Dave Donaldson Black River WMA on the Land Conservation Assistance Network

Dave Donaldson Black River WMA
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last updated: April 2023

Area Notes

A free annual General Use Permit (WMP) is required to hunt or trap on WMAs. Permits are available online by clicking "Buy Licenses" at agfc.com or by calling 833-345-0325 or any regional office.
For all hunters except deer muzzleloader and modern gun youth hunt permit holders during deer permit hunts, the Winchester Waterfowl Rest Area (all of Section 21 and part of Section 16, Township 19N, Range 3E lying south of Black River) and Brookings Moist Soil Units are closed to access Nov. 1 and reopens to access Feb. 16.
Go to Lake Ashbaugh and Hubble Lake for hunting info on these lakes.
Modern guns are restricted to shotguns (0.410 and larger) with slugs (no buckshot allowed) and certain handguns during deer muzzleloader (permit hunt) and deer modern gun youth hunt (permit hunt).
Archery equipment and muzzleloader rifles may also be used.
Slough boats (25hp or less) may be left overnight at select locations during duck season.
For access restrictions that affect all users during waterfowl season, check the waterfowl guidebook.

Camping

Although there is little interest in overnight camping on Black River, camping is permitted in designated campsites. These are marked on area maps that are available at the area headquarters, or from commission employees and regional commission offices. These are primitive areas and no modern facilities are available. Mosquitoes, biting flies and poison ivy are extremely common and campers should be prepared for them.

Description

Hardwood forests comprise several tree species. The dominant species are nuttall oak, overcup oak, pin oak and water oak. Bald cypress, tupelo and willow may be found along the sloughs that form a network of waterways on the area. The major streams are Black River and Little River.

Hunting Opportunities

Waterfowl hunting accounts for the vast majority of recreational use days on the WMA. Squirrel populations are highly cyclic, depending on the abundance of acorns. Hunter success is good in most seasons, although participation is primarily limited to the opening days of the fall season. The area supports a thriving deer population. Hunting is limited to archery and limited permit muzzleloader hunting. Trappers also find a good population of furbearers on the area. Beaver, muskrat, mink and raccoon are fairly plentiful.

Location

The area is 10 miles south of Corning, 10 miles east of Pocahontas, 20 miles west of Paragould and 15 miles north of Walnut Ridge.

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