Conditions for the opening weekend of Arkansas's waterfowl season look very dry. The first segment of the state's duck hunting season begins Saturday, Nov. 22. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission personnel conducted aerial waterfowl surveys Nov. 3-7.

AGFC personnel indicated that the statewide total duck count of 418,293 is an 8 percent increase from last year’s count of 388,311 ducks. The count is the highest since 2004, but is still below the 1985-2008 November survey average of 564,564 ducks.

Officials cautioned that duck numbers are down from 2007 due to continued habitat loss and dry conditions of the breeding grounds in the northern U.S. and Canada.