Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA

Zone	County
210	Poinsett

2023-24 Closed Seasons

2023-24 Crow: Sept. 1, 2023-Feb. 19, 2024. Open Thursdays through Mondays only. No limit.

2023-24 Deer

Deer Archery: Sept. 23, 2023-Feb. 29, 2024
Deer Modern Gun Special Youth Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023
Firearms: Closed

WMA Deer Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

Two bucks with archery,
Three does with archery.
Limit during the modern gun special youth hunt is three deer, no more than one buck (no antler restrictions) and two does

Deer Notes:

2023-24 Quail: Nov. 1, 2023-Feb. 5, 2024. Daily limit – 6, possession limit -12.

2023-24 Rabbit: Sept. 1, 2023-Feb. 29, 2024. Daily limit – 8, possession limit – 16.

2024-25 Squirrel: May 15, 2024-Feb. 28, 2025. Dogs allowed. Daily limit – 12, possession limit – 48.

2023-24 Waterfowl

Waterfowl Notes:

No boats allowed Nov. 11-17, Nov. 27-Dec. 8 and Dec. 24-26.
Exception 1 – Boats allowed from 4 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2.
Exception 2 – Boats allowed on the following waters:
• Thompson Tract boat ramp and boat run.
• North Oliver Campground primitive boat access, including the natural slough.
Closed to all access (except in designated campsites, parking areas, boat launch ramps and boat staging areas) from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m., Nov. 18-Jan. 31 and Feb. 3. Boats may only be launched in boat staging areas after 2 a.m. and must remain occupied between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.
Spinning-wing and mechanically operated decoys not allowed. See Page 43.
Lake Hogue is closed to all hunting except early teal season. Fishing and non-hunting activities are allowed.
No boats allowed from 1 p.m. to 4 a.m. Nov. 18-26, Dec. 9-23 and Dec. 27-Jan. 31.
Exception 1 – Boats allowed from 1 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., Dec. 2 and Jan. 31.
Exception 2 – Boats allowed from 1 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. on the following waters:
• Thompson Tract boat ramp and boat run.
• North Oliver Campground primitive boat access, including the natural slough.
No airboats during duck season.
Motors with factory exhaust systems only during waterfowl season.

About the Name: For many years the Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA was known as the Weiner Area or Bayou DeView. The name Bayou DeView originated from the Bayou DeView River that meandered through the area years ago, but was channelized many years ago to provide improved drainage for the ever-increasing farming community. On December 17, 1984, the Arkansas Game Fish Commission voted to re-name the area in memory of Earl Buss who was a caretaker for the Thompson Duck Club, a privately owned entity, that through acquisition, became a part of the management area.

Access: The area can best be reached by county roads west out of Weiner on Ark. Hwy. 49 or off Ark. Hwy. 14 or 214.

Area Notes

A free annual General Use Permit (WMP) is required to hunt or trap on WMAs. Permits are available online by clicking “Buy Licenses” at agfc.com or by calling 833-345-0325 or any regional office.
Hunting info on Lake Hogue.
For access restrictions that affect all users during waterfowl season, check the waterfowl guidebook.

Camping: Primitive camping areas are provided on each of the management area’s three tracts. Except for graveled parking areas, there are no other improvements to camping facilities.

Description: The area comprises three tracts of land, namely, the Thompson, Oliver and Martin tracts. The Oliver tract is the southernmost tract and is bounded on the south by Ark. Hwy. 14 and on the north by a county road west of Weiner. The Thompson tract is immediately north of the Oliver tract, bounded on the north by Ark. Hwy. 214. The Martin tract is the northernmost of the three tracts and lies about 1/2 mile north of the Thompson tract and extends to a county road that ends on the eastern border.

Hunting Opportunities: The Thompson and Oliver tracts were developed specifically as wintering waterfowl areas. Fall squirrel hunting is also a heavily used resource. The squirrel population tends to cycle with acorn abuncance in the bottomland hardwoods of the area. The area supports a healthy deer population. Hunting has been limited to archery in recent years due to the small size of the area. Trophy-class bucks are taken on and around Bayou DeView area every hunting season.

Location: Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMA is composed of 4,501 acres in western Poinsett County. The area lies along the Bayou DeView River from Arkansas Highway 14 to just north of Arkansas Highway 214.

Management Practices: Waterfowl management is emphasized on the Thompson and South Oliver tracts. Flooding of these impoundments is not always possible by the beginning of duck season because of the lack of rainfall in early fall. Some management practices include water level manipulation, beaver population control, specialized plantings of small grain crops and legumes and forestry management. Selective thinning of trees has improved forest health and increased habitat diversity for a wide variety of species.

Purpose: The area was purchased many years ago in response to public interest in land acquisition programs by the commission. The Weiner area is one of the principal rice-producing areas in the state and is considered by many sportsmen as one of the best duck hunting areas in Arkansas.

Recreation Other Than Hunting: Lake Hogue, 300-acre impoundment on the east side of the Bayou across from the south end of the Oliver tract offers excellent fishing for crappie, bream, bass and catfish.

Restaurants and Other Facilities: Accommodations may be found in Jonesboro, 25 miles; Newport, 22 miles and Harrisburg, 25 miles. There are stores and a restaurant in Weiner.

Safety: Wade-in hunters should be aware of deep water in boat lanes and sloughs. Boating safety rules and laws are especially important in the Thompson tract Impoundment. The launching area may be crowded, especially on weekends and holidays.

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