Read from Game and Fish Commission on September 21, 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bag limits, shooting hours, and other regulatory information are provided for convenience only, may be inaccurate or out of date, and do not constitute legal advice.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 |
|---|---|---|
| Redhead Duck daily bag limit – 6, which may include 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 ducks of a species (including teal) may be taken. | 2 | 6 |
| Canvasback Duck daily bag limit – 6, which may include 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 ducks of a species (including teal) may be taken. | 2 | 6 |
| Black Duck Duck daily bag limit – 6, which may include 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 ducks of a species (including teal) may be taken. | 2 | 6 |
| Mottled Duck Duck daily bag limit – 6, which may include 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 ducks of a species (including teal) may be taken. | 1 | 3 |
| Hooded Merganser within the separate merganser bag of 5, not the 6-duck bag | 2 | 6 |
| Mallard no more than 2 hens · Duck daily bag limit – 6, which may include 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 ducks of a species (including teal) may be taken. | 4 | 12 |
| Wood Duck Duck daily bag limit – 6, which may include 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 ducks of a species (including teal) may be taken. | 3 | 9 |
| Pintail (Northern) Duck daily bag limit – 6, which may include 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 ducks of a species (including teal) may be taken. | 3 | 9 |
| Greater Scaup combined with Lesser Scaup ('1 scaup') | 1 | 3 |
| Lesser Scaup combined with Greater Scaup ('1 scaup') | 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.
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| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2Arkansas operates as a single statewide zone for waterfowl season dates | Sep 19 – Sep 27 | 6 Blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal combined | 18 |
1Blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal combined
2*Shooting hours begin at sunrise
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2Arkansas operates as a single statewide zone for waterfowl season dates | Oct 31 – Nov 8 First Split | 2 White-fronted Goose only | 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.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2Arkansas operates as a single statewide zone for waterfowl season dates | Nov 21 – Nov 29 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Dec 10 – Dec 23 Second Split | 15 | 45 | |
| Dec 26 – Jan 31 Third Split | 15 | 45 |
1Concurrent with duck season; possession limit is 3x daily bag = 45.
2Concurrent with duck season third split. Possession limit is 3x daily bag per source.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1Arkansas operates as a single statewide zone for waterfowl season dates | Sep 1 – Nov 9 Gallinules | 15 Common and purple gallinules. | 45 |
Not yet confirmed against the official source. We have not matched every value here to Game and Fish Commission. Check the official regulations before you hunt.
1Common and purple gallinules.
| 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 | 6 Youths 15 and younger only. Same shooting hours and bag limits as the regular duck and goose seasons; consult those species rows for limits. | 18 |
1Youths 15 and younger only. Same shooting hours and bag limits as the regular duck and goose seasons; consult those species rows for limits.
2Bag limits same as regular duck and goose seasons. Ducks, geese, coots and mergansers may be harvested.
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2Arkansas operates as a single statewide zone for waterfowl season dates | Feb 6 – Feb 7 | 6 Active duty military and qualifying veterans only. Same shooting hours and bag limits as the regular duck and goose seasons; consult those species rows for limits. | 18 |
1Active duty military and qualifying veterans only. Same shooting hours and bag limits as the regular duck and goose seasons; consult those species rows for limits.
2Bag limits same as regular duck and goose seasons. Ducks, geese, coots and mergansers may be harvested.
Spring 2027 turkey season
Zone 3: Apr 5–25
Zone 2: Apr 12–May 2
Zone 2A: Apr 12–20
Zone 1: Apr 19–May 9
Zone 1A: Apr 19–27
Youth: Apr 10–11 (Zones 1, 1A, 2, 2A)
Private land; WMAs differ
Source: state regulationsChecked October 16, 2026.
Official regulations
Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionZones, tags, bag limits and public-land rules.
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See the turkey hunting appOfficial regulations
Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionThe state sets the deer seasons, limits and tags. Check its current regulations before you go.
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See the deer hunting appOfficial regulations
Arkansas Game & Fish CommissionThe state sets the upland bird seasons, limits and tags. Check its current regulations before you go.
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See the upland bird hunting appOfficial regulations
Restrictedper Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionThe state sets the feral hog seasons, limits and tags. Check its current regulations before you go.
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See the feral hog hunting appOfficial regulations
Arkansas Game and Fish CommissionThe state sets the alligator seasons, limits and tags. Check its current regulations before you go.
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See the alligator hunting appSeason 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 21, 2026. Always confirm with the official regulations before hunting.
For waterfowl population trends, harvest analysis, and conservation research, see WaterfowlAI Insights.