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Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms 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 17–21

Muzzleloader. Quota hunt.

In the guide: “Deer Alternative Firearms (permit required): Oct. 17-21.”

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.”

Nov 14–18

Firearms. Quota hunt.

In the guide: “Deer Modern Gun (permit required): Nov. 14-18.”

Bear, alligator, and turkey

Closed this season.

In the guide: “CLOSED: bear, alligator and 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), Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays only, shooting ends at noon.

Self-serve daily use permits on Tuesdays, Thursdays and the last day of the regular season; on Saturdays and Sundays, a limited number of permits for designated locations by online draw. Magellan Tract, the mobility-impaired blind and the youth blind are by online draw.

In the guide: “Waterfowl Guidebook: [ends at noon] [permit draw] Open for waterfowl hunting only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.”

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

3-Point Rule applies (not on youth hunts).

Nearby areas

Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA around 5 miles away

Bayou Des Arc WMA around 7 miles away

Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA around 10 miles away

Benson Creek Natural Area WMA around 15 miles away

Departee Creek WMA around 15 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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