Buffalo National River WMA

CWD Zone

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Acres: 95,730

2026-27 Closed Seasons

• Furbearer Trapping
• 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. 6 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 (no antler restrictions), which may include:

• Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
• Two antlerless deer with archery,
• One antlerless deer during alternative firearms season or the first two days of modern gun,
• During youth 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

2026 Bear

Bear Archery: Sept. 9-Nov. 30.
Bear Alternative Firearms: Oct. 17-25.
Bear Modern Gun: Nov. 14-30.
Bear Modern Gun Youth Hunt: Nov. 7-8.

Bear Notes:

• Seasons close earlier when Bear Zone 1 quota is reached.

2026 Elk

Elk (permit required): Oct. 5-9 and Oct. 26-30.
Elk Youth (permit required): Oct. 3-4 and Oct. 24-25.

2027 Turkey

Youth Hunt: April 10-11. One legal turkey.
Firearms Hunt: April 19-May 9. One legal turkey.

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.
• See www.nps.gov/buff for additional federal regulations.
• Chase for pleasure and dog training are not allowed.
• Discharging firearms across, into or from the Buffalo River and its gravel bars is not allowed.
• Hunting is not allowed in developed areas.
• Firearms and crossbows must be unloaded and cased or broken down when in a developed campground.
• The operation of off-road motor vehicles is not allowed on roads, lands and waters within the Buffalo National River.
• Vehicles may not travel off-road.
• Campsites may not remain unattended for more than 24 hours.
• Sylamore WMA seasons and regulations apply to Buffalo National River lands in Marion and Baxter counties lying east of Big Creek and south and east of the Buffalo River.
• No trapping is allowed on Buffalo National River.

Ownership

National Park Service

Phone

833-340-7506