Sulphur River WMA
| Zone | County |
|---|---|
| 610 | Miller |
Mobility-Impaired Access
Waterfowl Season Access Restrictions
Three-point rule
Valid Hunting or Fishing License or a WMA/Lake Conservation Permit is Required for All Users
Acres: 16,520
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Bear firearms
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. 13 and Dec. 26-28.
Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts: Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3. No antler restrictions apply.
WMA 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
2026 Alligator
Alligator (permit required): Sept. 18-21 and Sept. 25-28.
2026 Bear
Bear Archery: Dec. 19-25. Season closes earlier when Bear Zone 4 quota is reached.
2027 Turkey
Youth Hunt: April 10-11. One legal turkey.
Firearms Hunt (permit required): April 12-14 and April 17-19. One legal turkey.
2025-26 Waterfowl
- 2025-26 Arkansas Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook
- 2025-26 Statewide Waterfowl Season Dates and Bag Limits
- 2025-26 General WMA Regulations
Waterfowl Notes:
- No boats allowed Nov. 15-21, Dec. 2-9 and Dec. 24-26.
Exception – Boats allowed on the following waters:- Sulphur River and Mercer Bayou.
- Closed to all access (except in designated campsites, parking areas, boat launch ramps and boat staging areas) from 2-4 a.m. Nov. 22-Jan. 31 and Feb. 7-8. Boats may only be launched in boat staging areas after 2 a.m. and must remain occupied between 2-4 a.m.
- No boats allowed from 1 p.m. to 4 a.m. Nov. 22-Dec. 1, Dec. 10-23 and Dec. 27-Jan. 30.
Exception 1 – Boats allowed from 1-6:30 p.m. Jan. 31 and Feb. 7-8.
Exception 2 – Boats allowed from 1-6:30 p.m. on the following waters:- Sulphur River and Mercer Bayou.
- No airboats during duck season (excluding Sulphur River and Mercer Bayou).
- Shot shell restrictions do not apply within Sulphur River and Mercer Bayou.
Access
Access to this area is very limited, except by boat. The west side may be accessed by traveling south on SH 71 from Texarkana for approximately 15 miles and taking SH 237east, crossing Sulphur River and continuing 2 miles and turning left onto Canal Access road and traveling to the canal access boat ramp. This is a major access point for Mercer Bayou. Using the same directions, turning right off SH 237 at the Smith Park entrance, and traveling approximately 2 miles you can access Long Slough and the Sulphur River (there are boat ramps at both locations). The east side may be accessed by traveling south on SH 71from Texarkana approximately 20 miles to the Sulphur River bridge crossing. There is a boat ramp located at the bridge. Continuing 2 miles south, turn right on CR 6 at the AGFC sign. Follow the county road, taking all rights, approximately 3 miles to the area.
Age
The area was established in the 1950s.
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.
- The Henry Moore Waterfowl Rest Area closes to access Nov. 1-Feb. 15.
Camping
Camping is available at designated sites.
Description
The area consists of one of the last remaining large tracts of bottomland hardwood habitat along the Red River Valley. The Sulphur River runs for approximately 10 miles through the management area. Mercer Bayou (an old river channel) located on the west side of the area consists of approximately 1,000 acres and is approximately 9 miles long. Days Creek is a major tributary on the northeast side of the area. Bottomland hardwoods, cypress breaks, and the associated oxbows and sloughs dominate this area. A small portion of the area contains rolling hills with mixed pine-hardwood adjacent to the floodplain.
Hunting Opportunities
Waterfowl, deer, turkey, small game, and furbearers. The area is known for it’s remoteness and lack of access; creating a challenging hunting environment. See current regulations for seasons and permit requirements.
Location
It is located in Miller County, 16 miles south of Texarkana.
Management Practices
The primary objective of this management area is to protect and enhance the unique bottomland hardwood/wetland habitats while providing recreational opportunities. There are two moist-soil units comprising approximately 900 acres. These units are seasonally flooded to stimulate the growth of naturally occurring wetland plants for waterfowl food and habitat. The Henry Moore Waterfowl Rest Area (500 acres) is included within these units. Several fall and winter food plots are also present.
Ownership
This 16,520-acre area is owned by the AGFC.
Phone
833-372-2434
Purpose
The primary objective of this management area is to provide quality wildlife habitat and public hunting opportunities. It is also managed for the protection and enhancement of the bottomland hardwood/wetland ecosystem that occurs there.
Recreation Other Than Hunting
Mercer Bayou provides excellent bass, crappie, and bream fishing. Sulphur River provides seasonal fishing opportunities. A tremendous variety of passerine and wetland bird species occurs on the area, resulting in excellent birdwatching opportunities. Spring Bank and Lafayette Co. WMA’s are approximately 7 and 10 miles to the east, respectively. Also, the states of Texas and Louisiana are very close to the West and South, respectively.
Restaurants and Other Facilities
Facilities are located in Fouke and Texarkana. Boat ramps are located at Mercer Bayou (north and south) and at Smith Park (Long Slough and Sulphur River).
Safety
This area is very remote and access is limited. Maps and compass are needed for navigation and users should be prepared for emergencies. Additionally, Sulphur River water levels can fluctuate drastically due to dam releases from Wright Patman Lake. Always wear a life jacket and check river levels.