Laws and regulations

Arkansas waterfowl laws

Licenses, stamps, hours, limits and public-land rules, in plain English.

Last checked Oct 22, 2026
This is a summary in plain English, not legal advice. Rules change, and the official text always wins. Check the official regulations linked beside each rule before you hunt. Every rule below was last checked on Oct 22, 2026.

Official sources used on this page (all checked Oct 22, 2026)

Guidebook page numbers below are the printed page numbers.

1. What you need to carry (licenses, stamps, HIP, permits)

Every waterfowl hunter 16 or older must carry the following. Paper, a phone copy, or the AGFC hard card all count. [AR-1 p.14] checked Oct 22, 2026

  1. A Federal Duck Stamp. [AR-1 p.14] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • AGFC lists the paper stamp at $25 (code DFS); it must be signed in ink across the face. [AR-1 p.14] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • The electronic stamp code bought through AGFC is $30 (code FDE). [AR-1 p.14] checked Oct 22, 2026
  2. Proof of Arkansas HIP registration. [AR-1 p.14–15] [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
  3. An Arkansas Waterfowl Stamp. It's $7 for residents (DSR) and $50 for nonresidents (DSN). Some lifetime licenses include it. [AR-1 p.14] checked Oct 22, 2026
  4. A hunting license. [AR-1 p.14] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • Residents:
      • Wildlife Conservation License (HNT), $10.50 [AR-1 p.14] checked Oct 22, 2026
      • Sportsman's (RS), $25 [AR-1 p.14] checked Oct 22, 2026
      • Combination Sportsman's (CS), $35.50 [AR-1 p.14] checked Oct 22, 2026
      • 65+ Annual Sportsman's (PAH), $3.50 [AR-1 p.14] checked Oct 22, 2026
      • Lifetime and military/disabled-veteran options are also listed. [AR-1 p.14] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • Nonresidents:
      • 3-Day Small Game (SG3), $80 [AR-1 p.14] checked Oct 22, 2026
      • Annual Small Game (NRH), $110 [AR-1 p.14] checked Oct 22, 2026
      • Annual Hunting (NBG), $410 [AR-1 p.14] checked Oct 22, 2026

[AR-1 p.14] checked Oct 22, 2026

  1. Nonresidents on any WMA: a Nonresident WMA Waterfowl Hunting Permit. The 3-day permit (NW3) is $40, and you can buy up to 10. The 30-day permit (NW30) is $200, and its days run back to back. [AR-1 p.14, 42] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • These permits aren't needed on the Feb 6–7 youth and veteran/military days. [AR-1 p.42] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • Nonresidents may not hunt waterfowl on Dave Donaldson Black River WMA during the first segment (Nov 21–29). [AR-1 p.4, 42] checked Oct 22, 2026

Other rules

  • Who counts as a resident: your main home has been in Arkansas for at least 60 days in a row. Some students and military members also qualify. Owning property in Arkansas does not make you a resident. [AR-1 p.15] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • WMA/Lake Conservation Permit: if you are 16 or older and don't hold an Arkansas hunting or fishing license, you need this $10.50 permit (WMC) to use an AGFC-owned WMA or lake. It is valid for one year. [AR-1 p.4, 41] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Light Goose Conservation Order (Feb 1–5 and Feb 8–Apr 25, 2027): hunters 16 and older need an Arkansas hunting license, an Arkansas waterfowl stamp and an LGCO permit. [AR-1 p.4, 17] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Guides: no one may guide waterfowl hunters for pay on AGFC land or any NWR, and both the guide and the hunter can be charged. [AR-1 p.15, 41] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • Elsewhere, guides need a license: $250 resident ($350 hunting-fishing combo), $500 nonresident. [AR-1 p.15, 41] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • Guides must also carry proof of $100,000 in liability insurance. [AR-1 p.15, 41] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • ⚠ Contradiction: the guidebook says the free WMA General Use Permit "has been eliminated" [AR-1 p.4, 41]. The AGFC web page still says "ALL HUNTERS will also need a free WMA General Use permit (WMP)" [AR-2]. We follow the 2026-27 guidebook and flag the web page as likely out of date. Confirm with AGFC (833-345-0325). checked Oct 22, 2026

