Bayou Des Arc WMA
| Zone | County |
|---|---|
| 005 | Prairie |
Flood Prone Region
Three-point Rule
Valid Hunting or Fishing License or a WMA/Lake Conservation Permit is Required for All Users
Acres: 953
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- 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 Alternative Firearms: Oct. 17-25.
Deer Modern Gun: Nov. 14-Dec. 20 and Dec. 26-28.
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, alternative firearms or modern gun,
- Three antlerless deer with archery,
- Two antlerless deer with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.
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 19-27. One legal turkey.
About the Name
This 953-acre wildlife management area received its name from the city of Des Arc, a historical river town on the White River in Prairie County.
Access
Access to the WMA is limited to walk-in visitors. Parking is available at lake parking facilities.
Age
Des Arc WMA was created in 1966 after the acquisition of property for the construction of a 320-acre public fishing lake. After the creation of Lake Des Arc, bottomland hardwood habitat remained outside the levee system, providing an opportunity for development of this small management area.
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.
Area Type
WMA
Camping
Primitive camping is available.
Description
The 300-acre area is a bottomland hardwood overflow tract.
Hunting Opportunities
Swamp rabbits, deer, ducks, and squirrels are the most frequently hunted species. Raccoons may be taken, and hunting is good to excellent depending upon water levels.
Location
Bayou Des Arc is 5 miles north of the city of Des Arc on Highway 11.
Management Practices
The hardwood habitat is managed as other typical bottomland areas. Timber inventories evaluate the vigor and quality of the habitat for wildlife. The 320-acre lake is managed by an AGFC fisheries biologist.
Ownership
The AGFC owns the lake and Wildlife Management Area.
Phone
833-345-0283
Purpose
This tract provides additional public use opportunities close to a public fishing lake.
Recreation Other Than Hunting
This management area provides an opportunity to observe many species of wetland birds and Neotropical migrants for bird enthusiasts and photographers.
Restaurants and Other Facilities
The nearest facilities are in Des Arc and Hazen. Several restaurants provide various types of food and small grocery stores provide camp foods.
Safety
When accessing the WMA by boat across Lake Des Arc, make sure proper personal flotation devices for all members are aboard the vessel.