The latest Arkansas Game and Fish Commission mid-winter aerial waterfowl survey report is out and it’s not overly promising. A flyover was conducted Jan. 1-4 by Jason Carbaugh, Jason “Buck” Jackson, Cameron Tatom and Alex Zachary. The wildlife biologists conducted their surveys over three distinct districts of the state: the Mississippi Alluvial Valley (Delta), Arkansas River Valley and southwest Arkansas.
“Biologists conducting transect-based surveys in the Delta estimated 269,693 mallards and 682,089 total ducks, while duck population estimates in the Arkansas River Valley were 21,347 total ducks, including 3,841 mallards,” the report said.
“Biologists performing cruise surveys in southwest Arkansas reported an estimated 28,200 ducks with 2,980 mallards. Arctic goose population estimates totaled 645,607 light (lesser snow and Ross’s) geese and 189,406 greater white-fronted geese in the Delta,” according to the report.
“The Delta mallard population estimate was 510,000 mallards below the 2009-2024 long-term midwinter survey average and the lowest midwinter survey estimate on record since the start of transect based surveys. Total duck population estimates were nearly 560,000 birds below the long-term average and the lowest total duck population estimate since 2013. On average, mallards account for about 64% of all ducks in the Delta during midwinter surveys. During this survey period, mallards made up only 40% of the total duck estimate. Biologists estimated over 40,000 mallards in three survey zones: Bayou Meto-Lower Arkansas, Black-Upper White, and Cache,” according to the report.
The survey addresses the shortfall in duck numbers.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“Much of the state continues to be in moderate to extreme drought. Since the last survey period in mid-December, most of the state received a 1-inch rain on Christmas Day, not near the widespread rainfall and flooding needed to boost available habitat across the landscape during this survey period. Vast majority of the state remained well below normal precipitation for December. Shortly after this survey period most of the state received a couple inches of rain which provided some overbank flooding, leading to some additional habitat just before the deep freeze hit. Staff will conduct the last survey period the week of Jan. 15th, weather permitting,” according to the report.
AGFC’s new Waterfowl Program Coordinator Brett Leach said more ducks have been seen since the report was made.
“Since the mid-winter report came out, we’ve started hearing of more birds coming into the state with the cold weather up north pushing them this way,” Leach said. “During the same period of time as our latest survey was conducted, Missouri and Illinois both reported near double the number of mallards as normally seen in their mid-winter survey.”
He went on to say how unfortunately the severe cold in Arkansas locked up most open water at about the same time birds began to arrive with it remaining frozen for days.
Hunters are reporting some success in finding ducks on river systems and backwaters where flowing current have kept water open.
“Our final survey of the season was supposed to begin today (Monday) but due to airports being closed and the inclement conditions we hope to start flying toward the end of the week into next week. We’ll see what those numbers tell us after that,” Leach said.
Many hunters are switching to speckle belly goose hunting in lieu of dwindling duck numbers. Hunters from top left include Jerod Petry, Kade Petry, and Etienne Trahan; right side: Josh Fuselier, Johnny Hollis and Dawson Miller. (Special to The Commercial/Richard Ledbetter)