AGE REQUIREMENTS FOR ARKANSAS HUNTERS
All hunters who were born after December 31st, 1968, and who are 16 years of age or older, are required to complete a state-approved Hunter Education Course to hunt within the state of Arkansas. There is no minimum age to get certified.
ARKANSAS HUNTING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
WHAT IS AN ARKANSAS HUNTER EDUCATION CERTIFICATE
An Arkansas Hunter Education Certificate proves that you’ve obtained the knowledge needed to hunt safely, responsibly, and ethically, within the state of Arkansas. All hunters in Arkasnas who were born after Dec. 31st, 1968, who are 16 years of age or older, are required to get certified.
WHERE CAN I GET MY ARKANSAS HUNTER EDUCATION CERTIFICATE?
You can obtain your Arkansas Hunter Education Card by completing an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission-approved course. Courses can be taken either online or in-person, depending on your preference.
Instructor-Led Training
Students may choose to complete a Hunter Education Course in-person. Instructor-led courses take a minimum of 10 hours to complete and may take place over a single-day course or over multiple days.
Online Course:
Hunters may also obtain their Hunter Education Certificate entirely online if they choose. Online courses typically take about 4-6 hours to complete. Students are issued a Temporary Hunter Education Certificate upon completion.
HOW OLD DO I HAVE TO BE TO GET A HUNTER EDUCATION CERTIFICATE IN ARKANSAS?
While hunter education is required for hunters who are 16 years of age or older, there is no minimum age to get certified. Hunters of any age may complete a state-approved hunter education course and obtain their Arkansas Hunter Education Certificate.
DEFERRED HUNTER EDUCATION CODE
Hunters who are at least 16 years of age, who have not obtained Hunter Education Certification may choose to obtain a Deferred Hunter Education Code. A Deferred Hunter Education Code is a permit which allows non-certified hunters to legally hunt within the state so long as they:
- Are 16 years of age or older
- Hold a valid hunting license
- Are under the direct supervision of an adult who is 21 years of age or older, who is in compliance with the state’s hunter education requirements
- Have not had their hunting privileges revoked
Is my Arkansas Hunter Education Certificate valid in other states?
The Arkansas Hunter Education Certificate will be accepted in any US state, province, or country which also requires mandatory hunter education, meaning hunters who have obtained their Arkansas Hunter Education Certificate may use it to hunt in other states. This is known as “reciprocity”.
What's the difference between a Hunter Education Certificate and a Hunting License?
A Hunter Education Card proves that you’ve obtained the knowledge you need to hunt safely and ethically in Arkansas, and is different from a Hunting License. The Hunting Licence is similar to a permit, and is required to hunt any game animal within the state. Different licenses and permits may be required depending on which game animal is being hunted.
HUNTING LICENSES, STAMPS, AND PERMITS
HUNTING LICENSES
A Hunting License is required in the state of Arkansas to hunt any game animal. There are a variety of license types available depending on your age, residency status, and what type of game you plan to hunt. Some of the hunting license types in Arkansas include:
Resident Sportsman License
This license type permits residents of Arkansas to hunt all game species within the state using a modern firearm, muzzleloader, or archery equipment. It also permits the hunter to take a total bag limit of deer and includes 6 deer tags and 2 turkey tags.
Resident Wildlife Conservation License
This license type is available to residents of the state and permits the holder to take fur-bearers, migratory birds, quail, rabbit, and squirrel, in addition to one deer. The license includes 1 deer tag.
Nonresident Annual All-Game License
This license type is available to nonresidents who wish to hunt within the state of Arkansas. It permits the holder to take all game species including bear, using modern firearms, muzzleloaders, or archery equipment. The license includes 6 deer tags and 2 turkey tags.
65 Plus Lifetime Hunting License
This license type permits Arkansas residents who are 65 years of age or older to hunt all game species within the state using a modern firearm, muzzleloader, or archery equipment. It also permits the hunter to take a total bag limit of deer and includes 6 deer tags and 2 turkey tags. Additionally, the license type permits the hunter the privileges included with a Resident Trapper Permit.
ARKANSAS HUNTER CERTIFICATION AGE REQUIREMENTS
UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE
Hunters who are less than 16 years of age are not required to obtain hunter education certification however, they are permitted to hunt within the state of Arkansas as long as they are directly supervised by an adult who is 21 years of age or older.
