Arkansas Hunting Season 2026: Dates, Limits, Fees&Changes

*2026 spring turkey season last updated: March 2026

Welcome to the guidebook for the Arkansas hunting season. Here is a complete guide to hunting dates, bag limits, permits, and where to hunt across the Natural State.

The hunting seasons vary by species, with deer season typically running from November to January, while turkey and waterfowl seasons fall in spring and winter.

This page breaks down the Arkansas hunting season for different wildlife, and you will find more important information for 2026.

When Is the Best Time to Hunt in Arkansas?

Arkansas has long hunting windows for several popular species. Deer season runs from September to February, turkey season runs in April and May, duck season runs from November to January, dove season runs from September to October and again from December to January, and squirrel season runs from May to February and is open for most of the year.

• Deer: A practical best time is the early season in September or the November gun season, because those are the main hunting windows most hunters plan around.
• Turkey: The best time is the first part of the spring season in April, when the season opens by zone.
• Duck: The late November opening and the cold December to January stretch is a good time to start waterfowl hunting.
• Dove: A practical best time is the opening weeks in early September, with another good chance when the season opens again in December.
• Squirrel: You may choose to hunt during fall and winter, since the season stays open for most of the year.

For most hunters, the best overall time to hunt in Arkansas is fall, especially September through November, because deer, dove, and the start of waterfowl season all line up in that period.

Arkansas Deer Hunting Seasons

2025 – 26 Arkansas deer hunting season includes multiple segments throughout fall and winter. The opening day for deer season in Arkansas will start on:

Most hunters target the rut in early November. To check the specific deer season schedules in your area, click to see the following:

Arkansas Elk Hunting Seasons

Limits and Notes: You can hunt one elk, either male or female.

This hunt occurs in Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton, and Searcy counties.

There’s a quota of 35 elk in total, including 10 bulls and 25 females. If you’re hunting for bulls, call 833-345-0398 between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. daily to check if the quota is met.

For antlerless elk hunters, you only need to call after 8 p.m. daily. The season ends on Nov. 3 or when the quota is reached, whichever happens first.

For deer or elk hunting, you can also check:

• How to Prepare for Deer Hunting Season
• Beginner’s Guide to Deer Hunting

Arkansas Bear Hunting Seasons

Arkansas is the home of the American black bear, the only bear species that lives in the state. There used to be many more bears, but their numbers have drastically reduced due to mass hunting.

Thanks to the Black Bear Restoration Program, now there are more than 5,000 black bears in Arkansas. Every year, the state regulates bear hunting to maintain the balance of nature.

Now, let’s look at the Arkansas bear hunting dates for the new season.

Archery: Sept. 17 – Nov. 30, 2025 (Zones 1 and 2 Only)

Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18 – 26, 2025 (Zones 1 and 2 Only)

Special Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt: Nov. 1 – 2, 2025 (Zones 1 and 2 Only)

Modern Gun:

• Nov. 8 – 30, 2025 (Zones 1 and 2)
• Dec. 20 – 26, 2025 (Zones 3, 4, 5, and 5A)

Bag Limit and Regulations: Hunters can harvest one bear of either sex using any method. To confirm the harvest number, hunters are required to call 833-345-0398 the evening before their hunt.

The season concludes either on the morning after the quota is met or on Nov. 30, depending on which occurs first. Please note that hunting is prohibited in all Remaining Bear Zones, except as listed.

Turkey Seasons In Arkansas

Arkansas has moved from two large zones to five specific turkey zones. Opening dates are staggered to reflect local gobbling trends.

Before you go, click to check the following season schedules:

The bag limit is one legal turkey or jake for youth hunters (ages 6 to 15). For regular turkey hunts, the total limit is two legal turkeys (no jakes or females) for residents and only one turkey for non-residents.

Except for the above, only one legal turkey can be taken in the first seven days of the regular season and one per day.

When hunters successfully harvest a turkey in Zone 1, they must move to Zone 2 for a second turkey.

🔔Reminders for Hunters:

• Legal Equipment: Only shotguns (10-gauge or smaller) and archery/crossbows are allowed.
• No Baiting: It is illegal to hunt over bait, traps, or use electronic callers.
• Tagging: All hunters must have a valid turkey tag and an Arkansas hunting license. Youth hunters must have a free Customer Identification Number (CID) to check their birds.

