Arkansas Wildlife Weekly Waterfowl Report

A mallard drake puts on the brakes after landing in Holland Bottoms wildlife rest area in central Arkansas in this file photo by AGFC photographer Mike Wintroath.

Dec. 18, 2024

Jim Harris

Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine

Waterfowl Permit Applications Rise

Latest rainfall could move ducks around now

Rain movements through the state since Saturday could lead to more movement in waterfowl thanks to extended areas of good habitat as Arkansas moves deeper into the 60-day waterfowl season. 

Brett Leach, waterfowl program coordinator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said he has talked with some of the biologists who flew last week’s December Aerial Survey and saw low numbers of ducks with how dry the landscape was. The landscape got its first extended drenching on Saturday after the flights were finished. Surveys are being compiled for analysis and should be available shortly. 

“The observers did see some pockets holding good numbers of birds, but overall reported low numbers,” Leach said Wednesday. Hopefully with the rain we’ve had we’ll see birds move around a bit.”

Arkansas public-land hunters, though, haven’t been deterred from trying for online permits to hunt ducks, with roughly 150 more applicants on weekends this season. “It’s much more in line with what we saw in 2022 in terms of the number of people applying,” Leach said. 

Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA has received enough water to open up permit hunting on the West Unit, Leach said. Hunting is allowed in designated locations through the online permit lottery (go to “Buy Licenses” on the agfc.com website and look up “Special Hunts” to apply). Youth permit applications only appear if logged in under the youth hunter’s Customer ID. All-day hunting on Saturdays and Sundays is allowed for youths with one adult hunter per youth in parties of up to four hunters. A minimum of one adult hunter is required, though, on weekends with the youth hunters. All members of the party may hunt. Wednesday half-day hunting is open to adults by online permit, just as it is on Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA’s Conway George Tract, which also offers youth hunting with an adult all day on weekends.

The second segment of the waterfowl season concludes at sunset Monday, Dec. 23, and the third and final segment starts 30 minutes before sunrise Dec. 27, running through Jan. 31. After the three-day split over Christmas (Dec. 24-26), the permit process is continuous for the remainder of the season. That means: Try to remember during all the runup to Christmas that the application process is open from 3 p.m. Thursday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday each week.

This also includes applying for permits in the Waterfowl Rice Incentive Conservation Enhancement Program, which are operated by the AGFC’s Private Lands Habitat Division. Last week, 47 of the 64 total fields enrolled in the program for 2024-25 were available for draw for Dec. 21-22, with 540 total applicants for the weekend. The high for the year so far is the 577 who applied for the Dec. 14-15 hunts. Dry conditions have kept some of the WRICE fields from being included in the application process, but this week’s rains might bring more into the fold for the Dec. 28-29 weekend.

To see the WRICE fields that are most in demand by applicants each week, CLICK HERE.

Successful WRICE applicants are able to hunt all day both days at their designated field, with up to four hunters allowed. The winning applicant must hunt both days but may bring different hunters for each day.

For a GIS interactive map of the fields available around the state, CLICK HERE.

Canadian Firm Gets GTR Water Moving
Jason “Buck” Jackson looked far and wide before he settled on what he determined as the best company to make the water-control structures going in at Arkansas’s greentree reservoirs. When he met and traveled around with Aqua Systems 2000 president and co-founder Gerald Robinson and saw the company’s work on a water district irrigation system with the proprietary Langemann water-control gates near Altus, Oklahoma, he was convinced.

Aqua Systems 2000 of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada was given the massive assignment of replacing a small, half-century-old water-control structure on Glaise Creek with something that would better handle the large amounts of water that pass through Glaise Creek on Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA. The damage caused by water that’s unable to move through the WMA over the past several years, because of the water-control problems, has significantly harmed or killed the red oak trees so vital to waterfowl (and other wildlife) as they migrate through this area every winter.
The solution was a state-of-the-art, six-gate, solar-battery-powered structure that could be operated both manually, if need be, or remotely by the touch of a button on a cellphone. Robinson was on hand for the dedication at Glaise Creek on Nov. 7.

Before the Glaise Creek project, though, Aqua Systems 2000 put in a Langemann gate in 2016 at Galla Creek WMA, near Russellville and off the Arkansas River. Hundreds of Langemann gates, invented by the late Peter Langemann, are found at irrigation sites around North America. Jackson believed that style of gates would work perfectly at Galla Creek; with the much larger Glaise Creek structure, he believed Aqua Systems 2000 had the ingenuity to produce the right solution to the water problems experienced on Hurricane Lake WMA. 

