N, R19W and contains a good stand of oak and hickory timber. It should be noted that removing plants, artifacts, fossils or any other natural material from the area is strictly prohibited.
Camping: Camping is primitive and is restricted only to designated campsites.
Restaurants
and Other
Facilities: 		The nearest motels and restaurants are in Jasper, about 15 miles west of the area. The nearest supplies can be found at small grocery stores in Hasty, Piercetown, Mt. Judea, Western Grove and Jasper.
Special
Facts: 		The proximity to the Buffalo National River and the presence of elk on the area are the most unique features.
Safety: This is a rugged mountain area, where 4-wheel drive vehicles can prove handy at times to reach out of the way places. The area does have numerous privately owned inholdings scattered throughout, so care should be taken not to trespass. The WMA and surrounding area has a good bear population, so campers should remain alert and take appropriate precautions.