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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. 23, 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...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s. Northwest winds 5 mph.
Tonight...Mostly clear. Lows around 20. North winds 5 to 10 mph in the evening...increasing to 10 to 15 mph after midnight.
Thursday...Sunny. Highs around 40. North winds 10 to 15 mph in the morning, becoming northeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Thursday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows around 16. East winds 5 mph in the evening...increasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight.
Friday...Mostly cloudy. A chance of light freezing rain in the morning. A chance of rain and sleet during the day. Highs in the upper 30s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. The chance of precipitation 50 percent.
Friday Night...Cloudy. Not as cold. A chance of light freezing rain and sleet in the evening. A chance of rain during the night. A slight chance of light freezing rain and sleet after midnight. Lows around 30. The chance of precipitation 50 percent.
Saturday...Mostly cloudy. Not as cool. A slight chance of rain during the day. Highs around 50. The chance of precipitation 20 percent.
Saturday Night...Mostly cloudy. Not as cool. A chance of rain. Lows in the lower 40s. Temperatures nearly steady after midnight. The chance of precipitation 30 percent.
Sunday...Cloudy. A chance of rain. Highs in the upper 50s. The chance of precipitation 30 percent.
Sunday Night...Mostly cloudy in the evening...becoming partly cloudy. A slight chance of rain in the evening. Lows in the lower 40s. The chance of precipitation 20 percent in the evening.
Monday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s.
Monday Night...Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s.
Tuesday...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s.
NORTHEAST ARKANSAS –
Dave Donaldson Black River WMA:
Percent Flooded: Lower Reyno is 100 percent flooded. Upper Reyno is at 100 percent of capacity. The UpperIsland is 100 percent flooded. The LowerIsland is at 100 percent of capacity. The Winchester GTR is at 90 percent. The gauge at Corning is at 3.1 feet.
Habitat Conditions: Good, with icy conditions within the GTRs.
Weather Conditions: Highs for the week will range from 32 to 41 degrees. Lows for the week will range from 13 to 30 degrees.
Duck Abundance: Highnumbers have been observed on the WMA and Moist Soil Unit.
Hunter activity/Success: Moderate numbers have been harvested in the timber and moderate 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: Icy conditions in GTR.
Weather: Turning colder on Thursday with temperatures in the low 30s. There is a slight chance of rain coming back in the forecast for the weekend.
Migrations/Observations: Good duck numbers in and around the management area.
Duck Abundance: Good
Hunter Activity/Success: Hunter activity moderate with good success for those who hunted open water in the GTR.
St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA:
Percent Flooded: The Snowden Waterfowl Rest Area is 60 percent flooded and the Payneway WRA is 50 percent flooded. The current St. Francis River level at Oak Donnic is 212.44 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 barrow areas. Acorn production within the floodways is considered good.
Weather Conditions: Temperatures are expected to range around the low 50s during the day and low 20s at night. A 30 percent chance of rain is expected Friday and Saturday.
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: Several vehicles have been seen at boat ramps with fair success.
Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA:
Percent Flooded: The current Thompson Tract gauge reading is at 1.3 feet with the South Oliver Tract gauge reading at 1.2 feet. The Thompson Tract is considered flooded at full pool with the South Oliver about 75 percent flooded.
Habitat Conditions: Acorn production is considered fair. A good stand of smartweed and sedges is located within the natural sloughs and along the edges of Lake Hogue Waterfowl Rest Area. Ice is present on most of the area.
Weather Conditions: Temperatures are expected to range around the low 50s during the day and low 20s at night. A 30 percent chance of rain is expected Friday and Saturday.
Migrations/Observations: A few ducks are moving through the area.
Duck Abundance: A few ducks are using the timbered areas.
Hunter Activity/Success: Hunter activity has been low with fair success.
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 235.6 MSL. Target is 234.5 MSL in the south woods with a present reading of 235.1 MSL. The Simmons field unit is 100 percent flooded.
Habitat Conditions: Good
Weather Conditions: Temperatures are expected to range in the highs in the low 30s during the day increasing throughout the week and lows in the teens to low 30s at night.
