LITTLE ROCK – Mallard duck numbers increased dramatically during aerial waterfowl surveys of the Arkansas Delta region last week, according to the report released by Arkansas Game and Waterfowl Program Coordinator Luke Naylor. Fish Commission. AGFC personnel flying for the annual mid-winter January survey noted 961,247 total ducks in the delta, including 617,459 mallards. Estimates of mallards in the delta were double the December 2021 estimate and about 160,000 more than last year’s mid-winter survey.
AGFC biologists Jason Carbaugh, Buck Jackson, Cameron Tatom and Alex Zachary walked the survey routes. Along with Delta’s estimate, the latest count showed 18,653 ducks in the Arkansas River Valley (including 12,650 mallards) and an estimated 9,104 ducks (4,597 mallards) via cruise surveys in the southwest portion of State.
As mallard numbers top December estimates and mid-winter counts of 2020-21, the estimate is the fourth-lowest mid-winter estimate since official surveys began during the 2009-2010 wintering period and about 200,000 less than the mid-winter 2010-2022 average. of about 810,000 mallards. The total duck population estimate was also slightly below the long-term surplus of about 1.2 million total ducks. Mallards made up the highest proportion (64%) of all ducks since 2018 (85%). From 2010 to 2022, mallards averaged 67% of all ducks in the mid-winter survey, putting this year’s proportion near average.
Although transect-based surveys are more conducive to counting ducks than geese, which tend to scare more easily and scatter when aircraft approach, investigators estimated 796,771 light geese (small snow and geese de Ross) and 335,849 greater white-fronted geese (speckled bellies). in the Delta.
Arkansas Valley duck population estimates for both all ducks and mallards were about half the 2014-2022 average. That said, the number of mallards was nearly double that of the December 2021 survey. mallards. Mallards made up a higher than usual proportion (68%) of all ducks in the Arkansas River Valley in this survey. Cruising surveys in southwestern Arkansas have suggested a drop in the total number of ducks and mallards.
The last aerial survey also contained some more interesting notes:
- Observers estimated the highest numbers of mallards in the delta in the Bayou Meto and Lower St. Francis study areas. In fact, more than half of all mallards in the delta were found in these two survey areas. Duck and mallard density maps (available later this week on agfc.com) show this distribution pattern, with duck hotspots generally mirroring mallard hotspots. American green-winged teal, shoveler, pintail, and gadwall, roughly in that order, were the most common non-mallard ducks in the delta. Shoveler and gadwall were the most common non-mallard ducks in southwestern Arkansas.
- Population estimates for greater white-fronted geese were slightly higher, while estimates for mid-continent light geese (lesser snow, blue, and Ross’s geese) were slightly lower than long-term averages.
- Mallards were fairly evenly distributed across four study areas in the Arkansas River Valley: East Dardanelle Reservoir, Holla Bend, Petit Jean, and Pt. Del Plumerville.
- Temperatures have been warm across much of the midcontinent mallard range through this fall and early winter. November was a few degrees cooler than normal in southern parts of the central continent and 2 to 8 degrees warmer than normal in the north. The pattern reversed in December, with cooler temperatures in the far northern United States but much warmer temperatures across much of the region, including temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees above normal in Arkansas. The first significant drop in temperatures occurred just before and during the investigation period. The effects of this temperature change were probably only partially realized during the investigation.
To enter and win a permit for AGFC managed waterfowl areas that offer hunting licenses or to enter an Arkansas WRICE program field draw for Saturday and Sunday January 22-23, you will need to apply for this week between Thursday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at midnight. This also includes the days allowed on WMAs during the week of January 25-27. Permit hunts are offered on Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA, Red Cut Slough area at Cypress Bayou WMA, Conway George area at Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA and Freddie Black Choctaw Island West Unit WMA. And AGFC has up to 45 private flooded rice paddies available to hunt by permit through its special duck hunting application process through the Arkansas WRICE program. Most landowners in the WRICE program who had blinds in place upgraded the blinds for a better hunting experience.
Visit https://www.agfc.com/en/hunting/migratory-birds/waterfowl/special-waterfowl-permit-hunts to learn more about these special duck hunting opportunities and to apply.
The number of applicants by WRICE field during the weekend of January 15-16 is also available with a link on this page, with the most popular fields among applicants on average being the Jefferson County Humphrey B and Jefferson County Wabbeseka A fields. Nearly 250 candidates participated on average each week in the WRICE permit draws. The 2021-22 WRICE Weekly Application Numbers link also includes the locations of each field used this year and more information, such as whether the blind are accessible by all-terrain vehicle.
Southeast Arkansas
Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA
Map | Weather report
Water level: No duck hunting water. Water is available from oxbow lakes located in the WMA.
Cut-Off Creek WMA
Map | Weather report
hunting area
Habitat: Housing conditions are good.
Water level: A little water in low areas only.
Pigeon Creek WRA
Habitat: Housing conditions are good.
Water level: Pumping according to water conditions.
Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA Deer Research Area
Map | Water gauge | Weather report
Housing conditions are good. Floods depend on the river. Click the water gauge link above for current Mississippi River levels. Use extreme caution when navigating the river.
The WMA West Unit of Freddie Black Choctaw Island allows youth to hunt with a weekend permit (one adult per youth hunter); on Wednesdays, all ages can apply for a permit to hunt the blind in the west unit. Currently the area is dry and there have been no online draws for the West unit.
George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto WMA
Map | Water gauge | Weather report
UGSG reports real-time water gauge readings at the head of each GTR in the George H. Dunklin Bayou Meto WMA. Click on the Water Gauge link above for the WMA and search for the particular GTR as shown.
NOTE: During the 2021-22 winter period, all intentional flooding will be at 179 feet msl, an elevation that will relieve stress on many trees such as red oaks that are showing signs of distress. Rain and increased flow in the WMA will allow water to periodically rise above this level, but artificial flooding will be stopped at the 179 foot msl mark. A good rule of thumb for comparing water levels to access Bayou Meto: 176 feet msl – water enters lower swamps and ditches; 177-177.5 feet msl – water begins to come out of lower sloughs and ditches; 178 feet msl – water in most sloughs and ditches and penetrating at lower elevations into woods; 178.5 feet msl – most ditches and sloughs are deep enough to accommodate boats and most boat launches become usable; 179 feet msl or more – good waters for duck hunting.
GTR Haut-Vallier
Habitat: Good
Water level: Water at 179.55 feet msl as of January 12. See gauge link (Upper Vallier Headwater)
GTR Bas-Vallier
Habitat: Good
Water level: Water at 179.68 feet msl as of January 12. See gauge link (Lower Vallier headwaters).
Government Cypress GTR
Habitat: Good
Water level: Water at 179.97 feet msl as of January 12. See gauge link (Government Cypress Headwater)
Buckingham Flats GTR
Habitat: Good
Water level: Complete swimming pool. See gauge link (Buckingham Flats Headwater).
Temple Island GTR
Habitat: Good
Water level: Complete swimming pool. See Link Gauge (Temple Island Headwater).
Barrel brake
Habitat: Good
Water level: See Gauge Link (Canon Brake Headwater).
Halowell WRA
Habitat: Excellent
Water level: Phased flooding of units.
WRA Planting Envelope
Habitat: Excellent
Water level: Phased flooding of units.
Seven Devils WMA
Map | Weather report
hunting area
Habitat: Housing conditions are good.
Water level: The water flows over the weir on the east side.
WMA Trusted Holder
Map | Water gauge | Weather report
Housing conditions are good. Floods depend on the river. Click on the water gauge link above for current Arkansas River levels.
