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Thread: AR Report

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2001
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    Default AR Report

    January 16, 2020 at 2:12 a.m.

    During the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's annual midwinter aerial waterfowl survey, observers estimated 1.4 million total ducks in the Delta, half of which (729,960 estimated) were mallards. The Delta mallard population estimate during the Jan. 6-9 count was slightly less than the 2010-2020 long-term midwinter survey average of about 859,000, but the total duck population estimate was above the long-term average of over 1.2 million. In December, the aerial survey count estimated about 890,000 total ducks in the Delta.

    The aerial survey was conducted before a major weather front added significant rainfall to the state and increased available habitat for ducks. Last weekend's rainfall and a brief drop in temperatures was the biggest winter weather event to hit Arkansas during the waterfowl season. Conditions mostly were dry throughout December with unseasonably warm days that continued into early January.

    "Statewide habitat availability generally has been low this wintering period," said Luke Naylor, the AGFC's waterfowl program coordinator. "Overbank flooding along a few river corridors early in duck season was short-lived, and the rainfall necessary to produce additional flooding has been mostly absent. December was dry throughout much of Arkansas, with monthly precipitation totals 2-4 inches below average in many locations. These weather patterns typically do not lead to high mallard counts, but early water captured in both managed and limited unmanaged habitats appears to be supporting mallard numbers at least close to average.

    Naylor said that even more habitat after the weather front may not be enough to push the numbers up much for the rest of the month.

    "Habitat availability may have increased enough this past week to attract additional mallards, but a big jump in numbers is unlikely as the wintering period comes to an end," Naylor said. "Hopefully cooler temperatures and sustained overbank flooding in some areas will lead to increased duck movement as birds seek out new habitats and improved hunting conditions as the season draws to an end."

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

    NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

    BIG LAKE WMA

    North Woods GTR Mast production is good. The Bo Dock gauge is above 238. Target level is 235.5 with 100% flooded.

    South Woods GTR Mast production is fair. The 7-mile gauge is above 238 feet. Target level is 234.5 feet with 100% flooded.

    Simmons Field A good amount of millet and sedge is present. Seed production is very good in the North Unit and middle field. South field was stripped in Japanese millet with strips of wild millet and sedge that did very well. 100% flooded.

    DAVE DONALDSON BLACK RIVER WMA

    Upper Island GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 270.4. Target level is 269.5. 100% flooded.

    Lower Island GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 269.4. Target level is 268.5. 100% flooded.

    Upper Reyno GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 268. Target level is 266.9. 100% flooded.

    ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
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    Lower Reyno GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 267.3. Target level is 266.3. 100% flooded.

    Winchester GTR Moderate mast crop. Water level is 264.7. Target level is 263.7. 100% flooded.

    EARL BUSS BAYOU DEVIEW WMA

    South Oliver GTR Mast production has been good. The area is 100% flooded with a current gauge reading of 2.9 foot. Water is rising in the GTR.

    Thompson Tract GTR Mast production has been good. The area is 100% flooded with a current gauge reading of 3.6 feet.

    Lake Hogue WRA Primarily deep open water habitat. Normal pool level.

    SHIREY BAY RAINEY BRAKE WMA

    Adam Brake GTR Good abundance of mast crop. Water level is 241.2 with a target level of 100% flooded.

    Rainey Brake GTR Good abundance of mast crop. 100% flooded.

    Eagle Pond GTR Good abundance of mast crop. 100% flooded.

    Phase III Moist-Soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 45% flooded.

    Charles Crisp Moist-Soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Ward Field Moist-Soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 100% flooded.

    River Field Moist-Soil Unit Good wetland-type vegetation. 100% flooded.

    ST. FRANCIS SUNKEN LANDS WMA

    Hunt Area Mast production is good. Water levels in the huntable areas are dependent on the St. Francis River. The water level at Oak Donnick is 215.4.

    Snowden WRA Mixed grasses. 20% flooded.

    Payneway WRA Pools A,B, C, and D have mixed smartweed and some mowing has occurred for open water use. Pool A is at 20%. Pool B is at 50%. Pool C is at 50% and Pool D is at 75%.

    EAST CENTRAL ARKANSAS

    HENRY GRAY HURRICANE LAKE WMA

    North GTR Good mast crop. Glaise Creek gauge at 193.70. All structures are closed.

    South GTR Fair mast crop. Glaise Creek gauge at 193.70. All structures are open.

    REX HANCOCK BLACK SWAMP WMA

    Main WMA Good mast crop. 75% flooded.

    Wyeville Unit Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100% coverage.

    SHEFFIELD NELSON DAGMAR WMA

    Mud Slough GTR Excellent mast crop. 70% flooded.

    Apple Lake WRA Fair mast crop. 75% flooded.

    Conway George Waterfowl Unit A Good mast crop. 100% flooded.

