Benson Creek Natural Area WMA

Zone: 023

Counties: Monroe, Woodruff

2020-21 Closed Seasons

Bear
Alligator

2020-21 Crow: Sept. 1, 2020-Feb. 21, 2021. Open Thursdays through Mondays. No limit.

2020-21 Deer

Deer Archery:Sept. 26, 2020- Feb. 28, 2021
Deer Muzzleloader (permit hunt): Oct. 17-21, 2020
Deer Modern Gun (special youth hunt): Nov. 7-8, 2020 and Jan. 2-3, 2021
Deer Modern Gun (permit hunt): Nov. 14-18, 2020

WMA Deer Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

Two bucks with archery,
Three does with archery,
One buck or doe with muzzeloader permit,
One buck or doe with modern gun permit.

Deer Notes:

A WMA Deer Hunt Permit is required to hunt deer with firearms on this WMA. Click here for details.
Three-point rule.
No dogs.
This WMA is in Flood Prone Region D. Click here for details.

2020-21 Quail: Nov. 1, 2020-Feb. 7, 2021. Daily limit - 6, possession limit -12. Bird dogs allowed.

2020-21 Rabbit: Sept. 1, 2020-Feb. 28, 2021. Daily limit - 8, possession limit - 16. Dogs allowed.

2020-21 Squirrel: May 15, 2020-Feb. 28, 2021. Dogs allowed. Daily limit - 12, possession limit - 48.

2021 Turkey: Youth Hunt: April 10-11, 2021. One legal turkey.
Firearms (permit hunt): April 19 -27, 2021. One legal turkey, no jakes (youths may take one jake as part of their statewide seasonal limit).

About the Name: Benson Creek Natural Area WMA is named after the creek that runs through it.

Access: From Brinkley go north on U.S. Highway 49 to Arkansas Highway 17. Go west on Arkansas Highway 17 about 3 miles to the bridge over Bayou DeView. Parking and boat access are available south of the bridge.

Age: Aquired in 1993.

Area Notes

A free annual General Use Permit (WMP) is required to hunt or trap.
Motorized vehicles, horses, camping and construction of hunting stands are prohibited.

Camping: Camping is not allowed.

Description: Benson Creek Natural Area WMA is one of many natural areas owned by the Natural Heritage Commission that are available to the public. At 1,458 acres, it includes 610 acres of bald cypress/water tupelo swamps along Bayou DeView.

Hunting Opportunities: Hunting opportunities exist for deer, small game and waterfowl.

Management Practices: Restoration efforts are used to improve the ecological quality of previosuly disturbed plant communities.

Ownership: Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission

Phone: 877-734-4581

Purpose: All ANHC natural areas are lands specifically managed to preserve, and sometimes restore, natural communities that have become rare.

Recreation Other Than Hunting: Canoeing and bird watching are popular on this area.

Restaurants and Other Facilities: Restaurants and other facilities can be found in Brinkley, about 5 miles south.

Detailed Interactive Map Public Use Maps