Read from Game and Fish Commission on September 6, 2026.
Seasons and limits change, and corrections are issued mid-season. Confirm with Game and Fish Commission before you hunt.
Open the official Arkansas regulationsHunting Arkansas this season? Keep these dates and bag limits in your pocket — free in the BlindBook app.
Arkansas is part of the Mississippi Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2026–2027 waterfowl season runs from September 1 through February 7, 2027, with 27 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Game and Fish Commission within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
State waterfowl stamp required in addition to federal
Season dates, bag limits, shooting hours, and other regulatory information are provided for convenience only, may be inaccurate or out of date, and do not constitute legal advice. You are solely responsible for verifying current regulations with your state or provincial wildlife agency before every hunt.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3Arkansas operates as a single statewide zone for waterfowl season dates | Nov 21 – Nov 29 First Split | 6 No more than: 4 mallards (2 hens), 1 scaup, 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, 1 mottled duck. If not listed, up to 6 of a species (including teal) may be taken. | 18 |
| Dec 10 – Dec 23 Second Split | 6 No more than: 4 mallards (2 hens), 1 scaup, 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, 1 mottled duck. If not listed, up to 6 of a species (including teal) may be taken. | 18 | |
| Dec 26 – Jan 31 Third Split | 6 No more than: 4 mallards (2 hens), 1 scaup, 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, 1 mottled duck. If not listed, up to 6 of a species (including teal) may be taken. | 18 |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Mallard no more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Lesser Scaup Listed as 'scaup' — applies to scaup aggregate | 1 | 3 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Pintail (Northern) | 3 | 9 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Mottled Duck | 1 | 3 |
1No more than: 4 mallards (2 hens), 1 scaup, 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, 1 mottled duck. If not listed, up to 6 of a species (including teal) may be taken.
2Shooting ends at noon on WMAs except last day of season (sunset). Regular season.
3Shooting ends at noon on WMAs; Jan. 31 is last day of regular duck season — shooting allowed until sunset on WMAs.
Hunting Arkansas’s season? Get the free app.
Drop your email and we’ll send the free BlindBook app — log hunts, ID birds, track your bag limit.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2Arkansas operates as a single statewide zone for waterfowl season dates | Sep 19 – Sep 27 Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 6 Blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal combined | 18 |
1Blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal combined
2Shooting hours begin at sunrise (not 30 min before)
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4Arkansas operates as a single statewide zone for waterfowl season dates | Sep 1 – Oct 15 Early Season | 5 Canada Goose only. | 15 |
| Nov 21 – Nov 29 Regular Season First Split | 2 Canada Goose only | 6 | |
| Dec 10 – Dec 23 Regular Season Second Split | 2 Canada Goose only | 6 | |
| Dec 26 – Jan 31 Regular Season Third Split | 2 Canada Goose only | 6 |
1Canada Goose only.
2Canada Goose early season.
3Canada Goose only
4Regular season. Daily bag limit 2, possession limit 6.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4Arkansas operates as a single statewide zone for waterfowl season dates | Oct 31 – Nov 8 First Split | 2 White-fronted Goose only | 6 |
| Oct 31 – Nov 8 White-fronted Goose Split 1 | 2 White-fronted Goose only; daily bag 2, possession 6 | 6 | |
| Nov 21 – Nov 29 Second Split | 2 White-fronted Goose only | 6 | |
| Dec 10 – Dec 23 Third Split | 2 White-fronted Goose only | 6 | |
| Dec 26 – Jan 31 Fourth Split | 2 White-fronted Goose only | 6 |
1White-fronted Goose only
2Daily bag limit 2, possession limit 6.
