Why is Arkansas the Duck Hunting Capital of the World?
Arkansas hit the jackpot for conditions favorable to migrating waterfowl: LOCATION Situated at the narrow neck of the funnel-shaped Mississippi flyway, Eastern Arkansas is host to millions of migrating ducks every year. Many stop to rest, feed and even winter here due to the abundance of rice and water. RICE Migrating ducks burn a lot of stored calories while traveling to their winter homes. Flooded rice fields are their preferred re-fueling stations. Arkansas grows more rice than any other state, accounting for some 46% of domestic production. Migrating birds thrive in this highly nutritious environment where they feed on waste grain, weed sprouts and seeds, and aquatic invertebrates. WATER Ducks migrate south searching for food and open water. In autumn, after the rice is harvested, farmers block the drainage outlets and flood their fields. The hard pan soil of the Arkansas Grand Prairie holds water on the land during the winter months, creating an ideal habitat for migratory waterfo
