Deer Seasons and Limits by Zone

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 13-15, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-30 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Five antlerless with archery,
• Three antlerless with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
• No antler-point restrictions on harvest.
• Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
• Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter’s buck limit in this zone.
• CWD regulations apply.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 13-15, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-30 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Five antlerless with archery,
• Three antlerless with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
• No antler-point restrictions on harvest.
• Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
• Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter’s buck limit in this zone.
• CWD regulations apply.
• Due to ongoing research, collared or ear-tagged deer may be present. Research deer are legal for harvest. Tag and check research deer as required and call 833-356-0824 within 12 hours of harvest.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 13-15, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-30 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Five antlerless with archery,
• Three antlerless with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
• No antler point restrictions on harvest within the CWD counties. All other counties within this zone legal bucks must be a button buck or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
• Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
• Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter’s buck limit in this zone.
• In Baxter, Boone, Independence, Marion, Randolph and Sharp counties, CWD regulations apply.
  

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Closed
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-16, 2025 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – For portions outside of the CWD Management Zone: Three deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two bucks with archery or modern gun,
• Three does with archery,
• One doe with modern gun.

Limit – For portions inside the CWD Management Zone (Jackson, Randolph, Craighead and Mississippi counties): Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks, which may include:

• Two antlered bucks with archery or modern gun,
• Three antlerless with archery,
• One antlerless with modern gun.

Zone Notes

• No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
• Outside the CWD Management Zone, legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack. Inside the CWD Management Zone there are no antler restrictions.
• Special modern gun restrictions apply.
• Button bucks DO count toward a hunter’s buck limit outside of the CWD Management Zone and DO NOT count toward a hunter’s buck bag limit inside of the CWD Management Zone.
• In Jackson, Randolph, Craighead and Mississippi counties, CWD regulations apply.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 20-22, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-Dec. 7, 2025 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Three deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Three does with archery,
• Two does with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
• Legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
• Button bucks DO count toward a hunter’s buck limit in this zone.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Closed
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-16, 2025 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – For portions outside of the CWD Management Zone: Three deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• • Two bucks with archery or modern gun,
  • Three does with archery,
  • One doe with modern gun.

For portions inside the CWD Management Zone (Craighead County): Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks, which may include:

• • Two antlered bucks with archery or modern gun,
  • Three antlerless with archery,
  • One antlerless with modern gun.

Zone Notes

• No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
• Special modern gun restrictions apply.

For portions outside the CWD Management Zone:

• Legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
• Button bucks DO count toward a hunter’s buck limit outside of the CWD Management Zone

For portions inside the CWD Management Zone (Craighead County):

• No antler restriction.
• Button bucks DO NOT count toward a hunter’s buck limit.
• CWD regulations apply.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 20-22, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-Dec. 7, 2025 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Three deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Three does with archery,
• Two does with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
• Legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
• Button bucks DO count toward a hunter’s buck limit in this zone.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 13-15, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-30 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Five antlerless with archery,
• Three antlerless with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• Dogs may be used for deer hunting Nov. 8-30.
• No antler point restrictions on harvest.
• Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
• Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter’s buck limit in this zone.
• CWD regulations apply.
• Due to ongoing research, collared or ear-tagged deer may be present. Research deer are legal for harvest. Tag and check research deer as required and call 833-356-0824 within 12 hours of harvest.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 13-15, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-30 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Five antlerless with archery,
• Three antlerless with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• Dogs may be used for deer hunting Nov. 8-30.
• No antler point restrictions on harvest within the CWD counties. All other counties within this zone legal bucks must be a button buck or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
• Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
• Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter’s buck limit in this zone.
• In Conway, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Pope, Scott, Sebastian and Yell counties, CWD regulations apply.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 13-15, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-30 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Five antlerless with archery,
• Three antlerless with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• Dogs may be used for deer hunting Nov. 8-30.
• No antler point restrictions on harvest within the CWD counties. All other counties within this zone legal bucks must be a button buck or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
• Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
• Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter’s buck limit in this zone.
• In Cleburne, Conway, Independence, Jackson, Johnson, Pope and Van Buren counties, CWD regulations apply.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-Dec. 14 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
For portions outside of the CWD Management Zone: Four deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Four does with archery,
• Two does with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

For portions inside the CWD Management Zone (Jackson County): Four deer, no more than two antlered bucks, which may include:

• Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Four antlerless with archery,
• Two antlerless with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
• Outside the CWD Management Zone, legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack. Inside the CWD Management Zone there are no antler restrictions.
• Button bucks DO count toward a hunter’s buck limit outside of the CWD Management Zone and DO NOT count toward a hunter’s buck bag limit inside of the CWD Management Zone.
• In Jackson County, CWD regulations apply.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 13-15, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-30 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Five antlerless with archery,
• Three antlerless with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• Dogs may be used for deer hunting Nov. 8-30.
• Legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
• Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
• Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter’s buck limit in this zone.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 13-15, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-30 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Five antlerless with archery,
• Three antlerless with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• Dogs may be used for deer hunting Nov. 8-30.
• No antler point restrictions on harvest within the CWD counties. All other counties within this zone legal bucks must be a button buck or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
• Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
• Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter’s buck limit in this zone.
• In Logan, Scott, Sebastian and Yell counties, CWD regulations apply.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-Dec. 14 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – For portions outside of the CWD Management Zone: Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Five does with archery,
• Five does with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Limit – For portions inside the CWD Management Zone (Ashley, Bradley and Union Counties): Five deer, no more than two antlered bucks, which may include:

• Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Five antlerless with archery,
• Five antlerless with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• Dogs may be used for deer hunting Nov. 8-Dec. 14.
• Outside the CWD Management Zone, legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack. Inside the CWD Management Zone there are no antler restrictions.
• Button bucks DO count toward a hunter’s buck limit outside of the CWD Management Zone and DO NOT count toward a hunter’s buck bag limit inside of the CWD Management Zone.
• In Ashley, Bradley and Union Counties, CWD regulations apply.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-Dec. 14 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Five antlerless with archery,
• Three antlerless with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• Dogs may be used for deer hunting Nov. 8-Dec. 14.
• Legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
• Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
• Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter’s buck limit in this zone.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 20-22, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-Dec. 7, 2025 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Four deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Four does with archery,
• Two does with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• Dogs may be used for deer hunting Nov. 8-Dec. 7.
• Legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
• Button bucks DO count toward a hunter’s buck limit in this zone.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26 and Dec. 20-22, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-Dec. 7, 2025 and Dec. 26-28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Four deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Four does with archery,
• Two does with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• Dogs may be used for deer hunting Nov. 8-Dec. 7.
• Legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
• Button bucks DO count toward a hunter’s buck limit in this zone.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-Dec. 28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Four deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Four does with archery,
• Two does with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
• Legal bucks must be button bucks or have antlers with at least 15-inch inside spread or 18-inch main beam.
• Button bucks DO count toward a hunter’s buck limit in this zone.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-Dec. 28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – For portions outside of the CWD Management Zone: Four deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Four does with archery,
• Two does with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Limit – For portions inside the CWD Management Zone (Ashley County): Four deer, no more than two antlered bucks, which may include:

• Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Four antlerless with archery,
• Two antlerless with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Zone Notes

• Dogs may be used for deer hunting Nov. 8-Dec. 25.
• Outside the CWD Management Zone legal bucks must be a button buck or have at least 15-inch inside spread or 18-inch main beam. Inside the CWD Management Zone there are no antler restrictions.
• Button bucks DO count toward a hunter’s buck limit outside of the CWD Management Zone and DO NOT county toward a hunter’s buck bag limit inside of the CWD Management Zone.
• In Ashley County, CWD regulations apply.

2025-26 Deer Season Dates

Early Buck Archery: Sept. 6-8, 2025
Archery: Sept. 27, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026
Alternative Firearms: Oct. 18-26, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 1-2, 2025 and Jan. 3-4, 2026
Modern Gun: Nov. 8-Dec. 28, 2025

Zone Bag Limit
Limit – For portions outside of the CWD Management Zone:

Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Five does with archery,
• Five does with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.

Limit – For portions inside the CWD Management Zone (Mississippi County):

Five deer, no more than two antlered bucks, which may include:

• • Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
  • Five antlerless with archery,
  • Five antlerless with alternative firearms or modern gun combined.
  • In Mississippi County, CWD regulations apply.

Zone Notes

• Dogs may be used for deer hunting Nov. 8-Dec. 25.
• Outside the CWD Management Zone, legal bucks must be button bucks or have antlers with at least 15-inch inside spread or 18-inch main beam. Inside the CWD Management Zone there are no antler restrictions.
• Button bucks DO count toward a hunter’s buck limit outside of the CWD Management Zone and DO NOT count toward a hunter’s buck bag limit inside of the CWD Management Zone.
• In Mississippi County, CWD regulations apply.