ARKANSAS WATERFOWL REPORT

The heavy rainfall that Arkansas waterfowl hunters have been waiting for all season finally arrived Tuesday in the southern portion of the state, and with it comes hope for better habitat conditions to spread out the duck migration into the state.

A large area in east-central Arkansas received up to 6 inches of rainfall in a 24-hour period Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service, and a large swath of the state from the southwestern tip to West Memphis appeared to receive 3-5 inches of rainfall in that period. All but the northernmost reaches of Arkansas received at least 1 inch.

Before Tuesday, the state was enduring record drought conditions in many areas, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s greentree reservoirs and other wildlife management areas were battling dry conditions and little chance for hunters to find ducks.

Aerial surveys conducted Dec. 4-7 showed that while the mallard numbers mirrored totals for the past six Decembers, nearly half the mallard population in Arkansas was in flooded rice fields, and the remainder were scrounging for the limited water available — much of that artificially flooded on private land — outside of the major tributaries in the state.

Forecasts for the coming weeks show possible lower temperatures through the new year. Luke Naylor, waterfowl biologist for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said ducks will quickly populate suitable habitat.

* Water levels listed in the waterfowl report were taken Monday and do not reflect rainfall Tuesday and Wednesday.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

EARL BUSS BAYOU DEVIEW WMA South Oliver GTR Mast production has been good. 0 percent flooded with a current gauge reading of 0 feet. There is a small amount of available water present within the natural slough on the north end of this GTR and south end of the North Oliver Tract. Thompson Tract GTR Mast production has been good. The area is 0 percent flooded with a current gauge reading of 0 feet. Lake Hogue WRA A small amount of beneficial wetland plants along the east side of the lake. Normal pool level. BIG LAKE WMA North Woods GTR Mast production is good. Bois d’Arc gauge currently reads 233.2. Target level is 234.5. 0 percent flooded. South Woods GTR Mast production is good. The 7-mile gauge is currently at 232.8 feet. Target level is 234.5 feet with 20 percent flooded. A small amount of water is in the borrow pits on the west side of the area between the 7- and 8-mile laterals. Simmons Field A good amount of millet, smartweed and sedge is present. Seed production is good. 15 percent flooded. ST. FRANCIS SUNKEN LANDS WMA

Hunt Area Mast production is considered average within the timber and floodways. Water levels in the huntable areas are dependent on the St. Francis River. The water level at Oak Donnick is 211.22 feet with 85 percent of the huntable area flooded.

Snowden WRA There is a small amount of beneficial wetland plants within the borrow areas. 0 percent flooded.

Payneway WRA There are 70 acres of corn and millet planted throughout the WRA. Pools A, B, C and D are at 0 percent. SHIREY BAY RAINEY BRAKE WMA Adam’s Brake GTR High abundance of mast crop within the GTR. Water level is 238.5 MSL with a target level of 240.0 MSL. 65 percent flooded.

Rainey Brake GTR High abundance of mast crop within the GTR. 90 percent flooded. Eagle Pond GTR High abundance of mast crop within the GTR. 80 percent flooded. Phase III Moist-soil Unit Fair wetland-type vegetation. 20 percent flooded. Charles Crisp Moist-soil Unit Fair wetland-type vegetation. 70 percent flooded. Ward Field Moist-soil Unit Good abundance of wetland-type vegetation. 100 percent flooded. River Field Moist-soil Unit High abundance of wetland-type vegetation. 0 percent flooded. DAVE DONALDSON BLACK RIVER WMA Upper Island GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 269.5 MSL. Target level is 269.5 MSL. 90 percent flooded. Lower Island GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 268.25. Target level is 268.0 MSL. 100 percent flooded. Upper Reyno GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 266.85 MSL. Target level is 266.9 MSL. 95 percent flooded.

Lower Reyno GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 266.85 MSL. Target level is 266.3 MSL. 75 percent flooded.

Winchester GTR Average abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. Water level is 263.42 MSL. Target level is 263.7 MSL. 75 percent flooded.

EAST CENTRAL ARKANSAS

SHEFFIELD NELSON DAGMAR WMA Mud Slough GTR Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded. Apple Lake WRA Good mast crop. 90 percent flooded.

Conway George Waterfowl Unit A Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Conway George Waterfowl Unit B Natural slough area with beneficial wetland plants. 100 percent flooded.

Conway George Waterfowl Unit C Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

REX HANCOCK BLACK SWAMP WMA Main WMA Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded.

Wyeville Unit Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 90 percent flooded. STEVE N. WILSON RAFT CREEK BOTTOMS WMA

(Due to low water, no permit draw will be conducted this weekend. The WMA is open for waterfowl hunting.)

Unit A Excellent stand of native vegetation. 70 percent flooded.

Unit B Excellent stand of native vegetation. 55 percent flooded

Unit C Good stand of native vegetation. 5 percent flooded.

Unit D (Youth Area) Good stand of native vegetation. 50 percent flooded.

Unit E Good stand of native vegetation. 15 percent flooded.

Unit F Good stand of native vegetation. 5 percent flooded.

Unit G Fair stand of millet and native vegetation. 20 percent flooded

Unit H (Mobility-impaired blind) Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Unit I Conditions are poor. 30 percent flooded.

