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 topsown with winter wheat.
Steel shot is required for all migratory bird hunting (including doves) on the following WMAs: Bell Slough, Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita, Big Lake, Camp Robinson, Cypress Bayou, Cut-Off Creek, Dave Donaldson Black River, Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois d’Arc, Earl Buss Bayou DeView, Ed Gordon Point Remove, Frog Bayou, Galla Creek, George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto, Harris Brake, Henry Gray Hurricane Lake, Petit Jean, Rex Hancock Black Swamp, Seven Devils, Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms, Sheffield Nelson Dagmar, Shirey Bay Rainey Brake.
| WMA | County | Acres of Dove Fields | Forage Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big Lake WMA | Mississippi | 15 acres | Map | Sunflowers, Millet |
| Cache River NWR *Nontoxic shot only. Requires a signed free permit. Download Permit |
Woodruff | 40 acres | Map | Sunflowers |
| Dardanelle WMA | Johnson, Logan | 15 acres | Map | Wheat |
| Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA | Conway | 63 acres | Map | Millet, Wheat |
| Fort Chaffee WMA Persons entering Fort Chaffee WMA must attend a Sportsman’s Orientation class and comply with post regulations. Class schedule and locations are available by calling 479-484-3596, ext 2. Consumptive users must purchase a biennial sportsman’s permit ($20) while nonconsumptive or recreational users are required to have a biennial recreational permit ($5 charge). Both are available at the class. Renewals or replacements are available Tuesdays and Thursdays from the Environmental Office from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. |
Crawford, Franklin, Logan, Sebastian |
28 acres | Map | Wheat |
| Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA | Desha | 32 acres | Map | Wheat |
| Frog Bayou WMA | Crawford | 22 acres | Map | Millet, Wheat |
| Galla Creek WMA | Pope | 44 acres | Map | Wheat |
| George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto WMA | Jefferson | 32 acres | Map | Wheat |
| Hope Upland WMA *Dove hunting allowed only on Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday |
Hempstead | 55 acres | Map | Wheat |
| J. Perry Mikles Blue Mountain SUA | Logan | 4 acres | Map | Wheat |
| Nimrod Lloyd Millwood WMA | Yell | 30 acres | Map | Millet, Sorghum |
| Ozark Lake WMA | Crawford | 17 acres | Map | Wheat |
| Petit Jean River WMA | Yell | 10 acres | Map | Millet, Sorghum |
| Poison Springs WMA | Nevada | 30 acres | Map | Wheat |
| Rick Evans Grandview Prairie WMA *Dove hunting allowed only on Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday |
Hempstead | 59 acres | Map | Wheat |
| St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA | Craighead | 10 acres | Map | Sunflowers |
| Trusten Holder WMA | Desha | 4 acres | Map | Wheat |
| UofA Pine Tree Experimental Station WDA | St. Francis | 80 acres | Map | Wheat |
| Wedington WMA | Benton, Washington | 32 acres | Map | Millet, Wheat |