I got a sweet deal on a 2 day duck hunting trip to a lodge near Stuttgart at a Ducks Unlimited Dinner the other night. I will be driving down from the Chicago area, which will take around 11 hours. I have some vacation days saved up, so I was thinking about staying more than the 2 days and getting a couple of hunts in on my own on some public land. I have a phowler 1760 w a 36 PD that I would love to bring down (just get it this year). I see that Bayou Meto is right there, but has a HP limit. I was hoping some of you guys could shed a little light on the public hunting situation in Northern Arkansas. I know Arkansas is famous for having great public land hunting.

Are there any good public spots that don't have HP limits?
Do I even need a boat, or can you walk in? I'm told most of the land down there is flooded timber where it's only 2 feet deep.
Is there anything special an out-of-state hunter needs to hunt public land?
Is there a boat landing at most of the WMA's?
How about the ones owned the USFWS?

I have looked over the AR DNR(or whatever call it down there) website quite a few times this week. Tough to tell from there what's really goin on.

Certainly not looking to steal anybody's hot spot. Will only be in AR for a week or less. Any tips are welcome. Thanks.

Check out the AGFC site waterfowl section "where to hunt". After clicking on a specific WMA in an area you want to try if it doesn't state a hp restriction in the "area notes" then your good.

White, Cache, and Black River=no hp restriction. Quite a few WMA's w/out restriction and good luck!

Good luck running in the timber with a 60" boat.

Have you gave Felsenthal any thought?

Just looked up the Felsenthal. Looks like my kind of place, I don't know anything about timber hunting anyways. Might be giving it a try. Thanks.

x

Congrats on the hunt man. Hope you have good luck. I would do some good research prior to deciding on public land to hunt especially since you're an out of stater. Some folks like to make things difficult for outsiders and its hard to get good info on the www close to duckseason. If I was in north ark id try to help ya out but I'm in the south. If you have some vacation days to burn I would try to hunt mire than the 2 day hunt. Also if you have a little money to burn you might get another 2 day hunt from another guide service just to cover the bases. I don't know how many times I've heard ppl say they had a shitty hunt in the famed stuttgart arkansas. Hope you have good luck but its not always a sure deal. Public hunting is also an option you just gotta know where you are going. A lot of places are like a 3 ring circus especially on weekends. Might be better off spending a little more money instead of just pissing away a couple of days. You mention Bayou Meto. Here is a clip of an opener if you haven't seen it... Ain't no way id be in the middle of that cluster foxtrot.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as5_nChwZqM[/youtube]

Wow, that is downright ridiculous. I thought opening day in WI was wild! Looks like you're lucky to make it to a hunting spot alive with all those boats fighting for turf.

I guess I will have to consider my options. Thanks for the info guys.

Med is right about Meto. If you don't know where to go you are throwing dice. I have been on some smoking hunts in there but dad and I also hunt w/ guys that have hunted it for 30 - 40 years. It has a 25 hp limit and you won't beat the locals. You are better off to go in a daylight when you can see and watch the ducks.
I have a friend w/ some really good fields to hunt just off the management area thats 20 min from Stuttgart and a really nice lodge. I can give you info if you are interested. Very good success rates.

My motor is too big for Bayou Meto anyways, so I won't be hunting there. I was already a tad nervous about the WMAs to begin with. I consider myself to be a pretty good hunter, but something tells me hunting in Arkansas is entirely different than hunting in WI. I could see myself sitting in a nice pretty spot in the timber, with no ducks around at all. LOL. I will definitely be considering going with a guide for the whole trip (if cost allows).

Migrator, I would certainly appreciate a recommendation on a good guide service. I see there are lots of guides around there. Tough to tell who the good ones are. In WI, the only thing you need to do to become a guide is buy a special license that allows you to do so. I know people who have had horrible experiences with these so-called "guides." So, I tend to be a little skeptical.

When I get back home from therapy I will get on the laptop & give you some more info. I have hunted w/ Scott for several years before he started guiding. He is a Very good hunter & person. His partner is a good guy as well. They have some great areas to hunt Also.

Here ya go Chasin, The name of the outfit is Cypress Crossing Duck Club. Scot Kerr and John Kakouris run the place. I have hunted w/ them both and they are good people. Scot is one of the hardest hunters I have ever had the pleasure of hunting w/. He goes the extra mile or 10 to kill'em. Here's the website:



Give Scot and call and tell him Brian Westbrook from MS sent ya. On second thought you may want to leave my name out of it... He may garhole yo ass!




Just Kidding! Give him a call.

Bring plenty of spare tires...............

Hey Poker, I think he got the idea from the video. It's a tough place for an outsider. I never went to the Buras Saloon or Black Velvet as it was before The Storm w/out going w/ my homeboys. If you go w/ locals you are considered IN, if no your OUT, sometimes literally!