Hunting Seasons in Arkansas 2025: Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide

Plan your 2025–26 Arizona hunt with our comprehensive guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from wild turkey to Ducks to black bear Arkansas’s rich mosaic of river bottoms, pine‑covered hills, and agricultural flats offers outstanding hunting year‑round. Picture glassing a mature whitetail deer at first light along the Mississippi River floodplain, then slipping into flooded timber for ducks as the sun rises over cypress knees. In upland fields, spirited turkeys gobble in oak groves, while furbearers such as raccoon and fox can be pursued well into winter. This guide will immerse you in Arkansas’s 2025–26 seasons—covering season dates, bag limits, licenses, weapon rules, and key species so you can plan an ethical, successful hunt in the Natural State What Is There to Hunt in Arkansas? Across Arkansas’s varied landscapes you’ll find: Big Game: Whitetail deer, wild turkey, black bear, alligator (by permit draw) Upland Game Birds & Small Game: Bobwhite quail, rabbits, squirrels, grouse Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks, geese, coots, rails (HIP & Federal Duck Stamp required) Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, raccoon, bobcat, fox, beaver, muskrat (many open year‑round) What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in Arkansas? Several species carry no closed season and no bag limits on private land: coyote, feral hog, raccoon, bobcat, fox, muskrat, beaver, opossum. These “open season” hunts provide off‑season opportunities and help manage nuisance wildlife Arkansas Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Arkansas is divided into 17 deer zones, each with its own dates and bag limits. Here’s a snapshot of general big‑game seasons (always verify your specific zone): Whitetail Deer Early Buck Archery: Sept 6 – 8 (Zones 1–2) Archery (OTC): Sept 27 – Feb 28 Modern Gun: Nov 8 – 30; Dec 13 – 15 (Zone 3 split dates) Youth Gun: Nov 1 – 2; Jan 3 – 4 (Zone 3) Alternative Firearms: Oct 18 – 26; Dec 26 – 28 (Zone 3) Christmas Hunt: Dec 26 – 28 (Zone 3) Bag limits and split dates vary by zone—check the AGFC deer map and regulations for your area Wild Turkey (Spring) Season: Apr 1 – May 31 (Zones A–C) Youth-Only Season: Mar 22 – 27 Fall Season: Oct 1 – Feb 28 Black Bear Spring: Apr 15 – June 30 Fall: Sept 17 – Nov 30 Permit-Only Hunts: Draw applications in early spring Alligator Permit Draw: Sept 16 – Nov 1 (west zone) & Sept 16 – Nov 15 (east zone) Quota: Limited tags awarded by lottery Arkansas Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Bobwhite Quail & Rabbits Season: Oct 1 – Feb 28 Mourning Dove First Split: Sept 1 – Sept 15 Second Split: Oct 1 – Nov 15 Third Split: Dec 1 – Jan 31 Ducks & Geese Regular Duck Season: Nov 7 – Jan 31 (north/south zones) Goose Season: Oct 1 – Jan 31 Daily Bag: 6 ducks; 5 geese; species‑specific limits apply Rails, Gallinules & Snipe Season: Sept 1 – Jan 31 (HIP required) Bag Limits by Species Whitetail Deer: 1 buck per day; zone limits vary (e.g., 3 antlered per season in Zones 1–2) Wild Turkey: 1 per day; 2 per season (spring + fall combined) Black Bear: 1 per season (some zones allow 2) Alligator: 1 per tag Ducks: 6 per day (with sub‑limits on mallard, teal, etc.) Geese: 5 per day Bobwhite Quail & Rabbits: 15 & 10 per day, respectively Coyote & Furbearers: No limit License & Tags Information for Arkansas Hunters (2025–26) All hunters must carry a valid AGFC hunting license, plus any required specialty permits: Deer & Turkey Permits: Over‑the‑counter or draw applications by zone Black Bear & Alligator Tags: Limited draw; apply in early spring HIP Registration & Federal Duck Stamp: Mandatory for migratory birds Hunter Education: Required for hunters born on/after Jan 1 1969 Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader Arkansas supports: Archery Seasons: Sept 6 – Feb 28 (OTC tags) Modern Firearms: Rifles & shotguns during firearm splits Muzzleloaders: Special seasons in October & December Dogs & Bait: Allowed for turkey and bear hunts on private lands; public‑land rules vary Regulations & Resources Stay compliant by reviewing AGFC regulations at every stage: Shooting Hours: ½ hour before sunrise to sunset (some migratory hunts extend to legal sunset) Zone Maps & Boundaries: Essential for legal harvest—carry digital or printed maps Mandatory Harvest Reporting: Online or at check stations for deer, turkey, bear Special Areas: Waterfowl refuges, predator‑control regions, CWD zones Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AG&FC): https://www.agfc.com/hunting/deer/deer-seasons-and-limits-by-zone/