Hot Springs State Forest WMA
| Zone | County |
|---|---|
| 365 | Garland |
Three-point rule
Acres: 3,273
2025-26 Closed Seasons
- Deer alternative firearms
- Deer modern gun
- Bear alternative firearms
- Bear modern gun
- Alligator
2025-26 Crow
Sept. 1, 2025-Feb. 21, 2026. Open Thursdays through Mondays only. No limit.
2025-26 Deer
Deer Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunt (permit required): Nov. 1-2, 2025.
WMA Deer Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two bucks with archery,
- Three does with archery.
- During youth hunt, youths may take two deer, one buck (no antler restrictions) and one doe.
2025-26 Bear
Bear Archery: Sept. 17-Nov. 30, 2025
2025-26 Quail
Nov. 1, 2025-Feb. 1, 2026. Daily limit – 6, possession limit – 12.
2025-26 Rabbit
Sept. 1, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026. Daily limit – 8, possession limit – 16.
2025-26 Squirrel
May 15, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026. Dogs allowed. Daily limit – 12, possession limit – 48.
2026 Turkey
Turkey Youth Hunt (permit required): April 11-12, 2026. One legal turkey.
Turkey Firearms Hunt (permit required): April 20-22, April 25-27 and May 2-4, 2026. One legal turkey.
Age
Added in 2025
Area Notes
- A free annual General Use Permit (WMP) is required to hunt or trap on WMAs. Permits are available online by clicking “Buy Licenses” at agfc.com or by calling 833-345-0325 or any regional office.
- Trapping is open on portions of the WMA designated on the public use map. Shotguns and rimfire rifles using legal ammunition may be used to take crow, furbearers, quail, rabbit and squirrel on areas designated on the public use map as open for firearms. Shotguns using legal ammunition may be used to take dove on areas designated on the public use map as open for firearms. Firearms legal for taking deer are allowed during modern gun youth permit hunt on areas designated on the public use map. Firearms legal for taking wild turkey are allowed during the youth permit hunt and regular turkey season permit hunt on areas designated on the public use map. ATV/UTV use is prohibited. Camping requires a permit from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry. The use of dogs to chase wildlife for pleasure and for field trials is prohibited. Portions of the WMA will not be open for public use initially. Public use maps that display areas open for hunting and trapping are available at: https://apps.agfc.com/maps/.
Ownership
Arkansas Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry
Phone
833-356-0933