Arkansas Deer and Hunting Season Information and Regulations, 2023 – 2024

*All information listed below is disclosed based on research we have conducted. We do our best to ensure that all information is up to date and accurate. However, rules and regulations are changing every day. Please make sure to verify your state-specific regulations prior to your hunt.

Arkansas Alligator Season

General Alligator Season

Sep. 17 – 20, Sep. 24 – 27

Alligator hunting is one of Arkansas biggest draws, but remember that season bag limit is just 1 alligator. There are also strict rules on accompanying hunt members, and specific guidelines stating that the permit holder must be the one to dispatch the gator after it is snared.

Arkansas Bear Season

Archery	Sep. 25 – Nov. 30
Muzzleloader	Oct. 16 – Oct. 24
Special Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt	Nov. 6 – Nov. 7
Modern Gun	Nov. 13 – Nov. 30

In Arkansas, there is a seasonal bag limit of 10 bears per hunter. This is superseded by the statewide harvest limit though – once that is hit, no more bears can be harvested for the entire season. Bear season dates depend on the zone in which you plan to hunt. Archery bear hunting is not permitted in zones 3,4,5, 5A, 6 and 7. It is illegal to kill a bear that is denned down or one that is being pursued by dogs. You can’t bait or lure bear under any circumstances.

Arkansas Deer Season

Archery	Sept. 23 – Feb. 29
Muzzleloader	Oct. 21 – 29 and Dec. 9 – 11
Private Land Antlerless-Only Modern Gun Hunt	Dec. 29 – Dec. 31
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt	Nov. 4 – Nov. 5 and Jan. 6 – Jan. 7
Modern Gun	Nov. 11 – Dec. 3 and Dec. 26 – 28

*Arkansas has a number of different zones that require permits and have specific regulations. There is also a differentiation between public and private land hunts. For specific information on Deer season, land quotas, and more, check out the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website’s deer page here. There are 17 different Deer Zones in Arkansas and while their season dates are similar, their bag limits can be very different, sometimes even differentiated within the same zone.

Arkansas follows the three-point rule when it comes to counting a buck as legal – each side of his rack has to have 3 or more points. There are other specifics for certain zones surrounding what constitutes a legal harvest, so make sure to pay attention. The average bag limit consists of 5 deer with no more than 2 bucks. In some zones, button-bucks DO count toward a hunter’s buck limit. In others, they do not. It is important to check the regulations regarding the zone you wish to hunt beforehand.

Doe Tags

There is a 3-doe limit under an archery tag in Arkansas.

Arkansas Elk Season

Youth Hunts	Oct. 7 – Oct. 8 and Oct. 28 – Oct. 29
Regular Elk Hunts	Oct. 2 – Oct. 6 and Oct. 30 – Nov. 3

The season limit for elk in Arkansas is one elk, of either sex. There is also some flexibility to take elk that you see while deer hunting if using archery equipment, muzzleloaders, or guns of at least .24 caliber IF you are outside the Core Elk Management Zone. Check the AGFC website for specific details on these zones.

Arkansas Turkey Season

Zone 1 and 2	Apr. 6 – Apr. 7
Zone 1	Apr. 15 – Apr. 23
Zone 2	Apr. 15 – May 5

Arkansas statewide bag limit for turkey is 2, jakes are not allowed to be harvested. The exception is for hunters between the ages of 6 and 15 who are allowed to use jake as one of their 2-bird season limits. A legal turkey is considered an adult gobbler. It is illegal for any hunter to harvest a bearded hen. There are additional zone-specific limits that also must be adhered to, so it is worth checking the AGFC website for specifics.

Arkansas Small Game Season

Rabbit	Sep. 1 – Feb. 29
Squirrel	May 15 – Feb. 29
Quail	Nov. 1 – Feb. 5

Arkansas has a number of regulations for each of its small game. Rabbit daily limit for harvest is 8. They also can’t be hunted with guns larger than a .22 unless specific seasons are in effect. Squirrel limit for daily harvest is 12, and follows the same caliber restrictions as rabbit. Quail have a daily limit of 6

Arkansas Furbearer Seasons

Beaver and Nutria	Sept. 1 – Mar 31
Bobcat	Sept. 1 – Feb. 29
Coyote	Jan. 1 – Dec. 31
Gray Fox, Red Fox, Muskrat and Mink	Gray Fox, Red Fox, Muskrat, and Mink
Opossum, Raccoon, and Striped Skunk	Jan. 1 – Dec. 31
River Otter	Nov. 12 – Feb. 29

Many of the fur-bearing species have additional limits surrounding the time of day as well as specific bag limits. Check out the AGFC website for all the details.

Arkansas Migratory Bird Seasons

Duck, Coot and Merganser	Nov. 18 – Jan. 31
Snow, Blue and Ross’s Goose	Oct. 28 – Nov. 10, Nov. 18 – Nov. 26, Dec. 9 – Dec. 23, Dec 27. – Jan. 31
White-fronted Goose	Oct. 28 – Jan. 31
Early Canada Goose	Sep. 1 – 30
Canada Goose	Snow, Blue, and Ross’s Goose
Mourning Dove, White-winged Dove	Sep. 4 – Oct. 22
Eurasian Collared-Doves	Sept. – Jan. 15
Virginia Rail and Sora	Sep. 9 – Nov. 17
Wilson’s Snipe	Nov. 1 – Feb. 15
Common and Purple Gallinule	Sep. 1 – Nov. 9
Woodcock	Nov. 4 – Dec. 18

The migratory birds all carry with them different bag limits as well as other specific considerations. Please check the AGFC website for more information.

Crossbow Regulations

Arkansas is abundant in wildlife and fairly open-minded concerning regulations, tagging, and license requirements. Disabled Arkansas residents may purchase a three-year disability license for $25. Crossbows are legal during archery season but must have a minimum draw weight of 125 pounds and mechanical safety. There are other crossbow-specific guidelines such as:

You are not allowed to use poison.
Your arrowhead must be at least 7-8 inches wide.
You are able to use magnifying sights and scopes.
Crossbows must never be used to hunt Elk.

If you want to check out the next state on our list, click here to see California.

Or, you can check out the last state on our list, Arizona.