Arkansas 2025-26 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
Arkansas's listed 2025-26 firearm deer season runs Nov 1, 2025-Jan 4, 2026.
Archery White-tailed Deer opens Sep 27, 2025 and closes Feb 28, 2026.
Regular Duck, Coot, and Merganser opens Nov 22, 2025 and closes Jan 31, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.
- firearm deer
- Nov 1, 2025-Jan 4, 2026
- archery deer
- Sep 27, 2025-Feb 28, 2026
- waterfowl
- Nov 22, 2025-Jan 31, 2026
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Key seasons by species
How to read Arkansas's seasons
Deer zones and WMA rules decide the real season
Arkansas splits the state into deer zones with different modern-gun, muzzleloader, and archery dates, and public wildlife management areas frequently run on their own calendars. Read the rows below by zone, not just by weapon.
Before opening day, confirm zone boundaries, WMA-specific dates, and bag limits with the official Arkansas Game and Fish Commission source.
We summarize official agency information and link to the source for verification. Regulations can change, and zone details matter. Always confirm final dates, bag limits, permits, and legal requirements with Arkansas Game & Fish Commission before hunting.
Proposed 2026-27
federal openings
in Arkansas
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing hunting and fishing access changes at 3 stations in Arkansas. Public comment closes June 26, 2026.
- AR · NWR
Cache River NWR
ArkansasMIGRATORY BIRD: EXPANSIONUPLAND GAME: EXPANSIONBIG GAME: EXPANSIONFISHING: EXPANSION - AR · NWR
Felsenthal NWR
ArkansasMIGRATORY BIRD: EXPANSIONUPLAND GAME: EXPANSIONBIG GAME: EXPANSION - AR · NWR
Holla Bend NWR
ArkansasUPLAND GAME: EXPANSIONBIG GAME: OPEN + EXPANDFISHING: EXPANSION
Deer
36 listed rowsWhite-tailed Deer
Alternative Firearms
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Alternative Firearms season is Closed
Zone: Zones 4, 5
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Early Buck)
Early Buck archery season
Zone: Zone 1
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Early Buck)
Early Buck archery season
Zone: Zones 4, 5
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Early Buck)
Early Buck archery season
Zone: Zone 7
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Early Buck)
Early Buck archery season
Zone: Zones 16, 16A, 17
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Early Buck)
Early Buck archery season
Zone: Zones 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 11
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Early Buck)
Early Buck archery season
Zone: Zones 4A, 5A, 14, 15
White-tailed Deer
Archery (Early Buck)
Early Buck archery season
Zone: Zones 9, 12, 13
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Zone: Zone 7
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Zone: Zones 16, 16A, 17
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Zone: Zones 4, 5
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Zone: Zone 1
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Zone: Zones 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 11
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Zone: Zones 4A, 5A, 14, 15
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Zone: Zones 9, 12, 13
White-tailed Deer
Alternative Firearms
Two segments: October 18–26 and December 13–15, 2025
Zone: Zone 7
White-tailed Deer
Alternative Firearms
Single segment: October 18–26, 2025
Zone: Zones 16, 16A, 17
White-tailed Deer
Alternative Firearms
Two segments: October 18–26 and December 13–15, 2025
Zone: Zones 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 11
White-tailed Deer
Alternative Firearms
Two segments: October 18–26 and December 20–22, 2025
Zone: Zones 4A, 5A, 14, 15
White-tailed Deer
Alternative Firearms
Single segment: October 18–26, 2025
Zone: Zones 9, 12, 13
White-tailed Deer
Alternative Firearms
Two segments: November 1–2, 2025 and January 3–4, 2026
Zone: Zone 1
White-tailed Deer
Special Youth (Modern Gun)
Two segments: November 1–2, 2025 and January 3–4, 2026
Zone: Zones 4, 5
White-tailed Deer
Special Youth (Modern Gun)
Two segments: November 1–2, 2025 and January 3–4, 2026
Zone: Zone 7
White-tailed Deer
Special Youth (Modern Gun)
Two segments: November 1–2, 2025 and January 3–4, 2026
Zone: Zones 16, 16A, 17
White-tailed Deer
Special Youth (Modern Gun)
Two segments: November 1–2, 2025 and January 3–4, 2026
Zone: Zones 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 11
White-tailed Deer
Special Youth (Modern Gun)
Two segments: November 1–2, 2025 and January 3–4 (year listed as 2025 in source, may be typo for 2026)
Zone: Zones 4A, 5A, 14, 15
White-tailed Deer
Special Youth (Modern Gun)
Two segments: November 1–2, 2025 and January 3–4, 2026
Zone: Zones 9, 12, 13
White-tailed Deer
Special Youth (Modern Gun)
Two segments: November 2–3 and January 4–5
Zone: Zone 1
White-tailed Deer
Modern Gun
Two segments: November 8–30 and December 26–28, 2025
Zone: Zones 2, 3, 6, 8, 10, 11
White-tailed Deer
Modern Gun
Two segments: November 8–December 7 and December 26–28, 2025
Zone: Zones 4A, 5A, 14, 15
White-tailed Deer
Modern Gun
Two segments: November 8–December 14 and December 26–28, 2025
Zone: Zones 9, 12, 13
White-tailed Deer
Modern Gun
Two segments: November 8–30 and December 26–28, 2025
Zone: Zone 1
White-tailed Deer
Modern Gun
Two segments: November 8–16 and December 26–28, 2025
Zone: Zones 4, 5
White-tailed Deer
Modern Gun
Two segments: November 8–30 and December 26–28, 2025
Zone: Zone 7
White-tailed Deer
Modern Gun
Two segments: November 8–December 25 and December 26–28, 2025
Zone: Zones 16, 16A, 17
White-tailed Deer
Christmas Holiday Hunt
Christmas Holiday Hunt statewide
Zone: Statewide
Turkey
Wild Turkey
Special Youth Hunt
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Regular Season
Zone: Zone 1
Wild Turkey
Regular Season
Zone: Zone 2
Bear
Black Bear
Special Youth (Modern Gun)
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Closed. Permit only.
