I am considering booking a duck/goose hunt in central Arkansas next season. Stutgart is supposedly the duck hunting Mecca, and I want to see what it is all about. I am not married to the Stutgart idea however. Anywhere that is good is fine with me.

Price is an issue and I would rather not pay $400 per day if possible.

Any advice or recommendations?

A traditional flooded timber duck hunt in Stuttgart is something everyone should experience at least once.

I have hunted there about a couple dozen times when it was fairly reasonable back in the 70's and maybe half a dozen times since then.

Today it is expensive. In fact it is too expensive for most of the hunting days.

I don't have a specific Club to recommend but my concern with your statement above is that you might spend a lot of time and money hunting with a club in or around Stuttgart that will not be worth it. I recommend the trip but would rather see you spend less time with a really good club than more time with a poor one.

If you happen to hit one of those days when the ducks are in and the water in the timber isn't frozen you will never forget it and it will be worth the high cost.

If not, you probably could do a lot better as far as ducks shot is concerned by staying on one of those south Texas water holes close to home or by going down into Mexico. In fact, other than travel cost you probably could go to Argentina and really shoot some ducks for not much more money than a 3 or 4 day hunt in a top club in Stuttgart.

But if you want to experience a flooded timber hunt then I would suggest booking one or two days with the best club you can book with somewhere around the beginning of the second season during the dark of the moon. Hope for a clear sky "bluebird" day.

There is a major difference between the best and the average hunting spots. Even in the best clubs one hole will consistently be a lot better than the others - even those just a couple hundred yards away. That good hole will usually be reserved long before the season starts. But if you are lucky, you might be moved into that hole after the first group limits out.

If you get into that hole be aware that you will be just a shooter not a hunter. The guide will want you to keep deep in the blind, not look at the ducks until he says to shoot and you will leave the hole when he says its time.

Finally, the very best hunts are usually on private holes owned by banks, law firms from Little Rock and people like Marion McCollum owner of Macks Sport Shop. Unless you know somebody or are a gun or ammo manufacturer you will not be likely to get in those holes however.

Allow time to visit the local museum which has a lot of old time duck hunting photos and artifacts. Most people will also tell you to visit Macks Sport Shop also and it is very interesting but in my opinion way overpriced unless you are into paying for logos on clothing. The Rich-n-Tone duck call factory next door is also worth a stop.

So do it once, be prepared to drop some money and hope you hit the flight right.

Flooded timber:

I'm with Palmer, you should definately hunt the timber. There is nothing like watching those mallards funnel down through the trees.

What's the limit on one of these hunts?

FB

quote:

What's the limit on one of these hunts?

Duck daily bag limit – 6. Limit may include no more than four mallards (no more
than one of which may be a hen), two wood ducks, two redheads, one black duck, two
scaup, one pintail, two canvasbacks and three mottled ducks. The possession limit is
twice the daily bag limit.

Last time I was there it was 5 each - looked something like this:



Seasons (3 different seasons)

Nov. 17-Dec. 18, 2007
Dec. 26, 2007-Jan. 6, 2008
Jan. 12-27, 2008

They take you out to the blind in boats:

I hunt with Southern Waterfowlers out of Reydel (below Stuttgart and Bayou Meto). They hunt timber and fields. Lots of geese too in the fields. Contact Tim Reaves cell @ 870-308-0496. Spoke with him this evening and they are into the birds. He's at camp so the best time to reach him is noon or evenings around 6:30PM. They are on central time. They cater to smaller groups. Meals are home cooked and lodging is included. I hunt with Tim every year. I think they are $300 per day. Spring season Snow/Blue/Ross Goose hunting is great. Good hunting, David

Thanks you all for the responses.

Although it's not Stuttgart, might look into Charles Snapp's Hammertime in Walnut Ridge.

Just got back from 2 days there this afternoon.