We've got Arkansas problems...

I quickly realized while in college in northeast Arkansas that the green heads didn't hit the timber till the acorns sank. Arkansas is notorious for too much water too early leaving the acorns ripe and floating throughout the thicket, making it very difficult to isolate the green.

We normally kill about 50% green, but this year so far, we only have 6 of em down, exactly 5% of the birds we have killed!. While cruising through thicket today, I noticed the problem. Got a plan for tomorrow... Hunting the edges up against some brush. They are loafing in the open and letting their meals come to them... Lazy birds! Not my favorite way to hunt, but we smarter than they are... Come on cold so we can get back to the woods

Interesting. I've never thought of that.

Well what's the verdict, sir? Y'all get on some birds this morning?

Yes we did. I'll post a pic in the morning when I get to work.

Arkansas timber is high on the bucket list

Surface drive and miles is all u need. Felsenthal, bayou meto, hurricane, and Rainey brake are the big ones. I've hunted them all. I prefer Rainey Brake and hurricane. Less traffic and plenty of birds. Texans tend to get lost in the meto. At least this one does!

Man I had a timber hunt of a life time last year in one of those mentioned above. Will be headed back this January to try it again. Nothing else compares to a timber shoot with 1000's of birds. Watched mallards work several timber holes none stop all morning long. Coach

Safe to say they are not using the woods!


I still got as close to the woods as I could! First time this year we didn't limit, but it was a good hunt...

Enjoy

Very nice.

Yeah, hope we don't get too much rain though. One of my Argos is still in the marsh! Gotta put carb on other Argo then go haul that one in.

Sure does look like your trees have lost all of their leaves a lot sooner than mine have.

Yep. Happens quickly when a major levee breaks and they are under about 25' of water. Chambers creek levee broke when we got 20+" of rain. Sure u heard about it on the news

Ha dude, you can do better than that with the pics if you're gonna lie about a hunt.

We are seeing them in the flooded fields outside the timber ourselves. All the good food in the ponds are several feet under water so haven't seen a bird one on them. All flooded fields and pastures. We have a few openings this weekends if anyone is interested in some muddy field hunting?

Arkansas problem? You found out your cousin is your Aunt?

Grew up in AR. Dad's family was here prior to TX becoming a part of the U.S. His father left Lufkin to run what at one time was the largest pine planer mill in the world in Warren. Dad started out after Forestry School as a Block Forestor for Potlatch. His first assignment was what Is now the North end of Felsenthal. At that time when the winter rains came, the only way to get to what is Prairie Island was with a D8 dozer. The Feds do some crazy things there but if it were not public, many of us would not be able to hunt in there.

Went to college near 7 Devils and Cut Off Creek. Late in the year they can be incredible.

Dad lived in a camper on Bayou Meto during duck season his last years of life. He knew how to navigate woods due to his forestry training. My youngest son and i still hunt in there. In fact, the start of TX duck season is our training for Arkansas.

What you said about the acorns is dead on. There are so many aspects to it besides this. I am sharing with my son what was shared with me. The main thing is you have to work hard to kill ducks on public land or pay out the butt and put up with a bunch of rules to hunt private unless your work really hard and own the land.

Good stuff and nice pics. PS, i have been lost for five hours in Bayou Meto. It gets serious about that time. I have known people who had to spend the night in there. One of them owns half of Sportsman's Drive Inn in Stuttgart.

I love going up there every year. One day, I will move back up there.

I think I will stay in Texas but hunt there. The tax situation is not good and the health care leaves a lot to be desired. If you get hurt near Little Rock, God forbid, DO NOT let them take you anywhere but Arkansas Heart Hospital. When mother got sick, i had to fight a doctor calling his house three times at 4:00 AM in the morning to beg him to try to save her. She lived five more years after this.

DO NOT do any business with a small town lawyer, realtor or accountant in AR South of Stuttgart The pickings are so small, they play both sides of fence and will not upset anyone over an outsider there. When you get ready to buy that dream duck property, I advise you to use a lawyer, realtor and accountant out of Little Rock. Trust me on this.

Oh yeah. My mother in law lives in Missouri Bootheel and Father In law lives in Arkansas. I know all about the taxes and such. Not many people can afford property for duck hunting in Arkansas that is worth a darn. I got a couple clubs that I could join though.

My thought is to buy an acre or two between Clarendon and Stuttgart, put a trailer on it and both Bayou Meto as well as Dagmar and the Cache River bottoms.

I would work with a relator and lease it when I am not there. Two rules: no drugs and no whores.

I hunt with friends on private land in crocketts bluff. They own around 200 acres there and white river wildlife refuge surrounds their property.

Farely close to where you are speaking of.

Arkansas season opens this coming Saturday!