“This is a different gate, like horizontal with a leaf that goes up and down, whereas a Langemann gate is two leaves. They are a bit more complicated,” Robinson said. “They have some advantages if you have backwater. You can move them up and down and hold the backwater at an elevation if you want to. There are advantages to both.”

The challenge of the Glaise Creek project, Robinson said, was producing overshot gates that would operate with 48-volt direct current, compared with the usual 24-volt DC power used in Langemann gates. “This site is 48 (volts per gate) so it could pump up the horsepower a bit. Other than larger gates, though, they are pretty standard.” He said the gates were designed for 13 feet of water depth.

In two other major GTR projects recently, two Langemann water-control gates have been installed at Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA, while overshot gates like at Glaise Creek, but not as tall and with one gate per each of seven structures — rather than the six gates in one structure at Glaise Creek — have been installed at Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA.

“Where Gerald’s company really shines is in the software and hardware that operates the gate,” Jackson said, “so we can be proactive in the water management. We could not do it without a company like them.”

In the time since they first met, Robinson and Jackson have toured the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s greentree reservoir system, from Dave Donaldson Black River WMA to George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto and those in between or to the west.

The company is working with Ducks Unlimited on a water-control project in Louisiana, and they do a significant number of projects in the Western states, Robinson said. “Sixty percent of our business in the United States,” he said, most being the design and installation of Langemann gates. “Most of our work is in the irrigation business.”

With the dedication of this massive and different project at Glaise Creek for Aqua Systems 2000, Robinson was like a proud father looking over his work on Nov. 7. With all the trappings of a 21st century operation replacing an old-fashioned, small, manual, chain-operated lift-and-drop undershot style of the old water-control structure, it was understandable, especially with its completion for the 2024-25 waterfowl season.

— Jim Harris

This story appears alongside a feature story on the significant work at Glaise Creek, Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA and other greentree reservoirs in the January-February 2025 issue of Arkansas Wildlife. To subscribe to Arkansas Wildlife (5 issues a year plus the much-in-demand annual Calendar, $12), CLICK HERE.

• Southwest Arkansas
• Central Arkansas
• East-Central Arkansas
• Northwest Arkansas
• Northeast Arkansas
• Southeast Arkansas

Big Lake WMA
Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

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.

North Woods GTR
Habitat Type: Mast production
Water Level: Gauge reading at BoDoc is 234.8 feet msl; target level is 235.5 feet; 10% flooded. 

South Woods GTR
Habitat Type: Mast production
Water Level: Gauge reading at 7-Mile is 233.02 feet msl; target level is 234.5 feet; 50% flooded. 

Simmons Field
Habitat: Native vegetation
Water Level: 20% coverage

Dave Donaldson Black River WMA
Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

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 in parking areas. As of 8 a.m. Dec. 16 the Black River level at Corning was 4.76 feet and rising.

Upper Island GTR
Habitat Type: Mast crop within the GTRs
Water Level: Current level is 269.45 feet msl.Target level is 269.5 feet msl; 95% flooded.

Lower Island GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwoods
Water Level: Current level is 268.25 feet msl. Target level is 268.0 feet; 100% flooded.

Upper Reyno GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwoods
Water Level: Current level is 267.05 feet msl. Target level is 266.9 feet; 100% flooded.

Lower Reyno GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwoods
Water Level: Current level is 266.7 feet msl. Target level is 266.3 feet; 100% flooded.

Winchester GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwoods
Water Level: Current level is 263.55 feet msl. Target level is 263.7 feet; 90% flooded.

Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA
Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

Boaters should use caution while using the Thompson Tract boat lane.

Note: Following recent infrastructure renovation and habitat management activities, water-control structures are now set, ready to flood both Thompson and South Oliver GTRs.

South Oliver GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwoods
Water Level: Current gauge reading is 0.0 feet. 0% flooded. Some limited water available within the natural slough on the north end. Water is now slowly entering the north end of this GTR.

Thompson Tract GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwoods
Water Level: Current gauge reading is 0.0 feet, 0% flooded. 

Lake Hogue WRA
Habitat Type: Primarily deep open water
Water Level: Normal pool level

Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA
Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

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.

NOTE: The structure at Lake Charles was opened on Dec. 2. Be aware the construction on new water-control structures will continue as the remaining pieces arrive; please park away from them. Structures may leak until construction is fully complete. 

Adams Brake GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwoods
Water Level: Water level is 238.2 feet msl with a target level of 240.0 feet. 50% flooded.

