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Name
& Zone:
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Piney
Creeks - WMA Zone 520
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County:
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Newton,
Pope, Johnson
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Location:
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Pope, Johnson and Newton counties. Located 16 miles north of Russellville or 50 miles south of
Harrison on Hwy 7 and 15 miles northeast of Clarksville, on Hwy. 123 north.
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Phone:
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1-877-967-7577
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1
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About
the Name:
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Named for Big and Little Piney Creeks, those generally wind from North to South through the area.
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Ownership:
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The Piney Creeks Wildlife Management Area lies within proclamation boundary of the Ozark National
Forest and although there are some privately owned land inholdings, the majority of the land within it is
Federally owned. The U. S. Forest Service is responsible for the overall management of the area. The
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the U. S. Forest Service have formally agreed through a
Memorandum of Understanding to cooperatively manage the wildlife and fisheries resources of the area.
The WMA encompasses parts of three Forest Service Ranger Districts; the
Bayou Ranger District with an office in Hector, the Buffalo Ranger
District with an office in Jasper, and the Pleasant Hill Ranger
District with an office located on State Highway 21 about two miles
north of Clarksville.
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Age:
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Established 1967 through a cooperative agreement between the USFS and AGFC.
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Purpose:
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To restore, protect and enhance native wildlife and aquatic species and provide optimal recreational
opportunities for the people of the state and nation.
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Description:
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Contains 176,000 acres of rugged Ozark Mountain terrain. The area is predominantly forested in upland
hardwoods and mixed shortleaf pine/hardwood forest types. Big Piney Creek and the North Fork of the
Illinois Bayou flow generally north to south through the central and eastern part, respectively, and Little
Piney Creek more or less traverses the western and southern boundaries of the area.
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Access:
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From I-40 at Russellville; turn north on Hwy. 7 and go 15 miles north and you will be at the southern
boundary of the area when you pass the Ozark National Forest portal sign. Exit I-40 at Lamar; take
Highway 64 west to Highway 123 and go 15 miles north to the National Forest/WMA boundary. Take
Highway 7 south from Harrison about 50 miles to Pelsor, at Pelsor State Highway 16 is the northern
boundary to the east and Highway 123 is northern boundary to the west until you reach the junction
Newton County Rd 61.
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Hunting
Opportunities:
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The Piney Creeks WMA provides fair to good hunting and trapping opportunities during most years for
all resident forest game and furbearer species including white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, black bear, gray
and fox squirrels and raccoons. The scarcity of alternative food sources and the dependence on fickle
mast crops for winter food on the area often results in dramatic fluctuations in survival and reproductive
rates of popular game birds and animals. Hunters can expect to encounter population cycles that are
very obvious increases or decreases in the numbers of animals and birds observed from one year to the
next. Cyclic fluctuations may be quite dramatic for such species as squirrels, wild turkey and raccoons.
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Management
Practices:
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The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the U. S. Forest Service work closely together to
manage the wildlife and fisheries resources on all National Forest lands including the Piney Creeks
WMA. Multiple strategies including conservative hunting seasons, more intensive law enforcement
efforts and habitat improvement projects are utilized. Since 1968 a total of 364 wildlife openings/food
plots averaging about an acre and a half and 220 waterholes have been constructed on the Piney
Creeks area. These openings are mowed on a planned schedule and most of them are maintained in a
mixture of nutritious grasses and legumes that are heavily utilized by popular wildlife species. These
openings/food plots are designed to improve habitat conditions on the area by increasing the availability
of nutritious forage and by providing a dependable emergency food source when natural food sources
are scarce.
The AGFC also works closely with the Forest Service in planning and
coordinating timber management activities to enhance wildlife habitat
on the area. A variety of different ages and conditions of forest
vegetation dispersed throughout the area results in improvements in
both the volumes and distribution of natural foods and cover.
Controlled burning the use of which has been increased dramatically in
recent years also provides increases in forage quality and quantity
over relatively large areas for a reasonable expense.
Monitoring of wildlife populations, general health and habitat
conditions are also a very important component of a balanced wildlife
management program. Biological check stations are utilized to collect
data and develop baseline information over time that is a benchmark for
annual comparisons of various health statistics. Spotlight counts for
deer and drumming counts for ruffed grouse provide long-term trend
information on the relative abundance and distribution of these
species. Radio telemetry tracking of black bears and wild turkeys has
provided valuable information about reproduction, mortality, survival
and habitat use and preferences for these species. Projects such as
these have been ongoing in and around the Piney Creeks WMA for many
years.
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Recreation
Other Than
Hunting:
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The
Ozark Highlands Trail traverses the entire breadth of the Piney Creeks
area. Big Piney Creek and the North Fork of the Illinois Bayou, offer
canoeing, kayaking and fishing opportunities. Driving through
area observing the abundant wildlife and admiring the scenery especially in the spring and fall is also
very popular
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Other
Points
of Interest:
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Hurricane Natural Bridge is in the Hurricane Wilderness Area. The historic Ft. Douglas CCC and the
Sandgap CCC Camps are both located in the area. Pedestal Rocks, a unique geological feature is near
State Highway 16 just east Sand Gap.
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Camping:
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Longpool Recreation Area is a developed camping, picnic and swimming area that is located on Big
Piney Creek, 5 miles west of Hwy. 7 near the southern boundary of the area. Rotary Ann Recreation
Area is located 4 miles south of Pelsor on Hwy. 7. and Haw Creek Falls Campground is located 2 miles
south of Ft. Douglas on Hwy. 123. The U.S. Forest Service maintains all of the developed recreation
areas. Primitive camping is allowed anywhere but on food plots and areas marked closed to camping.
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Restaurants
and Other
Facilities:
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Mack’s
Pines, is located on Hwy. 7 north 18 miles from Russellville. Numerous
motels and restaurants are available in Russellville, Clarksville and
Jasper. Camping supplies, food, and official wildlife check stations
are available at Hagarville, Dover, Sand Gap and Hector.
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Special
Facilities:
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Longpool Recreation Area has a pavilion for meetings.
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Special
Facts:
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Established in 1967,
second largest WMA in state.
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Safety:
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It is rough and hilly Ozark Mountain terrain, hikers and hunters should be careful of their footing in steep
areas. During the warmer months of the year hunters, hikers and campers should use a good insect
repellent to ward off disease carrying ticks and chiggers. People should watch for poisonous snakes
when venturing off roadways and campers should take precautions to prevent bear encounters.
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