2023 Arkansas Hunting, Trapping Season Dates

Ark. Game & Fish Commission Special to The Saline Courier

Deer

Archery – Statewide, Sept.

23-Feb. 29.

Muzzleloader – Deer zones 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11: Oct. 21-29 and Dec. 9-11.

Deer zones 4A, 5A, 14, 15: Oct. 21-29 and Dec. 16-18.

Deer zones 9, 12, 13, 16, 16A, 17: Oct. 21-29.

Deer zones 4 and 5: closed Modern gun – Deer zones 1, 2, 3,

6, 7, 8, 10, 11: Nov. 11-Dec. 3. Deer zones 4, 5: Nov. 11-19. Deer zones 4A, 5A, 14, 15: Nov.

11-Dec. 10.

Deer zones 9, 12, 13: Nov.

11-Dec. 17.

Deer zones 16, 16A, 17: Nov.

11-Dec. 25.

Special Youth Hunt – Nov. 4-5 and Jan. 6-7 (statewide except WMAS closed during modern gun deer season). Christmas Holiday Hunt – Dec. 26-28 (statewide except

WMAS closed during modern gun deer season). Private Land Antlerless Hunt – Dec. 29-31 (all private land zones).

WMA Deer Hunt Permit Application Period – June 1-30.

Elk Public Land (permit required) – Zones 1, 2, 3, 4: Oct. 2-6 and Oct. 30-Nov. 3.

Public Land Youth Hunts – Oct.

7-8 and Oct. 28-29.

Private Land – Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton and Searcy counties):

Oct. 2-6 and Oct. 30-Nov. 3. Private Land Youth Hunts – Oct.

7-8 and Oct. 28-29.

Statewide – Elk found outside of Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton and Searcy counties may be taken during deer season with weapon legal for that season.

Public Land Elk Hunt Permit Application Period – May 1-June 1.

Bear

Archery – Bear zones 1, 2: Sept. 13-Nov. 30. (Zone 1 closes earlier if quota is reached). Muzzleloader – Bear zones 1, 2: Oct. 21-29. (Zone 1 closes earlier if quota is reached). Modern Gun – Bear zones 1, 2: Nov. 11-30. (Zone 1 closes earlier if quota is reached). Bear zones: 3, 4: Dec. 9-15. (closes earlier if quota is reached).

Bear Zone 5: Nov. 25-Dec. 3 (closes earlier if quota is reached)

Bear zone: 5A: Nov. 18-Dec. 3. (closes earlier if quota is reached).

Bear zones 6, 7: closed.

Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt

– Bear zones 1, 2: Nov. 4-5. Bear zones 3, 4, 5, 5A, 6, 7:

closed.

Turkey

Regular Turkey Season – Turkey

zone 1– April 15-23.

Turkey zone 2– April 15-May 5. Youth Hunt – Turkey zones 1, 2:

April 6-7.

WMA Turkey Hunt Permit Application Period – Jan. 15-Feb. 15.

Squirrel

Statewide: May 15-Feb. 29

Rabbit

Statewide: Sept. 1-Feb. 29

Quail

Statewide: Nov. 1-Feb. 5. Furbearers

Hunting

Beaver and Nutria – sunrise

Sept. 1-sunset March 31 (day hunting only).

Bobcat – sunrise Sept. 1-sunset Feb. 29 and April 15-May 5 (day hunting only).

Coyote, Opossum, Raccoon and

Striped Skunk – year-round (sunrise to sunset for coyote

only).

Gray Fox, Mink, Muskrat and Red Fox – sunrise Sept. 1-sunset Feb. 29

(day hunting only).

River Otter – sunrise Nov. 11-sunset Feb. 29 (day hunting only).

Trapping

Coyote – sunrise Aug. 1-sunset

March 31.

Beaver and Nutria – sunrise Nov.

11-sunset March 31. Furbearers other than Beaver, Coyote and Nutria – sunrise Nov. 11sunset Feb. 29.

Alligator Zones 1, 2, 3 – Sept. 15-18 and Sept. 22-25 (night hunting only; permit required). Bullfrog April 15-Dec. 31.

Crow

Statewide, Sept. 1-Feb. 19

(Thursday-monday only).