Peach Orchard, Ark. – The extended drought that has gripped Arkansas for more than a year is set to make this winter’s duck season tougher for hunters and more costly for local outfitters. With wetlands, fields and wildlife areas holding less water than usual, the state’s water‑dependent duck population faces a significant shortfall.
Water shortage limits duck numbers
Trey Reid, spokesperson for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, explained that water is the single most important factor in determining how many ducks spend the winter in the state. “When we have water, we have ducks,” Reid said. “When we don’t have water, we don’t have near as many ducks.”
Reid warned that a single rainstorm will not solve the problem. “We’re going to need not one, two‑, three‑inch rain,” he said. “We’re going to need multiple four‑, five‑, six‑inch rains.” The commission hopes for repeated, widespread rainfall to restore typical December and January conditions.
Outfitters feel the financial pinch
For outfitters, the drought translates into higher operating costs. Kaegen Gomer, owner of Dirty Duck Outfitters and Dirty Duck Hunting Club, said he can pump water onto some of his property, but doing so requires expensive diesel fuel. “Diesel farm diesel is about $5.38 a gallon,” Gomer noted. “If you’ve got unlevel fields and you’re running diesel power units, it’s going to cost you more money in the long run.”
Gomer, a lifelong hunter from northeast Arkansas, recalled wetter seasons when the Cache River flooded and ducks were more widely dispersed. “Now, you have to be where they want to be, and you have to provide their habitat,” he said. A wetter season would reduce the need to pump water, lowering costs and creating more habitat for ducks. “It’d be nice to have a good, wet duck season,” Gomer added. “It’s going to be way cheaper on me if it rains.”
Game and Fish officials stress preparation and patience
Game and Fish officials are checking pumps and equipment, managing wetlands, and growing food sources in moist‑soil areas to improve habitat. Reid emphasized that these efforts can set the stage, but they cannot replace rain. “We can set the table,” he said. “But we need Mother Nature to cooperate. We need some rainfall.”
Officials are also urging hunters to monitor conditions at wildlife management areas and to temper expectations if significant rainfall does not arrive before and during the season. While some private landowners can move water using pumps, many wildlife management areas still depend heavily on natural precipitation.
What hunters can do
Hunters are encouraged to stay informed about water levels at local wildlife management areas and to consider alternative locations if conditions remain dry. Planning trips with outfitters who have the resources to pump water can help ensure a successful outing, though it may come at a higher price.
Despite the challenges, Reid remains hopeful that a series of adequate rain events will restore water levels and bring back the robust duck populations Arkansas hunters have come to expect.
Original reporting: KATV Little Rock (local) — read the source article.
