critterbait
Senior Member
Last year the hunting wasn't that good around Stuttgart. I'm getting ready to head out next week and was wondering if anyone had a report on the birds they would like to share. Thanks
Welcome Guest!
Anyone hunted in Arkansas yet this Year
- Thread starter critterbait
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EastmanFireFighter
Senior Member
I havent been but some of my buddies killed a 4 man limit in the timber this morning. He said the ducks are moving in. They hunting just outside of Stuttgart and they are locals so they know the places when the water is low. Only one way to find out! Go and enjoy the trip!
critterbait
Senior Member
Sounds good. Are you hunting guided or self guided?
critterbait
Senior Member
Self guided we lease blinds what guide are you hunting with?
2W Outfitters, their name is all I know really.
Self-guiding isn't really an option for us, honestly. Dad knows his stuff but doesn't have much time, and I'm also short on time w/ a family of my own and I don't know 1/10th of what he does... he used to take me out when I was a kid in central FL, but we moved to GA in the 90s and I've only been in the blind as an adult a handful of times, and have never picked a spot, made a spread of decoys or tried to call them in myself.
So, haven't done a ton of it, don't know much... but I'm planning to really pay attention on this trip, because I've always loved everything about duck hunting, and I have a feeling within a few years it's going to fall on me to be the one making this kind of thing happen.
Self-guiding isn't really an option for us, honestly. Dad knows his stuff but doesn't have much time, and I'm also short on time w/ a family of my own and I don't know 1/10th of what he does... he used to take me out when I was a kid in central FL, but we moved to GA in the 90s and I've only been in the blind as an adult a handful of times, and have never picked a spot, made a spread of decoys or tried to call them in myself.
So, haven't done a ton of it, don't know much... but I'm planning to really pay attention on this trip, because I've always loved everything about duck hunting, and I have a feeling within a few years it's going to fall on me to be the one making this kind of thing happen.
critterbait
Senior Member
Most of all have fun and enjoy your trip. Best of luck to you.
flatsmaster
Senior Member
I was SE of Stutt in Ms ... had to run out to help my buddy and we hunted Thursday morn ... had a solid hunt !!! I hope y'all get on some
mattuga
Banned
Not many new birds in AR since the 1st opener. The local area you are hunting and resting done nearby is paramount to birds you kill. We scratched a few a day along the Cache in a high pressure river bottom this past 2nd split but I'm still learning the new spots I hunt. Most birds know the safe zones and until we get a new push so you gotta expect to try and work trafficking birds. The high dollar places have it going on but don't let that fool you. Put motion in your spread and call lightly once they start to work your spread.
Powerline
Senior Member
I’m going on my first trip Jan 2nd to Arkansas. Going with my brother to Harrisburg, he’s been for several years but will be all new to me!
Ducks were flying Monday/Tuesday but not very many groups over 5, except one giant flock of ~80 spoonbills that landed behind us. Actually, most of what we saw/shot was spoonbills, more than half of all the ducks that worked around us seemed like. Some teal / gadwals and a few redheads. The canvasback in the picture was a complete anomaly, same for the mallard-- they were, I think, the only ones we saw. But mostly just a lot of spoonies.
Also, as @mattuga said nearly all the birds seemed like survivors rather than newcomers, everything was very spooky about coming in to the decoys, and even some that did ended up landing like 20yds outside of them like just in case those aren't real ducks down there. We actually did our best with no calling, and completely covered up. Day 2 we were in a pit blind, and whenever one of us spotted birds far out we'd close the roof completely up and look out the tiny space between the roof / the ground outside, and we wouldn't throw it back til they were already in-range. We sacrificed some passing overhead shots because of that, but even with just a little overhead gap and a single guy spying on them 3 of 4 groups would flare away from us before they were ever in range.
Lots and lots of geese, we didn't get a chance to properly hunt them but we took a speck and 2 snows with passing shots, and if any of us could call them worth a **** I bet we'd have brought back a lot more specks.
