Waterfowl hunters who frequent the Raccoon Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Jackson County may find early hunting opportunities limited this season. The Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) advises that due to the extreme drought and associated low water levels of the Guntersville Reservoir (Tennessee River), the dewatering unit of Raccoon Creek WMA is not currently flooded to the normal pool level.
Pumping cannot be initiated until the water in the reservoir rises enough to fill the north end of the slough. Once this occurs, water will be moved from the north end of the slough to the south end via pumping operations. WFF personnel are working to ensure the impoundment is flooded as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Crops in the dewatering unit were successful this year and abundant food is available for waterfowl once flooding reaches normal levels. Early scouting indicates more ducks are on the Tennessee River than normal this year and good hunting opportunities are still available at Crow Creek WMA, Mud Creek WMA, and other sloughs and islands associated with the Tennessee River.