Mallards made up more than half of the total duck population estimate in the days leading up to this past weekend’s duck season opener in Arkansas.
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission biologists counted more than 832,000 ducks during the first periodic aerial waterfowl survey of the 2012-2013 season, including more than 442,000 mallards. The survey, one of four scheduled for the waterfowl season, was conducted Nov. 12-15 on randomly selected east-west transect lines over the state’s Delta region.
Biologists noted that roughly 60 percent of mallards were observed in rice fields, 10 percent in soybean fields and approximately 7 percent each in moist-soil management units and agricultural irrigation reservoirs.
The mallard population estimate is more than three times higher than the November 2011 survey estimate, and the highest in November since the AGFC initiated the standardized aerial transect surveys in 2009.
Population estimates were about double the long-term November average for mallards, and similar to the long-term November average for total ducks.
Although conditions across much of the state remain dry, cold fronts in late October and immediately preceding the aerial survey period appear to have moved good numbers of mallards along their migratory paths. Likewise, the fronts probably moved other species farther south.
“Our biologists observed a lot of ducks on artificially flooded private land, as well as on limited flooded habitat on public lands,” said AGFC waterfowl program coordinator Luke Naylor. “The most recent cold front brought only limited precipitation, but it increased flooding on lands where artificial flooding had already started. The first segment of duck season could prove productive for those who pumped fields or can find shallowly flooded sloughs or timbered areas.”
More rain is needed to provide extensive flooding on most public lands flooded primarily by runoff. Normal rainfall patterns in Arkansas are characterized by increasing rain through late November and December, although ducks and duck hunters found much wetter conditions across the state last season.
While this waterfowl report seeks to provide information that is as timely as possible, hunters should keep in mind there’s often a lag of two or three days between the time field reports are received and this report is published. Thus, actual water levels and percentage of flooded habitat may differ from what’s reported here.
The AGFC encourages hunters to check stream gauges (links are provided at the end of this report) and physically scout potential hunting areas to determine actual field conditions.
To assist waterfowl hunters with the latest information, the AGFC provides links to sources on waterfowl location and abundance in Arkansas and other states. Maps showing graphical results of this season’s first aerial waterfowl survey are included. The links are available at the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission website.
This waterfowl report provides capsule information from agency staff in all corners of Arkansas and is updated each Wednesday throughout waterfowl season. To receive the report each week on your computer, send an e-mail to arkansasoutdoors@agfc.com and type “Waterfowl Report” in the subject line. Information on river levels can be found here or here.
Sunrise/sunset tables are available here and in the Arkansas Waterfowl Regulations Guide.