RESPONSE FROM DU, No RESPONSE YET FROM AGFC
I appreciate you contacting Ducks Unlimited with your concerns regarding Bayou Meto WMA and Halowell Reservoir. You are correct that DU and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, together with the North American Wetlands Conservation Council, worked to develop and implement a plan to transform Halowell Reservoir into a state-of-the-art moist soil wetland complex. The purpose for this restoration was to provide a reliable source of high-quality moist soil vegetation (food) for waterfowl to utilize during winter months. Extensive research by many of the country’s greatest waterfowl scientists has shown that native waterfowl foods found in moist soil impoundments are some of the most limited foods available to ducks during fall and winter migration, while at the same time are some of the most important foods necessary to allow ducks to maintain body condition during the winter and to prepare for spring migration and subsequent breeding efforts. These moist soil areas provide critical nourishment that cannot be met by agricultural crops alone. Additionally, agricultural crops are already in abundant supply throughout the Bayou Meto basin (and throughout the Mississippi Alluvial Valley), thus planting a few more acres of rice or soybeans wouldn’t significantly add to the food availability, and especially wouldn’t address the shortage of moist soil habitat.
You are correct that Missouri does plant some areas to corn. This management method is designed to provide carbohydrate-rich foods that ducks need during the rigors of migration – especially on cold winter days. Once ducks reach Arkansas, they find the same carbohydrate needs in our flooded bottomland forests – a habitat type largely missing in Missouri. Many people are not aware that the Missouri Department of Conservation is one of the most aggressive agencies managing for moist soil habitat anywhere in the country. Most of their public waterfowl areas have been restored years ago to provide similar habitats to what is found at Halowell and other WMA’s in Arkansas.
As for the numbers of ducks using Halowell, I can only offer that I’ve personally witnessed thousands of ducks using the area over the past few years. I’ve witnessed fluctuations in numbers based on weather as you might expect. In fact, I’ve taken several media groups to Halowell in recent years to view the restoration – and the ducks. I contacted the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission regarding any data they might have on duck numbers. The data they collect is designed to meet scientific rigors, and thus are based on transect flights across Bayou Meto and other areas, and not just a count of Halowell. Their data do reflect seasonal fluctuations in numbers based on water and weather conditions, as you’d expect – similar to what you see at Halowell. Area biologists did state that the high water levels and unseasonably mild weather has resulted in fewer ducks using the area recently, but that several thousand ducks were currently using the moist soil units (perhaps due to water levels dropping in the White River, forcing ducks to move to other habitats?). One thing I’ve personally witnessed is seeing maybe a few hundred ducks flying over the area – but then having the opportunity to actually drive around Halowell to inspect our work and the habitat conditions – and flush literally thousands of ducks that I’d never have seen from the observation tower. I’m not inferring that this occurs all the time, but just that often moist soil areas are used much heavier than realized because you can’t see through the vegetation.
I’ll have to defer your questions on specific management of Halowell and Bayou Meto to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (e.g. flying millet along the bayou’s in the WMA, or timing of millet planting in Halowell). As the landowner and manager, AGFC has the responsibility and authority for management of habitats on public-owned properties. As their partner, DU works closely to help restore habitats to provide the most effective and efficient management capabilities.
Both Ducks Unlimited and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission are committed to providing high quality waterfowl habitat for our ducks – and our duck hunters. As a DU member and volunteer, I hope you understand and appreciate that management efforts must focus on meeting all the biological needs of waterfowl during winter and spring migration. We certainly want to enjoy them while they are here – and that is one goal of our habitat restoration efforts, but we must also ensure that they have the necessary resources to prepare for the rigors of spring migration and nesting. Research has clearly shown that the quality of habitat on the wintering grounds influences breeding success the following spring. Our efforts at Halowell Reservoir – and other areas throughout Arkansas – are designed to meet these needs.
I apologize for the lengthy response, but felt you deserved as full an explanation as I can offer. If you have other questions, please feel free to contact me. I’ll do my best to provide the most accurate information I have – or direct you to where you might find it.
Thanks for all you do for the ducks!!
