Season Dates and Bag Limits

Deer

2009-2010 Season Dates

Season Description	Deer Zones and Season Dates	Limits
Archery	Zones 1, 1A, 2, 6, 6A 7, 8, 8A and 10: Oct. 1, 2009 - Feb. 28, 2010.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 2 does may be taken with archery tackle. Dogs may not be used. Hunting deer over bait is prohibited from Feb. 1-28.
	Zones 3, 4, 4A, 4B, 5, 5A, 5B, 9, 11, 16 and 16A: Oct. 1, 2009 - Feb. 28, 2010.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 3 does may be taken with archery tackle. Dogs may not be used. Hunting deer over bait is prohibited from Feb. 1-28.
	Zones 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17: Oct. 1, 2009 - Feb. 28, 2010.	Limit 4, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 4 does may be taken with archery tackle. Dogs may not be used. Hunting deer over bait is prohibited from Feb. 1-28.
Note to archery hunters: When archery hunting during an open firearms season, archery hunters must follow the bag limits of the firearms season. BOWHUNTERS! Don’t forget to wear hunter orange during the Special Youth Modern Gun Deer Hunt, Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3.
Muzzleloader	Zones 1, 1A, 2, 3, 6, 6A, 7, 8, 8A, 10 and 11: Oct. 17-25 and Dec. 19-21, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than 1 doe may be taken with muzzleloaders. A doe may only be taken Oct. 17-21. Dogs may not be used.
	Zones 4A and 5A: Oct. 17-25 and Dec. 19-21, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than 2 does may be taken with muzzleloaders. Dogs may not be used.
	Zones 4, 4B, 5 and 5B: closed.
	Zones 9, 16 and 16A: Oct. 17-25 and Dec. 29-31, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than 2 does may be taken with muzzleloaders. Dogs may not be used.
	Zones 12 and 17: Oct. 17-25 and Dec. 29-31, 2009.	Limit 4, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 4 does may be taken with muzzleloaders. Dogs may not be used.
	Zones 13, 14 and 15: Oct. 17-25 and Dec. 19-21, 2009.	Limit 4, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than 2 does may be taken with muzzleloaders. Dogs may not be used.
All concealed handgun permit holders must identify themselves to a Wildlife Officer when complying with an inspection pertaining to birds, fish, game or other wildlife resources.
Modern Gun	Zone 1: Nov. 14-Dec. 6, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than one doe may be taken with firearms. A doe may only be taken Nov. 14-18. Dogs may not be used.
	Zone 1A, 6A, 8A and 10: Nov. 14-Dec. 6, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than one doe may be taken with firearms. A doe may only be taken Nov. 14-18. Dogs allowed.
	Zones 2 and 3: Nov. 14-Dec. 6, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than one doe may be taken with firearms. A doe may only be taken Nov. 14-15. Dogs may not be used.
	Zone 4: Nov. 14-15, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than one doe may be taken with modern gun. Modern guns are restricted to shotguns with slugs and certain revolvers and pistols. Click here for more information. Archery equipment and muzzleloading rifles may also be used. Dogs may not be used.
	Zone 5: Nov. 14-15 and Nov. 21-22, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than one doe may be taken with modern gun. Modern guns are restricted to shotguns with slugs and certain revolvers and pistols. Click here for more information. Archery equipment and muzzleloading rifles may also be used. Dogs may not be used.
	Zone 4A and 5A: Nov. 14-Dec. 13, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than 2 does may be taken with firearms. Dogs may not be used.
	Zone 4B and 5B: Nov. 14-22, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than one doe may be taken with firearms. Modern guns are restricted to shotguns with slugs and certain revolvers and pistols. Click here for more information. Archery equipment and muzzleloading rifles may also be used. Dogs may not be used.
	Zones 6, 7, 8 and 11: Nov. 14-Dec. 6, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than one doe may be taken with firearms. A doe may only be taken Nov. 14-15. Dogs allowed.
	Zone 9: Nov. 14-Dec. 20, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than 2 does may be taken with firearms. Dogs may not be used.
	Zone 12: Nov. 14-Dec. 20, 2009.	Limit 4, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 4 does may be taken with firearms. Dogs allowed.
	Zones 13, 14 and 15: Nov. 14-Dec. 13, 2009.	Limit 4, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than 2 does may be taken with firearms. Dogs allowed.
	Zone 16: Nov. 14-Dec. 25, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than 2 does may be taken with firearms. Dogs may not be used.
	Zone 16A: Nov. 14-Dec. 25, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than 2 does may be taken with firearms. Dogs allowed.
	Zone 17: Nov. 14-Dec. 25, 2009.	Limit 4, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 4 does may be taken with firearms. Dogs allowed.

