Arkansas Hunting Seasons 2018 – 2019

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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

arkansas hunting season 2019

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
*October 29 – November 2, 2018

Youth Hunts

*September 29 – 30, 2018
*October 27 – 28, 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
September 28 – October 1, 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
December 8 – January 15, 2019

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
December 6 – 23, 2018
December 26 – January 27

Canada, White-fronted, Snow Blue and Ross’s Goose

October 27 – 29, 2018
November 17 – 30, 2018
December 2 – January 27

Special Youth

December 1st & February 2nd

*NOTE – Season dates vary by zone

arkansas hunting season dates

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)
September 1 – March 31, 2019

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.

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