Duck Season Update: Finally, Some Big Rainfall

Weather conditions may begin to favor duck needs with newest round of rain

AGFC Communications LITTLE ROCK – Perhaps this latest large, slow movement of rainfall into The Natural State will give ducks the type of habitat they're looking for around the landscape, such as more sheetwater and more expanses of water than have been seen throughout the duck season. While western Arkansas was expected to get the heaviest amount of rain, central, northeast and eastern Arkansas were predicted to see 3-4 inches over Wednesday and Thursday, while the south and southeast portions were looking at 2-3 inches.

'This rain is what we've been needing,' Luke Naylor, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission waterfowl program coordinator, said. 'At least we'll finally have extensive habitat for ducks to find.

Hopefully it'll last.'

At the beginning of the week, though, the latest water conditions from throughout the state from AGFC biologists indicated little to no change in levels. Some areas such as Dave Donaldson Black River Wildlife Management Area and Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA in northeast Arkansas have been at 100 percent coverage in most units for several weeks, but others such as the Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA still long for a drenching. George H.

Dunklin Bayou Meto WMA in southeast Arkansas was beginning to see its usual flooded areas last week thanks to pumping; Buckingham Flats and Temple Island units were at 100 percent coverage.

Popular west-central spot Ed Gordon Point Remove Creek WMA has most units in the 80-85 percent coverage, but those levels have stalled as conditions remain fairly dry for late December. Alex Zachary, biologist at Ed Gordon WMA, says duck use on the WMA has been low to moderate, and hunter success has been generally poor.

James Foster, an AGFC biologist who workls WMAs in the northeast portion of the state, reports that a few ducks were moving through the area at Big Lake WMA and at Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA in the past week. Earl Buss is another area that typically would have 100 percent coverage now, but is at about half that at the beginning of the week. Reports from hunters to the AGFC office noted good hunting in areas south of Jonesboro, which include some fields in the Arkansas Waterfowl Rice Initiative Conservation Enhancement program, or WRICE, that are available for permit hunting on weekends.

Anecdotal reports noted a sudden influx of lesser (snow, blue and Ross's) geese moving into the middle and southeast portions of the state over the past week. Snow geese were seen in large numbers south of Stuttgart over the past weekend in fields along U.S. Highway 165.

Greater white-fronted geese (specklebellies), which by biologists estimated count in an early December aerial survey by the AGFC outnumbered mallards in the state, seemed to be in lower but still good numbers as the year drew to a close.

Remember, applications for the permit draw to hunt sites such as the 40-plus WRICE fields, or weekend hunts at Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA or Red Cut Slough in Cypress Bayou WMA next weekend (Jan. 9-10) are available from noon Thursday to midnight Sunday. WRICE fields, unlike WMA permits, allow for two full days of hunting for the applicant selected for a field, and the hunting party can consist of up to four hunters. Permit winners are notified Monday following the close of the application period.

Arkansas's regular water-

Continued on Page 9 DUCK SEASON (cont.)

fowl season continues uninterrupted to its close at sunset Jan. 31.

Note: A levee washout early last week in the Dave Donaldson Black River Wildlife Management Area required repairs that were completed last Wednesday.

The Winchester greentree reservoir experienced a major levee washout and a couple of minor ones, according to the AGFC Wildlife Management Division. Contractor Levi Pillow was able to repair the levee Wednesday. The GTR water level should improve now with the repair. This week's water level by Monday showed a 75 percent coverage of the GTR. Read more about the habitat conditions in your neck of the woods below.

• Big Lake WMA — 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. A few ducks are moving through the area.

• North Woods GTR — Habitat: Mast production is good. Water Level: 100% flooded, Bo Dock gauge reading is 236.0 feet msl with a target level of 235.5 feet msl.

• South Woods GTR — Habitat: Mast production is fair. Water Level: 100% flooded. The 7-mile gauge is reading 235.2 feet msl; target level is 234.5 feet.

• Simmons Field — Habitat: Good production of millet and sedge. Native production is very good in the north, middle and south fields with 5 acres of millet planted in the north field.

All fields were rolled with a cleated roller in April.

Water Level: 100% coverage.

• Dave Donaldson Black River WMA — 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. River level is 4.0 feet msl and falling slowly.

• Upper Island GTR — Habitat: Mast crop is moderate within the GTRs.

Water Level: Current level is 269.5 feet msl. Target level is 269.5 feet msl.

100% flooded.

• Lower Island GTR — Habitat: Mast crop is moderate within the GTRs.

Water Level: Current level is 268.6 feet msl. Target level is 268.0 feet msl.

100% flooded.

• Upper Reyno GTR — Habitat: Mast crop is moderate within the GTRs.

Water Level: Current level is 267.45 feet msl. Target level is 266.9 feet msl.

100% flooded.

• Lower Reyno GTR — Habitat: Mast crop is moderate within the GTRs.

Water Level: Current level is 265.95 feet msl Target level is 266.3 feet msl.

80% flooded.

• Winchester GTR — Habitat: Mast crop is moderate within the GTRs.

Water Level: Current level is 263.4 feet msl. Target level is 263.7 feet msl.

75% flooded.

• Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA — Boaters should use caution while using the Thompson Tract boat run.

A few ducks are moving through the area.

• South Oliver GTR — Habitat: Mast production has been good. Water Level: 50% flooded with a current gauge reading of 0.5 foot. Water is located within the natural sloughs and north end of the GTR.

• Thompson Tract GTR — Habitat: Mast production is good. Water Level: 40% flooded with a current gauge reading of 0.95 foot.

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

• Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA — 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 240.1 feet msl with a target level of 240.0 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: Good wetlandtype vegetation. Water Level: 75% flooded.

• Charles Crisp Moist-Soil Unit — Habitat: Good wetland- type vegetation. Water Level: 70% 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 — 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. As of Dec.

29, levels were 212.96 feet msl.

• Snowden WRA— Habitat: Mixed grasses.

Water Level: 10% flooded, mostly in the low-lying areas due to rain.

• 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 0% coverage.

Pool B is at 0%. Pool C is at 0%. Pool D is at 5%.