37 S.

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Dardanelle WMA

2026-27 season.

Check before you hunt. Confirm these dates in 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook. Seasons, closures and area rules can change.

Deer

Aug 29–31, Sep 26 – Feb 28

Archery, buck only.

Buck only Aug 29–31.

In the guide: “Deer Archery: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28.”

Oct 17–25

Muzzleloader.

In the guide: “Deer Alternative Firearms: Oct. 17-25.”

Nov 3–5

Firearms. Quota hunt, 3 hunters drawn. Only for mobility-impaired hunters.

In the guide: “Deer Special Modern Gun Mobility-Impaired Hunt (permit required): Johnson County Waterfowl Rest Area only: Nov. 3-5, As set by Army Corps of Engineers. Three permits for Johnson County WRA (no dogs).”

Nov 7–8, Jan 2–3

Firearms. Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts: Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3 (no dogs).”

Nov 14 – Dec 6, Dec 26–28

Firearms.

In the guide: “Deer Modern Gun: Nov. 14-Dec. 6 (dogs allowed except on islands) and Dec. 26-28 (no dogs).”

Bear

Sep 9 – Nov 30

Archery.

In the guide: “Bear Archery: Sept. 9-Nov. 30.”

Oct 17–25

Muzzleloader.

In the guide: “Bear Alternative Firearms: Oct. 17-25.”

Nov 3–5

Firearms. Quota hunt. Only for mobility-impaired hunters.

In the guide: “Bear Modern Gun Mobility-Impaired Hunt (permit holders only): Johnson County Waterfowl Rest Area only: Nov. 3-5.”

Nov 7–8

Firearms. Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “Bear Modern Gun Youth Hunt: Nov. 7-8.”

Nov 14–30

Firearms.

In the guide: “Bear Modern Gun: Nov. 14-30.”

Turkey

Apr 10–11

Any legal weapon. Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “Turkey Youth Hunt: April 10-11. One legal turkey.”

Apr 19 – May 9

Any legal weapon.

In the guide: “Turkey: April 19-May 9. One legal turkey.”

Dove and woodcock

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Dove: Sep 5 – Oct 25, Dec 8 – Jan 15
  • Woodcock: Nov 7 – Dec 21

Waterfowl Guidebook: Waterfowl hunting is allowed 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset, except it ends at noon on the McKennon Bottoms and Potter's Pothole units (sunset Jan. 31 and Feb. 6-7), which are limited to Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. No waterfowl hunting on part of Big Spadra and Little Spadra creeks.

In the guide: “Waterfowl Guidebook (p. 44): Unless noted, migratory game bird season dates are the same as statewide seasons.”

Ducks and geese

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Ducks, regular duck season, geese, regular goose season, and teal, regular duck season: Nov 21–29, Dec 10–23, Dec 26 – Jan 31
  • Ducks, youth and veteran/active-duty military, geese, youth and veteran/active-duty military, and teal, youth and veteran/active-duty military: Feb 6–7
  • Geese, early canada goose: Sep 1 – Oct 15
  • Geese, white-fronted and light goose: Oct 31 – Nov 8
  • Teal, early teal: Sep 19–27

Waterfowl Guidebook: Waterfowl hunting is allowed 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset, except it ends at noon on the McKennon Bottoms and Potter's Pothole units (sunset Jan. 31 and Feb. 6-7), which are limited to Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. No waterfowl hunting on part of Big Spadra and Little Spadra creeks.

In the guide: “Waterfowl Guidebook (p. 44): Unless noted, migratory game bird season dates are the same as statewide seasons.”

Small game

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Squirrel: Jul 1 – Feb 28, May 15 – Jun 30
  • Rabbit: Sep 1 – Feb 28
  • Quail: Nov 1 – Feb 7

In the guide: “Small game (p. 62): Unless otherwise noted in the WMA listings, all WMA season dates, limits and regulations for quail, rabbit, squirrel and crow are the same as private land.”

Alligator

Closed this season.

In the guide: “CLOSED: alligator.”

Area rules

No antler restrictions. Nonresidents hunting deer with dogs are limited to one deer during the last nine days of the regular modern gun season. Johnson County Waterfowl Rest Area deer archery: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Oct. 31 and Feb. 16-28. Dogs, hunting or trapping equipment not allowed on Johnson County WRA except for the mobility-impaired hunt. Horsehead Creek, Johnson County and Bob Young Carbon City WRAs are closed to access Nov. 1-Feb. 15. Additional Corps of Engineers regulations apply (479-968-5008).

Nearby areas

Mount Magazine WMA around 15 miles away

Petit Jean River WMA around 25 miles away

Galla Creek WMA around 25 miles away

Blue Mountain WMA around 25 miles away

J. Perry Mikles Lick Creek WMA around 25 miles away

Hunters 16 and older on AGFC-owned WMAs need a hunting or fishing license or a WMA/Lake Conservation Permit. Leased Lands WMAs also need a Leased Lands Permit ($75). Deer, bear and turkey taken on WMAs count toward the statewide bag limits; the turkey limit is one per WMA. Unless a listing says otherwise, WMA dates and limits for quail, rabbit, squirrel and crow are the same as private land, and migratory bird dates are the same as statewide; waterfowl rest areas are closed to all access Nov. 1-Feb. 15. WMAs are closed to dogs except where a listing allows them, for bird dogs on quail and woodcock, retrievers, squirrel, rabbit and bobcat outside firearms deer hunts, and night raccoon, bobcat and opossum hunting. On WMAs, fox and mink are open Sept. 1-Feb. 28 by day, bobcat Sept. 1-Feb. 28, coyote July 1-Feb. 28 by day, and raccoon July 1-March 31. Feral hogs may not be hunted on WMAs but may be killed by hunters legally hunting deer, bear or elk. Youths, veterans and active-duty military may hunt ducks and geese Feb. 6-7.

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