Hunting Seasons

Arkansas Duck Season is always a special time of the year. Whether you are planning on waiting patiently in a duck blind or knee deep in the marsh hoping to bag a limit of mallards. Being able to take advantage of all the hunting seasons is why The Waterfowl Hunter has put together the hunting dates for Arkansas.

These dates serve as a general guide for more specific hunting visit Arkansas Game and Fish.

TOP RELATED ARTICLE – Arkansas Duck Hunting Guides 

Deer

Hunt TypeEarliest Opening DateLatest Closing Date
ArcherySep. 23,2017Feb. 28,2018
Private Land Antlerless Only Modern Gun Deer HuntOct. 14,2017Oct. 18,2017
MuzzleloaderOct. 21,2017Oct. 29,2017
Dec. 9,2017Dec. 11,2017
Special Youth Modern Gun Deer HuntNov. 4,2017Nov. 5,2017
Jan. 6,2018Jan. 7,2018
Modern GunNov. 11,2017Oct. 3,2017
Dec. 26,2017Dec. 28,2017


Elk

Hunt TypeEarliest Opening DatesLatest Closing Date
Youth HuntSep. 30,2017Oct. 1,2017
Oct. 28,2017Oct. 29,2017
Regular Elk HuntOct. 2,2017Oct. 6,2017
Oct. 30,2017Nov. 3,2017

Bear (Zone 1&2)

Hunt TypeEarliest Opening DatesLatest Closing Date
ArcherySep. 23,2017Nov. 30,2017
MuzzleloaderOct. 21,2017Oct. 29,2017
Special Youth Modern Gun Bear HuntNov. 4,2017Nov. 5,2017
Modern GunNov. 11,2017Nov. 30,2017

Alligator (Zone 1&3)

Earliest Opening DatesLatest Closing Date
Sep. 15,2017Sep. 18,2017
Sep. 22,2017Sep. 25,2017

Small Game

Hunt TypeEarliest Opening DatesLatest Closing Date
RabbitSep. 1,2017Feb. 28,2018
SquirrelMarch 15,2017Feb. 28,2018
Northern BobwhiteNov. 1,2017Feb. 4,2017

Waterfowl

Hunt TypeEarliest Opening DatesLatest Closing Date
Duck, Coot and MerganserNov. 18,2017Nov. 26,2017
Dec. 7,2017Dec. 23,2017
Dec. 26,2017Jan. 28,2018
Special Youth Waterfowl HuntDec. 2,2017Feb. 3,2018
White-fronted GooseNov. 15,2017Dec. 1,2017
Dec. 3,2017Jan. 28,2018
Canada GooseNov. 15,2017Dec. 1,2017
Dec. 3,2017Jan. 28,2018
Snow, Blue and Ross’s GooseNov. 15,2017Dec. 1,2017
Dec. 3,2017Jan. 28,2018
Light Goose Conservation OrderOct. 7,2017Nov. 14,2017
Jan. 29,2018Feb. 2,2018
Feb. 4,2018April 25,2018

Mourning, White-Winged and Eurasian Collared-Dove

Earliest Opening DatesLatest Closing Date
Sep. 2,2017Oct. 22,2017
Dec. 8,2017Jan. 15,2018

Early Migratory/Waterfowl

Hunt TypeEarliest Opening DatesLatest Closing Date
TealSep. 15,2017Sep. 30,2017
Canada GooseSep. 1,2017Sep. 30,2017
Virginia Rail and SoraSep. 9,2017Nov. 17,2017
Common Gallinule and Purple GallinuleSep. 1,2017Nov. 9,2017
SnipeNov. 1,2017Feb. 15,2018
WoodcockNov. 4,2017Dec. 18,2017

Crow

Earliest Opening DateLatest Closing Date
Sep. 1,2017Feb. 19,2018

Turkey

ZonesEarliest Opening DateLatest Closing Date
1, 1A, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 4B,5, 5A, 5B, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 9, 9A, 10, 17 (Youth Hunt)April 8,2018April 9,2018
1, 2, 3, 4B,5, 5B, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 9, 10, 17April 10,2018April 25,2018
1A, 2, 3, 4B, 5AApril 10,2018April 18,2018

Furbearer Hunting and Trapping

Hunt TypeEarliest Opening DateLatest Closing Date
BobcatSep. 1,2017Feb. 28,2018
Coyote (Hunting)July 1,2017Feb. 28,2018
Gray Fox, Red Fox, Mink, Striped SkunkSept. 1,2017Feb. 28,2018
OpossumSept. 1,2017Feb. 28,2018
River OtterNov. 11,2017Feb. 28,2018
Raccoon (Night Hunt)July 1,2017August 31,2017
Raccoon (Day or Night Hunt)Sep. 1,2017March 31,2018
Beaver, Muskrat, Nutria (Hunting)Sep. 1,2017March 31,2018
Beaver, Muskrat and Nutria (Trapping)Nov. 11,2017Feb. 28,2018
Coyote (Trapping)Aug. 1,2017March 31,2018