Arkansas WMAs
- Thread starter Larry J
- Start date
Kevin Weir
Well-known member
Larry,
I personally haven't hunted any of them. Though I used to hunt somewhat closeby and lived in Little Rock for a year and heard stories about them. So for what it's worth:
They can get real crowded. Don't know if there is now a limited entry of some sorts. Water levels need to be high enough to have flooded timber though some areas get artificially flooded with pumps. Called Green Tree reservoirs.
If there are ice issues forget the timber. A good source locally may be Macks Prairie Wings store, maybe a store in LR also. Also F&G people.
Good luck.
I personally haven't hunted any of them. Though I used to hunt somewhat closeby and lived in Little Rock for a year and heard stories about them. So for what it's worth:
They can get real crowded. Don't know if there is now a limited entry of some sorts. Water levels need to be high enough to have flooded timber though some areas get artificially flooded with pumps. Called Green Tree reservoirs.
If there are ice issues forget the timber. A good source locally may be Macks Prairie Wings store, maybe a store in LR also. Also F&G people.
Good luck.
Larry,
I used to hunt the wmas in Arkansas a lot although it has been a bout 4 -5 years now. I hunte the Dave Donaldson and dagmar black swamp. They can be crowded. It depends on how popular the area is, how much water it has and if guys are getting ducks.
I used to hit walk in areas as there was no way I was going to try and keep up with the locals as they tear ash thru the timber in the dark. I would go in a day or so earlier and mark down holes on my gps so that I had backups in case the first one or two was already occupied.
We would walk down to the woods carrying a canoe and dekes. If the water is shallow enough we just haul the canoe. if its deeper to get to the holes you will need the canoe for transportation.
You do need ( or at least you used to ) to buy a WMA permit for EACH wma you are going to hunt. Make sure to read the rules as some have specific regulations that others don't have. Example , in Bayou Meto Iyou are limited in the number of shells you can bring . This is to help discourage sky busters.
You can not bring in any axes or saws and cutting trees is illegal. If a hole is "red tagged" you can not hunt it . It got red tagged becuz someone did some pruning , etc to make the hole larger and now it is off limits.
I'll try and post more later,
Dave b
I used to hunt the wmas in Arkansas a lot although it has been a bout 4 -5 years now. I hunte the Dave Donaldson and dagmar black swamp. They can be crowded. It depends on how popular the area is, how much water it has and if guys are getting ducks.
I used to hit walk in areas as there was no way I was going to try and keep up with the locals as they tear ash thru the timber in the dark. I would go in a day or so earlier and mark down holes on my gps so that I had backups in case the first one or two was already occupied.
We would walk down to the woods carrying a canoe and dekes. If the water is shallow enough we just haul the canoe. if its deeper to get to the holes you will need the canoe for transportation.
You do need ( or at least you used to ) to buy a WMA permit for EACH wma you are going to hunt. Make sure to read the rules as some have specific regulations that others don't have. Example , in Bayou Meto Iyou are limited in the number of shells you can bring . This is to help discourage sky busters.
You can not bring in any axes or saws and cutting trees is illegal. If a hole is "red tagged" you can not hunt it . It got red tagged becuz someone did some pruning , etc to make the hole larger and now it is off limits.
I'll try and post more later,
Dave b
Rick Pierce
Well-known member
Larry,
I live down here and will tell you:
1. Read the regs. Twice. Several of the WMA's have regulations that differ significantly from the "normal" regs. Go to the Game and Fish website and look at the free maps they have of the WMA's.
2. Read the boating regs and make sure you are legal. If you hunt the WMA's, assume that you WILL be checked by the wardens, State and/or Federal, and particularly if you hunt Bayou Meto. Don't cram 6 hunters, 2 dogs, 15 dozen decoys, guns, shells, etc. into a 12-foot boat and expect that it's okay because it's "just boot deep flooded timber".
3. Plan on burning at least one day scouting. And by "scouting", don't just go to where you hear shooting and mark the holes with GPS. Since you have to be out of the timber by noon, it will only be a half day, and I mean boat out of the water by noon, not pulling up to the ramp...you will get a ticket. And I would recommend you don't leave the ramp until after daylight. Green timber all looks the same in the dark....and 10,000 acres of green timber in the dark, well...
4. Speaking of GPS, take a compass in addition to the GPS. In thick timber, a GPS can't always get a good reading.
5. It will be crowded. Lessen the impact by going during the week to do your scouting and hunting.
6. Be damn careful. Do not go by yourself. Some of the areas around the launches and main parts of the bayous/rivers are dangerous if you don't know them.
7. Think about doing a walk-in hunt your first time; there are a few walk-in accesses at most of the WMA's if not all.
8. Most people down here really aren't asshole Bubbas, but everyone down here has been followed to shooting holes, had people set up within 50 yards, and had said people shoot the ducks on the swing as they were working. So, we can get a little reluctant; respect usually goes both ways, and people will be more helpful than you might think if you aren't trying to get GPS coordinates from them.
Most of this is common sense, but we sell about 80,000 duck stamps down here every year, and common sense gets left at the truck quite often.
Best,
Rick
I live down here and will tell you:
1. Read the regs. Twice. Several of the WMA's have regulations that differ significantly from the "normal" regs. Go to the Game and Fish website and look at the free maps they have of the WMA's.
2. Read the boating regs and make sure you are legal. If you hunt the WMA's, assume that you WILL be checked by the wardens, State and/or Federal, and particularly if you hunt Bayou Meto. Don't cram 6 hunters, 2 dogs, 15 dozen decoys, guns, shells, etc. into a 12-foot boat and expect that it's okay because it's "just boot deep flooded timber".
3. Plan on burning at least one day scouting. And by "scouting", don't just go to where you hear shooting and mark the holes with GPS. Since you have to be out of the timber by noon, it will only be a half day, and I mean boat out of the water by noon, not pulling up to the ramp...you will get a ticket. And I would recommend you don't leave the ramp until after daylight. Green timber all looks the same in the dark....and 10,000 acres of green timber in the dark, well...
4. Speaking of GPS, take a compass in addition to the GPS. In thick timber, a GPS can't always get a good reading.
5. It will be crowded. Lessen the impact by going during the week to do your scouting and hunting.
6. Be damn careful. Do not go by yourself. Some of the areas around the launches and main parts of the bayous/rivers are dangerous if you don't know them.
7. Think about doing a walk-in hunt your first time; there are a few walk-in accesses at most of the WMA's if not all.
8. Most people down here really aren't asshole Bubbas, but everyone down here has been followed to shooting holes, had people set up within 50 yards, and had said people shoot the ducks on the swing as they were working. So, we can get a little reluctant; respect usually goes both ways, and people will be more helpful than you might think if you aren't trying to get GPS coordinates from them.
Most of this is common sense, but we sell about 80,000 duck stamps down here every year, and common sense gets left at the truck quite often.
Best,
Rick
Larry J
Active member
Kevin, Dave and Rick, Thanks for the input. this is the type of info i needed and couldn't get from the Game and Fish webpage. I"ve still not been able to find the regs for the individual WMAs on the web. Do any of you know if you can scout in the afternoon during the closed season between splits.
Rick Pierce
Well-known member
Larry, I don't THINK you can access the WMA's after noon from a certain date (like few days prior to the season) until after duck season closes, similar to the rest areas. However, I would contact the AGFC and talk to either the law enforcement division, or find out who the regional manager is for the WMA(s) you want to hunt. My guess is no, but I could very easily be wrong.