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Overview

Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Waterfowl Report

BY Jim Harris

ON 01-18-2023

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Jan. 18, 2023

Jim Harris

Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine

More Rain Should Spread Out Waterfowl as Season Winds Down

   LITTLE ROCK – Heavy rainfall passing through Arkansas on Wednesday should put flood more waterfowl hunting areas as the duck season hits its final stretch with 14 days to go. Mild springlike temperatures since Sunday could have ducks thinking it’s time to migrate north. This weather pattern comes just as Arkansas Game and Fish Commission waterfowl biologists take to the sky once again this week for the final aerial survey of the season.

   Results from the Midwinter Waterfowl Survey released last week showed the biggest concentration of both mallards and total duck estimates came from the Lower St. Francis River survey zone, a region known historically for more boom-or-bust duck counts driven by the extent of natural flooding on the landscape. Anecdotal reports from some hunters in the field in east-central Arkansas noted more pintails in the area on ponds and flooded fields, which often indicate the return of ducks that migrated through a few weeks back. It will be interesting to see what numbers the biologists see in their transect flights this week throught the Delta and the Arkansas River Valley.

    Both the December aerial survey, which was delayed several days because of inclement weather that curtailed flying, and the Midwinter Survey indicated mallard estimates that were the best seen in the Arkansas Delta since 2018. Two weeks ago, the estimates were 929,248 mallards and more than 1.74 millions ducks in the Delta. This was not only the highest mallard population recorded since the 2018 Midwinter Survey, but it was the second-highest since 2010. Total duck population estimates also exceeded 1.5 million ducks for the first time in any survey since December 2011.

   The Midwinter Survey followed weather conditions to the north that were extremely favorable for moving ducks into Arkansas, with snow and ice conditions through the midwest and frigid tempetures, which also concided with much needed and massive amounts of rainfall in Arkansas. With this latest warmer, wetter weather in Arkansas, it still did not appear that ducks were racing back to Missouri: In the Missouri Department of Conservation’s hunter harvest counts from their public lands in the southeast portion of the state (in particular, Ten Mile Pond CA), harvest numbers were only about 1 duck per hunter this past weekend. Otter Slough CA saw less than 1 duck per hunter harvest success on Saturday-Sunday.

   Arkansas geese estimates continue to be high, with specklebelly (greater-white fronted geese) numbers taking a big jump from December estimates, up to 618,925 in the Delta. Arctic goose estimates totaled 1,693,343 light geese (lesser snows and Ross’s) in the Delta. Waterfowl report observations this past weekend also noted significant geese in Arkansas and Prairie counties and points west (we did not travel east of Arkansas County), especially snows and blues in the Keo area. (Luke Naylor, AGFC chief of wildlife management, has noted in the past as waterfowl program coordinator that the aerial survey counts are designed for ducks, and for geese they are not as precise and more difficult to obtain because geese tend to be spooked by the survey planes, affecting the count estimates, compared with counting ducks on the ground.) 

    Dry conditions hampered hunting in Arkansas during the earlier portions of the season, but even before Wednesday’s rainy front passed, water levels in such WMAs as Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms and Ed Gordon Point Remove were at or near ideal levels throughout those areas. Check out more conditions in the habitat report below.

 

New Waterfowl Program Coordinator

   One of Luke Naylor’s key moves after taking over as the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Wildlife Mangement Division chief was finding a his replacement as waterfowl program coordinator. Naylor found his new program leader in Brett Leach.

   Leach is a native of Wisconsin and is currently finishing up his master’s degree work at the University of Missouri at Columbia while here at the AGFC headquarters. He came aboard Jan. 9. 

   Austin Booth, the AGFC director, said Wednesday at the January Commission Meeting in Little Rock that he had told Naylor during the hiring process “to find the next Luke Naylor.” 

   Leach was at the Commission meeting on Wednesday to be introduced by Booth to the commissioners, but was also scheduled to fly on different days this week with AGFC biologists in their aerial surveys for the January waterfowl estimates.


