WMA ‘hot spot’ for fishing, hunting, picturesque views
Outdoor writer and photographer Corbet Deary is featured regularly in The Sentinel-Record. Today, Deary writes about Nimrod/Lloyd Millwood Wildlife Management Area.
I’ve visited several of the wildlife management areas throughout the state. Although these designated areas are all comparable in the sense that their goals are to protect, conserve and preserve various fish and wildlife species that are native to the state, they all also differ in many ways.
Some management areas are situated in rugged and mountainous terrain and some are nestled in river bottoms. Many of the designated areas, however, blanket a wide range of terrains and ecosystems, providing a habitat for an array of plants and animals to thrive.
Of course the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission must manage the habitat to ensure a healthy wildlife population. But the equation goes somewhat deeper, as the agency must consider that the human population and their actions can often prove a game changer of the end result of their efforts.
That in mind, special regulations are often of their most effective management tools. They might be nothing more than limiting wheeled travel only to specified roads. It might include specified hunting times; they might limit the amount of ammunition one is allowed to have on their person, or it might be something as simple as requiring a hunter to acquire a permit prior to hunting within the perimeters of the designated area.
Although these rules might seem ludicrous or anal to some, they are essential in effective management practices. And these rules might change throughout the years as a result of up-to-date studies and data.
Located near the small town of Plainview, just above where the Main Fourche LaFave River dumps into Lake Nimrod, Nimrod/Lloyd Millwood Wildlife Management Area is a popular destination, and for good reason.
The designated acreage is situated in a predominantly low-lying area. A large and reliable water source is always a strong indication of an impressive critter population. The large fields and hardwood dominated bottomlands also provide an optimal habitat for a plethora of native wildlife to thrive.
And one can rest assured that where there is a healthy wildlife population, outdoor enthusiast with an array of interests won’t be far behind.
I suspect the WMA is best known as a duck hunting haven during the winter months. In fact, many acres of the aforementioned bottomland hardwoods are flooded on an annual basis.
And why would the state agency flood these timbers? Just ask any duck hunter. They’ll be more than eager to tell you why. The WMA is located in the Mississippi fly zone. In turn, migratory waterfowl fly over by the thousands during their annual winter migration. As are many animals, ducks are opportunistic and will certainly make a detour when they happen upon a bountiful food source on or near waters that are not frozen.
Well, it just so happens that ducks have a sweet tooth for acorns. I suspect some of the ducks that fly down for a feast might remain in the area for several days. Other flocks likely get their bellies full, rest a while and continue in a southward journey.
Regardless of how long a duck, or flock, chooses to stay, the flooded bottoms of the Nimrod/Lloyd Millwood Wildlife Management Area are recognized as a potential stopping point by literally thousands of ducks during every winter migration.
As one might suspect, the duck population at any location will vary with each year. Mother Nature plays a huge role in the numbers, as the weather often determines how bountiful a food source is at any given location. Temperature is also a factor, as ducks avoid waters with frozen surfaces. And ducks are no different from any other wild critter in the sense that they simply stir better in specific weather conditions.
But when all of the conditions are right, those who embark upon a duck hunt at the WMA are in for a shooting good time.
There are some drawbacks to hunting at such a popular destination, however. As anyone who has participated in the sport will agree, there are specific spots where ducks notoriously prefer to land, year after year.
These hot spots are often few and far between. Hunters will sometimes be hunting in very close proximity to each other. Of course, it’s always a race to see who manages to get to these locations first. Hunters are not allowed to launch their boats on the waters lying within the perimeters of the wildlife management area until a specified time. That said, it is essential to arrive at the ramp extremely early and play the waiting game until one can legally back their trailer into the water.
Although duck hunters flock into the flooded timber during the annual migratory waterfowl season, others gravitate toward the WMA for various reasons.
Rabbit hunting is a very popular sport, as the aforementioned fields provide an optimal habitat for these critters to thrive. Of course, one cannot take success for granted. And I can recall outings when the underbrush appeared desolate of a cottontail or swamp rabbit.
But there have been other times when the WMA appeared to be crawling with these highly scrumptious creatures. It’s not uncommon to hear a pack of beagles bawling as they push a rabbit through the heavy undergrowth. And I can’t think of anything more enjoyable than hunting behind a well-trained pack of dogs.
But I have also experienced my fair share of success by simply wading through the understory and jumping them without the assistance of hounds.
Of course, hunting with dogs is most productive. But I can’t think of anything more enjoyable and exciting than when a rabbit suddenly bolts from underfoot, leaving only seconds to take and bead before they disappear into the thickets.
I know of a few squirrel hunters who also frequent the management area. Again, most of these guys hunt with dogs. But there is also something to be said for kicking back against a tree and waiting them out; or, better than that, stalking.
How about fishing? Well, a friend recently shared stories of success. He recalled catching a limit of crappie from the road’s edge. And I suspect those using a small craft would experience even better odds of enticing a boatload into biting.
Although I have never fished the section of Main Fourche that runs through the management area, it sure appears to be productive. In fact, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if the river didn’t cough up some impressive stringers. And the water is certainly large enough to sustain occasional largemouths in the 5- to 6-pound range.
We probably have a few uncomfortably warm days still ahead. But the more pleasant temperatures will soon become the norm. That in mind, I foresee a short journey to Nimrod/Lloyd Millwood Wildlife Management Area in the near future.
To get to Nimrod/Lloyd Millwood Wildlife Management Area, travel north on Park Avenue and take a left onto Highway 7 north shortly after passing Fountain Lake School. Go 37 miles and make a slight left onto Highway 60 at Fourche Junction. Go 8 miles and take a left onto Highway 28 at Plainview. Follow the highway for a few miles, take a left at the WMA sign and follow the road to the destination.