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, 2020WMA 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
- 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.