WMA easy to find, offers access to fishing, hunting
Outdoor writer and photographer Corbet Deary is featured regularly in The Sentinel-Record. Today, Deary takes readers on a journey to the Nimrod/Lloyd Millwood Wildlife Management Area.
Those of us living in the Hot Springs vicinity are blessed with acres upon acres of national forest lands. In turn, many of us can strike out and be in the midst of Mother Nature within a matter of minutes.
I certainly take advantage of this luxury. In fact, it’s not uncommon for me to load up on the spur of the moment and enjoy a relaxing drive, a short reprieve from the hustles and bustles of everyday life.
Although I utilize the nearby forestlands, I also stray a little farther from home when time allows. Of course, there are occasions when I know exactly where I am headed. But I most enjoy the times when I have no itinerary. I simply find a gravel road and go wherever the route might take me.
But for some reason, there are a few locations that beckon, even on those days when I have no specific destination in mind. The Nimrod/ Lloyd Millwood Wildlife Management Area is one such place. In fact, many have been the times that I have found myself at this location when I choose to travel north on Arkansas Scenic Highway 7.
Although this particular destination is situated somewhat off the beaten path, it is not difficult to find. From Hot Springs, travel north on Park Avenue and take a left onto Highway 7 just past Fountain Lake School.
Remain on the highway for 37 miles to Fourche Junction. This section of the drive is very scenic, as it makes a winding journey through the national forest and crosses the South Fourche LaFave River just before reaching Hollis.
The highway continues a steep and crooked journey through the forest after passing through the quaint community and crosses the Main Fourche LaFave River just before reaching the intersection.
From the intersection at Fourche Junction, veer left onto Highway 60 and follow the road as it runs alongside Nimrod Lake. The reservoir is a distance from the road and is often out of sight. However, there are a few spots where one can see the distant lake contained in the valley below.
Remain on Highway 60 for 8.6 miles to Plainview and take a left onto Highway 28. Following the road for eight-tenths of a mile, take a left onto Sunlight Bay Road at the WMA sign. Follow the paved route for 1.6 miles, and veer right onto the dirt road leading into the destination.
The wildlife management area consists of in the neighborhood of 25,000 acres, and can actually be accessed via other routes, as well. However, I would consider the aforementioned directions the easiest and most accurate for those traveling along Highway 7 from Hot Springs.
The dirt road will continue through a low- lying wooded area. And although the environment might change somewhat from time to time, the terrain will remain pretty much the same throughout our entire excursion into the WMA.
The route will make its way through a wooded area for a short distance prior to entering some large fields. I would suspect that rabbit hunting enthusiasts have been known to drop the tailgate at these locations many times throughout the years. In fact, I bagged a couple of rabbits by kicking around in these thickets a few years ago.
The road then makes its way through another wooded section prior to reaching a bridge spanning Porter Creek. Although I have never casted into these waters, I have noticed several anglers fishing from and nearby the bridge during previous visits.
In fact, I have stopped and chewed the fat with a few of these fishermen, many of whom shared accounts of catching crappie from the large pool. I had no reason to doubt their stories. And the fact that a boat ramp was located within feet of the bridge was an indication that this was a pretty popular destination.
Crossing the bridge, the road makes its way through a beautiful wooded area. The understory is rather open and towering water oaks shade the damp substrate below. We’re talking woods that appear to provide the perfect habitat for squirrels to thrive. However, I did hunt this section of woods several years ago with little success. But that’s no indication that the bushytail population hasn’t since improved.
The road meanders for a short distance prior to veering to the right and running alongside the Main Fourche LaFave River and to a four-way intersection. This intersection is, by far, my favorite spot throughout the entire WMA.
Those who know me would likely be quick to guess this is my favorite spot, as they are aware that I love fishing small rivers. And the fact that there is a boat ramp on site is icing on the proverbial cake.
However, fishing is but one of the reasons that I might gravitate to this particular location. It just so happens that I am intrigued with old steel bridges. And the structure spanning the river is certainly worthy of admiration.
I grew curious upon watching a fella fishing from the bridge during our most recent visit, as it is situated several feet above the surface, and the shoreline was fairly easily accessible at a couple of spots. However, it quickly grew clear that he was familiar with this body of water, as he managed to coax a crappie into biting within a matter of minutes.
Of course, one has four choices at the intersection. But I always choose to take a right. In fact, seldom have been the times I have continued straight or crossed the bridge and continued my journey.
And why would I always gravitate toward the right-hand turn? Well, I suppose the fact that I am a creature of habit might play a large role in my decisions. But I also am aware that this road leads to yet another one of my favorite destinations.
The route makes its way through yet another set of fields and eventually to a gate, at the beginning of a long levee. This used to be a duck hunting hot spot as the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission used to flood this area during duck season. However, the AGFC has chosen to not fill the low-lying area with water during the past couple of years.
I am unaware of their reasoning. It might be an issue that is determined by the weather, or it might be a management practice determined by the agency. Regardless of the reasoning, that’s OK with me.
This section of the WMA is bountiful with huge hardwoods. And in turn, this is also a location where one is apt to bag a limit of squirrels. In fact, I can recall standing waist-deep in water during previous duck seasons and watching squirrels bouncing from limb to limb in the canopy above.
Yep, the Nimrod/Lloyd Millwood WMA is one of those destinations where I have returned time and time again throughout the years, And I think it would be safe to say that it is a destination to where I will continue to gravitate in the future.