High water closes deer hunting on Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA
October 12, 2009AUGUSTA - Last week's heavy rains have resulted in significant rises in the level of the White River prompting the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to cancel the deer muzzleloader permit hunt on Henry Gray Hurricane Lake Wildlife Management Area in eastern Arkansas. The hunt was scheduled to begin on Oct. 17 and continue through Oct. 21. Until water levels on the White River recede, archery deer hunting also is closed on the WMA.
Hunters who won permits through the AGFC’s permit draw will receive refunds for the permit fees. In the coming weeks, the AGFC will mail refunds to all hunters who won permits and paid permit fees for the cancelled hunts.
“We have a database of all the hunters who will be affected, so anyone that won a permit and bought the permit can expect a refund and their preference points adjusted accordingly,” said David Goad, AGFC Chief of the Wildlife Management Division.
In accordance with the current flood prone zone closure criteria for Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA, when water on the White River gauge at Augusta exceeds 26 feet, deer hunting is immediately suspended until water levels fall below 14 feet on the gauge at Georgetown. The gauge at Augusta is presently reading in excess of 29 feet.
According to AGFC deer program coordinator Brad Miller, the closure is necessitated due to the density of deer herd on high ground. “The flood closure levels were developed to protect deer from over harvest when flooding causes wildlife to concentrate on higher ground in and around the area,” Miller said.
The Cache River at Patterson also is rising. Hunters on the Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA should watch the river stages closely as deer hunting closes when the Cache excedes 10 feet at the Patterson gauge and reopens when the gauge falls below 8.5 feet. For more information on the flood prone regions of the state, go to: http://www.agfc.com/hunting/misc_hunting/floodprone.aspx or call the Wildlife Management Hotline toll-free at (800) 440-1477.
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