Christmas Holiday Modern Gun Deer Hunt	Zones 1, 1A, 3, 6A, 8A and 10: Dec. 26-28, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks and no more than one doe may be taken. Dogs may not be used.
	Zones 2, 6, 7, 8 and 11: Dec. 26-28, 2009.	Limit 2, no more than 2 legal bucks. No does. Dogs may not be used.
	Zones 4, 4B, 5 and 5B: Dec. 26-28, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks and no more than one doe may be taken with firearms. Modern guns are restricted to shotguns with slugs and certain revolvers and pistols. Click here for more information. Archery equipment and muzzleloading rifles may also be used. Dogs may not be used.
	Zones 4A, 5A, 9, 16 and 16A: Dec. 26-28, 2009.	Limit 3, no more than 2 legal bucks and no more than 2 does may be taken with firearms. Dogs may not be used.
	Zones 12 and 17: Dec. 26-28, 2009.	Limit 4, no more than 2 legal bucks or up to 4 does may be taken with firearms. Dogs may not be used.
	Zones 13, 14 and 15: Dec. 26-28, 2009	Limit 4, no more than 2 legal bucks and no more than 2 does may be taken with firearms. Dogs may not be used.

Special Youth Modern Gun Deer Hunt	All zones: Nov. 7-8, 2009 and Jan. 2-3, 2010. The special modern gun youth hunt is closed during a deer permit hunt (unless otherwise specified).	Youths 15 or younger may harvest deer during the special youth modern gun deer hunt. Youths who have completed hunter education must be accompanied by an adult at least 18 years old. Youths who have not completed hunter education must be under the direct supervision of an adult at least 21. Youths may harvest their entire seasonal bag limit during the hunt, but must follow deer zone and WMA zone restrictions. Youth hunters may harvest their seasonal bag limit of bucks without regard to antler-point restrictions (except the East Unit of Choctaw Island WMA). Youths may harvest does statewide during the Nov. 7-8 hunt, but may harvest does only in deer zones 9, 12, 16, 16A and 17 during the Jan. 2-3 hunt; youths in all other zones must harvest bucks only. All deer harvested during the youth hunt will count toward the youth’s seasonal bag limit. No dogs allowed.
Exceptions: Hunters 65 years of age or older and holding a valid Arkansas hunting license accompanying a youth 15 years old or younger during the Nov. 7-8 youth hunt may harvest deer. These deer must meet antler restrictions and doe quota permit restrictions for the WMA where harvested. Archery tackle may be used by legal hunters during the youth hunt, but all hunters must wear hunter orange and follow modern gun season regulations for the deer zone or WMA hunted. WMAs with permit-based deer hunts (pages 73-133) are closed to the Special Youth Modern Gun Deer Hunt.

Seasonal Statewide Bag Limit (Deer Zone Map)

The season bag limit is four deer, provided at least one deer is taken in one of the zones or areas noted in the list below. No more than two may be legal bucks. Additional restrictions may apply within certain zones, wildlife management areas and national wildlife refuges (pages 73-133).

A hunter harvesting a legal buck in a one-buck WMA must go to another deer zone or a two-buck WMA to harvest the second buck. A second buck may be harvested on a WMA requiring a modern gun, muzzleloader or youth permit as long as the hunter was drawn for that permit. Hunters, including archery hunters, are reminded that a WMA doe quota permit is required to take a doe during firearms season on certain WMAs. Permit applications are available during June. Special youth hunt bag limit restrictions.

Zone(s)	Bag Limit
Deer zones 1, 1A and 10:	Seasonal bag limit of 3 deer, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 2 does may be taken with archery tackle. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than one doe may be taken with firearms. A doe may only be taken with firearms Oct. 17-21, Nov. 7-8 (youths and 65 years of age or older only), Nov. 14-18 or Dec. 26-28, 2009.
Deer zones 2, 6, 7 and 8:	Seasonal bag limit of 3 deer, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 2 does may be taken with archery tackle. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than one doe may be taken with firearms. A doe may only be taken with firearms Oct. 17-21, Nov. 7-8 (youths and 65 years of age or older only) or Nov. 14-15, 2009.
Deer zone 3:	Seasonal bag limit of 3 deer, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 3 does may be taken with archery tackle. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than one doe may be taken with firearms. A doe may only be taken with firearms Oct. 17-21, Nov. 7-8 (youths and 65 years of age or older only), Nov. 14-15 or Dec. 26-28, 2009.
Deer zones 4, 4B, 5 and 5B:	Seasonal bag limit of 3 deer, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 3 does may be taken with archery tackle. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than one doe may be taken with firearms. During the Jan. 2-3, 2010 Special Youth Modern Gun Deer hunt youths may only take bucks.
Deer zones 4A and 5A:	Seasonal bag limit of 3 deer, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 3 does may be taken with archery tackle. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than 2 does may be taken with firearms. During the Jan. 2-3, 2010 Special Youth Modern Gun Deer hunt youths may only take bucks.
Deer zones 9, 16, and 16A:	Seasonal bag limit of 3 deer, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 3 does may be taken with archery tackle. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than 2 does may be taken with firearms.
Deer zone 6A and 8A:	Seasonal bag limit of 3 deer, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 2 does may be taken with archery tackle. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than one doe may be taken with firearms. A doe may only be taken with firearms Oct. 17-21, Nov. 7-8 (youths and 65 years of age or older only) or Nov. 14-18, 2009.
Deer zone 11:	Seasonal bag limit of 3 deer, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 3 does may be taken with archery tackle. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than one doe may be taken with firearms. A doe may only be taken with firearms Oct. 17-21, Nov. 7-8 (youths and 65 years of age or older only) or Nov. 14-15, 2009.
Deer zones 12 and 17:	Seasonal bag limit of 4 deer, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 4 does may be taken with archery tackle. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 4 does may be taken with firearms.
Deer zones 13, 14 and 15:	Seasonal bag limit of 4 deer, no more than 2 legal bucks. No more than 2 legal bucks or up to 4 does may be taken with archery tackle. No more than 2 legal bucks and no more than 2 does may be taken with firearms. During the Jan. 2-3, 2010 Special Youth Modern Gun Deer hunt youths may only take bucks.

