Benson Creek Natural Area WMA
| Zone | County |
|---|---|
| 023 | Monroe, Woodruff |
Flood Prone Region
Three-point rule
Acres: 1,458
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Alligator
- Bear
2026-27 Crow
Sept. 3, 2026-Feb. 21, 2027. Open Thursdays through Mondays only. No limit.
2026-27 Deer
Deer Archery: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck); Sept. 26-Feb 28.
Deer Alternative Firearms (permit required): Oct. 17-21.
Deer Modern Gun (permit required): Nov. 14-18.
Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts: Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3.
WMA Deer Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (3-Point Rule applies), which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery,
- Three antlerless deer with archery,
- One antlered buck or one antlerless deer with alternative firearms permit,
- One antlered buck or one antlerless deer with modern gun permit.
- During youth modern gun hunt, youths may take two deer, one antlered buck (no antler restrictions) and one antlerless deer.
Deer Notes:
- Three-point rule.
- No dogs.
- This WMA is in Flood Prone Region D. Click here for details.
2026-27 Quail
Nov. 1, 2026-Feb. 7, 2027. Daily limit – 6
2026-27 Rabbit
Sept. 1, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027. Daily limit – 8
2026-27 Squirrel
May 15, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027. Dogs allowed. Daily limit – 12
2027 Turkey
Youth Hunt: April 10-11. One legal turkey.
Firearms: April 19-27. One legal turkey.
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
- Free georeferenced maps are available for this WMA and others at https://apps.agfc.com/maps/. These maps are frequently updated and include features such as parking, types of road and land boundaries.
- 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
833-345-0283
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.