Last Call for Permits

   This week will mark the last application period available for both WRICE Program private lant permits and for WMA permits that will be offered for the last weekend of the season, Jan. 28-29. The waterfowl season in Arkansas officially closes on Jan. 31, and permits for WMAs that require them will be available on visitors’ kiosks for the final day (the youth and mobility-impaired blinds at Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA still much be applied for this week for Jan. 31). The application period begins at 3 p.m. Thursday and concludes at midnight Sunday. Winners of permits will be notified on Monday, Jan. 23, for the upcoming weekend and the permit days that follow Jan. 31.
   Visit https://www.agfc.com/en/hunting/migratory-birds/waterfowl/special-waterfowl-permit-hunts/ for more information on all waterfowl hunting permits offered or to be directed to the application site (found also at “By Licenses/Check Game” on agfc.com). Each application is $5. Hunters may only apply for one WRICE field per week. WRICE permits are for the entire weekend, from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset, and the winning hunter may being three other hunters. Permits in Raft Creek Bottoms, Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA and Red Cut Slough, including the youth and mobility-impaired blinds in Raft Creek, are for one day of the two-day weekend, opening up opportunity for hunters to try for either day.


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Northeast Arkansas

Big Lake WMA

Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report
When the Ditch 81 extension gauge near Manila (upstream of the Big Lake north-end control structure) reads 17.5 feet, water is beginning to come over the north levee degrade on Big Lake WMA. When the Ditch 81 Extension gauge reads 18.0 feet or higher, the water level on the WMA will rise quickly and hunters should exercise caution while on the area. Be aware of underwater logs in boat runs and hangers in trees. 

North Woods GTR
Habitat: Mast production is good.
Water Level: The BoDoc gauge is at 237.3 feet msl; target level is 235.5 feet msl; 100% flooded.

South Woods GTR
Habitat: Mast production is fair.
Water Level: Gauge reading at 7-Mile is 236.2 feet msl; target level is 234.5 feet; 100% flooded.

Simmons Field
Habitat: Native production is good in the middle and south fields.
Water Level: 100% coverage.


Dave Donaldson Black River WMA

Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report
Waterfowl hunters should be aware of hangers and submerged logs within the boat runs and GTRs. Please exercise caution when accessing the area. Please remember to keep boats off the levees so AGFC personnel can access the area. Boats blocking access will be moved. Unattended trailers are not to be left overnight on parking areas. As of Jan. 9, the Black River level is 9.58 feet and falling.

Upper Island GTR
Habitat: Mast crop is moderate within the GTRs.
Water Level: Gauge is inaccessible due to high water. Target level is 269.5; 100% flooded.

Lower Island GTR
Habitat: Mast crop is moderate within the GTRs.
Water Level: Gauge is inaccessible due to high water. Target level is 268.0; 100% flooded.

Upper Reyno GTR
Habitat: Mast crop is moderate within the GTRs.
Water Level: Current level is 268.45 feet msl. Target level is 266.9; 100% flooded.

Lower Reyno GTR
Habitat: Mast crop is moderate within the GTRs.
Water Level: Current level is 268.05 feet msl. Target level is 266.3; 100% flooded.

Winchester GTR
Habitat: Mast crop is moderate within the GTRs.
Water Level: Current level is 264.15 feet msl. Target level is 263.7; 100% flooded.


Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA

Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report
Boaters should use caution while using the Thompson Tract boat lane. A fair number of ducks and snow geese are currently moving through the area.

South Oliver GTR
Habitat: Mast production is good.
Water Level: Current gauge reading as of Jan. 10 is 2.2 feet; 100% flooded.

Thompson Tract GTR
Habitat: Mast production is good.
Water Level: Current gauge reading as of Jan. 10 is 2.1 feet; 100% flooded. The Thompson Tract GTR will be allowed to rise and fall naturally without the gates being operated later and partially this season. This action in an effort to help the next generation of forest.

Lake Hogue WRA
Habitat: Primarily deep open water habitat.
Water Level: Normal pool level.


Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA

Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report
Waterfowl hunters should be aware of hangers and submerged logs within the boat runs and GTRs. Please exercise caution when accessing the area. In addition, hunters should allow safe passage when parking vehicles along roadsides. Vehicles blocking access will be moved.

Adam Brake GTR
Habitat: Mast production is good.
Water Level: Water level is 240.0 feet msl with a target level of  240.0 feet msl; 100% flooded.

Rainey Brake GTR
Habitat: Mast production is good.
Water Level: 100% flooded.

Eagle Pond GTR
Habitat: Mast production is good.
Water Level: 100% flooded.