16 Years of age or older
Hunters who are 16 years of age or older, who were born after December 31st, 1968, are required to complete Hunter Education Certification in order to legally hunt within the state of Arkansas.
ARKANSAS HUNTING FAQS
DO I NEED A HUNTING LICENSE TO HUNT WITHIN THE STATE OF ARKANSAS?
Yes. A Hunting License is different from a Hunter Education Certificate and is required for any person who hunts any game animal within the state. This includes both residents and non-residents. Varying licenses must be purchased and carried depending on the hunter’s age, residency, and the type of game being hunted. Certain exceptions may apply depending on the game animal being hunted. For more information on Arkansas, hunting licenses visit the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Licenses and Permits page.
WHAT ARE THE ARKANSAS TAGGING REQUIREMENTS?
Certain game animals must be tagged after they’re taken, including big game animals such as deer. It’s important for hunters to understand the tagging and/or harvest reporting requirements for the game animal they’re hunting, and to ensure that the animal is tagged and reported properly.
Tagging and Game Check Requirements
Upon successfully harvesting a deer may choose to either immediately check their take, or tag the animals. Once an animal has been checked it is not required to be tagged.
Hunters who have taken a deer, and have a phone signal may immediately check their deer online at agfc.com, by phone by calling 877-731-5627, or by using the AGFC module app. Hunters can check their deer using the mobile app with or without a phone signal. The app will automatically register the harvest once the phone is back in range or service.
Hunters who are unable to immediately check their harvest online or by phone must tag their deer. The tag must be completed in ink and include the hunter’s name, customer ID number, and the time date and zone where the harvest took place. Once the tag has been properly filled out it must be securely attached to the carcass of the animal. The tag must remain in place until the deer can be properly checked.
WHAT ARE THE HUNTER ORANGE REQUIREMENTS IN ARKANSAS?
Hunters within the state of Arkansas are required to wear an outer garment above the waistline of day-light fluorescent orange or hunter safety green. The garment can be no less than 400 square inches of orange or green. Additionally, hunters are required to wear a hunter orange or safety green hat or cap. Hunter orange regulations apply to any person hunting wildlife, or accompanying a person who is hunting wildlife, within zones that are open to firearm deer, bear, or elk seasons.
Additionally, hunting blinds that are being used on public lands must display a minimum of 144 square inches of hunter orange or safety green on each visible side of the blind, and a minimum of three feet above the ground.
These regulations do not apply to those who are hunting migratory birds or to persons hunting raccoon, opossum, or bobcat, at night.
WHAT ARE THE BAG LIMITS IN ARKANSAS?
Bag limits are imposed on hunters to restrict the number of a particular game animal that can be taken. Bag limits may be daily or seasonal depending on the type of animal. Daily bag limits may be imposed which restrict the number of a particular game animal that may be taken within one hunting day, whereas seasonal bag limits restrict the number of a particular game animal that may be taken by a hunter within the hunting season.
Bag limits may vary annually depending on game species populations. Hunters must understand and follow bag limit restrictions. Violations may result in fines. For more information on bag limits visit the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website.
GAME AND NON-GAME SPECIES
GAME SPECIES
Arkansas offers a wide variety of game species for all types of hunters.
Game species in Arkansas are categorized as follows:
- Big game including white-tailed deer, bear, and elk.
- Small game including rabbit, squirrel, and quail
- Waterfowl and other migratory game birds including ducks, geese, and various species of doves.
- Furbearers including bobcat, coyotes, fox, raccoon, and opossum, among others.
NON-GAME SPECIES
Non-game species in Arkansas make-up a majority of the state’s wildlife and include mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates which typically may not be hunted, are considered a nuisance or are protected, endangered, or at risk. There is, unfortunately, a lengthy list of endangered, protected, and threatened species within the state. For more information on nongame, and endangered species within the state visit the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website.
INVASIVE SPECIES
Invasive animals and other pests have been introduced to the United States, including the State of Arkansas, and have become a threat to native wildlife. These animals, plants, fish, and invertebrates typically have no natural predators which can result in the rapid spread and population growth. This in turn can seriously harm the state’s lands and waters and can be detrimental to the health and population numbers of a variety of the state’s native plants and animals. Some common invasive species in Arkansas include cogongrass, hydrilla, sirex wood wasp, old world bollworm, and feral hogs
In order to protect Arkansas’ native plants and animals, invasive species must be controlled and eradicated. Anyone who encounters or suspects that they have encountered an invasive species within the state is encouraged to report the sighting so that it can be monitored and controlled. For information on how to report various types of invasive species in Arkansas visit the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website.