3White-fronted Goose only; daily bag 2, possession 6
4White-fronted Goose early segment before regular season.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4Arkansas operates as a single statewide zone for waterfowl season dates | Oct 31 – Nov 8 First Split | 20 Snow, Blue and Ross's Goose combined. No possession limit. | – |
| Nov 21 – Nov 29 Second Split | 20 Snow, Blue and Ross's Goose. No possession limit. | – | |
| Dec 10 – Dec 23 Third Split | 20 Snow, Blue and Ross's Goose. No possession limit. | – | |
| Dec 26 – Jan 31 Fourth Split | 20 Snow, Blue and Ross's Goose. No possession limit. | – |
1Snow, Blue and Ross's Goose combined. No possession limit.
2Regular season (not conservation order). No possession limit stated.
3Snow, Blue and Ross's Goose. No possession limit.
4No possession limit stated.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2Arkansas operates as a single statewide zone for waterfowl season dates | Feb 1 – Feb 5 First Segment | – Snow, Blue and Ross's Goose. No bag limit. See Light Goose Conservation Order page for special regulations. | – |
| Feb 8 – Apr 25 Second Segment | – Snow, Blue and Ross's Goose. No bag limit. See Light Goose Conservation Order page for special regulations. | – |
1Snow, Blue and Ross's Goose. No bag limit. See Light Goose Conservation Order page for special regulations.
2Light Goose Conservation Order. No bag limit stated. Refer to agfc.com/hunting/more-game/light-goose-conservation-order/ for special regulations.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3Arkansas operates as a single statewide zone for waterfowl season dates | Nov 21 – Nov 29 First Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 15 | 45 |
| Dec 10 – Dec 23 Second Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 15 | 45 | |
| Dec 26 – Jan 31 Third Split · Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 15 | 45 |
1Concurrent with duck season first split. Possession limit is 3x daily bag.
2Concurrent with duck season second split. Possession limit is 3x daily bag.
3Concurrent with duck season third split. Possession limit is 3x daily bag.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2Arkansas operates as a single statewide zone for waterfowl season dates | Nov 21 – Nov 29 First Split | 5 No more than 2 hooded mergansers | 15 |
| Dec 10 – Dec 23 Second Split | 5 No more than 2 hooded mergansers | 15 | |
| Dec 26 – Jan 31 Third Split | 5 No more than 2 hooded mergansers | 15 |
1No more than 2 hooded mergansers
2Concurrent with duck season splits. Possession limit is 3x daily bag.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2Arkansas operates as a single statewide zone for waterfowl season dates | Feb 6 – Feb 7 Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 6 Youths 15 and younger only. Mentor 21+ required if hunter education not completed (mentor may not hunt but may call). Same bag limits as regular duck/goose seasons. | 18 |
1Youths 15 and younger only. Mentor 21+ required if hunter education not completed (mentor may not hunt but may call). Same bag limits as regular duck/goose seasons.
2WMA General Use Permits not required for youth hunters. Hunting allowed until sunset on WMAs on these days.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2Arkansas operates as a single statewide zone for waterfowl season dates | Feb 6 – Feb 7 Source unconfirmed — check state regs | 6 Active duty military (incl. National Guard and Reserves on active duty other than training) and veterans (discharged/released under honorable conditions after service in active military/naval/air service or Reserves/National Guard on Title 32 orders in combat zone). Required documentation: DD214, Veteran Benefit Card, Retired Military I.D., Veteran Hunting License, or Military I.D. WMA General Use Permits are required. | 18 |
1Active duty military (incl. National Guard and Reserves on active duty other than training) and veterans (discharged/released under honorable conditions after service in active military/naval/air service or Reserves/National Guard on Title 32 orders in combat zone). Required documentation: DD214, Veteran Benefit Card, Retired Military I.D., Veteran Hunting License, or Military I.D. WMA General Use Permits are required.
2Active duty military and veterans may harvest ducks, geese, coots and mergansers. Shooting hours and bag limits same as regular duck and goose seasons. WMA hours: 30 min before sunrise until sunset.
Season dates and bag limits are verified against official state wildlife agency publications and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Data shown is for the 2026-2027 season. This data was verified on September 6, 2026. Always confirm with the official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.