2. Hunter education

  • Hunters born after 1968 must carry a hunter education card, unless "HE-VERIFIED" is printed on the license. [AR-1 p.16] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Hunters under 16 don't need the card if a licensed hunter 21 or older directly supervises them. [AR-1 p.16] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Arkansas honors nonresidents' home-state hunter education cards. [AR-1 p.16] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Deferred Hunter Education (DHE) code: free, for hunters 16 and older. You must hold a valid license, and a licensed hunter at least 21 must directly supervise you. That supervisor must have hunter ed or have been born on or before Dec 31, 1968. [AR-1 p.16–17] checked Oct 22, 2026

3. 2026-27 season dates (statewide)

SeasonDatesSource
Special early tealSept 19–27, 2026 (shooting starts at sunrise)[AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
Ducks, coots, mergansersNov 21–29; Dec 10–23; Dec 26, 2026–Jan 31, 2027[AR-1 p.1] [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
Canada goose (early)Sept 1–Oct 15, 2026[AR-1 p.1] [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
Canada goose (regular)Nov 21–29; Dec 10–23; Dec 26, 2026–Jan 31, 2027[AR-1 p.1] [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
White-fronted gooseOct 31–Nov 8; Nov 21–29; Dec 10–23; Dec 26, 2026–Jan 31, 2027[AR-1 p.1] [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
Snow, blue, Ross's gooseOct 31–Nov 8; Nov 21–29; Dec 10–23; Dec 26, 2026–Jan 31, 2027[AR-1 p.1] [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
Light Goose Conservation OrderFeb 1–5 and Feb 8–Apr 25, 2027[AR-1 p.1] [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
Youth waterfowl huntFeb 6–7, 2027 (15 and younger)[AR-1 p.1] [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
Veteran and active-duty military huntFeb 6–7, 2027[AR-1 p.1] [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Youth hunt: youth who haven't finished hunter ed must be with a licensed hunter 21 or older. The mentor may call but may not hunt. [AR-1 p.1] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Veteran/military hunt: eligible hunters carry a license, stamps, and proof of service such as a DD214, VA benefit card, or military ID. Veteran status requires an honorable discharge, plus the service rules listed by AGFC. [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • ⚠ Small wording difference on youth-day mentors: the guidebook says mentors may not hunt "except for veterans and active-duty military" [AR-1 p.1]. The web page just says mentors may not hunt [AR-2]. Since the veteran hunt falls on the same days, a qualifying veteran mentor may hunt [AR-1 p.40]. checked Oct 22, 2026

4. Daily bag and possession limits

Any species not listed, including teal, counts toward the 6. [AR-1 p.1] [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026

  • Coots: 15 a day (45 in possession). [AR-1 p.1] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Mergansers: 5 a day, no more than 2 hooded (15 in possession, no more than 6 hooded). [AR-1 p.1] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Possession limit: 3 times the daily limit for ducks, coots and mergansers. [AR-1 p.1] [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Early teal: 6 a day (blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon combined), 18 in possession. [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Canada goose: 5 a day (15 in possession) in the Sept–Oct season; 2 a day (6 in possession) in the regular season. [AR-1 p.1] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • White-fronted goose: 2 a day (6 in possession). [AR-1 p.1] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Snow, blue and Ross's geese: 20 a day, no possession limit. [AR-1 p.1] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Light Goose Conservation Order: no daily or possession limit. [AR-1 p.1] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Youth and veteran days: regular-season limits. [AR-1 p.1] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Possession means birds anywhere you have them, including birds stored at home. [AR-1 p.1] checked Oct 22, 2026

