37 S.

← All Arkansas areas

Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA Deer Research Area - East Unit

2026-27 season, part of Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA Deer Research Area.

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

Deer

Sep 26 – Feb 28

Archery.

In the guide: “East Unit · Deer Archery: Sept. 26-Feb. 28.”

Oct 24–26

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

In the guide: “East Unit · Deer Modern Gun Mobility-Impaired Hunt (permit required): Oct. 24-26.”

Nov 28–29

Firearms. Quota hunt. Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “East Unit · Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunt (permit required): Nov. 28-29.”

Dec 5–9

Muzzleloader. Quota hunt.

In the guide: “East Unit · Deer Alternative Firearms (permit required): Dec. 5-9.”

Dec 12–16

Firearms. Quota hunt.

In the guide: “East Unit · Deer Modern Gun (permit required): Dec. 12-16.”

Bear

Dec 19–25

Archery.

In the guide: “East Unit · Bear Archery: Dec. 19-25. Season closes earlier when Bear Zone 5A quota is reached.”

Turkey

Apr 5–7, Apr 10–12, Apr 17–19, Apr 23–25

Any legal weapon. Quota hunt.

In the guide: “East Unit · Turkey (permit required): April 5-7, April 10-12, April 17-19 and April 23-25. One legal turkey.”

Dove and woodcock

Follows the statewide seasons.

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

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

Ducks and geese

Jul 1 – Nov 20, Jan 31 – Jun 30

Follows the statewide seasons.

  • Ducks, regular duck season, geese, regular goose season, and teal, regular duck season: 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

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

Nov 21 – Jan 30

Follows the statewide season (ducks, regular duck season, geese, regular goose season, and teal, regular duck season Nov 21–29, Dec 10–23, Dec 26 – Jan 30), shooting ends at noon.

In the guide: “Waterfowl Guidebook (p. 41): [ends at noon] Except where noted on pages 44-55, waterfowl hunters on WMAs may only shoot from 30 minutes before sunrise until noon from Nov. 21-Jan. 30.”

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.”

Area rules

CLOSED: bear firearms (East Unit). 15/18 Rule. No dogs. Hunters must harvest and check a doe here before harvesting a buck (youths exempt). The East Unit closes to deer hunting when the Mississippi River gauge at Arkansas City reaches 31 feet, until it falls to 29 feet or below.

Nearby areas

Seven Devils WMA around 25 miles away

Cut-Off Creek WMA around 25 miles away

Trusten Holder WMA around 30 miles away

Little Bayou WMA around 30 miles away

Casey Jones WMA around 45 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.

Our apps