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

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

    STEVE N. WILSON RAFT CREEK BOTTOMS WMA

    NOTE The White River at the Georgetown gauge was 19 feet on Monday. All on-site permit draws for Saturdays and Sundays are suspended until the river recedes to 17.5 feet on the Georgetown gauge.

    Unit A Excellent stand of native vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Unit B Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Unit C Good stand of native vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Unit D (Youth Area) Good stand of millet and native vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Unit E Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Unit F Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Unit G Fair stand of millet and native vegetation. 90% flooded.

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

    Unit I Poor stand of native vegetation. 90% flooded.

    Unit J (Cypert Tract) Excellent stand of native vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Unit K (Cypert Tract) Excellent stand of native vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Unit L (Cypert Tract) Excellent stand of native vegetation. 50% flooded.

    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. 100% flooded.

    Palarm Creek WRA Units 1 & 2 Millet was planted as a cover crop within the moist-soil units. 100% flooded.

    CYPRESS BAYOU WMA

    Hunt Area Good mast crop. 100% flooded.

    Red Cut Slough Tract Unit 1 Good stand of millet and native vegetation. Water level 75%.

    Unit 2 Excellent stand of millet and native vegetation. Water level 100%.

    Unit 3 Good stand of millet and native vegetation. Water level 100%.

    Unit 4 Good stand of native vegetation. Water level 100%.

    Unit 5 Good stand of native vegetation. Water level 65%.

    Unit 6 Good stand of native vegetation. Water level 65%.

    HARRIS BRAKE WMA

    Harris Brake Upper Unit Good mast in the GTR. 100% flooded.

    Harris Brake Lower Unit Good mast in the GTR. 95% flooded.

    HOLLAND BOTTOMS WMA

    Hunt Area Good mast. 90% flooded.

    Lake Pickthorne WRA Excellent conditions. East cell 100% flooded. West Cell is 90% flooded.

    SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

    DR. LESTER SITZES III BOIS D' ARC WMA

    Bois d'Arc Lake WRA Closed to hunting. Normal.

    Red Slough WRA Closed to hunting. Water level 55%.

    GTR Good mast production. Water level 75%.

    Little Grassy Habitat is good. Water level 60%.

    MILLWOOD LAKE Habitat is good. Water level 262.72.

    OZAN WMA

    Unit 1 Habitat good. 0% flooded.

    Unit 2 Habitat good. 0% flooded.

    Unit 3 Habitat good. 0% flooded.

    Unit 4 Habitat good. 0% flooded.

    Unit 5 Habitat good. 0% flooded.

    SULPHUR RIVER WMA

    Mercer Bayou Habitat conditions are fair. Water level is low. No boat access.

    Henry Moore WRA Closed to hunting. 30% flooded.

    SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

    BERYL ANTHONY LOWER OUACHITA WMA The WMA has good hard mast production. The only water on the WMA currently is in the sloughs and in the 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 on the river.

    TRUSTEN HOLDER Habitat conditions good. Flooding is river dependent.

    SEVEN DEVILS SWAMP WMA Habitat conditions good. Fully flooded.

    CUT-OFF CREEK WMA

    Hunt Area Habitat conditions are good. Fully flooded.

    Pigeon Creek WRA Habitat conditions are good. Fully flooded.

    BAYOU METO WMA

    Upper Vallier GTR Good habitat. Water level 180.65 feet, full pool at 180 feet.

    Lower Vallier GTR Good habitat. Water level 179.48 feet, full pool at 179 feet.

    Government Cypress GTR Good habitat. Water level 180.65 feet, full pool at 179 feet.

    Buckingham Flats GTR Good habitat. 178 msl. First phase of pumping completed.

    Temple Island GTR Good habitat. Water level 184.22

    Canon Brake Good habitat. 178.25 msl. Full pool at 177 msl.

    Halowell WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered flooding of units. 75% flooded. Good numbers of ducks on south units

    Wrape Plantation WRA Excellent habitat. Staggered flooding of units.

    NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

    DARDANELLE WMA

    McKennon Bottoms Heavy stand of perennial vegetation due for disking next spring. 100% flooded.

    Potter's Pothole Hartman Waterfowl Unit Some planted millet, good stand of native millet, sprangle top and panic grasses. 100% flooded and currently pumping.

    OZARK POOL

    Dyer Lake Cells Fair stand of nutsedge and toothcup smartweed, and sprangle top. Unit 3 was impacted by summer flooding and needs disturbance that is scheduled for next year. Units 1 and 2 are 100% flooded. Unit 3 is 100% flooded.

    NIMROD LLOYD MILLWOOD WMA

    Nimrod GTR Excellent mast crop with a mix of moderate to good stands of desirable native vegetation throughout the open lands. 100% flooded.