Rainey Brake GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwoods
Water Level: 90% flooded

Eagle Pond GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwoods
Water Level: 75% flooded

Phase III Moist-soil Unit
Habitat Type: Japanese millet and native moist-soil vegetation.
Water Level: 50% flooded

Charles Crisp Moist-soil Unit
Habitat Type: Japanese millet
Water Level: 30% flooded

Ward Field Moist-soil Unit
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 100% flooded

River Field Moist-soil Unit
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 100% flooded

St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA
Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

Hunt Area
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwoods within the hunt area
Water Level: Water levels on St. Francis Sunken Lands 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 8 a.m. Dec. 17, the reading was 212.30 feet msl.

Snowden WRA
Habitat Type: Mixed grasses
Water Level: 0% flooded

Payneway WRA
Habitat Type: A, B, C and D pools have mixed smartweed and barnyard grasses. Moderate hardwoods 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 0%.

Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA
Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

Hunters should call the Wildlife Hotline at 800-440-1477 for current road closures.

Note: Operation of water control structures is planned for Dec. 20. Structures to be closed will be Dorsy Slough, Honey Lake screw gate on Glaise Creek, old Whirl structure and Green Tom Screw Gate at Bell. .

North GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland timber
Water Level: The White River at Augusta as of Dec. 16 is at 19.12 feet and falling (flood stage is 26 feet). The water level at Glaise Creek is below 187 feet msl and will not show readings until water levels rise above 187 feet msl. Staff are planning to begin phased, experimental operation of the new water-control structure on or about Dec. 20. 

Former South GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland timber
Water Level: This area now has no structures to close; water will flow freely throughout the unit.

Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA
Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

Hunters should call the Wildlife Hotline at 800-440-1477 for current road closures.

Gregory GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland timber
Water Level: Cache River at Patterson on Dec. 16 was at 5.47 feet and rising.

Wiville Moist-soil Unit
Habitat Type: Native vegetation
Water Level: 80% flooded 

Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA
Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

The Conway George units are currently available for hunting by applying for online permits. Youth may apply for Saturday and Sunday hunts, with one adult hunter allowed per one youth, up to four hunters in the blind. Wednesday permit hunts are available for adults (up to four hunters per party, three blinds available). Please visit www.agfc.com for maps, special regulations, permit application and draw dates. Hunters should call the Wildlife Hotline at 800-440-1477 for current road closures.

Water coverage is dependent on river level.

Mud Slough GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland timber
Water Level: 20% coverage

Apple Lake WRA (no hunting)
Habitat Type: Bottomland timber
Water Level: 30% coverage

Conway George Waterfowl Unit A
Habitat Type: Native vegetation
Water Level: 90% coverage

Conway George Waterfowl Unit B
Habitat Type: Natural slough area with beneficial native wetland plants
Water Level: 85% coverage

Conway George Waterfowl Unit C
Habitat Type: Native vegetation
Water Level: 90% coverage

Dark Corner Waterfowl Unit 1
Habitat Type: Native vegetation
Water Level: 0% 

Dark Corner Waterfowl Unit 2
Habitat Type: Native vegetation
Water Level: 80% 

Dark Corner Waterfowl Unit 3
Habitat Type: Native vegetation
Water Level: 80%

Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA
Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

Saturday and Sunday hunting in Raft Creek Bottoms WMA requires participation in the online draw a week before the following weekend’s hunt. There is no online draw on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and self-server permits are available at boat ramps. Permits ARE required (via online application) on weekends, Tuesdays and Thursdays for the youth and mobility-impaired blinds and for the Magellan Tract. Visit agfc.com to apply for the online draw. There are designated holes for the Saturday/Sunday online permit hunt. Hunters will be assigned a hole, are allowed a hunting party of four total members, and all party members must hunt within 150 yards of their designated hole marker (marked on maps at kiosks and physical signs at each hole).

The White River gauge at Georgetown on Tuesday, Dec. 17, was 6.6 feet and rising.

