About Hunting in Arkansas
Arkansas is a popular destination for hunting all year round, you can enjoy the outdoors including bear to deer to catching fish healthy in the area. For visitors or citizens there is an active hunting program. Wildlife spans to several million acres and is known for being a conservatory state so in spring no hunting is allowed! There are very unique aspects to hunting in Arkansas and if you want a different experience that remains in a natural state, while contributing to the sport of hunting then you have made a great choice!
Arkansas Hunting Seasons
Big Game – Bear, Deer, Elk
Small Game – Rabbit, Squirrel
Bird – Quail, Crow, Turkey
Arkansas 2021 Deer Season Opening Dates
- Archery – Sept. 25, 2021
- Muzzleloader – Oct 16, 2021
- Modern Gun – Nov 13, 2021
Mark your calendar for next year!
- Archery – Sept 24, 2022
- Muzzleloader – Oct 15, 2022
- Modern Gun – Nov 12, 2022
Arkansas Firearm and Archery Deer Season 2021-2022
| Season | Opening Date | Closing Date | Zone |
| Muzzleloader | 10/16/21 | 10/24/21 | 1,2,3,4A, 5A, 6 through 16, 16A, 17 |
| 12/11/21 | 12/13/21 | 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 | |
| 12/18/21 | 12/20/21 | 4A, 5A, 14, 15 | |
| Modern Gun | 11/13/21 | 12/5/21 | 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 |
| 12/26/21 | 12/28/21 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 5A, 6 through 16, 16A, 17 | |
| 11/13/21 | 11/21/21 | 4, 5 | |
| 11/13/21 | 12/12/21 | 4A, 5A, 14, 15 | |
| 11/13/21 | 12/19/21 | 9, 12, 13 | |
| 11/13/21 | 12/25/21 | 16, 16A, 17 | |
| Archery | 9/25/21 | 2/28/22 | Statewide |
Arkansas Firearm and Archery Bear Season 2020-2021
(ZONES 3, 4, 6 AND 7 ARE CLOSED)
| Season | Opening Date | Closing Date | Zone | Bag Limit | Quota* |
| Archery | 9/25/21 | 11/30/21 | 1, 2 | 1, either sex | Zone 1: 400 Zone 2 does not have a quota. |
| Muzzleloader | 10/16/21 | 10/24/21 | 1, 2 | 1, either sex | Zone 1: 50 Zone 2 does not have a quota. |
| Modern Gun | 11/13/21 | 11/30/21 | 1, 2 | 1, either sex | Zone 1: 50 Zone 2 does not have a quota. |
| 11/27/21 | 12/5/21 | 5 | 1, either sex | Zone 5: 10 | |
| 11/20/21 | 12/5/21 | 5A | 1, either sex | Zone 5A: 5 |
Arkansas Firearm and Archery Elk Season 2021-2022
| Season | Opening Date | Closing Date | Zone | Bag Limit | Notes |
| Public Land | 10/4/21 | 10/8/21 | Designated areas of the Buffalo National River, Gene Rush WMA, Richland Valley Sonny Varnell Elk Conservation Area and Bearcat Hollow WMA. | 1 Elk, either sex | Permit required |
| 10/25/21 | 10/29/21 | Designated areas of the Buffalo National River, Gene Rush WMA, Richland Valley Sonny Varnell Elk Conservation Area and Bearcat Hollow WMA. | 1 Elk, either sex | Permit required | |
| Private Land | 10/2/21 | 10/3/21 | Core Elk Management Zone (Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton and Searcy counties). | 1 Elk, either sex | Permit required |
| 10/23/21 | 10/24/21 | Core Elk Management Zone (Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton and Searcy counties). | 1 Elk, either sex | Permit required |
Arkansas Small Game and Bird Season 2021-2022
| Season | Opening Date | Closing Date | Limit |
| Quail | 11/1/21 | 2/6/22 | Daily limit – 6 Possession limit – 12 |
| Swamp/Cottontail Rabbit | 9/1/21 | 2/28/21 | Daily limit – 8 Possession limit – 16 |
| Squirrel | 5/15/21 | 2/28/22 | Daily limit – 12 Possession limit – 48 |
| 5/15/22 | 2/28/23 | Daily limit – 12 Possession limit – 48 |
Arkansas Hunting License
| License | Resident | Nonresident |
| Combination Sportsman’s License | $35.50 | n/a |
| Resident Sportsman’s License | $25.00 | n/a |
| Resident Wildlife Conservation License | $10.50 | n/a |
| General WMA Hunter Use Permit | Free | n/a |
| Annual All Game Hunting License | n/a | $350 |
| 5- Day All Game Hunting License | n/a | $180 |
| Non Expiring lifetime resident hunting and fishing sportsman permit | $1,000 | n/a |
Arkansas Hunting News
The great state of Arkansas is known as a ‘Natural State,’ meaning that there isn’t any hunting in the spring time due to the high breeding numbers. They work hard at conserving the land and the animals so that there are harvest numbers for a later date as well and the population is evenly maintained. There are interesting big games including Alligator, Elk, Bear and Deer and small games which include rabbit, squirrel and quail! There are many wildlife management areas where you can apply at a low cost or none at all to hunt and you are sure to gain a unique experience.
The licenses, permits if any as well as the seasons, weapons and zones are all listed on this page for Arkansas, please continue to look around to find accessible information!
Find a Hunting Guide
Tips for Hunting in Arkansas
- Hunters or those accompanying must wear at least 400 sq inches of hunter orange, chartreuse or blaze camouflage above wait and a head garment of the same colors.
- Hunters may carry only muzzleloaders or archery equipment during muzzleloader deer or bear seasons.
- Hunters may use air rifles on small games
- It is unlawful to feed wildlife within the CWD management zone
- Food plots may be used year round
Links to Official Sites
Arkansas Hunting Licenses and Permits