    ED GORDON POINT REMOVE WMA

    Little Hole (Unit 1) Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Willow Island Planted Japanese millet. 100% flooded.

    Red Gate Native vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Pig Trough (Units 4 and 5) Planted Japanese and Chiwapa millet and native vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Cedar Ridge (Unit 6) Natural vegetation and Chiwapa millet. 100% flooded.

    Duck Trap Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Unit 7A Japanese millet, native vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Unit 7B Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Unit 8A Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Unit 8B Japanese and Chiwapa millet, native vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Unit 8C Japanese millet. 100% flooded.

    Unit 9 Japanese millet. 100% flooded.

    Controversy Corner (Unit 10) Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Remmel Marsh Japanese millet. 100% flooded.

    Mud Pond (Unit 12) Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Turkey Pond (Unit 13A) Natural vegetation and Japanese millet. 100% flooded.

    Turkey Pond (Unit 13B) Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Turkey Pond (Unit 13C) Natural vegetation, Japanese millet and Chiwapa millet. 100% flooded.

    Teeny Pond (Unit 14) Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Salt Lick (Unit 15) Native vegetation. Water level 100%.

    Bobby's Pond (Unit 16) Japanese millet. 100% flooded.

    Race Track (Unit 17) Natural vegetation. 100% flooded.

    FROG BAYOU WMA

    Unit 1 Sprangle top, wild millet, smartweed and nutsedge. 100% flooded.

    Unit 2 Good stand of barnyard grass and nutsedge. 50% flooded.

    Unit 3 Smartweed, toothcup, nutsedge, barnyard grass, sprangle top and duck potato. 100% flooded.

    Unit 4 Barnyard grass, sprangle top, annual smartweed, nutsedge and crabgrass. 100% flooded.

    Unit 5 Sprangle top, wild millet, smartweed, knotgrass, nutsedge and duck potato. 100% flooded.

    Unit 6 Barnyard grass, smartweed, crabgrass and sprangle top. 100% flooded.

    Unit 7 Lower end of unit planted with millet, upper end with barnyard grass, sprangle top and smartweed. 100% flooded and scheduled to pump full the first week of December.

    GALLA CREEK WMA

    Galla Creek GTR Moderate stand of native vegetation, including a mixture of barnyard grass and sprangle top. 100% flooded.

    PETIT JEAN RIVER WMA

    Santa Fe GTR Excellent mast crop. 100% flooded.

    Sore-Head Moist Soil Unit Moderate to good stands of desirable native vegetation throughout. 100% flooded.

    Slaty Crossing Moist-Soil Unit Due to ongoing waterfowl habitat enhancement projects, most of this unit is bare ground. 90% flooded.

    Olin Cain Moist-Soil Unit 25% native vegetation and 100% flooded.

    Black Lands Moist-Soil Unit Poor to great stands of desirable native vegetation throughout. Great mast crop in the wooded areas. 100% flooded.

    Black Lands Duck Area Excellent mast in the wooded sections. Moderate to great stands of desirable native vegetation mixed throughout. 100% flooded.

    Pullen Pond Due to ongoing waterfowl habitat enhancement projects, parts of the southern and western sections are bare ground. The western section of this area has spotted sections of great desirable native vegetation. The northern section produced poor stands of native vegetation. Water level 100%.

    Pond Creek GTR Excellent mast crop with excellent stands of desirable native vegetation in the open lands. 0% flooded.

    Slaty GTR Excellent mast crop. 10% flooded.

    Black Lands Duck Area Millet, native vegetation. 100% flooded.

    Sports on 01/16/2020

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Lexington, SC
    Posts
    14,522

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    It’s been a tough season so far. Now the White River is rising more, weather has been like spring time and seems like new new birds.

    Some cold weather coming and hopefully new birds with it. But there’s tons of water to really spread them out.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
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    In my own little world
    Posts
    20,978

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    After two warm seasons in a row duck numbers should be great next year.
    RIP Kelsey "Bigdawg" Cromer
    12-26-98 12-1-13

    If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.

    Missing you my great friend.


  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Boone, NC
    Posts
    6,230

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    We've been having a good season. It looks like it should improve even more with this weather coming up.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Upstate
    Posts
    2,128

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    Heading that way Monday. Hopefully this front brought something worth the drive.
    "George Washington didn't use his freedom of speech to defeat the British, he shot them."

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Albemarle,NC
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    509

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    Headed to north Louisiana tonight for a week at the duck camp water level just got right hopefully we will kill a few

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
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    SC
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    7,444

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    .
    80-20 Genaration

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    FROG LEVEL
    Posts
    23,785

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    Nope, just them greenhead kind. Good Shootin
    Gettin old is for pussies! AND MY NEW TRUE people say like Capt. Tom >>>>>>>>>/
    "Wow, often imitated but never duplicated. No one can do it like the master. My hat is off to you DRDUCK!"

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