Unit A (Duck Holes A1 – A7)
Habitat Type: Native vegetation
Water Level: 90% coverage

Unit B (Duck Holes B8-B26)
Habitat Type: Native vegetation
Water Level: 70%

Unit C (Duck Holes C27-C34)
Habitat Type: Native vegetation and millet
Water Level: 90%

Unit D (Cypert Tract – Duck Holes D35-D36)
Habitat Type: Native vegetation
Water Level: 90%

Unit E (Cypert Tract – Duck Hole E37)
Habitat Type: Native vegetation
Water Level: 10%

Unit F (Cypert Tract – Duck Hole F38)
Habitat Type: Native vegetation
Water Level: 0%

Unit G (Duck Hole G39)
Habitat Type: Native vegetation
Water Level: 20%

Unit H (Duck Hole H40)
Habitat Type: Native vegetation
Water Level: 20%

Mobility-Impaired Unit
Habitat Type: Native vegetation
Water Level: 100%

Youth Unit
Habitat Type: Native vegetation
Water Level: 100%

Magellan Tract Unit
Habitat Type: Native vegetation
Water Level: 20%

Bell Slough WMA
Map | Weather Report

Bell Slough GTR
Flooding of the Bell Slough GTR is rainfall dependent. Gates were lowered in the GTR water-control structure Nov. 15.
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwood/cypress-tupelo
Water Level: 10%

Palarm Creek WRA
West Unit
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 100%

East Unit
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation and Japanese millet
Water Level: 60%

Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir
Map | Weather Report

Due to renovation work to Craig D. Campbell Lake Conway Reservoir, both Pierce and Dix creeks remain dry.

Cypress Bayou WMA
Map| Weather Report

Open Hunt Area
Habitat Type: Mast crop

Water Level: 0% coverage

Red Cut Slough Tract (permit hunting)

Saturday and Sunday hunting in Cypress Bayou WMA Red Cut Slough requires participation in the online draw a week before the following weekend’s hunt. There is no online draw on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and self-serve permits are available at the parking lot access. Permits ARE required (via online application) on weekends. Visit agfc.com to apply for the online draw. There are designated units for the Saturday/Sunday online permit hunt. Hunters will be assigned a unit and may hunt anywhere within that unit.

Unit 1
Habitat Type: Native vegetation.
Water Level: 0%

Unit 2
Habitat Type: Native vegetation.
Water Level: 30%

Unit 3
Habitat Type: Native vegetation.
Water Level: 0%

Unit 4
Habitat Type: Native vegetation.
Water Level: 0%

Unit 5
Habitat Type: Native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%

Unit 6
Habitat Type: Open water reservoir.
Water Level: 100%

Harris Brake WMA
Map | Weather Report

Upper GTR
Habitat Type: Mast crop
Water Level: 100% coverage 

Lower GTR
Habitat Type: Mast crop
Water Level: 5% coverage. The Harris Brake Lake valve was opened on Nov. 15 to begin supplemental flooding of the Upper GTR. Damage to one of the Lower GTRs water-control structures is allowing water to drain from the Lower GTR and can’t currently be fixed. Sloughs and ditches within the Lower GTR unit will continue to hold water. However, the majority of the Lower GTR unit will stay drained due to the water-control structure damage.

Holland Bottoms WMA
Map | Weather Report

Hunt Area
Habitat Type: Mast crop
Water Level: Low-lying depressions and sloughs on the WMA need drastically more rainfall to support waterfowl hunting.

Lake Pickthorne WRA (no hunting)
Habitat Type: Native vegetation and millet
Water Level: East Unit is 85% flooded and the West Unit is 100% flooded. 

Dardanelle WMA
Map | Weather Report

McKennon Bottoms (half-day hunting)
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 100% coverage

Potter’s Pothole Hartman Waterfowl Unit (half-day hunting)
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 100% coverage

Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA
Map | Weather Report

Staged flooding of waterfowl impoundments began on Nov. 7 and will continue as water levels in Point Remove Creek allow. 

Little Hole (Unit 1)
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 10% flooded

Willow Island (Unit 2)
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 70%

Red Gate (Unit 3)
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 70%

Pig Trough (Units 4 and 5)
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation and Japanese millet
Water Level: 60%

Cedar Ridge (Unit 6)
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 80%

Unit 7a
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 50%

Unit 7b
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation and Japanese millet.
Water Level: 0%

Duck Trap (Units 8a, 8b and 8c)

8a
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 80%

8b
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 85%

8c
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 0%

Unit 9
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation and Japanese millet
Water Level: 60%

Controversy Corner (Unit 10)
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation and Japanese millet
Water Level: 85%

Remmel Marsh (Unit 11)
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 95%

Mud Pond (Unit 12)
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 50%

Turkey Pond (Units 13a, 13b and 13c)

13a
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation and Japanese millet
Water Level: 70%

13b
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 0%

13c
Habitat Type: Japanese millet.
Water Level: 70%

Teeny Pond (Unit 14)
Habitat Type: Japanese millet.
Water Level: 0%

Salt Lick (Unit 15)
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 80%

Bobby’s Pond (Unit 16)
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 90%

Race Track (Unit 17)
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation.
Water Level: 60%

Frog Bayou WMA
Map | Weather Report

*Note: Construction is ongoing.

