Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA/Deer Research Area West Unit

Zone	County
232	Desha

Zone

County

232

Desha

An icon featuring a tent on a picket sign.

Valid Hunting or Fishing License or a WMA/Lake Conservation Permit is Required for All Users

Waterfowl Hunting Ends at Noon

Permit

Acres: 9,501

2026-27 Closed Seasons

Alligator
Deer archery
Deer firearms
Bear
Turkey

2026-27 Crow

Sept. 3, 2026-Feb. 21, 2027. Open Thursdays through Mondays only. No limit.

2026-26 Deer

Deer Archery: Closed.
Deer Alternative Firearms: Closed.
Deer Modern Gun (Disabled Veteran permit hunt): Oct. 24-25.
Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts (permit required): Nov. 21-22, Dec. 5-6 and Dec. 12-13.

WMA Deer Bag Limit:

During youth and disabled veteran permit hunts, youths and veterans may take three deer, one antlered buck (no antler restrictions) and antlerless deer with a permit.

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

2026-27 Waterfowl

Waterfowl Notes:

Closed to waterfowl hunting except for permit holders during permit waterfowl hunts.
Visit agfc.com/licenses to apply. Youth permit applications only appear if logged in under the youth hunter’s Customer ID.
On Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and the last day of the regular waterfowl season, a limited number
of permits will be available by online drawing for all ages. Permits will be for designated locations. Up to four hunters are allowed per party for each location drawn. All members of each hunting party must hunt within
immediate proximity of each other. Hunting ends at noon.
On Saturdays and Sundays, a limited number of units will be designated for youth to apply. There is a
minimum of one adult mentor per party, not to exceed one adult mentor per youth hunter. All members of the party may hunt. Hunting ends at noon.
Permits are not required during the Youth Hunt and Veterans/Active-Duty Military Waterfowl Hunts Feb. 6-7
except for the youth draw units.
No airboats during waterfowl season.

Closed to waterfowl hunting except for permit holders during permit waterfowl hunts.
From Nov. 21 – 29, 2026; Dec. 10 – Dec. 23, 2026; Dec. 26, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027, Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA West Unit is open for waterfowl hunting only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and the last day of regular duck season.
On Saturdays and Sundays, a limited number of online draw permits will be available for all ages; however, Units 1-4 will be designated for youth hunters. There is a minimum of one adult mentor per party not to exceed one adult mentor per youth hunter. All members of the party may hunt.
On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and the last day of regular duck season, a limited number of online draw permits will be available for all age hunters.
Visit www.agfc.com and click on “GET A LICENSE” to apply. Youth permit applications only appear if logged in under the youth hunters’ Customer ID.
- Applications will be accepted online for each hunt period from 3 p.m. Thursday through midnight Sunday of the weekend immediately preceding the hunt period. Permits will be drawn and winners notified via email the Monday preceding the hunt period. Visit www.agfc.com and click on “GET A LICENSE” to apply.
No more than four participants per party are allowed in each designated location.
Hunting ends at noon. On the last day of regular duck season, hunting ends at sunset.
Permits are not required during the Special Youth or Active-duty Military and Veteran Waterfowl Hunt, except for the youth permitted units.

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.

Ownership

AGFC

Phone

833-363-7638