|
Kevin
|
 |
« on: August 16, 2010, 04:20:54 PM » |
|
The Dave Donaldson/Black River WMA in Clay, Randolph and Greene counties in Northeast Arkansas tops our list as the best public deer hunting spot in Northeast Arkansas.
Providing some of the best -- if not THE best -- duck habitat in Arkansas, Dave Donaldson/Black River is coveted by hunters much more for its mallards than its whitetails. But with public deer hunting land a premium in Northeast Arkansas, it's size is favorable for deer hunters, and it's population/quality of bucks isn't too shabby either, all things considered.
All ranking factors are based on a 1-10 scale, with 10 being the most favorable.
Food and Water Sources (rank: 9) Maybe the very best aspect of Dave Donaldson is the abundance of food and water sources. Obviously, water is readily available, even in the driest seasons, so deer congregate into the driest areas of bottomland they can find. Of course, Northeast Arkansas offers a plethora of crops, from rice to corn to soybeans, so that tells you all you need to know about not only food source availability, but about hearty nutrition for deer weight and antler growth too. Oak hardwoods also provide valuable nutrition, and soil management practices conducted by the AGFC to promote healthy duck habitat benefit deer too.
Deer Population (rank: 5.5) Dave Donaldson/Black River is not a particularly high numbers area when compared to other areas of Arkansas. The vast crop fields that surround the wma just don't provide a lot of cover for herds to thrive outside of the deep hardwoods in the wma. That being said, there is an average-to-above average deer herd here and you should have no problem finding deer if you are committed to scouting deep into the hardwood cover.
Quality Bucks (rank: 7) Some may think this number too high for this area of the state, but the availability of nutrition from row crops found in the surrounding area can produce some very big bucks. Every year there seems to be more than a few really good bucks harvested here. Another reason for the 7 ranking is the fact that Northeast Arkansas is not hunted as hard as many other areas of the state, meaning more bucks survive the season and reach maturity. Of course, that's a different story when it comes to duck hunting!
Overcrowding (rank: depends on timing) At about 25,000 acres, Dave Donaldson/Black River is known more for it's duck hunting than deer hunting. So before hunters are in pursuit of the mallards, the the wma is fairly quiet. Tack on the fact that it's archery and blackpowder only -- both of which require a permit -- and the number of hunters really thin out. Later in the season when duck hunting is in full swing, it's a different world at Dave Donaldson.
Access Points (rank: 5) This is really a catch-22. Yes, the wma offers several access points. However, that is just from the highway. Many who hunt Dave Donaldson admit that to find the big bucks, a boat is not a bad idea once you are back in the wma. Give it some consideration. If you've never took to the water in search of big bucks deep back in the swampy hardwoods, you'd be surprised how much fun this can be. Another point to keep in mind is the bad ice storm a couple of years ago. A lot of downed trees in the area still to this day.
Main access points may be reached by going north on Highway 90 about 2 miles from Deleplaine. Turn left on Highway 280, then north about 4 miles to a stop sign, turn left and this will take you to the Brookings access on Black River. From Brookings, go east on highway 280 toward the town of Peach Orchard about 1 mile and turn left on a secondary blacktop road, go about 1 mile to the Hubble Bridge access on Little River. From Corning go south on Highway 67 to Reyno and watch for the Datto access. Lake Ashbaugh may be reached from highway 304.
Terrain (rank: 4) Because of it's location near the Mississippi River, Dave Donaldson/Black River consists mainly of "bottomland hardwoods" terrain. That is, low-lying, swampy, river-bottom land with a good amount of trees. The good thing is you aren't going to be huffing and puffing it over rocky hills and up and down steep draws. This means "easy" access for young hunters, the elderly and hunters with disabilities (again, many hunters say a boat can be a good idea, though there are spots to hunt without crossing water if it is easier for your particular hunting party)
The downside is that the area is a flood prone region, so you have to keep an eye on rain totals to make sure your hunting spot won't be under water. Early in the season, some 7,000 acres of this wma is flooded to attract ducksmaking it inaccessible to bow hunters, but there still should be plenty of places you can sneak back into and still keep your feet dry.
|