ARKANSAS HUNTING SEASONS
Hunting seasons and dates may change annually per game animal, depending on a variety of factors. Season dates are further broken out, region, or ‘zone’. Additionally, seasons are often categorized by firearm time, including archery, firearms, and muzzleloader or “primitive” firearms seasons.
Deer
Deer seasons in Arkansas are organized by ‘zone’ and firearm types. Seasons include archery, muzzleloader, and modern gun seasons. While the archery season is held state-wide, the muzzleloader and modern firearms season dates vary based on the region or ‘zone’ in which you’re hunting. The deer season typically opens in late September and dates extend through to the end of December, depending on the zone and firearm type being used.
Bear
Bear seasons in Arkansas are organized within ‘zones’ and include archery, muzzleloader and modern firearms seasons. All season dates vary depending on regions or ‘zone’ in which you’re hunting. The bear season typically opens in late September with dates extending through to the end of November, depending on the zone and firearm type.
Elk
Elk seasons in Arkansas are organized within Elk Management Zones, and only take place in select counties. Dates are further broken down based on land-type (ex. Public land, private land, and the core elk management zone). The season typically opens in early October, with dates extending through to the end of the month.
Dove
Dove season dates within the state may vary depending on the species of dove being hunted. Species include mourning dove, white-winged dove, and the Eurasian collared-dove. Dove season typically opens on the 1st of September, and extends through to the middle of January of the following year.
Ducks
Duck season within the state of Arkansas is held statewide. Bag limits will vary depending on the species of duck, or other types of waterfowl being hunted. The season typically opens in late November and closes at the end of January of the following calendar year.
HUNTING ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE LAND
PRIVATE LAND
Almost 90% of the land in Arkansas is privately owned. Hunters can typically freely take game animals hunted on their own private property or may seek permission from a landowner to hunt on private property. Hunters who wish to take game on privately owned land must follow state hunting regulations as well as any regulations specified by the landowner. Hunters must ensure they respect the rights and property of the landowner at all times.
PUBLIC LAND
There are hundreds of thousands of acres of public land space within the state of Arkansas that are open to hunting, including state-managed Wildlife Management Areas, State Parks, National Forests, and Conservation Areas. These lands are open to a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities including hunting, fishing, hiking, ATVing, horseback riding, and more.
State-managed lands may also have specific rules and regulations in place that must be followed by all land users. For more information on the rules and regulations that apply to hunters and other recreational users of state lands, visit the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Where to Hunt page.
Wildlife Management Areas
Hunting in Arkansas Wildlife Management Areas
There are 128 Wildlife Management Areas within the state of Arkansas within more than 60 counties. These public spaces encompass more than 2 million acres, resulting in a massive number of public hunting opportunities, and other outdoor recreational opportunities, within the state.
These lands are owned and managed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and other state agencies, and are designated for the purpose of wildlife, habitat and land management, and conservation purposes.
WMA Regulations
Hunters and other WMA land users must keep in mind that specific regulations may apply within WMAs. Some of these regulations include:
WMA Regulations
- Campfire and burn restrictions
- Fireworks restrictions
- Baiting restrictions
- Restrictions on hunting with dogs
- Camping restrictions
- Alcohol possession and consumption restrictions
The Natural State. Ready and rarin’ to go.
Where to Hunt in Arkansas
There are plenty of game animals for hunting in Arkansas, in addition to millions of acres on which to hunt them. Deer, turkey, and bear hunters will find no shortage of hunting opportunities – bear hunters in particular will find healthy bear populations and plenty of bear hunting opportunities across multiple counties. While many of the state’s bears are hunted on private land, there are still public opportunities available. To up your chances, head towards the Western Ozarks and Ouitchitas – for public hunting opportunities, the Ozark National Forest is a known bear habitat and offers plenty of space for hunting.
The Ozark National Forest WMA also happens to be a top-spot for turkey hunting, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission harvest records, a total of nearly 70 birds were harvested within the forest WMA – making it the top spot for gobblers based on total harvest numbers. The forest is closely followed by the Sylamore WMA, Muddy Creek WMA, and Winona WMA.
Deer hunters will find multiple public hunting opportunities, with multiple WMAs boasting excellent deer hunting opportunities within the state. Top spots include the Piney Creeks WMA and Sylamore WMA.