For a PASSIONATE hunter like YOU, this is a place with all ESSENTIAL information about Arkansas Hunting Seasons. Learn about all available games such as ELK, DEER, BEAR and even ALLIGATORS.
Arkansas is a popular destination for hunting all year round. You can enjoy your hunting vacation, as well as, many outdoor adventures ranging from a unique alligator or elk hunting to catching trout.
The state maintains an active hunting program for all their residents and visitors. Here, wildlife is widely present on over several million acres of public land. Arkansas is famous for being a state which wants to remain in its "Natural State" and thus in spring when animals are breeding, hunting is restricted.
Arkansas is a special place where you can experience a unique alligator hunt. Other big game animals you can choose from are deer, elk, and bear. Small games that are available for hunting are rabbit, squirrel, quail, many of the migratory birds, turkey, furbearers and feral hogs.
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Arkansas Hunting Seasons and All Available Games
1. Arkansas Deer Seasons
Types | Seasons |
|---|---|
Archery Only | *September 22 – February 28 |
Muzzleloader | *October 20 – December 31, 2018 |
Modern Gun | *November 10 – December 28, 2018 |
Private Land Antlerless Only Modern Gun | *October 13 – 17, 2018 |
Special Youth Modern Gun | *November 3 – 4 & January 5 - 6 |
Bag Limits: Six deer, of which no more than two may be bucks
*NOTE – Season dates and bag limits vary by zone
2. Arkansas Elk Seasons
Types | Seasons |
|---|---|
Regular Elk Hunts | *October 1 – 5, 2018 |
Youth Hunts | *September 29 – 30, 2018 |
Bag Limits: One elk, either sex
*NOTE – Season dates vary by zone
3. Arkansas Bear Seasons
Types | Seasons |
|---|---|
Archery Only | *September 22 – November 30, 2018 |
Muzzleloader | *October 20 – 28, 2018 |
Modern Gun | *November 10 – December 2 |
Special Youth Modern Gun | *November 3 – 4, 2018 |
Bag Limits: One bear, either sex, by any method
*NOTE – Season dates vary by zone
4. Arkansas Aligator Seasons
Types | Seasons |
|---|---|
General Season | September 21 – 24, 2018 |
5. Arkansas Wild Turkey Seasons
Types | Seasons |
|---|---|
Regular | *April 8 – 23, 2019 |
Special Youth | *April 6 – 7, 2019 |
Bag Limits: No more than one legal turkey per day. The statewide limit is two turkeys, no jakes.
*NOTE – Season dates vary by zone
Small Game & Birds
Types | Seasons |
|---|---|
Rabbits | *September 1 – February 28, 2019 |
Squirrel | *May 15 – February 28, 2019 |
Quail | *November 1 – February 3, 2019 |
Mourning, White-Winged and Eurasian Collared-Dove | *September 1 – October 28 |
Virginia Rail and Sora | *September 8 – November 16, 2018 |
Common Gallinule and Purple Gallinule | *September 1 – November 9, 2018 |
Snipe | *November 1 – February 15, 2019 |
Woodcock | *November 3 – December 17, 2018 |
Crow | *September 1, 2017 – February 21, 2019 |
Early Teal Season | *September 15 – 30, 2018 |
Early Canada Goose | *September 1 – 30, 2018 |
Duck, Coot and Merganser | *November 17 – 25, 2018 |
Canada, White-fronted, Snow Blue and Ross’s Goose | October 27 – 29, 2018 |
Special Youth | December 1st & February 2nd |
*NOTE – Season dates vary by zone
Furbearers
Types | Seasons |
|---|---|
Bobcat | September 1 – February 28, 2019 |
Coyote | July 1 – February 28, 2019 |
Gray Fox, Mink, Red Fox and Striped Skunk | September 1 – February 28, 2019 |
Opossum | September 1 – February 28, 2019 |
River Otter | November 10 - February 28, 2019 |
Raccoon | July 1 – August 31, 2018 (Night) |
Beaver, Muskrat and Nutria | September 1 – March 31, 2019 |
Badger, Weasel, and Spotted Skunk (Civet Cat) | Closed |
Feral Hogs are considered to be pests, therefore, the seasons and regulations are a bit different.
License Requirements
Any resident of Arkansas who is 16 or older is required to have a valid license for hunting unless they are on a licensed game-bird shooting resort. Before hunting any big game, you need to possess a printed license or in electronic form. The ones younger than 16 are not required to have a license.
All non-residents who are 16 or older need to have a non-resident license. Arkansas offers for its senior residents of 65 years or older a Lifetime Hunting Licenses and permanently disabled persons a Resident Disability License.
Anyone who is born after January 1st, 1969 is obligated to complete the Arkansas Hunter Education Certification. All licenses can be purchased online.
Night Hunting in Arkansas
It’s illegal to hunt any wildlife at night except for a few species. You can only hunt in Arkansas 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. During the night you are not allowed to hunt from a boat. Just bobcats, raccoons and opossums may be hunted by night, but when hunted with dogs and with firearms that are no larger than .22 caliber.
Night hunting is also allowed for feral hogs, but with restrictions. Coyotes cannot be hunted at night. Artificial lights can be used only when hunting bobcat and hogs, but they are not allowed for fox and coyote. Night vision is only permitted for feral hogs.
Where to Hunt in Arkansas?
In Arkansas, there are some of the best hunting areas and opportunities you can find. The Game and Fish Commission of Arkansas has purchased land and can offer enthusiasts and passionate hunters, areas to experience all kinds of hunting. These areas are marked and are easily distinguished. They are called Wildlife Management Areas, and each one is considered as a separate zone with different wildlife regulations.
There are more than thousands of acres of land which offer the opportunity of enjoying a memorable hunting experience close to your home. You can review General WMA Regulations for every area you plan to hunt in.