5. Shooting hours

  • Statewide: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset for ducks and geese. Early teal starts at sunrise. [AR-1 p.5] [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • On WMAs, Nov 21–Jan 30: shooting ends at noon unless a WMA's own rules say otherwise. [AR-1 p.41] [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • On Jan 31 and on Feb 6–7, WMA hunters may shoot until sunset. [AR-1 p.41] [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Off-the-water times on WMAs: hunters must be off flooded areas and waterways by 1 p.m. (noon on Dave Donaldson Black River and George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto WMAs). On Jan 31 and Feb 6–7, the deadline is 6:30 p.m. [AR-1 p.41] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • ⚠ Contradiction: the AGFC web page gives these WMA access dates as "Nov. 22–Jan. 30" and "Feb. 7–8" [AR-2]. The guidebook says Nov 21–Jan 30 and Feb 6–7, which match the 2026-27 season [AR-1 p.41]. The web dates look carried over from an older season. checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Sunrise times: the guidebook's sunrise/sunset table is for Little Rock. Add 1 minute for every 9 miles west and subtract 1 minute for every 9 miles east. [AR-1 p.5] checked Oct 22, 2026

6. Guns and shot

  • Shotguns only, 10 gauge or smaller. The gun must be plugged to hold 3 shells, with a one-piece plug. [AR-1 p.36–37] [FED-1 §20.21] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Nontoxic shot: only federally approved nontoxic shot, size T (0.2 inch) or smaller, may be in your immediate possession while hunting waterfowl or coots. [AR-1 p.34] [AR-2] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • On a list of waterfowl WMAs, nontoxic shot is required for all migratory bird hunting. [AR-1 p.42] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Common Restriction A WMAs: each hunter may carry no more than 25 shells for waterfowl, with shot no larger than No. 2. There's no shell limit on Feb 6–7. [AR-1 p.42, 44] checked Oct 22, 2026

7. Banned methods

  • Bait: no hunting over bait you know or reasonably should know is there. An area stays baited for 10 days after the bait is completely gone. [AR-1 p.35] [FED-1 §20.21(i)] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Live decoys: illegal at any time. Releasing captive-reared mallards is limited to permitted dog training and approved field trials. [AR-1 p.34] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Electronic or recorded calls: illegal under federal law except during light-goose-only seasons. [FED-1 §20.21(g)] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • The guidebook's federal summary doesn't mention calls. [AR-1 p.36–37] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Motorized or spinning-wing decoys: we found no Arkansas or federal rule against them in the sources checked. Not confirmed (check the official source) checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Also illegal: sinkboxes; shooting from a moving boat or motor vehicle; and rallying birds with a vehicle or boat. [AR-1 p.36–37] checked Oct 22, 2026

8. Boats and motors

  • Boater education: anyone born after 1985 who operates a motorboat, including a sailboat, needs the course and must carry proof. [AR-1 p.36] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Boat plugs: state law says plugs must be pulled before you leave the ramp area. [AR-1 p.36] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Shooting from a boat: only after the motor is off and the boat has stopped moving. [AR-1 p.36] [FED-1 §20.21(e)] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Boating on WMAs and NWRs: reckless and unsafe boating is banned. Boats must run single file and stay at least 100 feet apart. [AR-1 p.42–43] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Exhausts: factory or factory-equivalent exhausts are required on many waterfowl WMAs and on Cache River, Felsenthal, Overflow and Dale Bumpers White River NWRs. Ported outboards are illegal. [AR-1 p.43] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Common Restriction A WMAs: no boats at all on Nov 14–20, Nov 30–Dec 9, Dec 24–25 and Feb 1–5. Boats are also banned from Jan 31 until the Feb 6–7 hunts. [AR-1 p.4, 44] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Black River and Bayou Meto: no boats from noon to 4 a.m. Boats may launch after 2 a.m. if someone stays in them in the staging area. [AR-1 p.44] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Walk-in areas: some areas allow no motorized boats; kayaks and non-motorized johnboats are allowed. These include Buckingham Flats, Government Cypress and part of Upper Vallier GTRs at Bayou Meto; Adams Brake GTR; Brookings GTR; and all of Galla Creek WMA. [AR-1 p.4] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Horsepower limits vary by WMA. Read the WMA's own listing. [AR-1 p.44–55] checked Oct 22, 2026

