Wapanocca Opens for the Season

Wapanocca Opens for the Season

Times Outdoors Columnist Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge opened on March 1, 2019, to heavy rain and sub-freezing cold weather. Wapanocca, near Turrell, Arkansas, opened to the public in the early 1960s. It was founded in the early 1900s as a duck hunting and fishing club with the limits of 50 ducks or 50 fish per day. Many of the members rode the train from St. Louis and Memphis and got off when the train did its daily stop at Turrell.

These were the days of boat paddlers and personal guides. It was made famous by the writer Nash Buckingham, one of the members and a historic outdoor writer who also wrote many famous stories of Beaver Dam in Mississippi. The original club house sat on the site of the modern day headquarters and was the office and living quarters of the first refuge manager, Travis McDaniels.

Travis and Papa Duck were hunting buddies when Papa Duck did his graduate research on wood ducks at the refuge. Tommy Lovrien is the current U.S. Fish and Wildlife man in charge of the refuge. He said they had reforested 396 acres of the refuge with 108,000 oak, pecan, hickory, and other hardwood trees.

There have been many improvements over the years with the extra wide boat ramp on the west side of the refuge. Originally it was a narrow water trail going out into the main lake and a elderly gentleman rented boats for $2.

On the east side of the lake the observation and fishing pier was constructed. For several years, the refuge prepared a public dove field with a drawing to hunt. Many doves were banded and Papa Duck once shot 3 bands the same hunt with one band he personally put on the bird.

Not many people can claim that!

Hunting is permitted on certain portions of the refuge for deer, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, and possum. The squirrel hunting is very good, but watch out for rattle snakes. Some of the cane brakes are king size! Be sure to read the free regulation guide before hunting. The lake has outstanding bream, crappie, catfish, and bass fishing, especially spring and early summer. Later in the year the coon tail moss and algae tend to make the fishing very difficult.

Right now the lake is high and muddy with the boat launch under water. A boat can still be launched but waders are needed to guide the boat to deep water. By the headquarters the spill way is open and fishing is fairly good with some good crappie being caught from the bank. Fishing is permitted through November 30.

Horseshoe Lake is very high and the fishing is difficult with only the trollers have much luck. The water is too high to fish under the piers and both Zanone and Beck’s Bayous are high and very muddy. It will be awhile before the fish start “jumpin’ in the boat.” The best fishing is for crappie in some of the small ponds and lakes because they warm and clear up before the larger lakes. Be sure to get permission before fishing, even highway bar pits.

A hunter born after 1968 must carry a valid hunter education card issued by the AGFC. Hunters under 16 without a card can hunt under the direct supervision of an adult hunter at least 21 years of age. This is a good time to get one. Marion First Baptist Church will offer this FREE Hunter Education Course on March 30, 2019, starting at 8:30 a.m.

Fred Hollowell and Dicky Howard are the instructors. Call Fred at 870-686-0661 or Dicky at 901-684- 3770 for details.

The recent awful weather has kept the sportsmen by the fire, so send me some of your old pictures and stories so that we can all enjoy them. Any ideas for local legends? Be sure to include that young hunter and fishermen while telling those stories and make sure you take that kid with you when making those wonderful memories. Both of you will never forget them. Lakeside Taxidermy will mount that memory quickly, at a reasonable rate, and quality work.

Papa Duck Lakeside Taxidermy 870-732-0455 or 901482-3430 jhcriner@hotmail.com

By John Criner