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Hot Springs State Forest WMA

2026-27 season. Garland County, around Hot Springs. No boundary on the map yet. Check the area map for exact boundaries.

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.”

Nov 7–8, Jan 2–3

Firearms. Quota hunt. Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts (permit required): Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3.”

Bear

Sep 9 – Nov 30

Archery.

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

Nov 7–8

Firearms. Quota hunt. Only for youth hunters.

In the guide: “Bear Modern Gun Youth Hunt: Nov. 7-8 (deer permit holders only).”

Turkey

Apr 10–11

Any legal weapon. Quota hunt. Only for youth hunters.

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

Apr 19–21, Apr 24–26, May 1–3, May 7–9

Any legal weapon. Quota hunt.

In the guide: “Turkey (permit required): April 19-21, April 24-26, May 1-3 and May 7-9. One legal turkey.”

Dove and woodcock

Follows the statewide seasons.

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

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.”

Alligator

Closed this season.

In the guide: “CLOSED: alligator.”

Area rules

CLOSED: deer firearms (permit youth hunt available), bear firearms (permit youth hunt available) and alligator. 3-Point Rule applies (not on youth hunts). Firearms only on areas the public use map shows as open for firearms: shotguns and rimfire rifles for crow, furbearers, quail, rabbit and squirrel, shotguns for dove. Portions of the WMA are not open for public use. No camping, no ATVs or UTVs.

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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