9. WMA and refuge rules

  • Rest areas: waterfowl rest areas are closed to all access Nov 1–Feb 15. [AR-1 p.44] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Equipment: no decoys, dog stands or platforms left overnight, with a few exceptions. Boats in staging areas must be occupied. [AR-1 p.41] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Duck blinds: must come out within 1 hour after the WMA's daily shooting hours end. You can't hunt from a blind that wasn't removed. AGFC permit-hunt blinds and the St. Francis River Permit Unit are exceptions. [AR-1 p.4, 41] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • ⚠ Wording difference: the web page says blinds must be removed "each day at the end of shooting hours" [AR-2]. The guidebook gives 1 hour [AR-1 p.41]. checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Vegetation and tools: no chainsaws, hatchets or other cutting tools, and no chemical defoliants. Knives and pocket saws are OK. Tree hooks are allowed if the screw thread is 3/8 inch or smaller. [AR-1 p.41] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Permit-only areas: new areas needing a permit include Buckingham Flats GTR, Prairie Bayou WMA, Wiville West Tract and the St. Francis River Permit Unit. [AR-1 p.4] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Permit draws: applications run 3 p.m. Thursday to midnight Sunday, the weekend before each hunt period. [AR-4] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • New WMA: Pat Fitts Oakwood WMA (2,206 acres, Desha Co.) has online-draw waterfowl hunting on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. [AR-1 p.4] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Refuges: national wildlife refuges have their own rules, which may be stricter. [AR-1 p.36] checked Oct 22, 2026

10. Wanton waste, tagging and transport

  • Wanton waste: don't waste edible parts; for game birds, AGFC defines those as the breasts. Make a reasonable effort to retrieve every bird you kill or cripple, and kill wounded birds right away and count them in your bag. [AR-1 p.34] [FED-1 §20.25] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Keep your birds identifiable as yours. Holding someone else's birds requires a signed statement from the hunter with their name, address, species, date and license number. A driver's license number may be used instead; hunters under 16 may use a hunter-ed number or date of birth. [AR-1 p.34] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Tagging: no giving birds away in the field. Birds left with someone else must be tagged with your signature, address, birds by species and the date killed. [AR-1 p.37] [FED-1 §20.36] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Dressing: keep the head or one fully feathered wing attached until you get home or to a processor. [AR-1 p.37] [FED-1 §20.43] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Dual violation: breaking a state migratory bird rule is also a federal violation. [AR-1 p.37] checked Oct 22, 2026

