Wildlife Management Area Details

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Name	Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D’Arc WMA
WMA Zone	180
Region	5
County Coverage	Hempstead
Location	The WMA is 16 miles south of Hope.
Phone	877-777-5580
Seasons and Regulations	Turkey: Archery Hunt (no permit required): April 29-May 5, 2013. Two bearded turkeys, no jakes (youths may take one jake as part of their statewide seasonal limit). Firearms Hunt (permit required): April 20-22 and April 26-28, 2013. One bearded turkey, no jakes (youths may take one jake as part of their statewide seasonal limit). Turkey Permit: Turkey hunting on this area is restricted to special permit hunts. Click here for more information and to apply. Deer: Deer Archery: Sept. 15-Feb. 28. Red Slough Waterfowl Rest Area: Oct. 1-Nov. 2. Deer Muzzleloader (permit hunt): Oct. 20-24 and Nov. 3-4. Deer Modern Gun (permit hunt): Nov. 10-14. WMA Deer Bag Limit: Four deer, no more than two bucks, which may include: • Two bucks with archery, • Four does with archery, • One buck and two does with muzzleloader permit, • One buck and two does with modern gun permit. Deer Notes: Three-point rule. No dogs. Deer Permit: Deer hunting on this area is restricted to special permit hunts. Click here for more information and to apply. Alligator: Sept. 16-19 and Sept. 23-26, 2011. Permit required. Quail: Nov. 1, 2013-Feb. 2, 2014. Daily limit - 6, possession limit -12. Bird dogs allowed. Rabbit: Sept. 1, 2013-Feb. 28, 2014. Daily limit - 8, possession limit - 16. Dogs allowed except during firearms deer hunts. Squirrel: May 15, 2013-Feb. 28, 2014. Dogs allowed except during firearms deer hunts. Daily limit - 12, possession limit - 48. Crow: Sept. 1, 2013-Feb. 21,2014. Open Thursdays through Mondays. No limit. CLOSED: Bear Elk Area Notes: A free Sweet 16 WMA permit is required to hunt any species on this WMA. Click here to receive your permit. Red Slough Waterfowl Rest Area closes to access Nov. 6 and will reopen to access Feb. 15. It is open to archery deer hunting Oct.1-Nov. 5. Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D’Arc Lake is closed to hunting (fishing and non-hunting activities are allowed). Boats are not allowed on the greentree waterfowl area 14 days before waterfowl season opens. Boats with outboard motors larger than 25 horsepower or surface-drive motors of more than 36 horsepower and airboats may not be used (except for Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois d'Arc Lake). No boats are allowed before 4 a.m. or after 1 p.m. during duck season (including opening days of season segments), except Jan. 25-27 and during the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt, Feb. 2-3, when boats may be used from 4 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Nonresident waterfowl hunters need a Nonresident Wildlife Management Area Waterfowl Hunting Permit.
Leased Land Permit Required	No
Ownership	This 13,626-acre area is composed of 5,866 acres of state-owned land and 7,760 acres leased from International Paper and Potlatch timber companies.
Age	The area was established as a WMA in 1950s.
Purpose	The primary objective of this management area is to provide high-quality wildlife habitat and public hunting opportunities.
Description	The area consists primarily of bottomland hardwood habitats. This includes a 660-acre greentree waterfowl area. Little Grassy Duck Area is a 150-acre moist-soil management unit.
Access	From Hope, take Ark Hwy. 29 south about 6 miles, take Ark. Hwy. 355 west toward Springhill and follow into the area. The west side of the area can be accessed from U.S. Hwy. 67 west of Hope.
Hunting Opportunities	Waterfowl, deer, quail, turkey, squirrel, and rabbits.
Management Practices	A system of levees and water control structures facilitate inundating the area for waterfowl habitat. A forest management prescription and open lands management system provide excellent wildlife habitat.
Recreation Other Than Hunting	Bois d’ Arc Lake provides excellent fishing and bird-watching opportunities.
Camping	Primitive campsites are available around the lake and on the west side of the WMA.
Restaurants and Other Facilities	Facilities are located in Springhill and Hope.
Safety	Bois d’ Arc Lake and the associated creeks and sloughs are also home to the American Alligator. Caution should be used at all times, especially during warm weather, and swimming is not allowed. The lake also has numerous stumps and logs which require slow boat operations.