Phase III Moist-Soil Unit
Habitat: Fair wetland-type vegetation.
Water Level: 100% flooded.

Charles Crisp Moist-Soil Unit
Habitat: Fair wetland-type vegetation.
Water Level: 100% flooded.

Ward Field Moist-Soil Unit
Habitat: Good wetland-type vegetation.
Water Level: 100% flooded.

River Field Moist-Soil Unit
Habitat: Good wetland-type vegetation.
Water Level: 100% flooded.


St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA

Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

Hunt Area
Habitat: Good mast production within the hunt area.
Water Level: Water levels on St. Francis Sunken Lands for waterfowl season are dependent on flows from the St. Francis River. The target level for providing huntable timber is 212.0 feet msl at the Oak Donnick gauge. The reading as of Jan. 10 was 216.84 feet msl.

Snowden WRA
Habitat: Mixed grasses.
Water Level: 30% flooded.

Payneway WRA
Habitat: A, B, C and D pools have mixed smartweed and barnyard grasses. Moderate mast is available within pools A, B and C as well.
Water Level: Pool A is at 10% coverage. Pool B is at 40%. Pool C is at 50%. Pool D is at 100%.

 

East-Central Arkansas

Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA

Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report
Hunters should call the Wildlife Hotline at 800-440-1477 for current road closures.

North Unit
Habitat: Good mast crop.
Water Level: The White River at Augusta as of Monday, Jan. 9, was 28.29 feet and falling. The water level at Glaise Creek has crested at 192.62 feet. All structures on the North GTR will remain open during the 2022-23 season.

South Unit
Habitat: Fair mast crop.
Water Level: The White River at Augusta  is  28.29 feet and falling, nearly a 10-foot rise from a week ago. The water level at Glaise Creek has crested at 192.62 feet. All structures on the South Unit are open.


Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA

Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report
Hunters should call the Wildlife Hotline at 800-440-1477 for current road closures.

Gregory GTR
Habitat: Good mast crop.
Water Level: 40% flooded. The Cache River at Patterson was at  10.66 feet and stable on Jan. 9.

Wiville Moist-Soil Unit
Habitat: Good stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 90% flooded.


Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA

Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report
The Conway George units are currently available for hunting by applying for online permits. Youths may apply for Saturday and Sunday hunts in the Conway George tracts, with one adult hunter allowed per one youth, up to four hunters in the blind. Hunters of any age may apply for Wednesday permit hunts in the Conway George tracts. Please visit www.agfc.com for maps, special regulations, permit application and draw dates. Hunters should call the Wildlife Hotline at 800-440-1477 for current road closures. The AGFC will not be putting boards in at Dagmar. Water coverage is dependent on river level.

Mud Slough GTR
Habitat: Good mast crop.
Water Level: 60% coverage.

Apple Lake WRA (no hunting)
Habitat: Good mast crop.
Water Level: 60% coverage.

Conway George Waterfowl Unit A
Habitat: Good stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 90% coverage

Conway George Waterfowl Unit B
Habitat: Natural slough area with beneficial native wetland plants.
Water Level: 90% coverage

Conway George Waterfowl Unit C
Habitat: Good stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 90% coverage

Dark Corner Waterfowl Unit 1
Habitat: Good stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 95% coverage

Dark Corner Waterfowl Unit 2
Habitat: Good stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 70% coverage

Dark Corner Waterfowl Unit 3
Habitat: Good stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 70% coverage


Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA

Hunting in Raft Creek Bottoms WMA requires participation on the online draw a week before the following weekend’s hunt. There is no online draw on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and permits are available at the boat accesses. Permits ARE required (via online application) on weekends, Tuesdays and Thursdays for the youth and mobility-impaired blinds and for the Magellan Tract. Visit agfc.com to apply for the online draw. There will be no designated holes this season.

The White River gauge at Georgetown on Tuesday, Jan. 17, was 9.86 feet and falling.

Unit A
Habitat: Excellent stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 100% coverage.