Migrations/Observations: Low numbers of ducks are being seen flying over the area to the north and east and then returning to Big Lake NWR.
Duck Abundance:Low.
Hunter Activity/Success: Below average number of hunters having low success.
General Comments: Be aware of logs near the surface in the ditches.
EAST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS -
Dagmar WMA:
Percent Flooded: 50 percent
Habitat Conditions: Bayou DeView is falling andCacheRiver reading at Cotton Plant is 7.7 feet and falling.
Weather: Cold front expected later in the week.
Migrations/Observations: New flights have been observed.
Duck Abundance: Fair
Hunter Activity/Success:Veryheavy hunter activity with good success rates.
General Comments: Bayou DeView is still navigable with small watercraft.
Mud Slough GTR:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.
Weather: Cold front expected later in the week.
Migrations/Observations: New flights have been observed
Duck Abundance: Good numbers of ducks being reported by hunters.
Hunter Activity/Success: Veryheavy hunter activity with good success rates.
General Comments: GTR is 100 percent full and overflowing.
AppleLake Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.
Weather: Cold front expected later in the week.
Migrations/Observations: Very few ducks are using the lake according to recent waterfowl flight survey.
Duck Abundance: Low
Hunter Activity/Success: Closed to access.
General Comments: Lake is at full pool.
Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA:
Percent Flooded: 45 percent
Habitat Conditions: White River at Augusta is 14.5feet and Georgetown is 3.3 feet. The river is forecast to fall throughout the week.
Weather: Cold front expected later in the week.
Migrations/Observations: New flights of ducks have been observed.
Duck Abundance: Good
Hunter Activity/Success: Veryheavy hunter activity with fair success rates.
General Comments: Water conditions are good and main access road is closed.
North GTR:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.
Weather: Cold front expected later in the week.
Migrations/Observations: Good number of ducks being reported
Duck Abundance: Good
Hunter Activity/Success: Veryheavy hunter activity with fair success rates.
General Comments: Lots of hunters using the area this past weekend.
South GTR:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.
Weather: Cold front expected later in the week.
Migrations/Observations: Good numbers of ducks being reported.
Duck Abundance: Good
Hunter Activity/Success: Veryheavy hunter activity with fair success rates.
General Comments: Large numbers of hunters were using the area over the weekend.
Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA:
Percent Flooded: 90 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good acorn crop.
Weather: Cold front expected later in the week with slight chance of freezing rain and sleet.
Migrations/Observations: No new flights have been observed.
Duck Abundance: Fair number of ducks being reported
Hunter Activity/Success: Heavy hunter activity with good success rates.
General Comments: The CacheRiver at Patterson is presently at 5.3 feet.
Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: Main impoundments are at full pool.
Weather: Turning colder with a chance of rain/snow mix on Friday.
Migrations/Observations: No new flights reported.
Duck Abundance: Fair
Hunter Activity/Success: Heavy hunter activity with fair success rates.
General Comments: A quota permit draw (two hours before official shooting hours) is held on Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sundays throughout waterfowl season. Approximately 20 permits are available for the on site drawing. A computer online draw established for (5) stations and (one) mobility impaired blind throughout season. Hunting stations within Impoundments D and A can be accessed by boat. Hunting stations not within impoundments D and A will be accessed by walking.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS -
Bell Slough WMA:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions:Moderate mast crop.
Migrations/Observations:A few large groups noted in the area.
Duck Abundance: Fair
Hunter Activity/Success:Several groups of hunters have been harvesting mallards.
Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions:Excellent seed production.
Migrations/Observations:A few hundred mallards are using the area.
Duck Abundance:Moderate number of ducks.
Holland Bottoms WMA:
Percent Flooded: 30 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good mast crop.
Migrations/Observations: None noted.
Duck Abundance:Very few.
Hunter Activity/Success: Several groups walking in from Graham Road are having limited success.
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:Moderate
Harris Brake WMA:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: Moderate mast crop.