Zones and Areas that May Contribute to Four Deer Bag Limit

Deer Zones 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17
Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA
Big Timber WMA
Blevins WMA
Casey Jones WMA
Choctaw Island WMA
Crossett Experimental Forest WMA
Cut-Off Creek WMA
DeGray Lake WMA
Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D’Arc WMA
Falcon Bottoms Natural Area WMA
Felsenthal NWR

Gum Flats WMA
Hope Upland WMA
Howard County WMA
Lafayette County WMA
Lake Greeson WMA
Little Bayou WMA
Little River WMA
Nacatoch Ravines Natural Area WMA
Overflow NWR
Ozan WMA
Poison Springs WMA

Pond Creek NWR
Provo WMA
Sandhills Natural Area WMA
Seven Devils WMA
Spring Bank WMA
Sulphur River WMA
Terre Noire Natural Area WMA
Trusten Holder WMA
Two Bayou Creek WMA
Warren Prairie Natural Area WMA
White Cliffs Natural Area WMA

Legal Buck

When counting the number of points, the end of the main beam constitutes one point. Points must be at least one inch long to count.

Youth hunters: Hunters 15 years old and younger may harvest any buck without regard to antler size or points, except on the East Unit of Choctaw Island WMA, where they must follow antler restrictions.

Three-point rule: A legal buck must have both antlers shorter than two inches or have three or more points on one side of his rack. The three-point rule applies statewide unless mentioned below. Button bucks may be taken.

Four-point/18 inch main beam rule: A legal buck in deer zones 16, 16A and 17 must have either:

both antlers under two inches, or
one antler with at least four points including the tip of the main beam, or
at least one beam 18 inches or more in length. Button bucks may be taken.

Four-point rule: A legal buck in Lafayette County, Rick Evans Grandview Prairie and St. Francis National Forest WMAs is required to have either:

both antlers under two inches, or
one antler with at least four points including the tip of the main beam.

4x4 slot: Cut-off Creek, Bayou Meto, Sheffield Nelson Dagmar, Henry Gray Hurricane Lake, Little Bayou, Moro Big Pine Natural Area, Rex Hancock Black Swamp, Trusten Holder, Seven Devils, Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMAs and UA Pine Tree Experimental Station WDA require that a legal buck must have:

four or more points on one side of his rack, or
four or fewer total points on both sides of his rack (button bucks included).

On Choctaw Island WMA, a legal buck is either:

a Type A buck with five or more points on one side of his rack or an inside spread 15 inches or more (measured at widest point at a right angle to the centerline of the skull); button bucks included.
a Type B buck with five or fewer total points.

On Greers Ferry Lake and DeGray Lake WMAs any buck may be legally harvested during the deer muzzleloader mobility impaired hunt.

On Hobbs State Park Conservation Area any buck may be legally harvested during the deer modern gun mobility impaired hunt.

Special Deer Regulations

Swimming deer may not be hunted. Deer may not be driven or captured from a boat. Deer may not be hunted from watercraft on public waters.
Deer may not be hunted over bait from Feb. 1-28 if the hunter knows, or should reasonably know, the area is baited. An area is considered baited for 10 days following complete removal of the bait. Click here for more information about baiting.

2010 Deer Season Opening Dates
Archery	Friday, Oct. 1, 2010*
Muzzleloader	Saturday, Oct. 16, 2010*
Modern Gun	Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010*
*Dates are subject to change. Click here to view the season setting schedule.