Zone: Bear Zones 3, 4, 5, and 5A
Black Bear
Alternative Firearms
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Closed. Permit only.
Zone: Bear Zones 3, 4, 5, and 5A
Black Bear
Archery
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Closed. Permit only.
Zone: Bear Zones 3, 4, 5, and 5A
Black Bear
Archery
Permit only
Zone: Bear Zones 1, 2
Black Bear
Alternative Firearms
Permit only
Zone: Bear Zones 1, 2
Black Bear
Special Youth (Modern Gun)
Permit only
Zone: Bear Zones 1, 2
Black Bear
Modern Gun
Permit only
Zone: Bear Zones 1, 2
Black Bear
Modern Gun
Permit only
Zone: Bear Zones 3, 4, 5, and 5A
Elk
Elk
Youth (Antlerless Only)
Two segments: October 4–5 and October 25–26, 2025. Permit only.
Zone: Core Elk Management Zone (Private Land)
Elk
Youth
Two segments: October 4–5 and October 25–26, 2025. Permit only.
Zone: Core Elk Management Zone (Public Land)
Elk
Regular
Two segments: October 6–10 and October 27–31, 2025. Permit only.
Zone: Core Elk Management Zone (Private Land)
Elk
Regular
Two segments: October 6–10 and October 27–31, 2025. Permit only.
Zone: Core Elk Management Zone (Public Land)
Waterfowl
Canada Goose
Regular
Zone: Statewide
Duck, Coot, and Merganser
Regular
Three segments: November 22–December 1, 2025; December 10–23, 2025; December 27, 2025–January 31, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Snow, Blue, and Ross's Goose
Light Goose Conservation Order
Two segments: February 1–6, 2026 and February 9–April 25, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Teal
Special Early Teal
Zone: Statewide
Waterfowl
Special Youth
Special Youth waterfowl hunt
Zone: Statewide
Waterfowl
Special Active-Duty Military and Veterans
Special Active-Duty Military and Veterans waterfowl hunt
Zone: Statewide
Dove
Mourning Dove
Regular
Two segments: September 6–October 26, 2025 and December 8, 2025–January 15, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Quail
Quail
Regular
Zone: Statewide
Rabbit
Rabbit
Regular
Zone: Statewide
Squirrel
Squirrel
Regular
Zone: Statewide
Migratory Birds
Gallinule
Regular
Zone: Statewide
Virginia Rail and Sora
Regular
Zone: Statewide
Wilson's Snipe
Regular
Zone: Statewide
Woodcock
Regular
Zone: Statewide
Other
Alligator
Regular
Two segments: September 20–23 and September 27–30. Permit only.
Zone: Alligator Management Zones 1 and 2 (Public Land)
Alligator
Regular
Two segments: September 20–23 and September 27–30. Permit only.
Zone: Alligator Management Zones 1, 2, and 2 (Private Land)
Feral Hog
Regular
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Open during bear, deer, or elk open firearms or archery seasons
Zone: Public Land
Feral Hog
Regular
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Open year-round on private land
Zone: Private Land
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Arkansas Hunting Season FAQ
When does deer season start in Arkansas?
September 27, 2025 is the first listed deer opener for Arkansas; it is archery white-tailed deer Sep 27, 2025-Feb 28, 2026.
When is Arkansas's firearm deer season?
Nov 1, 2025-Jan 4, 2026 is the listed firearm deer window for Arkansas. Check zone and permit details with Arkansas Game & Fish Commission before hunting.
Do I need a license to hunt in Arkansas?
Yes. Hunters generally need the appropriate Arkansas hunting license, and some seasons may require tags, permits, stamps, or zone-specific authorizations. Confirm final requirements with Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.
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