Cypress Bayou WMA

Zone	County
140	Lonoke, White

Zone

County

140

Lonoke, White

Three-point rule

Factory Exhaust Only

Shell Limit (25 shells max per hunter)

Waterfowl Hunting Ends at Noon

Waterfowl Season Access Restrictions

Acres: 2,778

2025-26 Closed Seasons

Alligator
Bear

2025-26 Crow

Sept. 1, 2025-Feb. 21, 2026. Open Thursdays through Mondays only. No limit.

2025-26 Deer

Deer Archery: Sept. 6-8 (antlered bucks only); Sept. 27-Feb. 28.
Deer Alternative Firearms (permit required): Oct. 18-22.
Deer Modern Gun (permit required): Nov. 8-12.
Deer Modern Gun Special Youth Hunt: Nov. 1-2 and Jan. 3-4.

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 alternative firearms permit,
One buck or doe with modern gun permit.
During youth hunt, youths may take three deer, two bucks (no antler restrictions) and one doe.

Deer Notes:

Three-point rule.
No dogs.

2025-26 Quail

Nov. 1, 2025-Feb. 1, 2026. Daily limit – 6, possession limit – 12.

2025-26 Rabbit

Sept. 1, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026. Daily limit – 8, possession limit – 16.

2025-26 Squirrel

May 15, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026. Dogs allowed. Daily limit – 12, possession limit – 48.

2025-26 Waterfowl

Waterfowl Notes:

No boats allowed Nov. 15-21, Dec. 2-9 and Dec. 24-26.
No boats allowed from 1 p.m. to 4 a.m. Nov. 22-Dec. 1, Dec. 10-23 and Dec. 27-Jan. 30 on open hunting days. No boats allowed on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Nov. 24-Jan. 30.
Boats allowed from 1-6:30 p.m. Jan. 31 and Feb. 7-8.

Red Cut Slough Tract on Cypress Bayou WMA Waterfowl Permit Sites Map
Red Cut Slough Tract on Cypress Bayou WMA Online Draw Dates
2024-25 WMA Waterfowl Hunt Application Totals
From Nov. 22-Dec. 1, Dec. 10-23 and Dec. 27-Jan. 31, Red Cut Slough Tract on Cypress Bayou WMA is open for waterfowl hunting only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Anyone entering flooded areas must have a signed Cypress Bayou Waterfowl Hunting Daily Use Permit on their person.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays nonrestricted permits are available at the parking area. Hunters are not restricted to designated locations on these days. The top portion of the permit must be completed and deposited in the collection box before the hunt. The bottom portion must be carried while hunting, completed and returned to the collection box at the end of the hunt.
On Saturdays and Sundays, a limited number of permits will be available by online drawing. Permits will be for designated locations. There may be a total of four hunters per party for each location drawn. All members of each hunting party must hunt within immediate proximity of each other. Visit agfc.com/license to apply.
Permits are not required during the Youth/Veteran and Active-Duty Military Waterfowl Hunt.
No airboats during duck season.

2026 Turkey

Youth Hunt: April 11-12. One legal turkey.
Firearms Hunt (permit required): April 20-22 and April 25-27. One legal turkey.

About the Name

Cypress Bayou WMA is named after the bayou that flows through the area.

Area Notes

A free annual General Use Permit (WMP) is required to hunt or trap on WMAs. Permits are available online by clicking “Buy Licenses” at agfc.com or by calling 833-345-0325 or any regional office.
For access restrictions that affect all users during waterfowl season, check the waterfowl guidebook.
It is unlawful to possess any shot other than federally approved non-toxic shot while hunting migratory birds, including dove, with shotguns.

Camping

Camping is not allowed on the WMA.

Description

Cypress Bayou WMA encompasses 1,503 acres in northern Lonoke and southern White counties. The management area was acquired through the Farmers Home Administration program in 1989 and most of the area was reforested with mixed hardwood species in the early 1990s.

Hunting Opportunities

Hunting opportunities exist for deer, turkey and small game.

Ownership

AGFC

Phone

833-345-0283

Recreation Other Than Hunting

A small 6-acre pond is adjacent to the parking on Arkansas Highway 31, and provides fishing opportunities for bream, catfish and bass.

Restaurants and Other Facilities

The city of Beebe is about 8 miles north and provides lodging and restaurant accommodations.