📌Related: Turkey Hunting Complete Guide and Tips

Arkansas Alligator Hunting Seasons

Alligator Management Zone 1 and 3 Public Land:

• Sept. 19 – 22, 2025
• Sept. 26 – 29, 2025

Alligator Management Zone 1, 2 and 3 Private Land:

• Sept. 19 – 22, 2025
• Sept. 26 – 29, 2025

The bag limit for the Arkansas Alligator season is one alligator, 4 feet or longer.

Only nighttime hunting is allowed, so the legal shooting hours are from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise.

Small Game Seasons In Arkansas

In Arkansas, the Small Game category includes animals like squirrels, rabbits, quail, and even some migratory birds.

Since it’s currently late March, the most important “small” season coming up is the Spring Squirrel Season, which is a favorite for many hunters after turkey season ends.

Here are the key things hunters need to pay attention to for small game in Arkansas:

• Rifles/Handguns: You are generally limited to .22 caliber rimfire or smaller.
• Shotguns: You can use shotguns, but you cannot use rifled slugs or shot larger than T-shot.
• Air Rifles: These are legal and very popular for squirrel hunting in the spring.
• Hunter Orange: You generally do not need to wear hunter orange for small game in the spring. However, if you hunt during a modern gun or muzzleloader deer season, you must wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange and a blaze orange hat.
• WMA General Use Permit: If you are hunting on a Wildlife Management Area (WMA), you need this permit. It is free, but you must have it with you (digital or paper).
• Ticks and Insects: Since the spring squirrel season starts in May, hunters should prepare for heavy tick and mosquito activity. It is highly recommended to bring Permethrin on your gear.

Arkansas Waterfowl Hunting Seasons

Arkansas offers a range of waterfowl seasons, and the daily bag limits and permit requirements vary by species and area; check the official scheduled date before heading out.

Season Dates For Different Species

Now click to look at a quick overview of the season dates and hunting limits for different species.

Essential Rules for Bird Hunters

• HIP Registration: Every migratory bird hunter (age 16+) must have a free Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration on their license.
• Shotgun Plugging: Your shotgun must be “plugged,” meaning it cannot hold more than three shells at a time (one in the chamber, two in the magazine).
• Non-Toxic Shot: You must use federally approved non-toxic shot (like steel, bismuth, or tungsten) when hunting waterfowl or on most federal lands. Lead shot is still legal for dove hunting on private land, but many WMAs require non-toxic shot for everything.
• Retrieval: Hunters are required to make a reasonable effort to find and keep any bird they shoot.

📌Don’t forget to read this: Waterfowl Hunting Guide.

Arkansas Bird Hunting Seasons

Arkansas bird hunting covers a wide range of species, from early fall dove to winter snipe. For your 2026 guide, the most important updates involve pintail bag limits and the shortened teal season.

Arkansas Furbearer Hunting Seasons

In summary, here is the guidebook for hunting in Arkansas. You can download it to check everything you need to know about the dates, rules, and limits on the hunting seasons: Arkansas Hunting Guidebook PDF.

For convenient access to all the hunting seasons, you can CLICK HERE to add the AGFC Season Dates & Events Google Calendar to your own and stay updated on the openings and closings of seasons, all from your phone.

Arkansas Hunting License Fees and Purchase

Successful Arkansas hunting requires the appropriate hunting license, species stamps, and valid permits.

The provided information outlines the new requirements and fees for nonresident hunting and guiding activities in Arkansas for the year. Here’s a breakdown of the fees and permits:

How Much Does a Hunting License Cost in Arkansas?

The license fees vary between residents and non-residents. For an out-of-state license in Arkansas, it costs much more, and can cost up to hundreds.

How to Buy Arkansas Hunting Licenses?

By visiting the Arkansas official licensing system, you can see there are many licenses, permits and stamps that you can choose to purchase.

If you are new to the licensing system, you need to create an account first, and then sign in to your account, and select the one that suits your hunting plan. Pay for the license and print it out.

Where To Hunt In Arkansas?

There are hundreds of Wildlife Management Areas where you can hunt game in Arkansas. Each of them may have its own special rules and limits.

You can click on the Areas and see the detailed information and find the one that is near your county: Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)

Don’t forget to download the AGFC app on your phone so that you can easily find and locate any hunting locations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Arkansas hunting season offers a variety of opportunities for hunting enthusiasts to enjoy the sport while adhering to specific regulations.

The season is divided into multiple periods, each with distinct dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits. You must be aware of the species-specific regulations to ensure legal and sustainable hunting.