This pic was from the side of I-40 as I was heading back home... probably an AR migration-rest area, judging by the number of birds, but still really cool
flatsmaster
Senior Member
Awesome pic soyota
Oh, and 2W Outfitters are a decent outfit / value, but if you can call you might wanna do that for yourself. Our guy was turning birds away from the blind with his weird little squeak noises He was a real nice guy though, and didn't bat an eye when we wanted to stay in the blind as long as possible in the rain (we took about 2/3 of our limit both days). And his dog reflected really well on him.... that champ didn't whine or bark even once in two days, and other than hilariously trying to find/jump over this one submerged ditch he just went where he was told. Really makes me wish I had a dog.
They have a lodge that's like 1/2mile away from Mack's Prairie Wings in Stuttgart, with I think 12 rooms and a dining hall with good food. Not like fine steakhouse good, but way better than I eat most weeknights The lodge was pretty simple-- sealed plywood floors, shared bathrooms, not the Taj Mahal-- but I'd book them again.
He was a real nice guy though, and didn't bat an eye when we wanted to stay in the blind as long as possible in the rain (we took about 2/3 of our limit both days). And his dog reflected really well on him.... that champ didn't whine or bark even once in two days, and other than hilariously trying to find/jump over this one submerged ditch he just went where he was told. Really makes me wish I had a dog.They have a lodge that's like 1/2mile away from Mack's Prairie Wings in Stuttgart, with I think 12 rooms and a dining hall with good food. Not like fine steakhouse good, but way better than I eat most weeknights
The lodge was pretty simple-- sealed plywood floors, shared bathrooms, not the Taj Mahal-- but I'd book them again.
critterbait
Senior Member
Glad you had fun and shot some birds we did to but the ducks are just not there probably going to cancel the January trip if it doesn't get any better just have to wait and see. I always have a good time but the hunting has just been slow the past 2 years.Oh, and 2W Outfitters are a decent outfit / value, but if you can call you might wanna do that for yourself. Our guy was turning birds away from the blind with his weird little squeak noises
They have a lodge that's like 1/2mile away from Mack's Prairie Wings in Stuttgart, with I think 12 rooms and a dining hall with good food. Not like fine steakhouse good, but way better than I eat most weeknights
critterbait
Senior Member
Cool pic If the ducks were there like that we would be alright we saw lots and lots of geese also.View attachment 995693
Ducks were flying Monday/Tuesday but not very many groups over 5, except one giant flock of ~80 spoonbills that landed behind us. Actually, most of what we saw/shot was spoonbills, more than half of all the ducks that worked around us seemed like. Some teal / gadwals and a few redheads. The canvasback in the picture was a complete anomaly, same for the mallard-- they were, I think, the only ones we saw. But mostly just a lot of spoonies.
Also, as @mattuga said nearly all the birds seemed like survivors rather than newcomers, everything was very spooky about coming in to the decoys, and even some that did ended up landing like 20yds outside of them like just in case those aren't real ducks down there. We actually did our best with no calling, and completely covered up. Day 2 we were in a pit blind, and whenever one of us spotted birds far out we'd close the roof completely up and look out the tiny space between the roof / the ground outside, and we wouldn't throw it back til they were already in-range. We sacrificed some passing overhead shots because of that, but even with just a little overhead gap and a single guy spying on them 3 of 4 groups would flare away from us before they were ever in range.
Lots and lots of geese, we didn't get a chance to properly hunt them but we took a speck and 2 snows with passing shots, and if any of us could call them worth a **** I bet we'd have brought back a lot more specks.
View attachment 995694
This pic was from the side of I-40 as I was heading back home... probably an AR migration-rest area, judging by the number of birds, but still really cool
critterbait
Senior Member
Maybe you'll get a good push of birds by then we just got back and its slow lots of geese but very few ducks. Have fun and give us a report when you get back. Good luck
fastball_24
Member
I have a cousin that is hunting out there now and he said it was very slow. Very little bird activity.
Jack Leg
Senior Member
I am going to Stuttgart and hunt January 28,29,30 hopefully they still be some left
Michael F Sights
Senior Member
I will be in Stuttgart January 25 & 26 w/ Black Dog, Hope there will be birds for both of us!
