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Welcome to the guidebook for the Arkansas hunting season. Hunters across the state are getting ready to start their yearly pursuit of game.
This thorough article is your guide to the dates and restrictions that set the rules for the hunting season in Arkansas for 2023–2024.
Join us and get ready to experience the thrill of the hunt in the natural state starting with a comprehensive understanding of the opening day to bag restrictions.
Arkansas Deer Hunting Seasons
| Zone | Season | Bag Limit and Notes |
| 1 and 2 | Archery: Sept. 23, 2023 - Feb. 29, 2024 |
|
| Muzzleloader: Oct. 21-29 and Dec. 9-11, 2023 | ||
| Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2023 | ||
| Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023 and Jan. 6-7, 2024 | ||
| Modern Gun: Nov. 11-Dec. 3, 2023 and Dec. 26-28, 2023 | ||
| 3 | Archery: Sept. 23, 2023 - Feb. 29, 2024 |
|
| Muzzleloader: Oct. 21-29 and Dec. 9-11, 2023 | ||
| Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2023 | ||
| Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023 and Jan. 6-7, 2024 | ||
| Modern Gun: Nov. 11-Dec. 3 and Dec. 26-28, 2023 | ||
| 4 | Archery: Sept. 23, 2023 - Feb. 29, 2024 |
|
| Muzzleloader: Closed | ||
| Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2023 | ||
| Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023 and Jan. 6-7, 2024 | ||
| Modern Gun: Nov. 11-19 and Dec. 26-28, 2023 | ||
| 5 and 5A | Archery: Sept. 23, 2023 - Feb. 29, 2024 |
|
| Muzzleloader: Closed | ||
| Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2023 | ||
| Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023 and Jan. 6-7, 2024 | ||
| Modern Gun: Nov. 11-19 and Dec. 26-28, 2023 | ||
| 6 and 7 | Archery: Sept. 23, 2023 - Feb. 29, 2024 |
|
| Muzzleloader: Oct. 21-29 and Dec. 16-18, 2023 | ||
| Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2023 | ||
| Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023 and Jan. 6-7, 2024 | ||
| Modern Gun: Nov. 11-Dec. 10 and Dec. 26-28, 2023 | ||
| 8 | Archery: Sept. 23, 2023 - Feb. 29, 2024 |
|
| Muzzleloader: Oct. 21-29 and Dec. 9-11, 2023 | ||
| Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2023 | ||
| Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023 and Jan. 6-7, 2024 | ||
| Modern Gun: Nov. 11-Dec. 3 and Dec. 26-28, 2023 | ||
| 9 | Archery: Sept. 23, 2023 - Feb. 29, 2024 |
|
| Muzzleloader: Oct. 21-29, 2023 | ||
| Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2023 | ||
| Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023 and Jan. 6-7, 2024 | ||
| Modern Gun: Nov. 11-Dec. 17 and Dec. 26-28, 2023 | ||
| 10 and 11 | Archery: Sept. 23, 2023 - Feb. 29, 2024 |
|
| Muzzleloader: Oct. 21-29 and Dec. 9-11, 2023 | ||
| Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2023 | ||
| Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023 and Jan. 6-7, 2024 | ||
| Modern Gun: Nov. 11-Dec. 3 and Dec. 26-28, 2023 | ||
| 12 and 13 | Archery: Sept. 23, 2023 - Feb. 29, 2024 |
|
| Muzzleloader: Oct. 21-29, 2023 | ||
| Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2023 | ||
| Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023 and Jan. 6-7, 2024 | ||
| Modern Gun: Nov. 11-Dec. 17 and Dec. 26-28, 2023 | ||
| 14 and 15 | Archery: Sept. 23, 2023- Feb. 29, 2024 |
|
| Muzzleloader: Oct. 21-29 and Dec. 16-18, 2023 | ||
| Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2023 | ||
| Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023 and Jan. 6-7, 2024 | ||
| Modern Gun: Nov. 11-Dec. 10 and Dec. 26-28, 2023 | ||
| 16, 16A and 17 | Archery: Sept. 23, 2023- Feb. 29, 2024 |
|
| Muzzleloader: Oct. 21-29, 2023 | ||
| Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2023 | ||
| Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023 and Jan. 6-7, 2024 | ||
| Modern Gun: Nov. 11-Dec. 28, 2023 |
Elk Hunting Season
Public Land Hunts:
- Youth Hunts: Oct. 7-8 and Oct. 28-29, 2023
- Regular Elk Hunts (youth eligible): Oct. 2-6 and Oct. 30-Nov. 3, 2023
Private Land Hunt:
- Youth Hunts (antlerless elk only): Oct. 7-8 and Oct. 28-29, 2023
- Regular Elk Hunts (youth eligible): Oct. 2-6 and Oct. 30-Nov. 3, 2023
Limits and Notes: You can hunt one elk, either male or female.