Craig Hilburn
Manager Conservation Programs
Ducks Unlimited
Message:
Ducks Unlimited was involved in the restoration of Halowell Rest Area at Bayou Meto Arkansas several years back. Since that time, the ducks just dont use it like they used to. In recent memory there were always mallards tornadoeing into Halowell, but since the wet soil units were put in the Ducks have vanished. Seriously, now there are only about 250 ducks using it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a high water year or low water year, because we’ve had both the last 2 years and Hallowell has held very few ducks.
Does Ducks unlimted monitor the effectiveness of their projects; the amount of Ducks using it, the amount of food actually produced, or cover produced? The number one indicator I would think would be the actual ducks using it. This project appears to be a failure in my eyes and many others. The moist soil units do not attract nor hold mallards. What can be done about this? I have talked to other state members and they have suggested that DU plant Corn like they do in Missouri.
Why does Ducks unlimited not plant any agriculture varities in Halowell? Can it be done next year and the years following? Millet was used on about 100 of the 640 acres, but it was flooded before it headed out. Can something be done to better plan when the millet will be planted? Can corn and beans be planted? Can buckbrush be manipuated into growing there as it once did?
Is there a program available where millet could be flown into the WMA, and broadcast up and down the sloughs and ditches. Bayou Meto is not what it used to be due to the new moist soil units. For Bayou Meto to be the shooting grounds it was 5 years ago, something needs to be done. I am currently in contact with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, but can Ducks Unlimted also get the ball rolling to do something to these moist soil units because they are not working. Please Ducks Unlimited, come take a look at what Halowell has become since the inception of the Moist Soil Units. It is a mere shell of what it used to be 4 years ago before these units were put in.
I realize it cost millions of dollars to install, but it has inherently made the hunting terrible in bayou meto. So really it was all in earnest. Hopefully this may cause someone to swallow their pride and hopefully implement a new plan that actually attracts and holds ducks and not just looks good on paper.
It Doesnt appear Mr Hilburn saw it in the Glory years, or During Duck Season. So Halowell now is the Spring food supply, no longer a Duck Magnet Ever Again
I appreciate you contacting Ducks Unlimited with your concerns regarding Bayou Meto WMA and Halowell Reservoir. You are correct that DU and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, together with the North American Wetlands Conservation Council, worked to develop and implement a plan to transform Halowell Reservoir into a state-of-the-art moist soil wetland complex. The purpose for this restoration was to provide a reliable source of high-quality moist soil vegetation (food) for waterfowl to utilize during winter months. Extensive research by many of the country’s greatest waterfowl scientists has shown that native waterfowl foods found in moist soil impoundments are some of the most limited foods available to ducks during fall and winter migration, while at the same time are some of the most important foods necessary to allow ducks to maintain body condition during the winter and to prepare for spring migration and subsequent breeding efforts. These moist soil areas provide critical nourishment that cannot be met by agricultural crops alone. Additionally, agricultural crops are already in abundant supply throughout the Bayou Meto basin (and throughout the Mississippi Alluvial Valley), thus planting a few more acres of rice or soybeans wouldn’t significantly add to the food availability, and especially wouldn’t address the shortage of moist soil habitat.
You are correct that Missouri does plant some areas to corn. This management method is designed to provide carbohydrate-rich foods that ducks need during the rigors of migration – especially on cold winter days. Once ducks reach Arkansas, they find the same carbohydrate needs in our flooded bottomland forests – a habitat type largely missing in Missouri. Many people are not aware that the Missouri Department of Conservation is one of the most aggressive agencies managing for moist soil habitat anywhere in the country. Most of their public waterfowl areas have been restored years ago to provide similar habitats to what is found at Halowell and other WMA’s in Arkansas.
