HUNTING AND MIGRATORY WATERFOWL
REGULATIONS WITHIN WMAs
25.01 Migratory Waterfowl Shooting Hour Restrictions Within Certain WMAs and WDAs.
25.02 Hunting or Trespassing Prohibited Within Certain WMAs and Lakes.
25.03 Boat Motor Restriction on Certain WMAs.
25.04 Migratory Waterfowl Hunting Access Restrictions Within Waterfowl Rest Areas.
25.05 Leaving Waterfowl Decoys Overnight Prohibited on WMAs, WDAs and WRAs.
25.06 Permanent Duck Blinds Prohibited on WMAs.
25.07 Waterfowl Shot Shell Restrictions for Certain WMAs.
25.09 Guiding Prohibited on All Commissioned Owned or Controlled WMAs, WDAs and WRAs.
25.10 Non-Resident Waterfowl Hunting Permit Requirements on Certain WMAs.
25.11 Steve N. Wilson/Raft Creek Bottoms WMA Waterfowl Hunting Requirements.
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25.01 MIGRATORY WATERFOWL HUNTING ACCESS TIME RESTRICTIONS WITHIN WMAs, SUAs and WDAs.
08-08 It shall be unlawful for waterfowl hunters on Wildlife Management Areas to take or attempt to take waterfowl after 12:00 noon or remain within or on water-inundated areas or natural/man-made water courses on WMAs after 12:00 noon1:00 p.m.
EXCEPTIONS:
(A) Migratory waterfowl hunting permitted during the entire day (regular shooting hours) of the last 3 days of the last duck season. Ref: Commission code 12.15 (Duck and Coot Season Restrictions).
(B) In Compliance with 25.02 (Hunting or Trespassing prohibited within Certain WMAs and Lakes).
(C) In accordance with those provisions as listed within Commission Code 12.25 (Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt Restrictions).
(D) All day hunting allowed on Beaver Lake, Dardanelle (except at the McKinnen Bottoms and Hartman Waterfowl Unites), DeGray Lake, Ft. Chaffee and Ozark Lake WMAs.
(E) Navigational boating access unrestricted on natural rivers within WMAs.
(F) In compliance with the Snow, Blue and Ross’ Goose Conservation Order (Ref Code 12.20 Snow, Blue, Ross’ Goose Season Restrictions).
PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00
25.02 HUNTING OR TRESPASSING PROHIBITED WITHIN CERTAIN03-08 WMAs AND LAKES. It shall be unlawful to duck hunt or trespass on the following areas and lakes as specified herein:
(1) Bayou Meto – Closed to all trespassing (except in designated campsites, parking areas, and boat launch ramps) from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. during duck season.
(2) BIG LAKE: Mallard Lake is closed to hunting. Fishing and non-hunting activities are allowed.
(3) DR. LESTER SITZES, III/BOIS D’ARC: Boats are not allowed on the Green Tree Waterfowl area 14 days before waterfowl season opens, but are allowed during the regular duck season.
(4) BREWER LAKE: Closed to waterfowl hunting.
(5) CAMP ROBINSON WDA: Closed to waterfowl hunting.
(6) CEDAR CREEK: Closed to waterfowl hunting.
(7) CUT-OFF CREEK: Closed to all trespassing (except in designated campsites, parking areas and boat launch ramps) from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. during duck season. Travel by boat is prohibited on Latin Drain, Firehunt Slough and Third Slough except during high water periods when boating access is possible to the Deep Slough Dam. In this case, boats may be used area-wide, however, boat motors may only be used on Cut-Off Creek and Deep Slough.
(8) DARDANELLE: Waterfowl hunting is not allowed on that part of Big Spadra and Little Spadra Creeks lying north of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, east of Crawford Street, south of I-40, and west of State Hwy 103. Dogs, hunting or trapping devices are prohibited on Johnson County, Horsehead Creek and Bob Young WRAs.
(9) DAVE DONALDSON/BLACK RIVER: No hunting is allowed on Hubble Lake during duck season. Lake Ashbaugh is closed to all hunting. The waterfowl rest area, Brookings Moist Soil Unit and Hubble Lake are open for early teal season. On Lake Ashbaugh and Hubble Lake, only fishing and non-hunting activities are allowed.
(10) DEGRAY LAKE – Loaded firearms are prohibited within Lower DeGray lake Waterfowl Rest Area except by permitted participants of special hunts.
(11) FROG BAYOU: Waterfowl hunters may not access inundated areas until 4:00 a.m. and must exit inundated areas by 12:00 p.m.
(12) HARRIS BRAKE: Open to waterfowl hunting only Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. All day hunting is allowed the last two days of the last duck season. During duck season, other hunters must abide by same hours and days as duck hunters, except for those trapping and hunting furbearers at night. Only shotguns and archery equipment are allowed for hunting. Harris Brake Lake is open to Canada goose hunting September 1-15, 2007 only.
(13) HENRY GRAY/HURRICANE LAKE: Waterfowl hunters may not access inundated area until 4:00 a.m. and must exit inundated areas by 12:00 p.m.
