This page of Arkansas hunting seasons is updated annually. While Thepredatorhunter.com focuses on coyotes, fox, and bobcats, it is hoped other game hunters will take up predator hunting as well. We suggest you check out these predator hunting links specific to the state of Arkansas:
Purchase a hunting license in Arkansas here.
Learn the rules for hunting coyotes in Arkansas.
Learn the rules for hunting bobcats in Arkansas.
Learn the rules for hunting fox in Arkansas.
Arkansas hunting seasons for deer.
Archery – Sept. 24, 2022
Muzzleloader – Oct. 15, 2022
Modern Gun – Nov. 12, 2022
Arkansas 2023 hunting seasons for deer (opening day).
Archery – Sept. 23, 2023
Muzzleloader – Oct. 21, 2023
Modern Gun – Nov. 11, 2023
Arkansas hunting seasons for elk.
2022 Elk Season DatesCore Elk Management Zone Public Land Hunts (By Drawn Permit Only)Youth Hunts: Oct. 1-2 and Oct. 29-30, 2022
Regular Elk Hunts: Oct. 3-7 and Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 2022Core Elk Management Zone Private Land Hunt (By Private Land Elk Permit Only)Youth Hunts (antlerless elk only): Oct. 1-2 and Oct. 29-30, 2022
Regular Elk Hunts: Oct. 3-7 and Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 2022
Arkansas hunting seasons for bear.
2022 Bear Season Dates
2022 Bear Season Dates for Arkansas
Archery: Sept. 17-Nov. 30, 2022
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 (does not include WMAs requiring a deer permit to harvest a bear):
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-30, 2022 (Zone 1 closes earlier if quota is reached).
Archery: Sept. 17-Nov. 30, 2022
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 (does not include WMAs requiring a deer permit to harvest a bear):
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-30, 2022
Statewide Bag Limit
One bear, either sex, by any method.
Archery: Closed.
Muzzleloader: Closed.
Special Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt: Closed
Modern Gun: Dec. 10-16, 2022 (Zone 3 closes earlier if quota is reached)
Bear Zone 4 Season Details.
Archery: Closed.
Muzzleloader: Closed.
Special Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt: Closed.
Modern Gun: Dec. 10-16, 2022 (Zone 4 closes earlier if quota is reached)
Archery: Closed.
Muzzleloader: Closed.
Special Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt: Closed.
Modern Gun: Nov. 26-Dec. 4, 2022 (Zone 5 closes earlier if quota is reached)
Archery: Closed.
Muzzleloader: Closed.
Special Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt: Closed.
Modern Gun: Nov. 20-Dec. 4, 2022 (Zone 5A closes earlier if quota is reached).
Arkansas hunting seasons for waterfowl.
- Special Early Teal SeasonSept. 15-30, 2022Daily Limit – 6 (blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal combined)
Possession Limit – 18 - Duck, Coot and MerganserNov. 19-27, 2022
Dec. 10-23, 2022
Dec. 26, 2022-Jan. 31, 2023Duck daily bag limit – 6, which may include no more than:
4 mallards (2 hens), 1 scaup, 3 wood ducks, 1 pintail, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, 1 mottled duck. If not listed, up to 6 ducks of a species (including teal) may be taken.Coot daily bag limit – 15.Merganser daily bag limit – 5, which may include no more than 2 hooded mergansers.Possession limit for ducks, coots and mergansers is three times the daily bag limit. - Special Youth Waterfowl HuntDec. 3, 2022 and Feb. 4, 2023On these days, youths 15 and younger may harvest ducks, geese, coots and mergansers. Youths who have not completed a hunter education course must be accompanied by a mentor 21 or older. Mentors may not hunt, but may call waterfowl. Shooting hours and bag limits are the same as the regular duck and goose seasons. Youth hunters can hunt on wildlife management areas 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset these two days. WMA General Use Permits are not required for youth hunters.
- Special Active Duty Military and Veteran HuntDec. 3, 2022 and Feb. 4, 2023On these days members of active duty military and military veterans may harvest ducks, geese, coots and mergansers. Active duty military includes members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training). Veterans must have served in active military, naval, air service or Reserves and National Guard on Title 32 orders in a combat zone and must have been discharged or released under Honorable conditions. Hunters will need to have an active hunting license and stamps and one of the following or copy during the hunt: DD214, Veteran Benefit Card, Retired Military I.D., Veteran Hunting License (VLF, VLH, VLC or VLL) or Military I.D. card. Shooting hours and bag limits are the same as regular duck and goose seasons. Hunters may hunt on wildlife management areas from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset these two days. WMA General Use Permits are required.