Migrations/Observations: None
Duck Abundance: Low
Hunter Activity/Success: Moderate activity with poor hunting success.
General Comments: Plenty of wood ducks.
Lake Conway:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions:Normal
Migrations/Observations:None noted.
Duck Abundance: Low
Hunter Activity/Success: Numerous boats in Dix Creek and Pierce Creek
General Comments: Only Pierce Creek and Dix Creek are open to waterfowl hunting.
SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS -
Bayou Meto WMA:
Upper Vallier:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good
Migrations/Observations: Good
Duck Abundance: Good
Hunter Activity/Success: Moderate to high
Lower Vallier:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good
Migrations/Observations: Good
Duck Abundance: Good
Hunter Activity/Success: Moderate to high
Government Cypress:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good
Migrations/Observations: Good
Duck Abundance: Good
Hunter Activity/Success: Moderate to high
Buckingham Flats:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good
Migrations/Observations: Good
Duck Abundance: Good
Hunter Activity/Success: Moderate to high
Temple Island:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good
Migrations/Observations: Low
Duck Abundance: Low
Hunter Activity/Success: Moderate
Halowell Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 100 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: 35 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good
Migrations/Observations: Some new ducks are being reported.
Duck Abundance: Few
Hunter Activity/Success: Fair number of hunters with little success.
Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 25 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good
Migrations/Observations: A few new ducks are being observed.
Duck Abundance: Low
Hunter Activity/Success: N/A.
Seven Devils WMA:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good
Migrations/Observations: A few new ducks are being observed.
Duck Abundance: Few
Hunter Activity/Success: Low hunter numbers with moderate success.
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: Few
Hunter Activity/Success: Few
General Comments: Arkansas River gauge at Pendleton Ferry is at 26.3 feet.
Choctaw Island WMA:
Percent Flooded: River water only. With variable levels of backwater flooding.
Habitat Conditions: Good
Migrations/Observations: Low
Duck Abundance: Low
Hunter Activity/Success: Low
Comments: Mississippi River gauge at ArkansasCity is at 20.4 feet.
Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA:
Percent Flooded: 0 percent
Habitat Conditions: Fair
Migrations/Observations: None
Weather Conditions: Cold and rainy with a 60 percent chance of rain this weekend.
Water Levels: 67.7 MSL above and 56.0 MSL below the Felsenthal Lock and Dam.
Duck Abundance: A few gadwalls on Felsenthal, but none on Beryl Anthony.
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor
General Comments: The water levels below the dam are falling, so no flooding of the area is expected.
SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS-
Dr. Lester Sitzes, III Bois d’ Arc Lake Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good
Weather: Cold and some rain.
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: 70 percent
Habitat Conditions: Poor
Weather: Cold and some rain.
Migrations/Observations: A few wood ducks and mallards.
Duck Abundance: Moderate
Hunter Activity/Success: N/A
Greentree Reservoir:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good mast crop, conditions have improved
Weather: Cold and some rain.
Migrations/Observations: Some mallards and gadwall.
Duck Abundance: Moderate
Hunter Activity/Success: Fair
Little Grassy:
Percent Flooded: 90 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good
Weather: Cold and some rain.
Migrations/Observations: No new ducks observed
Duck Abundance: Moderate
Hunter Activity/Success: Fair
General Comments: Walk in only.
MillwoodLake:
Percent Flooded: 256.50 MSL
Habitat Conditions: Water slowly dropping.
Weather: Cold and some rain.
Migrations/Observations: No new flights to report
Duck Abundance: Moderate
Hunter Activity/Success: N/A
Sulphur River WMA:
Mercer Bayou:
Percent Flooded: 75 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good
Weather: Cold and some rain
Migrations/Observations: No new flights to report.
Duck Abundance: Low
Hunter Activity/Success: N/A
General Comments: Habitat is in good shape due to the summer rains.
Henry Moore Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: 80 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good
Weather: Cold and some rain.
Migrations/Observations: No new flights to report.
Duck Abundance: Moderate
Hunter Activity/Success: N/A
General Comments: Habitat very good, good seed production.
