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Arkansas Hunting

Everything you need to plan your hunting trips in Arkansas, from maps and regulations to season dates, game animals, quotas, and hunt zones. Plus much more! Start your research right here.

Overview

Known For

Arkansas has earned a rightful reputation for world-class duck hunting. Stuttgart, Arkansas, is the proclaimed duck-hunting capital of the world. But there is more to hunting in Arkansas than just waterfowling. The state is great for huge Natural State bucks, ample opportunities for turkey, and even elk and alligator.

Terrain

Arkansas’s terrain is generally split between its northern highlands and southern lowlands. Its highlands include the Ozarks and Ouachita Mountains. Its southern lowlands include the Gulf Coastal Plain and the Arkansas Delta. In between and throughout are rivers, river valleys, forests, and savannas.

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Arkansas Hunting Seasons

Filter By:
Season
Start Date
End Date
Sep 15, 2023 – Sep 18, 2023
Alligator – Early Season

Season Limit 1 Alligator 4 feet or longer

Sep 15, 2023
Sep 18, 2023
Alligator
Sep 16, 2022 – Sep 19, 2022
Alligator – Early Season
Zone 1, 2, 3. Each permit allows 1 alligator to be taken and required to be 4 feet or longer.
Sep 16, 2022
Sep 19, 2022
Alligator
Sep 22, 2023 – Sep 25, 2023
Alligator – Late Season
Zone 1, 2, 3. Each permit allows 1 alligator to be taken and required to be 4 feet or longer.
Sep 22, 2023
Sep 25, 2023
Bear
Sep 13, 2023 – Nov 30, 2023
Bear – Archery
Zone 1, 2. Statewide bag limit 1 bear of either sex.
Sep 13, 2023
Nov 30, 2023
Bear
Oct 21, 2023 – Oct 29, 2023
Bear – Muzzleloader
Zone 1, 2. Statewide bag limit 1 bear of either sex.
Oct 21, 2023
Oct 29, 2023
Bear
Nov 4, 2023 – Nov 5, 2023
Bear – Youth Gun
Zone 1, 2. Statewide bag limit 1 bear of either sex.
Nov 4, 2023
Nov 5, 2023
Bear
Nov 11, 2023 – Nov 30, 2023
Bear – First Gun
Zone 1, 2. Statewide bag limit 1 bear of either sex.
Nov 11, 2023
Nov 30, 2023
Bear
Nov 25, 2023 – Dec 3, 2023
Bear – Third Gun
Zone 5A. Statewide bag limit 1 bear of either sex.
Nov 25, 2023
Dec 3, 2023
Bear
Nov 25, 2023 – Dec 3, 2023
Bear – Second Gun
Zone 5. Statewide bag limit 1 bear of either sex.
Nov 25, 2023
Dec 3, 2023
Deer
Oct 21, 2023 – Oct 29, 2023
Deer – First Muzzloader

Deer zones 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 4A, 5A, 14, 15, 9, 12, 13, 16, 16A, and 17. Statewide Bag limit is 5 deer no more than 2 bucks. Limits vary by zone.

Oct 21, 2023
Oct 29, 2023
Deer
Nov 4, 2023 – Nov 5, 2023
Deer – First Youth Gun

All Zones. Statewide Bag limit is 5 deer no more than 2 bucks. Limits vary by zone. See regulations.

Nov 4, 2023
Nov 5, 2023
Deer
Nov 11, 2023 – Dec 3, 2023
Deer – First Gun

Zones: 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11. Statewide Bag limit is 5 deer no more than 2 bucks. Limits vary by zone.

Nov 11, 2023
Dec 3, 2023
Deer
Nov 11, 2023 – Nov 19, 2023
Deer – Second Gun

Zones 4 and 5. Statewide Bag limit is 5 deer no more than 2 bucks. Limits vary by zone.

Nov 11, 2023
Nov 19, 2023
Deer
Nov 11, 2023 – Dec 10, 2023
Deer – Third Gun

Zone 4A, 5A, 14, 15. Statewide Bag limit is 5 deer no more than 2 bucks. Limits vary by zone.

