Arkansas Hunting Season: Your Essential Guide to Dates and Regulations

Arkansas is one of the most versatile hunting states in the South. The Natural State offers everything from world-famous duck hunting in the Grand Prairie around Stuttgart to black bear hunting in the Ozark and Ouachita mountains, one of the longest deer seasons in the country, a limited but growing elk program, and productive turkey and small game hunting statewide. Understanding Arkansas’s hunting seasons and regulations is essential for making the most of what this state has to offer. Always verify current details through the official Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) website before heading afield. ¹

White-tailed Deer Season

Arkansas offers one of the longest whitetail deer seasons in the United States. When combining all season segments, hunters can pursue deer from September through February. The state is divided into deer zones, and regulations, including antler restrictions and bag limits, vary by zone.

2026-2027 seasonVerified against Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, 2026-27 season pages on September 5, 2026.Source: agfc.com/hunting/deer/deer-seasons-and-limits-by-zone Confirm dates in the current regulations before you hunt.

Archery Season

The archery deer season in Arkansas runs September 26, 2026 through February 28, 2027, making it one of the most generous archery seasons in the country. Hunters may use compound bows, recurve bows, longbows, and crossbows. The long archery window overlaps with all other deer season segments, allowing archery hunters to stay in the field throughout the entire fall and winter.

Modern Gun Season

The modern gun deer season runs November 14, 2026 through December 6, 2026. This is the highest-pressure period of the deer season and produces a significant portion of the state’s annual harvest. Centerfire rifles of any caliber are legal during modern gun season, giving Arkansas hunters a wider range of firearm options than many neighboring states.

Muzzleloader Season

Arkansas has two muzzleloader season segments. The early muzzleloader season typically runs for about a week in mid to late October. The late muzzleloader season usually falls in mid to late December, after modern gun season closes. Muzzleloader regulations specify minimum caliber and ignition type requirements.

Deer Zone System

Arkansas uses a zone-based management system for deer. Antler restrictions, including minimum point requirements or earn-a-buck provisions, vary by zone. Some zones require hunters to harvest a doe before they can tag a buck. Understanding which zone your hunting area falls in is critical for compliance.

Bag Limits

Arkansas allows a generous total deer harvest. Hunters can take up to four deer per year statewide, no more than two of which may be antlered bucks. Antlerless allowances vary by zone. Antlerless tags and bonus tags may be available in certain zones to help manage deer populations.

Turkey Season

Spring Turkey

2026-2027 seasonVerified against Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, 2026-27 season pages on September 5, 2026.Source: agfc.com/hunting/turkey/turkey-dates-rules-regulations Confirm dates in the current regulations before you hunt.

Arkansas’s spring turkey season runs April 19, 2027 through May 9, 2027 in Zone 1 (Zone 2 opens April 12 and Zone 3 opens April 5, 2027). The season may be divided into segments, with youth-only periods opening before the general season. The bag limit is usually two bearded gobblers for the spring season. Arkansas has a healthy wild turkey population with good numbers in the Ozark and Ouachita mountain regions, river bottom timber, and mixed hardwood forests statewide.

Fall Turkey

Arkansas does not currently offer a fall turkey season. Hens, including bearded hens, are illegal to take at any time, so turkey hunting in the state is a spring gobbler pursuit.

Black Bear Season

Arkansas has a growing and well-managed black bear population, primarily in the Ozark and Ouachita mountain regions. Bear hunting opportunities are divided into designated bear zones, and season dates vary by zone.

2026-2027 seasonVerified against Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, 2026-27 season pages on September 5, 2026.Source: agfc.com/hunting/more-game/bear/bear-seasons-and-limits Confirm dates in the current regulations before you hunt.

Archery Bear Season

The archery bear season opens in early September and extends through November, overlapping with the deer archery season. Bear hunters in the archery season must follow bear-specific regulations, including checking requirements and mandatory reporting.

Muzzleloader and Modern Gun Bear Seasons

Muzzleloader and modern gun bear seasons are shorter windows that fall within the broader fall season. These segments are zone-specific and run from mid-October through November in Zones 1 and 2, with a late-December modern gun window in Zones 3 and 4. Harvest quotas may apply in some zones, meaning seasons can close early once the quota is reached.

Bag Limits and Regulations

<strong>Season limit:</strong> 1 [source] The bag limit for black bear is typically one bear per year. Hunters must check their harvested bear within specified time frames through the AGFC check system. Bear hunting in Arkansas has grown in popularity as the bear population has expanded, and the AGFC actively manages the harvest to maintain a healthy, sustainable population.

Elk Season

Arkansas offers a very limited elk draw hunt in the northwestern part of the state, primarily in the Buffalo River area of Newton County and surrounding counties. The elk herd in Arkansas descends from reintroduction efforts that began in the 1980s, and the population has grown enough to support a carefully managed harvest.

2026-2027 seasonVerified against Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, 2026-27 season pages on September 5, 2026.Source: agfc.com/hunting/more-game/elk/season-dates-and-bag-limits Confirm dates in the current regulations before you hunt.

Draw-Only Tags

Elk tags in Arkansas are awarded exclusively through a lottery draw. The number of tags issued each year is very small, typically only a handful of permits. Public land permits are for residents only, and drawing a tag may take many years. Elk seasons are typically short windows during the fall.