Unit J (Cypert Tract) Fair stand of native vegetation. 5 percent flooded. Unit K (Cypert Tract) Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 5 percent flooded.

Unit L (Cypert Tract) Good stand of millet. 5 percent flooded.

HENRY GRAY HURRICANE LAKE WMA North GTR Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded.

South GTR Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

SULPHUR RIVER WMA

Mercer Bayou Habitat conditions are fair. Drawn down for restoration project. Boat ramps are closed.

Henry Moore WRA Closed to hunting. 0 percent flooded.

MILLWOOD LAKE Habitat is good. Water level 258.48 MSL.

DR. LESTER SITZES III BOIS D’ ARC WMA Bois d’Arc Lake WRA Closed to hunting. Normal water level.

Red Slough WRA Closed to hunting. Water level 5 percent.

GTR Good mast production. Sloughs are swelling.

Little Grassy Habitat is fair. Water level

5 percent.

CENTRAL ARKANSAS

CRAIG D. CAMPBELL LAKE CONWAY RESERVOIR

Habitat and water levels are normal on both Pierce and Dix creeks.

BELL SLOUGH WMA

Bell Slough GTR Moderate mast crop. 25 percent flooded.

Palarm Creek WRA Millet was planted this year following disking within the moistsoil units. 45 percent flooded.

HARRIS BRAKE WMA

Harris Brake Upper Unit Good mast crop with native vegetation. 100 percent flooded.

Harris Brake Lower Unit Excellent habitat. 100 percent flooded.

HOLLAND BOTTOMS WMA

Hunt Area Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded.

Lake Pickthorne WRA Excellent mast crop. East cell 10 percent flooded. West cell 30 percent flooded.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

BERYL ANTHONY LOWER OUACHITA WMA The WMA has fair hard mast production. There is minor flooding on the area, mostly in the sloughs and oxbow lakes. FREDDIE BLACK CHOCTAW ISLAND WMA

DEER RESEARCH AREA Habitat conditions are good. There is variable flooding associated with the Mississippi River. Use extreme caution when boating in the river.

TRUSTEN HOLDER Habitat conditions good. Variable flooding on the WMA.

SEVEN DEVILS SWAMP WMA Habitat conditions good, with an excellent acorn crop. 0 percent flooded. CUT-OFF CREEK WMA Hunt Area Habitat conditions are good, with an excellent acorn crop. 0 percent flooded. Pigeon Creek WRA Habitat conditions are good, with an excellent acorn crop. 0 percent flooded. BAYOU METO WMA Upper Vallier GTR Good habitat. 0 percent flooded. Lower Vallier GTR Good habitat. 0 percent flooded. Government Cypress GTR Good habitat. 0 percent flooded. Buckingham Flats GTR Good habitat. 100 percent flooded. Temple Island GTR Good habitat. 0 percent flooded. Canon Brake Good habitat. 0 percent flooded. Halowell WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered flooding of units. Wrape Plantation WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered flooding of units.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

DARDANELLE WMA McKennon Bottoms Good stand of native moist soil vegetation. 100 percent flooded. Potter’s Pothole Hartman Waterfowl Unit Good stand of native moist-soil vegetation. 100 percent flooded. OZARK POOL

Dyer Lake Cells Native vegetation. Dry.

NIMROD LLOYD MILLWOOD WMA Nimrod GTR Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded. FROG BAYOU WMA Unit 1 Planted millet and smartweed. 95 percent flooded.

Unit 2 Habitat is poor. 0 percent flooded. Unit 3 Perennial vegetation. 95 percent flooded.

Unit 4 Native moist soil and planted millet. 95 percent flooded.

Unit 5 Good moist soil vegetation. 95 percent flooded.

Unit 6 Good moist soil vegetation. 90 percent flooded.

Unit 7 Some annual and perennial moistsoil vegetation. 90 percent flooded. GALLA CREEK WMA Galla Creek GTR Natural vegetation including a mixture of barnyard and smartweed. 100 percent flooded. Staged flooding began Nov. 27. PETIT JEAN RIVER WMA Santa Fe GTR Good mast crop with native vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Olin Cain Moist-Soil Unit 25 percent native vegetation and 75 percent bare ground. 10 percent flooded.

Black Lands Moist-soil Unit 25 percent native vegetation and 75 percent bare ground. 0 percent flooded.

Slaty Crossing Moist-soil Unit 25 percent native vegetation and 75 percent bare ground. 0 percent flooded.

Pullen Pond Native vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Pond Creek GTR Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded.

Slaty Pond GTR Good mast crop. 0 percent flooded.

Black Lands Duck Area Good mast crop. 40 percent flooded.

ED GORDON POINT REMOVE WMA Willow Island Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Little Hole Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Red Gate Natural vegetation. 60 percent flooded.

Pig Trough Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Cedar Ridge Natural vegetation. 10 percent flooded.

Duck Trap Natural vegetation. 10 percent flooded.

Salt Lick Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Bobby’s Pond Natural vegetation. 60 percent flooded.

Race Track Natural vegetation. 70 percent flooded.

Controversy Corner Natural vegetation.

80 percent flooded.

Remmel Marsh Natural vegetation. 90 percent flooded.

Mud Pond Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Turkey Pond Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.

Teeny Pond Natural vegetation. 0 percent flooded.