New Arkansas hunting regulations and season dates | What hunters should know (2024)

FAQs

Can I hunt deer on my own land without a license in Arkansas? ›

Hunters can typically freely take game animals hunted on their own private property or may seek permission from a landowner to hunt on private property. Hunters who wish to take game on privately owned land must follow state hunting regulations as well as any regulations specified by the landowner.

Baiting Deer

An area is considered baited for 10 days following complete removal of bait. Hunters may bait and feed deer on private land outside of the CWD Management Zone year-round. Food plots may be used year-round. Baiting is not allowed on wildlife management areas.

If you are 16 or older, an Arkansas hunting license is required to hunt wildlife unless you are on a licensed game-bird shooting resort that supplies pen-raised birds. A valid printed license, reusable hard card or acceptable electronic format license must be in your possession when hunting.

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.

It is unlawful to hunt wildlife with a killing device within 150 yards (or 50 yards using archery tackle) of a residence or building devoted to human occupancy without written permission from the owner or occupant. EXCEPTIONS: Persons lawfully protecting themselves, others or property (Code 05.10).

It is against the law for hunters to trespass on private property without the landowner's permission, even if the land is not posted.

It is unlawful to bait and feed deer in Fayetteville under regulation 7.06 of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC).

Use any live baitfish, including crayfish, unless it was: Caught within the same body of water where it is being used, Caught in a tributary entering upstream of the waterbody where it is being used (no baitfish may be moved upstream past a dam or barrier that prohibits the normal passage of fish.), or.

Unlawful to hunt with a crossbow in Arkansas, except in crossbow season in Madison and Franklin counties. Deer also may be taken (in areas open to gun deer hunting) with crossbow in a regular gun deer season. The crossbow hunters may also take other in-season. non-migratory game during the gun deer seasons.

No minimum acreage, but you should probably consider this from the AGFC Guidebook: Hunters who own or lease property may hunt on that property, regardless of distance to another person's residence.

What time is shooting light in Arkansas? ›

30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.

Class 1 Offense – Fine of $100 to $1,000 and a jail sentence of 0 to 30 days.

Bring two boxes of 25 shells for each day of hunting. We recommend Steel Shot #2 Shells (NOTE: No lead is allowed for duck hunting).

A: Wildlife regulations require that shotguns used for the take of game mammals and birds be restricted to a maximum capacity of three shotgun shells.

Beginning in the 2023-24 waterfowl season, waterfowl hunting on Bell Slough, Ed Gordon Point Remove, Frog Bayou and Galla Creek WMAs and the Dyer Lake Unit of Ozark Lake WMA is limited to Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday during regular duck season and all day on the last day of regular duck season.

Resident or nonresident landowners, their spouses, their children and grandchildren and the spouses of such children and grandchildren, or the landowner's parents, resident or nonresident, do not need a license to hunt, trap or fish (on inland waters) within the boundaries of their own lands.

All deer harvested in Arkansas must be checked within 12 hours of harvest. Before they are moved, they must have a physical tag attached to the antler (for bucks) or leg (for does) that indicates the hunter's name, customer ID number, date and time of harvest and the deer zone or WMA where it was taken.

It is unlawful for a non-resident, 16 years of age or older, to hunt wildlife by any means in Arkansas without possessing on the person the appropriate Arkansas hunting license as provided herein: (A) To hunt deer, turkey, bear or elk, the hunter must have physical possession of a valid Arkansas hunting license.