Unit B
Habitat: Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

Unit C
Habitat: Good stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

Unit D 
Habitat: Good stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

Unit E
Habitat: Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

Unit F (Youth Area)
Habitat: Good stand of millet and native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

Unit G 
Habitat: Habitat conditions are poor.
Water Level: 100%

Unit H (Mobility-impaired blind)
Habitat: Excellent stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

Unit I
Habitat: Habitat conditions are poor.
Water Level: 100%

Unit J (Cypert Tract)
Habitat: Excellent stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

Unit K (Cypert Tract)
Habitat: Excellent stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 50%

Unit L (Cypert Tract)
Habitat: Fair stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 50%

Unit M (Magellan Tract)
Habitat: Good stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

 

Central Arkansas

Bell Slough WMA

Map | Weather Report
The Bell Slough GTR and Palarm Creek WRA are both at full pool now.

Bell Slough GTR
Habitat: Fair mast crop.
Water Level: 100%.

Palarm Creek WRA 
Habitat: Rest area was heavily disked late this year and millet crop did not take before the early frost.
Water Level: 100%


Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir

Map | Weather Report
Habitat and water levels are normal on both Pierce and Dix creeks.


Cypress Bayou WMA

Map| Weather Report

Hunt Area
Habitat:

Good mast crop.
Water Level: 100% coverage.

Red Cut Slough Tract
Unit 1
Habitat:

Habitat conditions are poor.
Water Level: 70%

Unit 2
Habitat:

Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation
Water Level: 80%

Unit 3
Habitat:

Good stand of millet and native vegetation
Water Level: 100%

Unit 4
Habitat: Good stand of millet and native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

Unit 5
Habitat:

Good stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

Unit 6
Habitat:

Good stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%


Harris Brake WMA

Map | Weather Report

Upper GTR
Habitat: Good mast crop. 
Water Level: 100% coverage. 

Lower GTR
Habitat: Good mast crop.
Water Level: 20% coverage. 
The Harris Brake Lake valve was opened Nov. 15 to begin supplemental flooding of both the Lower and Upper GTRs. Unfortunately, damage to one of the Lower GTR’s water control structures is allowing water to drain from the Lower GTR and can’t currently be fixed. The Lower GTR will mostly likely drain completely unless the Fourche La Fave overtops the levee and floods the GTR.


Holland Bottoms WMA

Map | Weather Report

Hunt Area
Habitat: Good mast crop.
Water Level: Most of the low-lying areas and sloughs on the WMA are flooded.

Lake Pickthorne WRA (no hunting)
Habitat: Excellent crop of native vegetation and millet.

Water Level: Both the East and West units are 100% flooded and holding waterfowl.

 

Northwest Arkansas

Dardanelle WMA

Map | Weather Report

McKennon Bottoms (half-day hunting)
Habitat: Good stand of native moist-soil vegetation.
Water Level: 100% coverage

Potter’s Pothole Hartman Waterfowl Unit (half-day hunting)
Habitat: West cell has a poor stand of moist-soil vegetation. East cell has an average stand of moist-soil vegetation.
Water Level: 100% coverage


Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA

Map | Weather Report

Most waterfowl impoundments on the WMA are now at or near capacity. Duck use on the WMA has been low to moderate.

Little Hole (Unit 1)
Habitat: Japanese millet.
Water Level: 80% flooded.

Willow Island (Unit 2)
Habitat: Japanese millet and natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

Red Gate (Unit 3)
Habitat: Natural vegetation 
Water Level: 95%

Pig Trough (Units 4 and 5)
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 80%

Cedar Ridge (Unit 6)
Habitat: Japanese millet.
Water Level: 85%

Unit 7a
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

Unit 7b
Habitat: Japanese millet and natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

Duck Trap (Units 8a, 8b and 8c)
8a
Habitat: Natural vegetation and Japanese millet.
Water Level: 90%

8b
Habitat: Japanese millett and natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

8c
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 90%

Unit 9
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

Controversy Corner (Unit 10)
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

Remmel Marsh
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

Mud Pond (Unit 12)
Habitat: Natural vegetation and Japanese millet.
Water Level: 100%

Turkey Pond (Units 13a, 13b and 13c)
13a
Habitat: Natural vegetation and Japanese millet.
Water Level: 100%

13b
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 90%

13c
Habitat: Natural vegetation and Japanese millet.
Water Level: 100%

Teeny Pond (Unit 14)
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 75%

Salt Lick (Unit 15)
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 90%

Bobby’s Pond (Unit 16)
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 90%

Race Track (Unit 17)
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%


Frog Bayou WMA 

Map | Weather Report

Due to the dry summer, several units have been fallow-disked in preparation for next season.