As for the numbers of ducks using Halowell, I can only offer that I’ve personally witnessed thousands of ducks using the area over the past few years. I’ve witnessed fluctuations in numbers based on weather as you might expect. In fact, I’ve taken several media groups to Halowell in recent years to view the restoration – and the ducks. I contacted the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission regarding any data they might have on duck numbers. The data they collect is designed to meet scientific rigors, and thus are based on transect flights across Bayou Meto and other areas, and not just a count of Halowell. Their data do reflect seasonal fluctuations in numbers based on water and weather conditions, as you’d expect – similar to what you see at Halowell. Area biologists did state that the high water levels and unseasonably mild weather has resulted in fewer ducks using the area recently, but that several thousand ducks were currently using the moist soil units (perhaps due to water levels dropping in the White River, forcing ducks to move to other habitats?). One thing I’ve personally witnessed is seeing maybe a few hundred ducks flying over the area – but then having the opportunity to actually drive around Halowell to inspect our work and the habitat conditions – and flush literally thousands of ducks that I’d never have seen from the observation tower. I’m not inferring that this occurs all the time, but just that often moist soil areas are used much heavier than realized because you can’t see through the vegetation.
I’ll have to defer your questions on specific management of Halowell and Bayou Meto to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (e.g. flying millet along the bayou’s in the WMA, or timing of millet planting in Halowell). As the landowner and manager, AGFC has the responsibility and authority for management of habitats on public-owned properties. As their partner, DU works closely to help restore habitats to provide the most effective and efficient management capabilities.
Both Ducks Unlimited and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission are committed to providing high quality waterfowl habitat for our ducks – and our duck hunters. As a DU member and volunteer, I hope you understand and appreciate that management efforts must focus on meeting all the biological needs of waterfowl during winter and spring migration. We certainly want to enjoy them while they are here – and that is one goal of our habitat restoration efforts, but we must also ensure that they have the necessary resources to prepare for the rigors of spring migration and nesting. Research has clearly shown that the quality of habitat on the wintering grounds influences breeding success the following spring. Our efforts at Halowell Reservoir – and other areas throughout Arkansas – are designed to meet these needs.
I apologize for the lengthy response, but felt you deserved as full an explanation as I can offer. If you have other questions, please feel free to contact me. I’ll do my best to provide the most accurate information I have – or direct you to where you might find it.
Thanks for all you do for the ducks!!
Craig Hilburn
Manager Conservation Programs
Ducks Unlimited
Message:
Ducks Unlimited was involved in the restoration of Halowell Rest Area at Bayou Meto Arkansas several years back. Since that time, the ducks just dont use it like they used to. In recent memory there were always mallards tornadoeing into Halowell, but since the wet soil units were put in the Ducks have vanished. Seriously, now there are only about 250 ducks using it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a high water year or low water year, because we’ve had both the last 2 years and Hallowell has held very few ducks.
Does Ducks unlimted monitor the effectiveness of their projects; the amount of Ducks using it, the amount of food actually produced, or cover produced? The number one indicator I would think would be the actual ducks using it. This project appears to be a failure in my eyes and many others. The moist soil units do not attract nor hold mallards. What can be done about this? I have talked to other state members and they have suggested that DU plant Corn like they do in Missouri.
Why does Ducks unlimited not plant any agriculture varities in Halowell? Can it be done next year and the years following? Millet was used on about 100 of the 640 acres, but it was flooded before it headed out. Can something be done to better plan when the millet will be planted? Can corn and beans be planted? Can buckbrush be manipuated into growing there as it once did?
Is there a program available where millet could be flown into the WMA, and broadcast up and down the sloughs and ditches. Bayou Meto is not what it used to be due to the new moist soil units. For Bayou Meto to be the shooting grounds it was 5 years ago, something needs to be done. I am currently in contact with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, but can Ducks Unlimted also get the ball rolling to do something to these moist soil units because they are not working. Please Ducks Unlimited, come take a look at what Halowell has become since the inception of the Moist Soil Units. It is a mere shell of what it used to be 4 years ago before these units were put in.
I realize it cost millions of dollars to install, but it has inherently made the hunting terrible in bayou meto. So really it was all in earnest. Hopefully this may cause someone to swallow their pride and hopefully implement a new plan that actually attracts and holds ducks and not just looks good on paper.
It Doesnt appear Mr Hilburn saw it in the Glory years, or During Duck Season. So Halowell now is the Spring food supply, no longer a Duck Magnet Ever Again