This hunt occurs in Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton, and Searcy counties.
There's a quota of 35 elk in total, including 10 bulls and 25 females. If you're hunting for bulls, call 833-345-0398 between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. daily to check if the quota is met.
For antlerless elk hunters, you only need to call after 8 p.m. daily. The season ends on Nov. 3 or when the quota is reached, whichever happens first.
You may also like:
How to Prepare for Deer Hunting Season
Beginner’s Guide to Deer Hunting
Bear Hunting Season
| Zone | Dates | Limits |
| 1 and 2 | Archery: Sept. 13 - Nov. 30, 2023 | One bear, either sex, by any method. |
| Muzzleloader: Oct. 21-29, 2023 | ||
| Special Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023 | ||
| Modern Gun: Nov. 11-30, 2023 | ||
| 3 and 4 | Archery: Closed. | |
| Muzzleloader: Closed. | ||
| Special Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt: Closed. | ||
| Modern Gun: Dec. 9-15, 2023 (Zone 3 closes earlier if quota is reached) | ||
| 5 | Archery: Closed. | |
| Muzzleloader: Closed. | ||
| Special Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt: Closed. | ||
| Modern Gun: Nov. 18-Dec. 3, 2023 (Zone 5A closes earlier if quota is reached) | ||
| 5A | Archery: Closed. | |
| Muzzleloader: Closed. | ||
| Special Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt: Closed. | ||
| Modern Gun: Nov. 18-Dec. 3, 2023 (Zone 5A closes earlier if quota is reached) |
Bag Limit and Regulations: Hunters can harvest one bear of either sex using any method. To confirm the harvest number, hunters are required to call 833-345-0398 the evening before their hunt.
The season concludes either on the morning after the quota is met or on Nov. 30, depending on which occurs first. Please note that hunting is prohibited in all Remaining Bear Zones, except as listed.
Alligator Hunting Season
Alligator Management Zone 1 and 3 Public Land:
Sept. 15-18, 2023
Sept. 22-25, 2023
Alligator Management Zone 1, 2 and 3 Private Land:
Sept. 15-18, 2023
Sept. 22-25, 2023
Season Limit: One alligator, 4 feet or longer.
Rabbit Hunting Seasons
Statewide: Sept. 1, 2023-Feb. 29, 2024
Daily limit: 8
Squirrel Hunting Seasons
Statewide: May 15, 2023-Feb. 29, 2024
Daily limit: 12
Notes: Dogs allowed.