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS-
Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: An abundance of natural vegetation.
Weather: Cooler temperatures early in the week warming and chance of rain for the weekend.
Migrations/Observations: No new migrations observed.
Duck Abundance: Moderate
Hunter Activity/Success: Some hunters are taking a few ducks.
General Comments: The area is open to waterfowl hunting all day Jan. 25-27. The waterfowl rest area will remain closed.
Galla Creek WMA:
General Comments: This area will not be flooded this year due to 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-85 percent and rising
Slaty Pond-75 percent
Santa Fe- falling with the PetitJeanRiver level
Habitat Conditions: Fair amount of red oak hard mast crop in the timber and millet did well in Blacklands fields.
Weather: Highs in the 40s to 50s and lows in the 20 and 30s.
Migrations/Observations: Seeing flights of mallards coming down with the cooler winds from the north. Ducks are feeding in the fields heavily at night and moving to loafing areas during daylight hours.
Duck Abundance: Fair
Hunter Activity/Success: Hunters have been concentrating on moist soil units, sloughs and the PetitJeanRiver. Success has been poor to fair with most hunters staying till noon to get their limits.
General Comments: Cooler weather in the northern states has pushed a few new ducks into the area. The PetitJeanRiver is falling; the hardwood flats are no longer flooded. Over the last week, the WMA received only a trace of rainfall. The area is in pretty good shape, but could use a few more inches 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 50s and lows in the 20s and 30s.
Migrations/Observations: Good number of mallards, lower numbers of wood ducks, gadwalls, teal and divers. Ducks are leaving the fields early and concentrating in the timber after sunrise.
Duck Abundance: Low to fair.
Hunter Activity/Success: Hunters with boats have been launching at either end of the levee and staying till noon to bag their birds, not many with limits. Walk-in hunters are concentrating on the northwest accesses off of the Upper Duck Pond Road. Success for both has been poor to fair.
General Comments: Cooler weather in the northern states has pushed a few new ducks into the area. Over the last week, the WMA received only a trace or rainfall. Large rainfall amounts could lead to minor flooding of area roads and boat accesses. It is best to check with the Army Corps of Engineers at their LakeNimrod office at (479) 272-4324 for lake levels and local conditions, prior to your hunt.
Arkansas River Valley:
Habitat Conditions: Good
Weather: Sunny. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Migrations/Observations: Saturday a large number of snow geese and mallards moved through the area.
Duck Abundance: Fair
Hunter Activity/Success: Duck hunting is good on private land with good hunter success.
General Comments: Agricultural fields are beginning to dry up.
Dardanelle WMA:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent of capacity.
Habitat Conditions: Good
Weather: Sunny. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Migrations/Observations: Saturday a large number of snow geese and mallards moved through the area.
Duck Abundance: Fair
Hunter Activity/Success: Fair
General Comments: Agricultural fields are beginning to dry up.
Ozark Pool:
Percent Flooded: 100 percent
Habitat Conditions: Good
Weather: Sunny. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Migrations/Observations: Saturday a large number of snow geese and mallards moved through the area
Duck Abundance: Fair
Hunter Activity/Success:Fair
Dyer Lake Cells:
Percent Flooded: Moist soil units are 100 percent flooded.
Habitat Conditions: Good
Weather: Sunny. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 20s
Migrations/Observations: No new flights reported.
Duck Abundance: Poor
Hunter Activity/Success:Poor
Johnson County Rest Area:
Percent Flooded: Over 65 percent flooded.
Habitat Conditions: Good
Weather: Sunny. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Migrations/Observations: No new flights observed.
Duck Abundance: Fair
Hunter Activity/Success: N\A
General Comments: No hunting.
Frog Bayou WMA:
Percent Flooded: 90 percent
Habitat Conditions: Golden millet planted in three units.
Weather: Sunny. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 20s
Migrations/Observations: No new flights observed.
Duck Abundance: Poor
Hunter Activity/Success: Poor
General Comments: Ice expected in the shallow water areas this week.
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