Nov 11, 2023
Dec 10, 2023
Deer
Dec 9, 2023 – Dec 11, 2023
Deer – Second Muzzleloader

1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11. Statewide Bag limit is 5 deer no more than 2 bucks. Limits vary by zone.

Dec 9, 2023
Dec 11, 2023
Dove
Sep 2, 2023 – Oct 22, 2023
Dove – Early Season
Bag limit 15 per day for Mourning and White-Winged Dove. No bag limit for Eurasian Collared Dove.
Sep 2, 2023
Oct 22, 2023
Duck
Sep 15, 2023 – Sep 30, 2023
Duck – Special Early Teal
Bag limit 6 per day. (Blue-winged, green-winged, and cinnamon teal combined)
Sep 15, 2023
Sep 30, 2023
Duck
Nov 18, 2023 – Nov 26, 2023
Duck – 1st Season

6, which may include no more than:

4 mallards (2 hens), 1 scaup, 3 wood ducks, 1 pintail, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, 1 mottled duck. If not listed, up to 6 ducks of a species (including teal) may be taken.

Nov 18, 2023
Nov 26, 2023
Duck
Dec 2, 2023 – Dec 2, 2023
Duck – Youth Waterfowl 1
On these days, only youths 15 and younger and military veterans may harvest ducks, geese, coots and mergansers.
Dec 2, 2023
Dec 2, 2023
Elk
Oct 2, 2023 – Oct 6, 2023
Elk – Core Zone Regular 1
Public and Private, but require separate permits. Core Elk Management Zone. Bag limit 1 elk per season.
Oct 2, 2023
Oct 6, 2023
Elk
Oct 7, 2023 – Oct 8, 2023
Elk – Core Zone Youth 1
Public and Private, but require separate permits. Core Elk Management Zone. Bag limit 1 elk per season.
Oct 7, 2023
Oct 8, 2023
Elk
Oct 28, 2023 – Oct 29, 2023
Elk – Core Zone Youth 2
Public and Private, but require separate permits. Core Elk Management Zone. Bag limit 1 elk per season.
Oct 28, 2023
Oct 29, 2023
Elk
Oct 30, 2023 – Nov 3, 2023
Elk – Core Zone Regular 2
Public and Private, but require separate permits. Core Elk Management Zone. Bag limit 1 elk per season.
Oct 30, 2023
Nov 3, 2023
Goose
Sep 1, 2023 – Oct 15, 2023
Goose – Early Canada Goose
Canada Goose. Bag limit 5 per day.
Sep 1, 2023
Oct 15, 2023
Goose
Oct 28, 2023 – Nov 10, 2023
Goose – 1st Season

White-fronted bag limit 3 per day. Snow, Blue, and Ross bag limit 20 per day.

Oct 28, 2023
Nov 10, 2023
Goose
Nov 18, 2023 – Nov 26, 0003
Goose – 2nd Season
White-fronted bag limit 3 per day. Canada bag limit 2 per day. Snow, Blue, and Ross bag limit 20 per day.
Nov 18, 2023
Nov 26, 0003
Goose
Dec 2, 2023 – Dec 2, 2023
Goose – Youth Waterfowl 1
On these days, only youths 15 and younger and military veterans may harvest ducks, geese, coots and mergansers.
Dec 2, 2023
Dec 2, 2023
Goose
Feb 1, 2024 – Apr 2, 2024
Goose – Conservation Order
Light geese no limit.
Feb 1, 2024
Apr 2, 2024
Goose
Feb 4, 2024 – Apr 25, 2024
Goose – Conservation Order 2
Light geese no limit.
Feb 4, 2024
Apr 25, 2024
Hog
Jan 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2024
Feral Hogs – Private
No closed season. No limit.
Jan 1, 2023
Dec 31, 2024
Turkey Game Type
Apr 6, 2024 – Apr 7, 2024
Turkey – Special Youth

Bag Limit during the Special Youth Turkey Hunt is one legal turkey.


Apr 6, 2024
Apr 7, 2024
Turkey Game Type
Apr 15, 2024 – May 5, 2024
Turkey – Zone 2

Two legal turkeys, no jakes (see Statewide Turkey Bag Limit for exceptions).