Quail Hunting Seasons
Statewide: Nov. 1, 2023-Feb. 5, 2024
Daily limit: 6
Waterfowl Hunting Seasons
| Waterfowl | Season Dates | Daily Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
| Duck, Coot, and Merganser | Nov. 18-26, 2023 | 6 | 18 |
| Dec. 9-23, 2023 | 15 | 45 | |
| Dec. 27, 2023-Jan. 31, 2024 | 5 | 15 | |
| Canada Goose | Sept. 1-Oct. 15, 2023 | 5 | 15 |
| Nov. 18-26, 2023 | 2 | 6 | |
| Dec. 9-23, 2023 | 2 | 6 | |
| Dec. 27, 2023-Jan. 31, 2024 | 2 | 6 | |
| White-fronted Goose | Oct. 28-Nov. 10, 2023 | 3 | 9 |
| Nov. 18-26, 2023 | |||
| Dec. 9-23, 2023 | |||
| Dec. 27, 2023-Jan. 31, 2023 |
Don't forget to read this: Waterfowl Hunting Guide
Dove Hunting Seasons
Statewide: Sept. 2-Oct. 22, 2023 and
Dec. 8, 2023-Jan. 15, 2024
Mourning Dove and White-Winged Dove
Daily Bag Limit - 15
Possession Limit - 45
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Daily Bag Limit - No limit
Possession Limit - No limit
Crows Hunting Seasons
2023-24 Crow Season
Statewide: Sept. 1, 2023-Feb. 19, 2024. Open Thursdays through Mondays only.
No bag limit.
We have collected the info and listed the seasons for the migratory birds in Arkansas. If you want to see them all and download the info, check out the Migratory Birds Dates Summary for all species in one place.
Turkey Hunting Season
Special Youth Turkey Hunt:
Zones 1 and 2: April 6-7, 2024
Regular Turkey Season Dates:
Zone 1: April 15-23, 2024
Zone 2: April 15-May 5, 2024
Bag Limits for two zones: One legal turkey, no jakes.
Related: Turkey Hunting Tips: How to Hunt Public Land Turkeys
Arkansas Hunting License Fees
All hunters must have a valid bear permit in addition to a valid Arkansas Annual Hunting License to hunt.
The provided information outlines the new requirements and fees for nonresident hunting and guiding activities in Arkansas for the years 2023-24. Here's a breakdown of the fees and permits:
| Activity | Fee |
| Annual Hunting License | $410 |
| 5-Day Hunting License | $225 |
| 3-Day Deer Hunting License | $175 |
| 1-Day Deer Hunting License | $100 |
| 5-Day Small Game Hunting License | $80 |
| Turkey Permit (must accompany valid annual hunting license) | $100 |
| Elk Permit (must accompany valid annual hunting license) | $300 |
| Alligator Permit (must accompany valid annual hunting license) | $300 |
| Arkansas State Waterfowl Stamp (must accompany valid small game or annual hunting license) | $50 |
| Nonresident Annual Small Game Hunting License | $110 |
| Nonresident Trapper's Permit | $125 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who Needs a License to Hunt in Arkansas?
If you are 16 or older, an Arkansas hunting license is required to hunt wildlife unless you are on a licensed game-bird shooting resort that supplies pen-raised birds. A valid printed license, reusable hard card, or acceptable electronic format license must be in your possession when hunting.
2. How Do I Buy a License?
Licenses are available through various convenient methods:
Over the counter at most AGFC regional offices, nature centers, and many sporting goods stores across the state.
By phone: Call 833-345-0325 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mon.-Fri.
3. How Do I Replace a Lost License?
AGFC's licensing system allows purchasers to print and reprint their own license at home or print them at license vendors around the state. License information can also be retrieved via smartphone/mobile device.
4. Who Needs a Hunter Education Card?
A hunter born after 1968 must carry a valid hunter education card, unless 'HE-VERIFIED' is noted on your hunting license. Hunters under 16 do not need to have a card if they are under the direct supervision of an adult who is at least 21 years of age.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Arkansas hunting season offers a variety of opportunities for hunting enthusiasts to enjoy the sport while adhering to specific regulations.
The season spans multiple periods, each with distinct dates, daily bag limits and possession limits. Hunters are encouraged to be aware of the detailed regulations, including species-specific restrictions. All hunting activities come with their own set of rules, ensuring sustainable hunting practices.
Whether it's the thrill of deer hunting or the pursuit of birds, understanding and following these guidelines is essential for a successful and responsible hunting experience.
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