Public land near NWA, with AGFC's own rules · checked September 23, 2026
Hunting in Northwest Arkansas
Where to hunt public land near Fayetteville, Bentonville and Rogers: the Wildlife Management Areas within about an hour, who manages each, and the restrictions AGFC posts for them. We don't publish season dates or bag limits. Arkansas Game and Fish changes them every year and some WMAs set their own, so every card links to AGFC's page for that area.
Orange pins and badges are open this weekend, from each place's posted schedule.
The essentials
Before you go (from AGFC)
- Seasons & limits
- In AGFC's 2026–27 Hunting Guidebook and the season-dates summary on the guidebooks page; deer seasons and limits are listed by zone. The 2026–27 waterfowl guidebook wasn't posted yet on Sep 23.
- Hunter education
- Anyone born after 1968 must be hunter-education certified. Hunters under 16 may hunt under the direct supervision of a licensed hunter 21 or older; AGFC also offers a free deferral code for new hunters 16+ with a qualifying mentor.
- WMA permit
- A WMA/Lake Conservation Permit is required for everyone 16+ on AGFC-owned areas (such as McIlroy and Gene Rush) unless you hold an Arkansas hunting or fishing license.
- CWD zone
- Devils Eyebrow, Lee Creek, White Rock and Sweden Creek WMAs are in a chronic wasting disease zone. Check AGFC's carcass-movement rules before you haul a deer.
- Licenses & game check
- Buy at ar-web.s3licensing.com; report harvests through AGFC's game check. Free georeferenced WMA maps: apps.agfc.com/maps
Source: agfc.com
Public land within about 30 minutes
Wildlife Management Area (Ozark National Forest)
Wedington WMA
Wedington WMA, Benton & Washington counties
- When:
- Season dates on AGFC's WMA page
- What's there:
- 15,915 acres, 13 miles west of Fayetteville; managed with the U.S. Forest Service. The modern-gun deer hunt is by permit only.
Wildlife Management Area (state park)
Hobbs State Park–Conservation Area WMA
Visitor center: 20201 E Hwy 12, Rogers
- When:
- Season dates on AGFC's WMA page
- What's there:
- 12,054 acres, 12 miles east of Rogers, run on a multiple-use plan, so parts are closed to hunting (boundaries on AGFC's page). Shared with hikers and mountain bikers.
Wildlife Management Area (Corps of Engineers land)
Kirk Dupps Beaver Lake WMA
Beaver Lake, Benton, Carroll, Madison & Washington counties
- When:
- Season dates on AGFC's WMA page
- What's there:
- 8,007 acres of Corps land around the lake
Natural area WMA
Devils Eyebrow Natural Area WMA
Off US 62 east of Gateway/Garfield
- When:
- Season dates on AGFC's WMA page
- What's there:
- 3,872 acres co-managed with the Natural Heritage Commission. No camping; modern-gun deer and bear hunts are limited to shotguns and alternative firearms. CWD zone.
Bigger country, 45 minutes to 2 hours
Drive times are our estimates from Fayetteville.
Wildlife Management Area (AGFC-owned)
McIlroy Madison County WMA
On Hwy 23, 12 mi north of Huntsville
- When:
- Season dates on AGFC's WMA page
- What's there:
- 15,086 acres. A hunting or fishing license or WMA permit is required for all users.
Wildlife Management Area (Ozark National Forest)
White Rock WMA
Pin: White Rock Mountain, inside the WMA
- When:
- Season dates on AGFC's WMA page
- What's there:
- 328,836 acres across five counties, with the Forest Service. CWD zone; some private inholdings are posted.
Wildlife Management Area (Ozark National Forest)
Lee Creek WMA
Lee Creek WMA, Crawford & Washington counties
- When:
- Season dates on AGFC's WMA page
- What's there:
- 58,553 acres with the Forest Service; extra USFS rules apply. CWD zone.
Wildlife Management Area (AGFC-owned)
Gene Rush WMA
Gene Rush WMA, Newton & Searcy counties
- When:
- Season dates on AGFC's WMA page
- What's there:
- 20,255 acres by the Buffalo National River. License or WMA permit required; all caves closed; camp only at designated sites.
On the calendar
Verified events for the season, updated every night.
- Thu, Oct 11PM
Homeschool Archery Club
Family & Kids:The Quiver Archery Range· Bentonville
$10 - Sun, Oct 4All
dayFree Community Days at The Quiver Archery Range
Outdoor & Active:The Quiver Archery Range· Bentonville
Free - Wed, Oct 712PM
USA Archery Pin Shoot
Outdoor & Active:The Quiver Archery Range· Bentonville
- Sat, Oct 101PM
Try Archery
Outdoor & Active:The Quiver Archery Range· Bentonville
$25 - Sun, Oct 111PM
Pack Rat - Intro to Traditional Archery
Outdoor & Active:Pack Rat Outdoor Center· Fayetteville
$20 - Tue, Oct 135:30PM
Archery Tag Tuesday
Outdoor & Active:The Quiver Archery Range· Bentonville
$10 - Sat, Oct 171PM
Intro to Archery
Outdoor & Active:The Quiver Archery Range· Bentonville
$40
Worth the drive
Wildlife Management Area (U.S. Army)
Fort Chaffee WMA
Fort Chaffee WMA, near Fort Smith
- When:
- Season dates on AGFC's WMA page
- What's there:
- 66,000 acres. Firearms hunters need a post permit (fortchaffee.recaccess.com); check-in and check-out required; areas close for training.
Call ahead
These come up in older roundups, but nothing official confirms a 2026 season yet.
- Sweden Creek Natural Area WMA. A 137-acre natural area where AGFC lists firearms deer and turkey seasons as closed for 2026–27; archery deer and small game are allowed.
- Waterfowl. AGFC hadn't posted its 2026–27 waterfowl guidebook on Sep 23; the dates page is the place to watch.
Quick answers
- Where can I hunt public land near Fayetteville?
- Wedington WMA is 13 miles west of town (15,915 acres of Ozark National Forest), and White Rock and Lee Creek WMAs are larger Forest Service areas to the south. Each has its own AGFC page with seasons and rules.
- When is deer season in Arkansas?
- AGFC sets deer seasons and limits by zone each year in its hunting guidebook, and some WMAs have their own dates. We link to AGFC instead of repeating them so you always see the current ones.
- Do I need hunter education in Arkansas?
- Yes, if you were born after 1968. Hunters under 16 can hunt under direct supervision of a licensed hunter 21 or older, and AGFC offers a free deferral for new hunters 16+ with a mentor.
- Do I need a permit to use a WMA?
- On AGFC-owned areas, anyone 16 or older needs a WMA/Lake Conservation Permit unless they hold an Arkansas hunting or fishing license. Forest Service and Corps areas follow their own rules too.
Dates, hours and prices are as each business posted them on September 23, 2026, and they change. Spot something out of date, or run one we missed? Tell us.
Nobody paid to be on this list. Inclusion is editorial.