Unit 1
Habitat: Good stand of moist-soil vegetation in the upper end, while lower end has been fallow-disked.
Water Level: 100% coverage

Unit 2
Habitat: Has been fallow-disked. Unit is rainfall dependent.
Water Level: 100% flooded.

Unit 3
Habitat: Average stand of moist-soil vegetation on the upper end; lower end has been fallow-disked.
Water Level: 100% 

Unit 4
Habitat: Good stand of moist-soil vegetation and planted millet
Water Level: 100%

Unit 5
Habitat: Good stand of moist-soil vegetation on the upper end; lower end has been planted with Japanese millet.
Water Level: 100% 

Unit 6
Habitat: Good stand of moist-soil vegetation. Lower end has been fallow-disked.
Water Level: 100% 

Unit 7
Habitat: Good stand of moist-soil vegetation. 
Water Level: 100% 

Galla Creek WMA

Map | Weather Report

Galla Creek
Habitat: Good stands of native vegetation and Japanese millet. The water impoundment is now at full pool.
Water Level: 100% coverage


Nimrod Lloyd Millwood WMA

Map | Weather Report

Nimrod GTR
Habitat:
 The red oak mast crop is moderate this year as well as the desirable native vegetation growth. Due to abnormally dry conditions, this area is not expected to fill up as fast as in previous years. The water control structures were closed Nov. 15. 
Water Level: 100% flooded. 


Ozark Lake WMA/Dyer Lake Water Unit

Weather Report

Dyer Lake Cells
Unit 1 Dyer main cell
Habitat: Good stand of moist-soil vegetation.
Water Level: 100% coverage for both units

Unit 2 Dyer Road Cell
Habitat: Poor stand of moist-soil vegetation due to dry conditions over the summer.
Water Level: 100% coverage

Unit 3 South Cell
Habitat: Good stand of moist-soil vegetation and volunteer millet.
Water Level: 25% coverage

Unit 4 West Cell (rainfall dependent)
|Habitat: Good stand of moist-soil vegetation and volunteer millet.
Water Level: 5% coverage


Petit Jean River WMA

Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

Sorehead Moist-Soil Unit
Habitat: This unit was able to grow a great stand of desirable native vegetation this year. The Kingfisher Lake water control structure valve was opened Nov. 15 to help flood this area.
Water Level: 100%

Blacklands Moist-Soil Unit
Habitat: The red oak mast crop is moderate this year as well as the desirable native vegetation growth. Millet planting was attempted this year, but the dry conditions prevented growth. The recent rains have put enough water in the river to start pumping last week.
Water Level: 100%. 

Slaty Crossing Moist-Soil Unit
HabitatDue to ongoing waterfowl habitat enhancement projects, this unit was not able to grow a desirable native vegetation crop or millet crop this year. The recent rains have put enough water in the river to start pumping last week.
Water Level: 100%

Blacklands Duck Area
Habitat:
The red oak mast crop is moderate this year as well as the desirable native vegetation growth. Millet planting was attempted this year, but the dry conditions prevented growth. The Kingfisher Lake water control structure valve was to be opened Nov. 15 to help flood the area.
Water Level: 100%

Pullen Pond Marsh
Habitat: 
Due to ongoing waterfowl habitat enhancement projects, parts of the central section and western section of this area is bare ground. Most of the area has a great stand of desirable native vegetation. The water control structures were closed on Nov. 4.
Water Level: 60%. Flooding of the area is rainfall dependent.

Pond Creek GTR
Habitat: The red oak mast crop is moderate this year as well as the desirable native vegetation growth. Due to abnormally dry conditions, this area is not expected to fill up as fast as in previous years. The water control structures were closed Nov. 15.
Water Level: 20%. Flooding of this area is rainfall dependent.

Slaty GTR
Habitat: The red oak mast crop is moderate this year. Due to abnormally dry conditions, this area is not expected to fill up fast as in previous years. The water control structures were closed Nov. 16.
Water Level: 5%. Flooding of this area is rainfall dependent.

Santa Fe GTR
Habitat: The red oak mast crop is moderate this year as well as the desirable native vegetation growth. Due to abnormally dry conditions, this area is not expected to fill up as fast as in previous years. The water control structures were closed Nov. 15.
Water Level: 100%. Flooding of this area is rainfall dependent.

