Temporary WMA closures announced for feral hog control in Delta region

The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission announced targeted, temporary closures of multiple Wildlife Management Areas on Jan. 16 to accommodate concentrated feral hog control operations conducted with USDA APHIS. The agency said the time-limited aerial and ground actions are intended to reduce feral hog numbers and protect habitat and agricultural resources.

Named WMAs affected in the advisory include Cut-Off Creek WMA, Seven Devils WMA, Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA, Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA, Trusten Holder WMA, George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto WMA, U of A Pine Tree WMA, Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA, Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek WMA, Big Lake WMA and McIlroy Madison County WMA. Many of these sites lie in the Delta region and are commonly used by Phillips County residents for waterfowl hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation.

Officials emphasized the closures are planned, targeted and short term, coordinated with partner agencies to protect long-term resource values. The operations combine aerial methods and ground crews to concentrate control efforts in key areas where feral hog activity has damaged habitat and threatened agricultural lands. Residents and visitors should expect restricted access to the named WMAs while operations are under way.

For Phillips County, the immediate impact is practical: hunters and anglers who planned outings to Delta WMAs will need to alter travel and harvest plans, and guide services, lodges and bait shops that depend on weekend and season traffic may see near-term disruptions. Recreational users should verify access before traveling and avoid closed areas for safety while aerial activity and ground crews are present. The commission asked the public for patience and understanding during the short-term measures and provided contact information for AGFC and USDA APHIS officials for questions.

The feral hog problem is a recurring management challenge across Arkansas and other states because the animals can cause significant damage to crop fields, wetland vegetation and nesting habitat. Concentrated control operations aim to reduce immediate pressure on Delta floodplain systems and farming operations while longer-term strategies are developed.

Residents who rely on local WMAs for subsistence and recreation should monitor announcements from the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission and plan alternate outings in nearby open areas. The temporary closures are meant to be brief but important to preserving the Delta’s hunting and fishing resources; what follows will be updates on reopenings and any additional measures to protect habitat and agricultural interests.