Jan. 26, 2022
Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications
LITTLE ROCK — As the end of the 2021-22 waterfowl hunting season begins to draw near, hunters are reminded that all-day waterfowl hunting on Arkansas Game and Fish Commission-owned wildlife management areas is allowed on the final day of the season: Monday, Jan. 31.
This all-day waterfowl hunt includes WMAs that are designated open only on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms, Cypress Bayou and Harris Brake WMAs all will be open to waterfowl hunting all day on Jan. 31. Hunters at Raft Creek and Cypress Bayou will still need to obtain daily permits, available at the access areas for these WMAs and will be required to complete the data cards on these permits and turn them in at the conclusion of their hunt.
However, the all-day hunt does not apply to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuges, which follow their own access restrictions (available on pages 60-62 in the 2021-22 Arkansas Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook). Rest areas are still closed to access during this time, as these areas provide much more than a place near hunting areas to promote continued use by waterfowl. These areas offer valuable resources and shelter for ducks, shorebirds and other migrants as they prepare for and begin their migration north to nesting grounds where it is hoped they will produce the next generation of waterfowl for future duck-hunting adventures.
Visit https://www.agfc.com/en/hunting/where-hunt for a clickable map of WMAs available in Arkansas.