(14) LITTLE BAYOU: Closed to all trespassing (except in designated campsites, parking areas and boat launch ramps) from 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. during duck season
(15) PETIT JEAN RIVER WMA: Waterfowl impoundments are closed to trespass from one hour after sunset until 4:00 a.m. during duck season.
(16) REX HANCOCK/BLACK SWAMP: Waterfowl hunters may not access inundated area until 4:00 a.m. and must exit inundated areas by 12:00 p.m.
(17) RICK EVANS/GRANDVIEW PRAIRIE: Waterfowl hunting closed on all lakes and ponds.
(18) SHIREY BAY/RAINEY BRAKE: The waterfowl rest areas and MSUs (Moist Soil Units) are open to the early teal season.
(19) STEVE N. WILSON/RAFT CREEK BOTTOMS: Waterfowl hunters may not access inundated area until 4:00 a.m. and must exit inundated areas by 12:00 p.m.
(20) ST. FRANCIS FOREST: Waterfowl hunting ends at noon.
(21) ST. FRANCIS SUNKEN LANDS: The Snowden Field (MSU) levee is open to foot traffic around the north end of the unit to allow access to pulic lands; the MSUs are open for the early teal season.
(22) LAKE CONWAY: Closed to waterfowl hunting, except on the Pierce Creek and Dixs Creek Bays, waterfowl hunting ends at noon.
(23) LAKE OVERCUP: Waterfowl hunting ends at noon.
(24) CANE CREEK LAKE (Lincoln County): Waterfowl hunting ends at noon.
(25) U OF A PINE TREE EXPERIMENTAL STATION WDA: North of Hwy 306 closed to waterfowl hunting.
(26) LAKE PICKTHORNE: Closed to waterfowl hunting.
EXCEPTION:(1) Employees or agents of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in the performance of their duties.
PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00.
25.03 BOAT AND BOAT MOTOR RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN WMAs. It shall
03-08 be unlawful to fail to comply with the following list of boat and boat motor restrictions for certain WMAs.
EXCEPTIONS: (1) Boats with motors of more than 25 horsepower may not be operated on Bayou Meto WMA, Dr. Lester Sitzes III/Bois d’Arc WMA (excluding Dr. Lester Sitzes III/Bois d’Arc Lake), Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA and the Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA green tree reservoir.
(2) No boats allowed on Dr. Lester Sitzes III/Bois d’Arc WMA green tree waterfowl area 14 days before the opening day of duck season until the opening of regular duck season.
(3) No boats allowed on Bell Slough WMA, Camp
Robinson WMA, Ed Gordon/Point Remove WMA, Harris Brake WMA, Dr. Lester Sitzes III/Bois d’Arc WMA and Shirey Bay/Rainey Brake WMA green tree reservoir from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. during duck season, except during the last three days of the last duck season and during the Special youth Waterfowl Hunt when boats may be used from 4:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. daily.
(4) Commission personnel in performance of their duties.
(5) No boat motors allowed on Frog Bayou WMA.
(6) Boat motors over 10hp are prohibited on St. Francis Forest WMA.
(7) No boats allowed on Bayou Meto from 12:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m. during the duck season except as follows: (1) during the last three days of the last duck season and during the special youth waterfowl hunts when boats may be used from 4:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. daily; 2) Boating access during the duck season only from 12:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at the following streams: (1) Mulberry Access, to include all of the Salt Bayou Ditch to the confluence of Little Bayou Meto; (2) Buckingham Flats Access to include Big Bayou Meto, and Cannon Brake Access to include Little Bayou Meto only within the Cannon Brake Impoundment.
PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00.
25.04 MIGRATORY WATERFOWL HUNTING ACCESS RESTRICTIONS WITHIN 03-06/11-06 WATERFOWL REST AREAS. All Commission-owned or controlled waterfowl rest areas are closed to access beginning November 1 of each year and will re-open to access the day after duck season ends.
EXCEPTIONS:(1) Red Slough WRA within Dr. Lester Sitzes, III/Bois d’Arc WMA and Henry Moore WRA within Sulphur River WMA are open to archery hunting from October 1-November 11.
(2) Pigeon Creek WRA within Cut-Off Creek WMA and Steve Frick WRA within Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA closes to access the day after the modern gun deer hunt and will reopen to access the day after duck season ends.
(3) Johnson County WRA within Dardanelle WMA closes to access the day after the modern gun mobility impaired permit hunt and will reopen to access the day after duck season ends.(4) Dr. Lester Sitzes III/Bois d’Arc Lake WRA within Dr. Lester Sitzes III/Bois d’Arc WMA and the Nimrod/Lloyd Millwood WRA within Nimrod WMA are open for fishing and non-hunting access.
PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00.
25.05 LEAVING WATERFOWL DECOYS OVERNIGHT PROHIBITED
08-07 ON WMAs, WDAs AND WRAs. It shall be unlawful to leave waterfowl decoys overnight on any wildlife management area, wildlife demonstration area or waterfowl rest area.
