Waterfowl
Arkansas is well-known for its waterfowl hunting. In fact, Stuttgart, AR is known as the Duck Capital of the World.
The state’s positioning in the Mississippi Flyway and abundant waterfowl habitat make it an ideal place for wintering ducks. Hunters from all over flock to The Natural State to enjoy this world-renowned duck hunting season.
Mallards are the most common duck species found in Arkansas as well as North America. However, there are over 24 species of ducks to be found in The Natural State. Waterfowl hunting also includes coot, Merganser and certain species of geese.
More than 100,000 waterfowl hunters each year enjoy hunting the iconic flooded timber and rice fields of Arkansas. With more than 50,000 acres of publicly accessible greentree reservoirs in wildlife management areas and a vast complex of rice farms producing wetland habitat across the state, Arkansas offers some of the best public and private hunting opportunities in the nation.
A Waterfowl Hunter 16 or Older Must Carry:
1. A valid federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp ($25, DFS) physical stamp, signed in ink across the face, or the electronic code from purchasing the federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp online ($30, FDE);
And proof of the following license privileges (may be carried on paper, an electronic copy on the user’s smartphone or through a Commission-issued Conservation Hard Card):
2. Proof of Arkansas HIP registration.
3. One of the following:
- Resident Arkansas Waterfowl Stamp (DSR), $7.
- Nonresident Arkansas Waterfowl Stamp (DSN), $50.
- 65+ Resident Arkansas Lifetime Waterfowl Stamp (PLD), $7.
- Military Retiree Lifetime Waterfowl Permit (MRD), $7.
- Disabled Military Veteran Lifetime Waterfowl Permit (VLD), $7.
4. One of the following hunting licenses:
- Resident Wildlife Conservation License (HNT), $10.50.
- Resident Sportsman’s License (RS), $25.
- Combination Sportsman’s License (CS), $35.50.
- 65+ Resident Annual Sportsman’s License (PAH), $3.50.
- 65+ Resident Sportsman’s Lifetime License (PLH2), $25.
- 65+ Resident Combination Lifetime License (PLC2), $35.50.
- Resident Military Retiree Lifetime Hunting License (MRH2), $25.
- Resident Military Retiree Lifetime Combination License (MRC2), $35.50.
- Resident Disabled Military Veteran Lifetime Hunting License (VLH2), $1.50.
- Resident Disabled Military Veteran Lifetime Combination License (VLC2), $3.
- Resident Disabled Military Veteran Lifetime Combination License and Permit (VLL2), $52.50.
- 3-year Resident Disabled Sportsman’s License (RDH), $25.
- 3-year Resident Disabled Combination License (RDC), $35.50.
- Nonresident 5-Day Small Game Hunting License (SG5), $80.
- Nonresident Annual Small Game Hunting License (NRH), $110.
- Nonresident Annual Hunting License (NBG), $410.
- Lifetime Sportsman’s Permit (Arkansas Waterfowl Stamp not required) (LSP2), $1,000.
- Natural State Lifetime License (Arkansas Waterfowl Stamp not required) (NSLL), $500 (sold to youths 10 and younger).
5. A free WMA General Use Permit when hunting or trapping on any WMA (WMP). See Page 41.
6. Nonresidents also must carry one of the following permits before hunting waterfowl on all WMAs:
- Nonresident 3-Day Wildlife Management Area Waterfowl Hunting Permit (NW3), $40.
- Nonresident 30-Day Wildlife Management Area Waterfowl Hunting Permit (NW30), $200.
Resources
Decoy Adoption Program
Donate your old, unwanted hunting decoys to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Decoy Adoption Program and we’ll find them new homes.
Contact Eric Maynard at Eric.Maynard@agfc.ar.gov and we’ll schedule a time to pick up any old decoys that are faded, have holes or broken keels. The decoys will be used in painting programs to teach people the different species of waterfowl in Arkansas. Some decoys will even be given to new hunters to be used in mentored hunts and youth duck hunts to help them get started.
