Aim Higher

Upper Delta an underappreciated gem.  

Mention the Arkansas Delta and most people likely think of sprawling rice fields throughout the Grand Prairie, found around Arkansas, Lonoke and Prairie counties and the communities such as Stuttgart, DeValls Bluff and Humnoke. And with good reason, of course.  

But true outdoor Arkansas enthusiasts know that’s only half the story. Often overlooked by the casual explorer or first-time hunter and angler is the Upper Delta, a region every bit as diverse and enticing as its southern counterpart.  

The Upper Delta encompasses a northeastern chunk of the state from the Mississippi River to the line of White, Independence and Sharp counties to the west and generally everything north of Woodruff and St. Francis counties to the Missouri border. Fishing and hunting abound here, and, to some people’s tastes, are better than the more crowded spots to the south. Along with that comes plenty of history and nonconsumptive activities to fit any taste.  

HUNTING 
The northeastern portion of the state does not have the name recognition of a Bayou Meto, and that may be by design. Folks who hunt and fish Northeast Arkansas would just as soon keep the area to themselves and not develop the kinds of mobs that some reaches of the Lower Delta experience. But as far as quality, the Upper Delta boasts hunting that takes a back seat to none in the state.  

Three spots to check out this duck season include: 

Big Lake WMA (Mississippi County) 
One of the last large tracts of bottomland hardwoods left standing, Big Lake covers more than 12,000 acres adjacent to the Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Hunters delight in mallards by the thousands here and have since the 1800s. Access it 15 miles west of Blytheville near Manilla. 

Rex Hancock/Black Swamp WMA 
Augusta, Arkansas, is a speck on the map, but its presence on the hunting landscape of Arkansas looms large. Nowhere is that more apparent than in Black Swamp, a 7,221-acre WMA just 10 miles south of town. It takes a little more effort to get here, but it is easily one of the most ancient and beautiful places to hunt ducks in The Natural State.  

Henry Gray/Hurricane Lake WMA 
The big dog in these parts, Hurricane Lake WMA sprawls over 17,500 acres in White County. The White River, Little Red River and multiple creeks and lakes make this a duck’s luxury resort, buoyed by the Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge and the Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA that provide additional wintering habitat. 

If deer hunting is more your thing, you’re also in luck. Trophy records indicate the best counties to bag a big one include five in the Upper Delta: White, Sharp, Crittenden, Cross and Mississippi counties. Last year was a record for deer hunting with more than 216,000 harvested. Remember to double-check season dates, bag limits and other restrictions by hunting zone at agfc.com. 

FISHING 
When you’re done with the ducks, enjoy Big Lake Wildlife Refuge from the end of a fishing pole. The area includes Mallard Lake, home to the state-record largemouth bass. Check out the Black and Little rivers for catfish, crappie and largemouth bass or float among ancient cypress trees at Horseshoe Lake in St. Francis County near Hughes. The second largest natural lake in the state, fish Horseshoe Lake for bass and catfish. The Strawberry River near Jonesboro is another favorite for catfish. 

WHAT ELSE? 
Those not into hunting or fishing will still find plenty of interest in the Upper Delta. Fans of arts and culture should check out Johnny Cash’s boyhood home at Dyess Colony (Mississippi County) and Ernest Hemingway’s home and workspace in Piggott (Clay County). Parkin Archeological State Park (Cross County) marks the site of a Native American village that thrived from 1,000 to 1,600 A.D., believed to have been visited by Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto. Randolph County also provides plenty of spots for watercraft among the Black, Current, Spring, Fourche and Eleven Point rivers.