Elk Zones

Elk hunting is restricted to specific designated areas in the Ozark Plateau region of northwest Arkansas. Hunters who draw a tag receive detailed zone maps and hunting regulations specific to their permit.

Waterfowl Season

Arkansas is one of the most famous waterfowl hunting destinations in the world. The state’s location along the Mississippi Flyway, combined with extensive rice agriculture and bottomland hardwood wetlands, creates ideal conditions for massive concentrations of ducks and geese. Stuttgart, Arkansas, proudly holds the title of the “Rice and Duck Capital of the World.” ¹

2026-2027 seasonVerified against Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, 2026-27 season pages on September 5, 2026.Source: agfc.com/hunting/waterfowl/waterfowl-dates-rules-regulations Confirm dates in the current regulations before you hunt.

Early Teal Season

The early teal season, targeting blue-winged and green-winged teal, opens in mid-September and runs for nine days. This fast-paced season takes advantage of early teal migration through Arkansas’s shallow wetlands and flooded rice fields.

Regular Duck Season

The regular waterfowl season is typically split into segments. Dates vary by zone, but the general framework runs from late November through late January. Arkansas often sees peak duck migration in December and January, when large flights of mallards, pintails, gadwall, wigeon, and other species pour into the Grand Prairie, Cache River bottoms, and White River wetlands. Daily bag limits follow federal frameworks, usually six ducks per day with species-specific sub-limits.

Goose Season

Canada goose, snow goose, and white-fronted goose seasons overlap with and extend beyond the duck season. Light goose conservation order seasons often run from February into March or April, allowing additional harvest of snow and blue geese. Arkansas’s agricultural landscape provides exceptional goose hunting opportunities.

World-Class Duck Hunting

The Stuttgart area in the Grand Prairie of east-central Arkansas is the epicenter of American duck hunting culture. The combination of harvested rice fields, managed wetlands, and timber holes creates a diversity of hunting environments that attract hunters from across the globe. Public hunting opportunities exist on national wildlife refuges and WMAs, while private duck clubs and guided hunts offer premium access.

Dove Season

2026-2027 seasonVerified against Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, 2026-27 season pages on September 5, 2026.Source: agfc.com/hunting/more-game/dove Confirm dates in the current regulations before you hunt.

Arkansas’s mourning dove season opens on the first Saturday in September and is divided into two segments that extend into mid-January. The daily bag limit is fifteen birds. Dove hunting in Arkansas is a social tradition, with large field shoots being common on managed agricultural properties.

Small Game

Squirrel

Arkansas has one of the longest squirrel seasons in the country, typically running from mid-May through the end of February. The daily bag limit is twelve. Arkansas’s extensive hardwood forests, particularly in the Ozark and Ouachita mountains, support healthy squirrel populations. Squirrel season opens early enough to provide warm-weather hunting opportunities before other seasons begin.

Rabbit

The cottontail rabbit season in Arkansas typically runs from early September through the end of February. The daily bag limit is usually eight. Rabbit hunting with dogs is a traditional pursuit in the state, particularly in brushy habitat and field edges across the southern and central regions.

Quail

The bobwhite quail season runs from early November through early February. Daily bag limits are typically six birds. Quail populations in Arkansas have declined in recent decades, but habitat restoration efforts are ongoing. Some of the better quail hunting is found on managed private lands and wildlife management areas.

Feral Hog Hunting

Feral hogs are a destructive invasive species in Arkansas and can be hunted year-round on private land with no bag limit and no closed season. On public land, feral hog hunting is allowed during specified seasons and may have additional restrictions. The AGFC encourages hog removal to protect native wildlife habitat and agricultural land.

Licensing Overview

All hunters in Arkansas must hold a valid hunting license. Various license types are available, including the all-game hunting license, sportsman license, and species-specific permits. A WMA permit is required for hunting on many wildlife management areas. Waterfowl hunters need a federal duck stamp and an Arkansas state duck stamp. For full details on licensing, permits, and legal methods, see our Arkansas hunting regulations guide.

Hunter Education

Arkansas requires hunter education for anyone born after 1968. Courses are available in classroom, online, and hybrid formats. Completion of hunter education is required before purchasing a hunting license.

Important Reminders

• Check Regulations Annually: Season dates, bag limits, and zone boundaries can change. Always refer to the current Arkansas Hunting Guidebook before your hunt.
• Public Land Access: Arkansas has exceptional public land including over 3 million acres of national forest and 200+ WMAs. See our Arkansas hunting land guide for details.
• Safety First: Practice safe firearm handling. Wear fluorescent orange during gun deer seasons as required.
• Respect Wildlife: Follow bag limits and adhere to ethical hunting practices.
• Sunday Hunting: Sunday hunting is legal in Arkansas.

Arkansas’s combination of world-class waterfowl, mountain bear hunting, generous deer seasons, and a growing elk program makes it one of the most complete hunting destinations in the United States. Plan early, apply for limited-draw hunts well in advance, and always verify the latest regulations through the AGFC. ¹

More Arkansas Hunting Resources

• How to get an Arkansas hunting license
• Hunting locations in Arkansas

For reference only. This page summarizes agency publications and is not legal advice or an official source; confirm dates, limits and fees with the state wildlife agency before you hunt. Regulations change mid-season. Send a correction if you spot an error. Disclaimer.