Waterfowl rest areas west of Sharp Chapel Road and north of Blacklands Road are closed to all access from Nov. 1-Feb. 15.

Unit 1
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 100%

Unit 2
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation; unit is rainfall dependent.
Water Level: 100% 

Unit 3
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 100%

Unit 4
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 100%

Unit 5
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 100% 

Unit 6
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 90%, currently pumping.

Unit 7 (Draw Permit Required)
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 100% 

Unit 9 (Draw Permit Required)
Habitat Type: Japanese millet and native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 100%

Unit 10
Habitat Type: Japanese millet and native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 100% 

Unit 11
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 100% 

Unit 12
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 25% 

Unit 13
Habitat Type: Japanese millet and native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 30% 

Unit 14
Habitat Type: Japanese millet and native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 75%

Unit 18
Habitat Type: No vegetation due to construction
Water Level: 0%

Unit 19
Habitat Type: No vegetation due to construction
Water Level: 0%

Galla Creek WMA
Map | Weather Report

Galla Creek
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation and Japanese millet
Water Level: 70%

Nimrod Lloyd Millwood WMA
Map | Weather Report

Nimrod GTR
Habitat Type: This area is dominated by white oak tree species with some red oak tree species on the higher elevation sites. There are some open areas with native bottomland vegetation located throughout the forest. The water-control structures were closed on Nov. 15.
Water Level: 2% flooded, flooding of the area is rainfall dependent.

Ozark Lake WMA/Dyer Lake Water Unit
Weather Report

Dyer Lake Cells

Unit 1 Dyer main cell
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 90% coverage

Unit 2 Dyer Road Cell
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 100% coverage

Unit 3 South Cell (rainfall dependent)
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level:100% coverage

Unit 4 West Cell (rainfall dependent)
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 100% coverage

Petit Jean River WMA
Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

Sorehead Moist-Soil Unit
Habitat Type: This area is made up of mostly native bottomland vegetation fields and some forested areas that contain both red and white oak tree species.
Water Level: 100% 

Blacklands Moist-soil Unit
Habitat Type: This area is made up of mostly native bottomland vegetation fields and some forested areas that contain both red and white oak tree species. Due to ongoing bottomland area renovation work, most of the open areas in the central and western sides are still dirt with some late millet growth that is only a few inches tall. The east side of this unit does contain native bottomland vegetation.
Water Level: 70%, pumping of this area is dictated by river levels.

Slaty Crossing Moist-soil Unit
Habitat Type: Due to ongoing bottomland area renovation work, most of the open areas is still dirt with some late millet growth that is only a few inches tall.
Water Level: 100%, pumping of this area is dictated by river levels.

Blacklands Duck Area
Habitat Type: This area is a mix of native bottomland vegetation fields and forested areas that contain both red and white oak tree species.
Water Level: 100%

Pullen Pond Marsh
Habitat Type: This area is dominated by open areas with native bottomland vegetation. There are some forested areas that will flood when the area is at full pool. The eastern part of this unit is currently dirt due to ongoing bottomland renovation work. The water-control structures were closed on Nov. 18.
Water Level: 3%, flooding of the area is rainfall dependent.

Pond Creek GTR
Habitat Type: This area is dominated by white oak tree species with some open bottomland areas that contain native vegetation. The water-control structures were closed on Nov. 15.
Water Level: 5%, flooding of this area is rainfall dependent.

Slaty GTR
Habitat Type: This area is dominated by red oak tree species with some open bottomland areas that contain native vegetation. The water-control structures were closed on Nov. 15.
Water Level: 1%, flooding of this area is rainfall dependent.

Santa Fe GTR
Habitat Type: This area is a mix of both red oak and white oak tree species with some open bottomland areas that contain native vegetation. The water-control structures were closed on Nov. 15.
Water Level: 2%, flooding of this area is rainfall dependent.

Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois d’Arc WMA
Map | Weather Report

Bois d’Arc Lake WRA
Habitat Type: Closed to hunting
Water Level: Normal

Red Slough WRA
Habitat Type: Closed to hunting
Water Level: 10% coverage

GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland timber
Water Level: 5%

Little Grassy
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 40%

Millwood Lake
Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

Habitat Type: Natural vegetation
Water Level: Millwood is at 260.27 feet msl as of Dec 18.

