Woman dressed warmly in camouflage and standing in marsh reeds aims a shotgun into the air

Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge, straddling the Ouachita River, offers classic duck hunting in the flooded timber created by a deep, overflowing swamp. The refuge is one of the few public hunting spots in the area. It provides many hunting opportunities, but waterfowling is consistently the most popular. About 15,000 acres of the 42,500-acre refuge are off limits to duck hunting. These areas serve as a preserve that holds birds in the area. Hunters know they can find ducks flying to and from this area throughout the season. Access is by road and ATV trails. Squirrel hunting is popular early in the year, and big-game hunters will find a healthy deer herd without heavy hunting pressure.