Deer season 2026–27 · last checked Sep 26, 2026
Arkansas deer season dates 2026–27
Official dates from Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, by season and zone, plus the public land in Arkansas from our directory. Archery opens Sept. 26, 2026. Firearms: Nov. 14, 2026 (Modern gun, all zones).
Last checked Sep 26, 2026 against the official Arkansas Game and Fish Commission page. Dates vary by zone, unit and county, and agencies can change them. Confirm with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission before you hunt.
Quick answers
- When does archery deer season start in Arkansas?
- Sept. 26, 2026, per Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. See the table for zone differences and closing dates.
- When does gun (firearms) deer season start in Arkansas?
- Nov. 14, 2026 (Modern gun, all zones).
- Where are the official rules?
- Arkansas Game and Fish Commission: hunting information. Bag limits, licenses, tags and weapon rules are not repeated here.
Arkansas deer season dates, 2026–27
All deer zones
| Season | Where | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Early buck-only archery | All zones | Aug. 29–31, 2026 |
| Archery | All zones | Sept. 26, 2026 – Feb. 28, 2027 |
| Youth modern gun hunt | All zones (public-land youth hunters: check WMA exceptions) | Nov. 7–8, 2026 and Jan. 2–3, 2027 |
Alternative firearms and modern gun, per zone group
| Season | Where | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Alternative firearms / modern gun | Zones 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11 | Alt. firearms Oct. 17–25 and Dec. 12–14 · Modern gun Nov. 14 – Dec. 6 and Dec. 26–28, 2026 |
| Alternative firearms / modern gun | Zones 4 and 5 | Alt. firearms closed · Modern gun Nov. 14–22 and Dec. 26–28, 2026 |
| Alternative firearms / modern gun | Zones 4A, 5A, 14, 15 | Alt. firearms Oct. 17–25 and Dec. 19–21 · Modern gun Nov. 14 – Dec. 13 and Dec. 26–28, 2026 |
| Alternative firearms / modern gun | Zones 9, 12, 13 | Alt. firearms Oct. 17–25 · Modern gun Nov. 14 – Dec. 20 and Dec. 26–28, 2026 |
| Alternative firearms / modern gun | Zones 16, 16A, 17 | Alt. firearms Oct. 17–25 · Modern gun Nov. 14 – Dec. 28, 2026 |
- Wildlife management areas can have their own deer seasons and permit rules. Check the WMA’s page with AGFC.
- Antler restrictions and bag limits differ by zone and by whether you’re inside the CWD Management Zone. See AGFC.
Official sources (checked Sep 26, 2026)
Public land in Arkansas that may allow deer hunting
Our directory lists 103 named public land units in Arkansas (about 3.8M ac, from USGS PAD-US 4.1): 57 state wildlife & game areas, 7 forests & grasslands, 11 wildlife refuges & WPAs, 1 BLM units, 22 lake & reservoir project lands, 5 other public land units. PAD-US shows who manages the land. It doesn’t cover hunting rules. Before you go, check the area’s own rules with the managing agency. WMAs, refuges and forests often have special dates, permits or closed zones.
State wildlife areas & game lands in Arkansas
All 57 →- State wildlife / game area
Bayou Meto
31,992 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Arkansas County, Jefferson County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Lake Greeson Wildlife Management Area
31,630 acres
State: department of natural resources · Pike County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Howard County Wildlife Management Area
27,436 acres
State: department of natural resources · Howard County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Saint Francis Sunken Lands
27,347 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Poinsett County, Craighead County + 2 more
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Dave Donaldson Black River Wildlife Management Area
25,179 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Clay County, Randolph County + 1 more
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Poison Spring State Forest / Wildlife Management Area
18,702 acres
State: department of land · Ouachita County, Nevada County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Sulphur River
18,143 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Miller County
Restricted access - State wildlife / game area
Henry Gray/hurricane Lake
17,487 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · White County
Open access - State wildlife / game area
Gene Rush/buffalo River
17,011 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Newton County, Searcy County
Restricted access
National & state forests and grasslands in Arkansas
All 7 →- National Forest land
Ouachita National Forest
1,430,442 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Scott County, Montgomery County + 9 more
Open access - National Forest land
Ozark National Forest
1,133,068 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Newton County, Pope County + 14 more
Open access - National Forest land
St. Francis National Forest
21,293 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Lee County, Phillips County
Open access - National Forest land
Ozark Purchase Unit
4,913 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Pope County
Open access - National Forest land
Stumpy Point Purchase Unit
1,522 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Phillips County, Lee County
Open access - State forest
Holland Bottoms Willow Oak Forest Preserve
635 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Lonoke County
Restricted access
National wildlife refuges & WPAs in Arkansas
All 11 →- National Wildlife Refuge
Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge
157,155 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Arkansas County, Monroe County + 2 more
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge
75,421 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Union County, Ashley County + 1 more
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Cache River National Wildlife Refuge
74,469 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Woodruff County, Monroe County + 2 more
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge
27,470 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Sevier County
Restricted access
BLM land in Arkansas
- BLM public land
BLM Southeastern States District Office Public Lands
1,148 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Searcy County, Marion County + 7 more
Open access
Counties with the most listed public land
- Yell County (9)
- Hempstead County (7)
- Perry County (7)
- Arkansas County (6)
- Searcy County (5)
- Benton County (5)
- Pope County (5)
- Howard County (5)
- White County (5)
- Marion County (4)
- Van Buren County (4)
- Baxter County (4)
Not legal advice and not an official source. This independent site is not affiliated with any government agency. Season dates are copied from the agency pages linked above as of the “last checked” date and may have changed since. The agency’s current regulations are what count. Full disclaimer.
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