Apr 15, 2024
May 5, 2024
Turkey Game Type
Apr 15, 2024 – Apr 23, 2024
Turkey – Zone 1

One legal turkey, no jakes (see Statewide Turkey Bag Limit for exceptions).

Apr 15, 2024
Apr 23, 2024

Arkansas Hunting Regulations

Alligator

Alligator

Bag Limit

Limit of one alligator greater than 4 feet per person, per year.

Bear

Bear

Seasonal Bag Limit

Season bag limit is one statewide in bear zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 5A by any method.

Big Game

Deer

Hunting Hours

30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

Archery

Long, recurve and compound bows: Must have at least a 35-pound pull. Scopes, string locks and mechanical string releases may be used. Big-game hunters must use arrowheads at least 7/8-inches wide (including mechanicals). Arrows and arrowheads containing firearm ammunition or poison may not be used.

Crossbow: Crossbows must have at least a 125-pound pull and a mechanical safety. Scopes may be used. Big-game hunters must use arrowheads at least 7/8-inches wide (including mechanicals). Arrows and arrowheads containing firearm ammunition or poison may not be used. Propelled Arrows: Arrows propelled from a compressed air system or by the action of an explosive or combustible propellant may not be used.

Muzzleloader

To be used for deer & bear hunting, muzzleloading rifles must have a barrel 18 inches or longer and be .40 caliber or larger. Magnifying sights may be used. Buckshot size 4 or larger may be used to hunt deer. Legal muzzleloaders use flint, percussion cap, primer or electronic pulse, must have the bullet loaded through the muzzle and are not capable of firing a cartridge. Hunters may use muzzleloading handguns with:

  • Barrels 9 inches or longer
  • .45 caliber or larger if they shoot conical bullets (200 grains or heavier), or
  • .530 caliber or larger if they shoot round balls. A hunter may carry a muzzleloading handgun of any caliber as backup to a muzzleloading rifle

Modern Gun

Modern guns may be used for deer EXCEPT:

  • Buckshot in a .410 shotgun.
  • Shot smaller than No. 4 buckshot in any shotgun.
  • Rimfire cartridges, military or full metal jacketed ammunition.
  • Centerfire rifles or handguns smaller than .22 caliber.
  • Handguns with barrels shorter than 4 inches. See illustration, right.

NOTE: The AGFC has approved for modern gun deer season the use of large-bore air rifles that meet certain standards. The large-bore air rifle must be at least .40-caliber, shoot a single, expandable slug, produce at least 400 feet/pounds of energy at the muzzle, and be charged from an external tank. Large-bore air rifles are not legal for harvesting bear or elk.

In zones 4, and 5 modern guns are restricted to:

  • Shotguns .410 or larger with slugs,
  • Handguns with barrels 4 to 10 inches long chambered specifically for straight-walled centerfire cartridges loaded with lead, lead alloy, soft nose and/or hollow point bullets .30 caliber or larger.
  • Large bore air rifles (see above),
  • Muzzleloaders.

Deer

Deer

Bag Limits

Bag limits vary by deer zone. See regulations for bag limits by zone.

Elk

Elk

Bag Limit

One elk either sex.

Furbearers

Furbearers

Gray Fox, Red Fox, Muskrat and Mink – Bag Limit

Bag Limit is two per day

Opossum, Raccoon & Striped Skunk – Bag Limit

No Bag Limit

Bobcat – Bag Limit

Bag limit is two per day

River Otter – Bag Limit

Bag limit is two per day

Coyote, Nutria, & Beaver

No Bag Limit

Migratory Birds

Dove

Shooting Hours

Legal shooting hours are from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.

Virginia Rails & Sora – Bag Limits

Daily Limit – 25 Possession Limit – 75 (combined)

Snipe – Bag Limits

Daily Limit – 8 • Possession Limit – 24

Woodcock – Bag Limits

Daily Limit – 3 • Possession Limit – 9

Doves – Bag Limits

Mourning and White-winged Doves:

  • Daily Limit: 15
  • Possession Limit: 45

Eurasian Collared-Doves:

  • No daily bag or possession limit

Crows – Bag Limits

No Bag Limit

Small Game

Small Game

Legal Hours

30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

Quail – Bag Limit

Daily limit – 6, possession limit – 12.

