SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

[NW]

Anybody here familiar with the White River NWR/South end ? If I can manage to get myself well enough, and I will. I sure would like to make a hunt there.

[Joe Clark]

NW,
I know they take some whoppers out of there every year. I have some photos but they are gun kills so can't post here. I had a friend take a nice ten point with a longbow there last year but don't have a picture. I can tell you that it is flood prone and will close in a moments notice when the White River reaches a certain stage. (See:   http://www.fws.gov/whiteriver/floodzonepage.htm  )  At that point everyone is asked to leave meaning no camping etc. It is also mainly foot traffic as they close most roads to vehicles, you can ride a bike.

Open to bowhunting all season and has a draw for muzzle loader and modern gun.

It is 160,000 acres of bottoms that all look the same so you have to pay attention to where you are going. A boat is a big help.

Here is a link to website.
    http://www.fws.gov/whiteriver/index.htm  
and
    http://www.fws.gov/whiteriver/huntingpage.htm

[NW]

Thanks Joe, If it's not a problem send photos to [email protected]
Thanks for the info, Anybody else got sometin ?

[NW]

More info please, anybody? Need help.

[jojotater]

Norman, I know a little about it. What do you want to know?

I've hunted the south unit many times, but I mostly hunt the north unit. We have a place on Maddox Bay, and we are surrounded by the refuge.

John

[NW]

Thanks John, I hunt trophy bucks, strickly on public lands. I hear this is the place for such,but have never been there. Before I got sick (two years now) I was doin pretty good in southwest Ms. I am ready to get back to it, and lookin for a change. Any info about the south end would be apreciated. Quality of deer, numbers of deer.Odds of seeing a 150 class buck.
I still have a great place to hunt down here, should you want to go south.

[jojotater]

Norman, there are plenty of deer on the refuge, and the south end is probably the best. It is the oldest unit of the refuge. You're from Louisana, so you know the type of territory, mostly oaks, and cypress. There are a lot of oxbow lakes and sloughs.

Come up through DeWitt going toward St. Charles on highway 1 and go into the Ethel area. There have been a lot of nice bucks come out of there. I have seen a good many deer around Wolf lake. There are plenty of places to camp. You can use a boat to get farther in, and there are ATV trails. Having said that, there are plenty of place to hunt from the gravel roads. The place is huge. There is a new visitor center at St. Charles. It is worth visiting, too.

You have to have a brochure to hunt on the refuge. It has the rules and a map on it. You can get one free at all main entrances to the refuge, but you need one before you go, so you can look the thing over. You should be able to get one from the web sites Joe listed. If not, I will get you one and send to you if you like.

As far as 150 class bucks: They're there, but I really couldn't tell you the odds. I've seen some big ole boys come out of that place.

As Joe said, there is a modern gun hunt and a muzzle loader hunt. You have to be drawn for a permit to hunt then. The rest of the time, just the brochure.

Oh, bring your binoculars. They are really into looking for the Ivory-bill woodpecker there. And if you hunt enough you are sure to see a black bear, too.

[NW]

Thank you John, thank you.

[jojotater]

You're very welcome.

[redfish]

Better have a map and compass and know how to use them. I haven't been going there for several years. I have good places closer. If you are up to some steep terrain, try St. Francis NF. They are there, but real hard to get close to.

[winghunting]

John is pretty much right.  I don't live far from there and duck hunt it alot, both the North and South unit.  I have also turkey hunted on the South unit alot. I think your best bet for a big deer would be to use a boat.  There is a ton of places to hunt.  They will close it down if the river gets too high.  The South unit closes when the White river and Arkansas river reach a certain stage.  You could put in at Jacks Bay and run up the bayou or up the river and get away from folks.  There are alot of big deer there.  I have seen some monsters come out of there.

[jojotater]

Winghunting has a good point about running the river. There is also a good place to put in at St. Charles at the old ferry landing--pretty steep.

You should ride up and check the place out. Bring your ATV if you have one. ATV roads are marked with yellow paint. There are a lot of ATV roads.

I tell you what: I'm sure it is just as hot and humid here now as it is down there. Lot of chiggers and skeeters, too. Be prepared.

[NW]

Thanks guys,
I'm at UAMS in LittleRock for treatment today.
I think it's cooler down home.
I'll take a ride over there one day and look it over.
Thanks a bunch

[NW]

Thanks for the info guys.
Your probably in bigger bucks up there, but should you ever wanna go south (Ms) let me know.
This was the last good season(04), before I started gettin sick,
 

[Arkansas1]

I've hunted it some and seen a few whoppers.  The biggest problem with WRNWR is the gun hunts.  I think they give out 2,500 gun/muzzle loader permits and the refuge is about 160,000 acres.  That has a significant impact on the bow hunting even though it's just two or three weekends.  If you can stand the mosquito's and snakes, you may want to try to go before the permit hunts.  That has got to be the neatest place I've ever hunted.  It is what a lot of land in Arkansas looked like when the indians occupied it.  Take a boat so you can get on the river and away from people.  Also, try to avoid going during the coon season.  Man, coon hunters are running dogs and four wheeler's all night so that REALLY screws up your hunt.  I've never had any success there, but I chalk that up to not having the time to scout much.  I'd bet that's where the biggest bucks in Arkansas are.  I've seen some of them and seen several HUGE bucks taken out of there.

[NW]

Thank you Jonathan

[winghunting]

The thing about the refuge is that it is so big and there are so many places to hunt, its hard to tell you what area to try.  I have no doubt that a state record buck is in there.  I been over alot of the refuge and boated through alot of it when the river has flooded in the past.  If you have any more questions, I would be happy to try to answer them for you.

[NW]

Thanks Kevin,
 Any body got any pictures of the place ?

[NW]

Stories ? Need more stories. I promise, I won't try to hunt in your back pocket. I know how to find my own deer, once I'm in the rite area.
I manage to find this one.
 

[NW]

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