Rising water may impact deer hunting in parts of east Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Arkansas Game and Fish Commission officials are sounding a caution for deer hunters going out for the start of modern gun season this Saturday.

AGFC officials said that recent downpours in the White River Basin in east Arkansas created a large pulse of water that is expected to exceed flood stages in some areas. The flooding would close the area to all methods of deer hunting until the water recedes, they said.

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According to officials, on Friday, Nov. 8, the White River level forecast shows it will reach 31 feet at Augusta. If this is the case, officials said it would close deer season on private land in Flood Prone Zone B as well as the following wildlife management areas and national wildlife refuges: Bayou Des Arc WMA, Departee Creek WMA, Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA, Bald Knob NWR and portions of Cache River NWR.

They said the areas would reopen once the Georgetown White River gauge falls below 19 feet.

Officials explained that while the hardwood forests of eastern Arkansas are excellent for large deer populations, they can become inundated quickly due to their being low-lying. When that happens, officials said deer are pushed into areas with less available cover, creating a risk for overharvesting and lack of fair chase.

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Worse, officials said, hunting in flooded areas can force deer into fast-running streams or deep areas before a hunter can recover their harvest.

AGFC officials clarified that deer hunting is closed only during flood-prone zone closures. Seasons and limits for other game animals remain unchanged.

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A description of all flood-prone regions and criteria for closures are available at AGFC.com/Hunting/Flood-Prone_Zones . Hunters may also call the AGFC's Wildlife Information Hotline at 833-345-0398 for the status of all flood-prone areas, updated daily at 3 p.m.