Flooding has halted the 2008 spring turkey season at White River National Wildlife Refuge, Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge, and units one and three of Cache River National Wildlife Refuge. The opening day for Turkey Season is this Saturday, April 12, 2008.
Much of the refuge lands are currently flooded, with turkey and other wildlife impacted by the high water. The refuges will not be open to hunting to reduce further potential stress on animals forced to reside in treetops and the small pockets of refuge lands not flooded.
Managers do not think the season will reopen due to high floodwaters, but if there is a significant drop in water levels, they will evaluate conditions and decide if they can reopen the hunt.
For more information or updates contact:
- White River National Wildlife Refuge manager Dennis Sharp (870) 282-8200 -- http://www.fws.gov/whiteriver/
- South Arkansas Refuge Complex manager Bernie Peterson (870) 364-3167
- Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge manager Paul Gideon (870) 289-2126 -- http://www.fws.gov/southeast/PondCreek/index.html
- Cache River National Wildlife Refuge (Units 1 and 3) manager Keith Weaver (870) 347-2074 -- http://www.fws.gov/cacheriver/
Photos at: http://www.fws.gov/whiteriver/flood%20waters%20page.htm