Rabbit – Bag Limit

Daily limit – 8, possession limit – 16.

Squirrel – Bag Limit

Daily limit – 12, possession limit – 48.

Turkey

Turkey Game Type

Zone 1 Bag Limit

One legal turkey, no jakes (see Statewide Turkey Bag Limit for exceptions). Hunters who harvest a turkey in this zone must travel to a NWR, WMA or Zone 2 to harvest a second bird.

Zone 2 Bag Limit

Two legal turkeys, no jakes (see Statewide Turkey Bag Limit for exceptions).

Statewide Bag Limit

The statewide bag limit is two legal turkeys, no jakes.

Shooting Hours

Turkeys may not be taken from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.

Legal Hunting Equipment for Turkeys

Only shotguns (10 gauge and smaller) and archery equipment (including crossbows) are legal for turkey hunting. Shot larger than No. 2 common shot is prohibited.

Waterfowl

Waterfowl

Legal Hours

One-half hour before sunrise until sunset, except during teal season, which begins at sunrise.

Legal Shot

  • Hunters may have only U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-approved nontoxic shot in their immediate possession when hunting waterfowl.
  • Hunters may use only nontoxic shot size T (.2-inch diameter) and smaller when hunting waterfowl and coots. Other migratory birds may be taken with nontoxic shot size T and smaller or lead shot size BB (.18-inch diameter) and smaller.

Duck, Coot and Merganser

Duck daily bag limit – 6, which may include no more than:

  • 4 mallards (2 hens), 1 scaup, 3 wood ducks, 1 pintail, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black
  • Ducks, 1 mottled duck. If not listed, up to 6 ducks of a species (including teal) may be taken.

Coot daily bag limit – 15.

Merganser daily bag limit – 5, which may include no more than 2 hooded mergansers.

Snow, Blue and Ross’s Goose – Bag Limit

Daily bag limit – 20

No possession limit

White-fronted Goose – Bag Limit

Daily bag limit – 2

Possession limit – 6

Early Canada Goose – Bag Limit

Daily bag limit – 5

Possession limit – 15

Canada Goose – Bag Limit

Daily bag limit – 2

Possession limit – 6

Common & Purple Gallinule – Bag Limit

Daily bag limit – 15

Possession limit – 45

*Season dates and regulation data provided by

Arkansas Licenses, Permits and Regulations

Arkansas hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission website. Click below to view the website.

Hunting GPS Maps

Every Arkansas hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Arkansas hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of hunt zones, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Arkansas.

Hunt Zones

Arkansas’s hunt zones vary from Zone 1 to Zone 17, with each having its own regulations, restrictions, and limits. The state has an estimated 1,000,000 whitetail deer. There are more than 6.5 million acres of public hunting grounds and over 150 WMAs. Click below to view Arkansas’s hunt zones in more detail through an interactive map.

Hunting Layers

AR Private Lands Preview

AR Private Lands

Over 1,300,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Arkansa. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.

AR Gov Lands Preview

AR Gov Lands

onX has the most accurate maps of Gov Lands, covering over 4,300,000 acres in Arkansas. Not all Gov Lands offer access opportunities, check regulations before recreating.

AR Possible Access Preview

AR Possible Access

onX has mapped 2,500,000 acres of possible access lands in Arkansas including timber and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.

SUBLAYERS (5) Expand Sublayers
AR Hunt Zones Preview

AR Hunt Zones

Arkansas Alligator, Bear, Deer, Elk and Turkey Zones. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.

Includes 5 Sublayers

  • Alligator
  • Bear
  • Deer Zones
  • Elk
  • Turkey Zones
AR WRICE Preview

AR WRICE

The Arkansas Waterfowl Rice Incentive Conservation Enhancement (WRICE) program, these lands are open to permitted public hunting opportunities. Check local rules for each Property.

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