11. Reciprocity on the Mississippi River

  • Tennessee–Arkansas (AGFC Code H1.03) [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • Where it applies: waterfowl may be hunted with either state's license on the flowing Mississippi River and the sloughs, bayous and old river runs you can reach by boat from it, plus the old chutes on the state line. [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • Not included: WMAs of either state, and the Wolf, Loosahatchie, Hatchie, Forked Deer and Obion rivers. [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • When: only while both states' seasons are open. Follow the rules of the state you're hunting in. The state line is the line on USGS quad maps. [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • Official wording (H1.03 §C, checked Oct 22, 2026): "Migratory waterfowl may be hunted upon the waters described herein by a licensee of either state during the period when the season is open and coincidental in both states, and shall abide by the laws, rules and regulations and proclamations of the state in which they are hunting." https://agfc-omnibus.s3.amazonaws.com/eregs/regulation_pdfs/large/agfc_regulation_H1.03_large.pdf [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • Land and backwaters (H1.03 §E): "Hunters and fishermen licensed in only one state cannot hunt or fish in the tributaries, bayous, or backwaters of the Mississippi River in the other state except as specifically provided herein. Hunters or fishers cannot hunt or fish from, nor attach any device or equipment to private property, in either state without the landowner's permission." [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • TWRA's 2026-27 guide (p. 18) reprints only the fishing side of this agreement, so the AGFC code book is the only official waterfowl text we found. [TN-1 p.18] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • Nonresident licenses from either state get the same privileges as that state's resident licenses. [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • 2026-27 duck days open in both states, worked out from the two official season pages: Nov 28–29, Dec 10–23 and Dec 26, 2026–Jan 31, 2027. [AR-1 p.1] + TWRA https://www.tn.gov/twra/hunting/migratory-birds.html (checked Oct 22, 2026) checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Mississippi–Arkansas (MDWFP and AGFC Code H1.01) [MS-10] [AR-5] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • Who and where: each state honors the other's resident hunting licenses for waterfowl on the flowing Mississippi River, waters you can boat to from the main channel, and state-line lakes. [MS-10] [AR-5] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • When: only while both seasons are open. [MS-10] [AR-5] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • Not included: the St. Francis, White and Arkansas rivers, and oxbows you enter through their mouths. [MS-10] [AR-5] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • 2026-27 duck days open in both states, worked out from the official season pages: Nov 27–29, Dec 10–23 and Dec 26, 2026–Jan 31, 2027. [AR-1 p.1] + MDWFP https://www.mdwfp.com/wildlife-hunting/hunting-seasons-and-bag-limits checked Oct 22, 2026
    • ⚠ Contradiction (in both the MDWFP and AGFC copies): the general clause says licensees follow the rules "of the state in which the-hunting or fishing takes place," but waterfowl clause C says hunting is "according to the laws, bag and possession limits, and all other rules and regulations promulgated by the state issuing the license" (AGFC H1.01, checked Oct 22, 2026). Follow the stricter rule of the two states until an agency clarifies. This applies only to MS–AR. The TN–AR agreement has no such conflict. [MS-10] [AR-5] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • Nonresident licenses: whether they count is Not confirmed (check the official source) [MS-10] [AR-5] checked Oct 22, 2026
    • The same agreement is in the AGFC Code Book as H1.01 (signed June 9, 2000; code book "As of March 14, 2024"). [AR-5] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Floodwater and private land: water that has spread over the natural banks isn't public. Neither agreement lets you go onto private land without permission. [AR-3] [MS-10] checked Oct 22, 2026

12. Penalties (only where AGFC states them)

  • Baiting: AGFC states that baiting migratory game birds can bring fines up to $200,000 and a year in prison, and hunting over a known baited area can bring fines up to $15,000. [AR-1 p.35] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Negligent boating on a WMA: a $250–$2,500 fine, up to 60 days in jail, and a 1-year ban from WMAs. [AR-1 p.43] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Reckless boating: a $750–$7,500 fine, up to 180 days in jail, a 1-year ban from WMAs and NWRs, and loss of statewide hunting and fishing privileges for at least 1 year. [AR-1 p.43] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Hunting-related injuries: you must report them right away (833-356-0824). [AR-1 p.34] checked Oct 22, 2026

FAQ

  • What time does duck hunting end on Arkansas WMAs? Noon from Nov 21 to Jan 30, unless a WMA's own rules say otherwise. On Jan 31 and Feb 6–7, hunting runs to sunset. [AR-1 p.41] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • How much is a nonresident duck hunt on an Arkansas WMA? A nonresident license, a $50 state waterfowl stamp, the Federal Duck Stamp, HIP, and a $40 3-day or $200 30-day WMA waterfowl permit. [AR-1 p.14, 42] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Can I use my Tennessee license on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River? Yes, on the river and its boat-accessible waters (not WMAs or the excluded tributaries), on days both states are open. Follow the rules of the state you're in. [AR-3] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • How many scaup can I shoot in Arkansas? 1 a day. [AR-1 p.1] checked Oct 22, 2026
  • Do I need the free WMA General Use Permit? The 2026-27 guidebook says it was eliminated. Hunters who don't hold an Arkansas license need the $10.50 WMA/Lake Conservation Permit. [AR-1 p.4] checked Oct 22, 2026

This is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. The official regulations are the final word.

See something wrong or out of date? Report a correction.