 

Southwest Arkansas

Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois d’Arc WMA

Map | Weather Report

Bois d’Arc Lake WRA
Habitat: Closed to hunting.
Water Level: Normal

Red Slough WRA
Habitat: Closed to hunting.
Water Level: 90% coverage.

GTR
Habitat: Good mast production.
Water Level: 100% coverage.

Little Grassy
Habitat: Good
Water Level: 100% coverage.


Millwood Lake

Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

Habitat: Habitat conditions are good.
Water Level: Millwood was at 259.66 feet msl as of Jan. 11.


Ozan WMA

Map | Weather Report

Flooding of all units is rainfall dependent.

Unit 1
Habitat: Good
Water Level: 0%

Unit 2
Habitat: Good
Water Level: 0%

Unit 3
Habitat: Good
Water Level: 0%

Unit 4
Habitat: Good
Water Level: 0%

Unit 5
Habitat: Good
Water Level: 0%


Sulphur River WMA

Map | Weather Report

Mercer Bayou
Habitat: Fair
Water Level: 90%

Henry Moore WRA
Habitat: Closed to hunting.
Water Level: 60%

 

Southeast Arkansas

Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA

Map | Weather Report
Water Level: Water is available in the oxbow lakes located in the WMA. The Ouachita River below Felsenthal Lock and Dam is now flooding some lower areas of the WMA. Due to flooding, the Clear Lake Road is closed at this time.

Cut-Off Creek WMA

Map | Weather Report
Hunt Area
Habitat: Habitat conditions are good.
Water Level: Water levels remain high; all but the Lower East parking area can now be accessed.

Pigeon Creek WRA
Habitat: Habitat conditions are good.
Water Level: Fully flooded.

Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA Deer Research Area

Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report
Habitat conditions are good. Flooding is river dependent. Click on the Water Gauge link above for current Mississippi River levels. Use extreme caution when boating in the river.

The Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA West Unit allows weekend permit hunting for youths (one adult per youth hunter); on Wednesdays, all ages may apply for a permit to hunt the blinds in the West Unit.

George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto WMA

Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

The UGSG is reporting real-time water gauge readings at the headwater at each GTR within the George H. Dunklin Bayou Meto WMA. Click the Water Gauge link above for the WMA, and search for the particular GTR as noted. 

NOTE: During the 2022-23 wintering period, all intentional flooding will be held at 178.5 feet msl, an elevation that will relieve stress on many trees such as red oaks that are showing signs of distress. Rain and increased flow into the WMA will allow water to rise above that level periodically. A good rule of thumb for comparing water levels to access into Bayou Meto: 176 feet msl  water breaking into sloughs and lower ditches; 177-177.5 feet msl  water beginning to break out of sloughs and lower ditches; 178 feet msl  water in most sloughs and ditches and entering into lower elevations in woods; 178.5 feet msl  most ditches and sloughs deep enough to boat and most boat ramps become serviceable; 179 feet msl or above  water expands to the higher elevations.

Upper Vallier GTR
Habitat: Good
Water Level: See Gauge Link (Upper Vallier Headwater) for updated info.

Lower Vallier GTR
Habitat: Good
Water Level: See Gauge Link (Lower Vallier Headwater) for updated info. Use extreme caution around water control structures due to high volume of water. 

Government Cypress GTR
Habitat: Good
Water Level: See Gauge Link (Government Cypress Headwater) for updated info.

Buckingham Flats GTR
Habitat: Good
Water Level: See Gauge Link (Buckingham Flats Headwater) for updated info.

Temple Island GTR
Habitat: Good
Water Level: See Gauge Link (Temple Island Headwater) for updated info.

Canon Brake
Habitat: Good
Water Level: See Gauge Link (Canon Brake Headwater) for updated info. Use extreme caution around water control structures due to high volume of water.

Halowell WRA
Habitat: Excellent
Water Level: Staggered flooding of units.

Wrape Plantation WRA
Habitat: Excellent
Water Level: Staggered flooding of units.


Seven Devils WMA

Map | Weather Report

Hunt Area
Habitat: Habitat conditions are good.
Water Level: Completed flooded. Roads accessible at this time.

Trusten Holder WMA

Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report
Habitat conditions are good. Flooding is river dependent. Click on the Water Gauge link above for current Arkansas River levels.


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