doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Mississippi Flyway--advice needed

My wife and I drove west back to Oklahoma on I-40, and we crossed the Mississippi about 5PM CST on 1 January. For the next 30+ miles, there was an extraordinary display of waterfowl�large flocks and gaggles (and not just Snows). It was simply special.

I had read that this year is a very good year for the Mississippi Flyway, but I had no idea.

This leads naturally to the following question�whom would you recommend for a guide service for this general area for next season? Any other advice about either the Mississippi or Central Flyways and waterfowl opportunities would be appreciated.

I realize that this is not strictly a Double Gun Question, and after the very thoughtful exchange on J J Simon and his shotguns, I am cautious to post this. However, I will be using a double AND I remember others (jOe) here have had hunting experience in this area. So, I am taking my chances!

Happy New Year

Berrien

I'd bet there's great hunting closer by, but south of you, the Eagle Lake area of Texas might be worth looking at.

craigd--

Thanks--friends here in Norman mentioned the same thing when I was talking about our drive on the first of January. Frankly, I was so stunned with the numbers of birds that we saw that I can not get the location out of my mind. I have never seen anything like it--not in the eastern shore of Maryland or Saskatchewan or Alberta or anyplace--but the Eagle lake area would be far closer.

Again, thanks

Berrien

Berrien,

That is exactly the area that I pass through when in Arkansas each year. The numbers of ducks that you saw was in the area before you crossed Crowley's Ridge, most likely. I have seen this for years when going to and from there, but it is not a guarantee that you can book a hunt out there and get into a lot of ducks. Those flooded rice and bean fields hold ducks many times when you can't buy a limit just a few miles further west.

I hunt the flooded bottoms of the L 'Anguille almost solely, and too much water on the Cache and White hurts the numbers on the L "Anguille. Vice versa, not enough rain and the few places with water will be teeming. I suspect you saw it at an opportune time when resting ducks were using those fields.

I'm headed for Moro a week from tomorrow to hunt a place new to me. Large numbers reported there lately as well. I will let you know how the place pans out if you'd like me to.

I know of several excellent guide services in eastern Arkansas, but none that operate in that immediate area, between Crowley's Ridge and the river.

Right now the White and Cache rivers are way out of their banks and are holding huge numbers of ducks. I have several buddies who are on the White right now wearing them out every day.

SRH

Stan

Thank you.

East of Crowley's Ridge was precisely where I saw the greatest concentrations and then west of the ridge near the White River. But the eastern area was over flowing with ducks and geese.

I will look forward to hearing about your hunt near Moro. That was one area that I had targeted.

Best--

Berrien

Enjoy them while you can as high commodity prices have increased wetland drainage in the Prairie Pothole Region to unheard of levels. Many farmers cashed in the last of their federal PeePee (Prevented Planting) checks and launched a massive assault on the shallow wetlands that produce most of the invertebrate protein hens require for egg production. Tillage is what kept these wetlands open. The shorelines of the remaining deeper wetlands are shaded jungles of old growth cattails, willows, cottonwoods, and Canary grass that are almost worthless as food sources for all birds. These wetlands need burning, grazing, or even mowing badly, but cattle producers are getting hard to find in most of the Region. Looks grim for ducks boys.

http://www.arkansasduckhunting.com/
These guys are great and duck hunting has been unmatched.Reasonable rates,three brothers guide 19 pits on the family farm.Their farm borders the Cache River near Walnut Ridge,Ar.We've used them for over 10 years.If there are ducks in NE Arkansas,they've got ducks.They require groups of four or more to have a pit by yourself,otherwise they'll pair you with someone else.Very nice fellows who'll work hard to make sure you have a good time.You can bring your own dog,or they'll pick the ducks up for you.Highly recommended.......

ajjar--

Looks excellent--great location and approach. Do you hunt geese in the afternoon--same area or different?

Thanks for the recommendation

Berrien

Berrien,

Got back from Moro, AR last night and wanted to give you the promised report on Big Creek Ducks and Bucks. We stayed there for three days and nights and I was favorably impressed. They have 15,000 acres leased for hunting ducks and geese, and the lodge seems to be pretty much booked up all the time, from what I was told by clients and management. We hit it at a terrible time for the ducks, but that is only the fault of the weather, not the hunt facility. They work their butts off to put you on ducks every day.

The hole we hunted the first morning was a blind overlooking a slough, and they had killed 700 ducks out of that one blind this season. There are all types of hunting available there, including pits in flooded fields and green timber. Jimmy Rogers is the contact person there, and he seemed to be a capable and hard working manager, who also guides and calls. Very, very clean lodge with a big breakfast after the morning hunt every day and a huge supper each evening. Very good food.

Not that it means much, but Aaron Tippin and his two sons left just before we arrived. Ted Nugent, and Mike and David Huckabee also hunt there, the Huckabees a great deal, apparently. Only thing of note about that, really, is that I guess when people that can afford to hunt anywhere they want choose a place, it is probably pretty good.

If you are interested I would probably book as early as I could to assure the date I wanted. if you have any questions about it feel free to send a p.m.

All my best, SRH



Between Moro and Marianna in a 600 acre tract of green timber.

Stan

Thank you!!

We will look to book for next year very soon. With my �Back East� hunting partners, we have had the worst season in 30+ years on the eastern shore of Maryland (what have others experienced?), and so our feet are �itchy.�

Again, thank you.

Best,

Berrien

PS I will probably call/email as we finalize our plans