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Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA Deer Research Area - West 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

Oct 24–25

Firearms. Quota hunt. Only for veterans.

In the guide: “West Unit · Deer Modern Gun (Disabled Veteran permit required): Oct. 24-25.”

Nov 21–22, Dec 5–6, Dec 12–13

Firearms. Quota hunt. Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “West Unit · Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts (permit required): Nov. 21-22, Dec. 5-6 and Dec. 12-13.”

Bear and turkey

Closed this season.

In the guide: “CLOSED: ... deer archery and firearms, bear and turkey (West Unit).”

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

Closed Jul 1 – Nov 20.

In the guide: “Waterfowl Guidebook · West Unit: Closed to waterfowl hunting except for permit holders during permit waterfowl hunts.”

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), Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays only, shooting ends at noon. Quota hunt.

Permits are not required during the Youth Hunt and Veterans/Active-Duty Military Waterfowl Hunts Feb. 6-7 except for the youth draw units.

In the guide: “Waterfowl Guidebook · West Unit: [ends at noon] [permit draw] Closed to waterfowl hunting except for permit holders during permit waterfowl hunts. ... On Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and the last day of the regular waterfowl season, a limited number of permits will be available by online drawing ... Hunting ends at noon.”

Jan 31

Follows the statewide season (ducks, regular duck season, geese, regular goose season, and teal, regular duck season Jan 31), shooting ends at noon. Quota hunt.

In the guide: “Waterfowl Guidebook · West Unit: [permit draw] ... and the last day of the regular waterfowl season, a limited number of permits will be available by online drawing. ... Hunting ends at noon.”

Feb 6–7

Follows the statewide season (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). Only for youth hunters or veterans.

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.”

Area rules

CLOSED: deer archery and firearms, bear and turkey (West Unit). Deer only on the youth and disabled veteran permit hunts.

Nearby areas

Seven Devils WMA around 20 miles away

Cut-Off Creek WMA around 20 miles away

Trusten Holder WMA around 25 miles away

Little Bayou WMA around 25 miles away

Casey Jones WMA around 40 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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