Youth Hunts

Youth Modern Gun Bear Hunt: Zones 1 & 2: Nov. 7-8, 2026 (Zone 1 closes earlier if zone quota is reached)

Notes for Zone 1 and 2: Excludes WMAs that require a deer permit to harvest a bear. Only youths 6 to 15 years of age may harvest a bear. Youths who have not completed a hunter education course must be under the direct supervision of a licensed hunter who is 21 years of age or older.

Zones 3, 4, 5, 5A, 6 and 7 Closed.

Harvest Quota
Bear hunters must call 833-345-0398 the evening before hunting for the number of bears checked. Bear season closes the day each quota has been reached:

Zone 1

• Archery quota — 450 bears
• Alternative firearms quota — 50 bears
• Modern gun quota — 50 bears

Zone 2 — No quota
Zone 3 — 5 bears
Zone 4 — 25 bears
Zone 5 — 10 bears
Zone 5A — 5 bears

Use WMA/NWR number instead of bear zone number when hunting on a WMA or NWR.
WMA/NWR regulations and dates (pages 66-108) apply when hunting on a WMA or NWR.

Special Bear Regulations

• It is unlawful to take a bear that is being pursued by dogs.
• Hunting equipment legal for taking bear is the same as deer except that shotguns must be 20-gauge or larger and use rifled slugs.

Premolar and Hair Submissions
Before freezing or processing, collect a premolar and hair to submit later. Successful hunters must submit a premolar to fulfill the check requirements for a bear. Hunters who harvest a bear must submit a premolar within seven days of receiving their premolar package from AGFC. A hair sample from the bear is also highly encouraged. Watch a video on how to remove a black bear’s premolar and collect hair samples.

Baiting
Bait, foodstuffs or the use of any kind of lure to attract bears is not allowed except on private lands in bear zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 5A, 30 days before the opening day of the first bear season until the last day of the last bear season in each respective bear zone. If baiting bear within the CWD Management Zone before Sept. 1, only the following baits are allowed: dog food, cat food, pastries/breads, cooking oils and grease, non-wildlife meat scraps, popped popcorn and fish or fish byproducts.

Youth Modern Gun Deer Hunt: Nov. 7-8, 2026 and Jan. 2-3, 2027. 

All youth hunters must have FREE Youth Game Tags (YGT) to harvest deer (as well as turkey on April 10-11 and bear on Nov. 7-8). Only hunters 6 to 15 years old may harvest deer during the youth modern gun deer hunt. Youths who have not completed hunter education must be under the direct supervision of a licensed hunter at least 21 years old. Mentors may not hunt any species during the hunt.

Exceptions:

• Bowhunters may hunt during the youth hunt, but must wear hunter orange or chartreuse.
• Check the current Hunting Guidebook for WMAs and NWRs that differ from statewide seasons.

Visit https://www.agfc.com/hunting/deer/deer-seasons-and-limits-by-zone/ for zone bag limits and notes.

Public Land: Oct. 3-4, 2026 and Oct. 24-25, 2026. Permit required.

Private Land Hunts: Oct. 3-4, 2026 (antlerless only) and Oct. 24-25, 2026 (antlerless only). Permit required.

Season Bag Limit: One elk either sex. Bull elk harvest limited to one legal bull per landowner property on private lands

Statewide Elk Zone: Elk found outside of the Core Elk Management Zone may be taken without a permit during deer season with weapon legal for that season. Hunters who harvest an elk outside of the Core Elk Management Zone must immediately call 833-356-0824 to receive checking and tagging information.

• A permit is required. Nonresidents are ineligible to take or attempt to take elk in Core Elk Zone using a public land permit obtained through the permit draw process.
• The application period for public land is May 1-June 1 with permits selected by random draw in late June. Private land elk permits are available for purchase after May 15 annually. No deadline for private land elk permits.
• Information and applications can be found at www.agfc.com or by calling any AGFC
  regional office.
• AGFC must be contacted at 833-356-0824 immediately upon harvest of an elk. All harvested elk must be checked online at www.agfc.com within 12 hours of harvest. Hunters are required to submit a viable chronic wasting disease sample for testing by presenting the elk head to an AGFC biologist.

Special Youth Turkey Hunt: Zones 1, 1A, 2 and 2A: April 10-11, 2027, One legal turkey.

Only hunters 6 to 15 years old may hunt turkeys during the youth turkey hunt. Youths who have completed hunter education may hunt alone. Youths who have not completed hunter education must be under the direct supervision of an adult who is 21 or older. Resident youth will need the product code YGT to check turkeys; nonresident youth will need the product code YTTN.

Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt: Feb. 7-8, 2026

On these days, youths 15 and younger may hunt ducks, geese, coots and mergansers. Youths who have completed a hunter education course must be accompanied by a mentor who is 18 or older. Youths who have not completed a hunter education course must be accompanied by a mentor who is 21 or older. Mentors may not hunt ducks, geese, coots or mergansers, but may call waterfowl. Shooting hours and bag limits are the same as regular waterfowl season. Hunting is allowed on WMAs from one half-hour before sunrise until sunset.

Waterfowl Permit Hunt Opportunities

AGFC offers waterfowl permit opportunities exclusively for youth hunters during both regular waterfowl season and during the special youth waterfowl hunt. Visit https://www.agfc.com/hunting/waterfowl/special-waterfowl-permit-hunts/ for more information. 

WMA Youth Waterfowl Permit Hunt Opportunities:

• Conway George Tract on Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA
• Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA and Deer Research Area West Unit
• Frog Bayou WMA
• Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA

WRICE Program Private Land Permit Fields: Special Youth Hunt: Feb. 7-8, 2026