Ethel WMA
| Zone | County |
|---|---|
| 217 | Arkansas |
Three-point rule
Valid Hunting or Fishing License or a WMA/Lake Conservation Permit is Required for All Users
Acres: 176
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Deer Firearms
- Bear
- Alligator
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 only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28.
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,
- During youth modern gun hunt, youths may take two deer, one antlered buck (no antler restrictions) and one antlerless deer.
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 Hunt: April 12-May 2. One legal turkey.
About the Name
This WMA got its name from the town Ethel. Up until the 90s, this land was only accessible to people who lived in Ethel.
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.
Camping
There is no camping on this WMA.
Description
Ethel WMA comprises 176 acres in Arkansas County. The area was formerly managed for agriculture, but was transferred to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission through the Farmers Home Administration. This area is composed of early successional hardwoods intermixed with older bottomland hardwoods.
Hunting Opportunities
The area is best known for its small game hunting potential, but offers limited archery hunting for deer.
Management Practices
There are no active management practices at this time.
Ownership
AGFC
Phone
833-363-7638
Recreation Other Than Hunting
Because of this WMA’s diverse plant and animal population, there is potential for people to observe various types of wildlife and vegetation.
Restaurants and Other Facilities
DeWitt and Stuttgart are the closest towns to find hotel and eating accommodations.
Safety
This WMA has a healthy population of venomous snakes and mosquitoes. Be sure to pack insect repellent and watch for snakes.