Wedington WMA
| Zone | County |
|---|---|
| 653 | Benton, Washington |
CWD Zone
Special Firearms Restrictions
Additional USDA Forest Service Regulations
Acres: 15,915
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Deer alternative firearms
- Alligator
- Quail
- Turkey
2026-27 Crow
Sept. 3, 2026-Feb. 21, 2027. Open Thursdays through Mondays only. No limit.
2026-27 Deer
Deer Archery: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28.
Deer Modern Gun Mobility-Impaired Hunt (permit required): Nov. 7-8.
Deer Modern Gun (permit required): Nov. 14-18.
Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts: Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3.
WMA Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (no antler restrictions), which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery,
- Three antlerless deer with archery,
- One antlered buck and one antlerless deer with modern gun permit.
- During youth hunts and mobility-impaired hunt, two deer may be taken, one antlered buck and one antlerless,
- During mobility-impaired permit hunt, mobility-impaired hunters may take two deer, one antlered buck (no antler restrictions) and one antlerless deer.
2026-27 Dove
Sept. 5-Oct. 25, 2026 and Dec. 8, 2026-Jan. 15, 2027
Mourning Dove and White-Winged Dove
Daily Limit – 15, possession Limit – 45
Eurasian Collared-Dove
No daily or possession limit
Eurasian Collared Doves must remain fully feathered in the field and while being transported from the field.
Dove Notes: The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission prepares a few fields each year for the opening weekend of dove season so the public has a place to enjoy this exciting form of wingshooting. Dove fields on WMAs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. WMA acreage put into dove fields is relatively small because most hunters only pursue doves the first few days of the season. However, after opening weekend of dove season, many wildlife species feed in the fields, particularly those that were top sown with winter wheat.
2026-27 Rabbit
Sept. 1, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027. Daily limit – 8
2026-27 Squirrel
May 15, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027. Dogs allowed. Daily limit – 12
2026 Bear
Bear Archery: Sept. 9-Nov. 30.
Bear Modern Gun: Nov. 14-18 (deer permit holders only).
Bear Modern Gun Youth Hunt: Nov. 7-8.
Bear Modern Gun Mobility-Impaired Hunt: Nov. 7-8 (mobility-impaired deer permit holders only).
Bear Notes: Seasons close earlier when Bear Zone 1 quota is reached.
About the Name
The name comes from Lake Wedington, which the WMA surrounds.
Area Notes
- Free georeferenced maps are available for this WMA and others at https://apps.agfc.com/maps/. These maps are frequently updated and include features such as parking, types of road and land boundaries.
- Click here to refer to additional U.S. Forest Service information.
- Firearms are restricted to shotguns and muzzleloaders only.
- Contact the U.S. Forest Service for a mobility-impaired modern gun permit application at 479-667-2191.
Area Type
WMA
Camping
Cabins are available for overnight stay, but there are no campgrounds.
Description
Wedington WMA is just outside of the Fayetteville/Springdale area and is owned by the USDA Forest Service. It consists of beautiful hardwood timber forests that surround Lake Wedington. There are wildlife openings within the property that allow game to travel.
Hunting Opportunities
Deer hunting is limited to bow only for the majority of the season, however, there are opportunities for modern gun permit hunts for both youth and non-youth hunters. This area is known to have a healthy population of deer and many bucks are harvested each year. Hunters also have the chance to hunt rabbit and squirrel on this WMA.
Location
The Wedington WMA, located 13 miles west of Fayetteville, is easily accessible from highway 16 and highway 412. Topographic maps of the Area are available from the USGS: Gallatin, Rhea, Robinson, and Wheeler.
Management Practices
Wildlife habitat is managed through timber stand improvements and prescribed fire.
Ownership
USDA Forest Service • 15,915 acres
Phone
833-340-7506
Recreation Other Than Hunting
Fishing and boating on Lake Wedington are great recreational opportunities this WMA offers. Lake Wedington is considered a fishing hot spot in Northwest Arkansas.
Restaurants and Other Facilities
There are many restaurants and hotel accommodations in Fayetteville and Springdale. The Catfish Hole and Mama Deans are great places to eat while visiting this part of The Natural State.