EXCEPTIONS:
(1) Waterfowl decoys may be left overnight beginning the Saturday prior to the opening day of the first duck season and must be removed no later than the Sunday following the last day of the last duck season on St. Francis Sunken Lands, Big Lake and Dave Donaldson/Black River WMAs.
PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00.
25.06 DUCK BLINDS PROHIBITED ON WMAs AND COMMISSION OWNED OR
08-07 CONTROLLED LAKES. It shall be unlawful to build, erect or hunt from duck blinds (any structure being fabricated from metal, lumber, wire, nylon and other identifiable building materials) which are not removed or torn down each day at the end of the hunt or at the end of shooting hours on any wildlife management area.
EXCEPTIONS:
(1) Only blinds on Big Lake WMA and St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA, which have been assigned an ID number on or before June 30, 2006, by the Commision and have been well-constructed in the judgment of the Regional Wildlife Supervisor, may be maintained in compliance with Commission guidelines. Blinds that have deteriorated beyond a safe, usable condition in the judgment of the Regional Wildlife Supervisor cannot be rebuilt and may be destroyed by Commission personnel. Existing blinds, including floating structures, may not be moved.
(2) Only retrieving dog platforms that are attached to a tree by strap, cable, chain or other means that do not penetrate the tree bark and that do not exceed 900 square inches in floor dimension, and have the owner’s name and home address, or vehicle license plate number legibly and permanently affixed, may be placed on Dave Donaldson Black River, Big Lake and St. Francis Sunken Lands WMAs beginning the Saturday prior to the opening day of duck season and must be removed no later than the Sunday following the last day of the last duck season.
(3) In compliance with Commission Code 33.04 Permit and Specification Requirements for Structures on Commission Owned or Controlled Lakes.
PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00. Illegal structures may be removed by Commission personnel and destroyed or otherwise disposed of in accordance with Commission policy.
25.07 WATERFOWL SHOT SHELL RESTRICTIONS FOR CERTAIN
08-98/08-08
WMAs.
It shall be unlawful to possess more than 15 shot shells per hunter or to possess shot shells containing shot larger than #2 while waterfowl hunting on Bayou Meto, Bell Slough, Camp Robinson, Cut-Off Creek, Shirey Bay Rainey Brake and Seven Devils WMAs.
EXCEPTIONS:
(1) In camping, parking or boat launching areas.
(2) During the Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt,
January 31-February 1, 2009.
PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00.
GUIDING PROHIBITED ON ALL COMMISSIONED-OWNED OR 10-00/08-06 CONTROLLED WMAs, WDAs and WRAs. It shall be unlawful to guide waterfowl hunters on any Commission-owned or controlled wildlife management area, wildlife demonstration area or waterfowl rest area. It shall also be unlawful for waterfowl hunters to hunt while being guided on any Commission-owned or controlled wildlife management area, wildlife demonstration area or waterfowl rest area.
PENALTY: $500.00 to $1,000.00
25.10 NON-RESIDENT WATERFOWL HUNTING PERMIT REQUIREMENTS
05-01/08-05 ON CERTAIN WMAs. It shall be unlawful for non-resident hunters to hunt waterfowl on Bayou Meto, Bell Slough/Camp Robinson WMA, Beryl Anthony/Lower Ouachita, Big Lake, Dr. Lester Sitzes III/Bois d’Arc, Cut-Off Creek, Dagmar, Dave Donaldson/Black River, Earl Buss/Bayou Deview, Ed Gordon/Point Remove, Frog Bayou, Galla Creek, Harris Brake, Henry Gray/ Hurricane Lake, Holland Bottoms, Nimrod/Lloyd Millwood, Petit Jean River,
Rex Hancock/Black Swamp, Seven Devils, Shirey Bay/Rainey Brake, St. Francis Sunken Lands, Steve N. Wilson/Raft Creek Bottoms, Sulphur River,
Trusten Holder WMAs and Pierce Creek and Dix Creek bays on Lake Conway (Camp Robinson WDA), without first obtaining a non-resident Wildlife Management Area Waterfowl Hunting Permit. This permit is
in addition to hunting and/or guide license requirements as stated in Section 03.00 Licenses. This permit must be in possession while hunting on these Wildlife Management Areas.
PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00
25.11 STEVE N. WILSON/RAFT CREEK BOTTOMS WMA
05-02/04-03 WATERFOWL HUNTING REQUIREMENTS. It shall be unlawful, during the waterfowl season, to go upon any flooded or inundated area without first obtaining a free Steve N. Wilson/Raft Creek Bottoms Waterfowl Hunting Permit. This limited permit will be allocated through a daily draw system and is in addition to hunting license requirements as stated in Section 03.00 Licenses. The Steve N. Wilson/Raft Creek
Bottoms WMA Hunting Permit must be signed and in possession while hunting on the Steve N. Wilson/Raft Creek Bottoms WMA. Conviction(s) for violation(s) of permit requirements may result in the loss of hunting privileges.
EXCEPTION:
(1) Goose hunting is open following the closure of the regular duck
season in conjunction with statewide seasons and regulations; no permit required.
PENALTY: $100.00 to $1,000.00.