- Canada GooseSept. 1-Oct. 15, 2022Daily bag limit – 5
Possession limit – 15Nov. 19-27, 2022
Dec. 10-23, 2022
Dec. 26, 2022-Jan. 31, 2023Daily bag limit – 2
Possession limit – 6 - White-fronted GooseOct. 29-Nov. 11, 2022
Nov. 19-27, 2022
Dec. 10-23, 2022
Dec. 26, 2022-Jan. 31, 2023Daily bag limit – 3
Possession limit – 9 - Snow, Blue and Ross’s GooseOct. 29-Nov. 11, 2022
Nov. 19-27, 2022
Dec. 10-23, 2022
Dec. 26, 2022-Jan. 31, 2023Daily bag limit – 20
No possession limit - Light Goose Conservation Order (Snow, Blue and Ross’s)Feb. 1-3, 2023
Feb. 5-April 25, 2023Bag Limit – NoneGo to Light Goose Conservation Order page for special regulations.
Arkansas turkey hunting seasons.
Special Youth Turkey Hunt
Zones 1 and 2: April 9-10, 2022
- Youth must have a free Customer Identification Number (CID) to hunt and check a turkey. To set up a youth’s customer profile click here. Select New Customer. Once you fill out your youth’s information, make sure to add the free Customer ID to your cart (under the Hunting tab) once in the licensing system and complete the checkout process.
- Bag Limit during the Special Youth Turkey Hunt is one legal turkey.
- Only hunters 6 to 15 years old may hunt turkeys during the special youth turkey hunt.
- Youths who have not completed hunter education must be under the direct supervision of an adult who is 21 or older.
Regular Turkey Season Dates
Zone 1: April 18-26, 2022
Zone 2: April 18-May 8, 2022
Statewide Turkey Bag Limit
- The statewide bag limit is two legal turkeys, no jakes.
- Exception: Hunters 6 to 15 years old may harvest one jake as part of their two-bird limit during the season (including the youth hunt).
- No more than one legal turkey may be taken during the first 7 days of the regular season.
- No more than one legal turkey may be taken per day.
- It is illegal for any hunter to harvest a bearded hen.
- Bag limit on all individual wildlife management areas is one legal turkey.
- Hunters may not exceed any zone (Statewide or WMA) harvest limits.
Zone Turkey Harvest Limits
Zone 1: One legal turkey, no jakes (see Statewide Turkey Bag Limit for exceptions). Hunters who kill a turkey in this zone must travel to Zone 2 to attempt to harvest a second turkey.
Zone 2: Two legal turkeys, no jakes (see Statewide Turkey Bag Limit for exceptions).
ArKansas furbearer hunting seasons.
Badger, Spotted Skunk (Civet Cat) and Weasel Hunting
Statewide hunting: closed
Beaver and Nutria
Statewide, sunrise, Sept. 1, 2022-sunset, March 31, 2023
Day hunting only.
No bag limit.
Bobcat
Sunrise, Sept. 1, 2022-sunset, Feb. 28, 2023 (dogs allowed to hunt bobcats during the day; dogs required to hunt bobcat at night).
During turkey season (day hunting only; no dogs allowed).
- Dogs are not allowed in deer zones where a firearms deer season is in progress that prohibits the use of dogs.
- During youth turkey hunts, only youths may take bobcats.
- Bobcats may be taken with archery equipment, or any rifle or shotgun ammunition.
Daily limit 2, possession unlimited.
Coyote
Sunrise, Jan. 1-sunset, Dec. 31 (dogs are allowed to hunt coyote during the day; coyote may not be hunted at night).
Statewide: during turkey season (day hunting only; no dogs allowed).
- Dogs are not allowed in deer zones where a firearms deer season is in progress that prohibits the use of dogs.
- During youth turkey hunts, only youth may take coyotes.
- Coyotes may be taken during daylight hours with archery equipment, or any rifle or shotgun ammunition.
Daily limit unlimited, possession unlimited.
Gray Fox, Red Fox, Muskrat and Mink
Statewide, sunrise, Sept. 1st. until sunset, Feb. 28 th
Day hunting only.
- Foxes may be taken during daylight hours with archery equipment, or any rifle or shotgun ammunition. Refer to Page 75 for hunting equipment legal on WMAs.
Bag limit is two per day.
Opossum, Raccoon and Striped Skunk
Statewide: Jan. 1-Dec. 31
Day or night hunting; dogs are required for hunting at night.
Bag limit unlimited.
River Otter
Statewide: sunrise, Nov. 12, 2022-sunset, Feb. 28, 2023.
Day hunting only.
Bag limit is two per day.