Ozan WMA
Map | Weather Report

Flooding of all units is rainfall dependent.

Unit 1
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 25%

Unit 2
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 0%

Unit 3
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 0%

Unit 4
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 0%

Unit 5
Habitat Type: Native moist-soil vegetation
Water Level: 0%

Sulphur River WMA
Map | Weather Report

Mercer Bayou
Habitat Type: Natural vegetation
Water Level: 100%

Henry Moore WRA
Habitat Type: Closed to hunting
Water Level: 50%

Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA
Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

Water Level: No water. Water is dependent on Ouachita River stages. See gauge link above. 

Cut-Off Creek WMA
Map | Weather Report

Hunt Area
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwood habitat
Water Level: Some water in lower sloughs only.

Pigeon Creek WRA
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwood habitat
Water Level: Pumping on waterfowl rest area as water is available

Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA Deer Research Area
Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwood habitat on East Unit and marsh habitat on West Unit.
Water Level: Flooding is river dependent. Click on the Water Gauge link above for current Mississippi River levels. Use extreme caution when boating in the river.

The Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA West Unit allows weekend permit hunting for youths (one adult per youth hunter); on Wednesdays, all ages may apply for a permit to hunt the blinds in the West Unit. 

George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto WMA
Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

The UGSG is reporting real-time water gauge readings at the headwater at each GTR within the George H. Dunklin Bayou Meto WMA. Click the Water Gauge link above for the WMA, and search for the particular GTR as noted. 

NOTE: During the 2024-25 wintering period, all intentional flooding will be held at 178.5 feet msl to promote red oak regeneration and relieve stress on many trees, such as mature red oaks, that are showing signs of water stress. Rain and increased flow into the WMA will allow water to rise above that level periodically. A good rule of thumb for comparing water levels to access into Bayou Meto: 176 feet msl – water breaking into sloughs and lower ditches; 177-177.5 feet msl – water beginning to break out of sloughs and lower ditches; 178 feet msl – water in most sloughs and ditches and entering into lower elevations in woods; 178.5 feet msl – most ditches and sloughs deep enough to boat and most boat ramps become serviceable; 179 feet msl or above – water expands to the higher elevations.

Upper Vallier GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwood habitat
Water Level: Some water in lower sloughs. See Gauge Link (Upper Vallier Headwater) for updated info.

Lower Vallier GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwood habitat
Water Level: Some water in lower sloughs. See Gauge Link (Lower Vallier Headwater) for updated info. 

Government Cypress GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwood habitat
Water Level: Some water in lower sloughs. See Gauge Link (Government Cypress Headwater) for updated info.

Buckingham Flats GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwood habitat
Water Level: Pumping as water is available. Water has reached the back levee with some water in lower sloughs. See Gauge Link (Buckingham Flats Headwater) for updated info.

Temple Island GTR
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwood habitat
Water Level: No water available for hunting. Pumping as water is available. See Gauge Link (Temple Island Headwater) for updated info. 

Canon Brake
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwood
Water Level: No water available for hunting. See Gauge Link (Canon Brake Headwater) for updated info. 

Halowell WRA
Habitat Type: Moist-soil habitat
Unit 1
Water Level: 70% coverage.

Unit 2
Water Level: 0% coverage

Unit 3
Water Level: 90% coverage

Unit 4
Water Level: 70% coverage 

Unit 5
Water Level: 90% coverage

Wrape Plantation WRA (no hunting)
Habitat Type: Moist-soil habitat

Unit 1
Water Level: 96% coverage

Unit 2A
Water Level: 95% coverage

Unit 2B

Water Level: 95% coverage

Unit 3
Water Level: 95% coverage

Unit 4
Water Level: 95% coverage 

Unit 5
Water Level: 90% coverage

Unit 6
Water Level: 90% coverage

Unit 7
Water Level: 70% coverage 

Unit 8
Water Level: 80% coverage

Unit 9
Water Level: 95% coverage

Unit 10
Water Level: 0% coverage

Unit 11
Water Level: 80% coverage and actively pumping as of Dec. 17

Unit 12
Water Level: 95% coverage

Unit 13
Water Level: 95% coverage

Seven Devils WMA
Map | Weather Report

Hunt Area
Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwood habitat
Water Level: Some water in lower sloughs.

Trusten Holder WMA
Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report

Habitat Type: Bottomland hardwood habitat
Water Level: Flooding is river dependent. Click on the Water Gauge link above for current Arkansas River levels.