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Name & Zone:
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Gulf Mountain - WMA Zone 280
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PDF Map 525 KB
8.5x11
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County:
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Van Buren
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PDF Map 615 KB
11x17
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PDF Map 8 MB
11x17 Detailed
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Location:
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The area is in the southwest portion of Van Buren county. The area is approximately 12 miles southwest
of Clinton and 30 miles north of Morrilton. It is bisected on the south by state highway 389 and on the north by South Fork Little Red River. It is adjoined on the west by the Ozark National Forest, the remaining boundary is adjoined by private and timber company land.
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Phone:
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1-877-297-4331
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1
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About the Name:
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Gulf Mountain WMA was named this
since the most prominent landmark was
Gulf Mountain.
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Ownership:
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The area was purchased by the AGFC in 1970 with the initial purchase totaling 6,400 acres. In 1971an additional 3,600 acres was purchased and several smaller tracts totaling 2,012 acres have been added
since. Approximately 2,000 acres of Green Bay Packaging lands are incorporated into the wildlife management area land base.
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Age:
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The area began in 1970 with additional land purchases on the years.
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Purpose:
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The area was purchased to help meet the projected demand for all types of wildlife oriented recreation.This upland are was well diversified, having high deer and small game populations as well as the potential to provide more hunter opportunity on all species of upland game.
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Description:
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Gulf Mountain contains 14,000 acres of which approximately 1,000 are in fields in various stages of succession. Composition of timber resources is approximately 65 percent hardwood and 35 percent
pine. Hardwood type on the southern exposures is predominantly post oak-blackjack oak type. The northern slope hardwoods are predominantly the red-oak-white oak type. The major plant communities on the area include red oak, white oak, hickory, pine, pine oak, post oak and black oak. Topography is gently rolling to mountainous with elevation ranging from 700 feet msl on the south fork Little Red River to 1500 feet msl on the higher ridges. There are 5.4 miles of this stream on the property and is availablevia a low water crossing.
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Access:
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The area is located at Scotland which is 12 miles southwest of Clinton and 30 miles north of Morrilton.From Clinton, on US 65, take highways 65B to the junction of 65B and state 95. Take state 95, 12 miles south to Scotland. From Scotland follow WMA signs to the management area, 2.5 miles.
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Hunting
Opportunities:
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High populations of White-tailed deer are found throughout the entire area.
Archery season same as zone regulations.
Muzzleload hunt - permit only - either sex - 1 deer limit - hunter success 12 to 17%.
Gun hunt - permit only- either sex - 1 deer limit - hunter success 25%.
Black Bear - Season open only to holders of deer hunt permits - high population.
Squirrel - gray and fox - population of both species is high with fluctuation due to food supplies. Season same as zone regulations.
Eastern Wild Turkey - present over entire area. Population high however, quality hunting is limited due to size of area. Season same as zone.
Bobwhite Quail - approximately 2,500 acres of high quality habitat. Good population. Fluctuation of populations due to annual weather conditions. Quail hunting by permit only.
Cotton-tailed rabbit - approximately 2,500 acres of high quality habitat. Populations high but subject to annual fluctuations. Season same as zone regulations.
Furbearers - present in high populations. Raccoon - mink - gray fox - bobcat.
Coyote - population moderate. Cycles according to prey species.
Dove - Woodcock - populations moderate but subject to seasonal migration.
Geese and ducks - none.
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Management
Practices:
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Management practices consists primarily of manipulation of plant succession of field systems and pine and low quality hardwood sites through the use of control burning, plowing, discing, cooperative hay
leases and plantings by Commission personnel. Control burning is used primarily for quail management to retard plant succession and reduce ground cover in field systems . Burning in pine and low quality hardwood sites promotes sprouting of desirable browse species beneficial to deer and small game. Firelanes surrounding all field and woodlands that are to be burned are planted in wheat each fall to provide forage during the winter months, nesting edge in the spring, and brood habitat and seed in the summer and fall months. Plowing and discing is used to control noxious vegetation and maintain plant succession in an early stage. Plowing and discing is also used to provide travel lanes through fields to achieve better utilization by wildlife. Plots vary in size from 1/4 acre to 6 acres depending on type of planting and configuration of site.
Spring planting consists of mixed grains, milo and corn. Fall plantings are primarily wheat, rye, clover and orchard grass. Modified even-aged management is the primary habitat management technique on all the standard forest land. Additional manipulation of specific habitat needs are achieved through commercial thinnings, selective cutting and wildlife stand improvement operations. Stands are maintained with a minimum size of 10 acres and a maximum size determined by configuration of the stand. Timber is harvested to provide optimum age class and species diversity and to achieve specific habitat needs.
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Recreation
Other Than
Hunting:
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Recreation is primarily concentrated on Little Red River. Swimming, canoeing and fishing are popular.
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Camping:
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Gulf Mountain has 6 primitive camping areas, with 118 camping units.
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Restaurants
and Other
Facilities:
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Restaurants and motels are available at Clinton, 15 miles away. Food, gas and supplies are available at
either of the 2 stores in Scotland.
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Special
Facts:
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Location of the area make it attractive to nearby cities such as Morrilton, Conway , Searcy and Marshall
(50 mile radius), North Little Rock, Little Rock and Harrison (100 mile radius).
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Safety:
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Bear population is high. Care must be taken with food when camping on the area.
Low water crossing - Little Red River - heavy rains can make crossing impassable in a matter of hours.
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