Cypress Bayou WMA

Zone: 140

Counties: Lonoke, White

2023-24 Closed Seasons

Alligator
Bear

2023-24 Crow: Sept. 1, 2023-Feb. 19, 2024. Open Thursdays through Mondays only. No limit.

2023-24 Deer

Deer Archery: Sept. 23, 2023-Feb. 29, 2024
Deer Muzzleloader (permit hunt): Oct. 21-25, 2023
Deer Modern Gun (permit hunt): Nov. 11-15, 2023
Deer Modern Gun Special Youth Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023 and Jan. 6-7, 2024

WMA Deer Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

Two bucks with archery,
Three does with archery,
One buck or doe with muzzleloader permit,
One buck or doe with modern gun permit.
During youth hunt, youths may take three deer, two bucks (no antler restrictions) and one doe.

Deer Notes:

Three-point rule.
No dogs.

2023-24 Quail

Nov. 1, 2023-Feb. 5, 2024. Daily limit - 6, possession limit -12.

While training bird dogs, you may use handguns or shotguns with blank ammunition. Pen-raised quail may be taken with a Shoot-To-Kill Bird Dog Field Training Permit. This permit is available from your local wildlife officer.

2023-24 Rabbit: Sept. 1, 2023-Feb. 29, 2024. Daily limit - 8, possession limit - 16.

2023-24 Squirrel: May 15, 2023-Feb. 29, 2024. Dogs allowed. Daily limit - 12, possession limit - 48.

2023-24 Waterfowl

Waterfowl Notes:

No boats allowed Nov. 11-17, Nov. 27-Dec. 8 and Dec. 24-26. Exception – Boats allowed from 4 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Dec. 2.
Spinning-wing and mechanically operated decoys not allowed. See Page 43.
Motors with factory exhaust systems only during waterfowl season.
No airboats during duck season.

From Nov. 18-26, Dec. 9-23 and Dec. 27-Jan. 31, Red Cut Slough Tract on Cypress Bayou WMA is open for waterfowl hunting only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and all day Jan. 31. Anyone entering flooded areas must have a signed Cypress Bayou Waterfowl Hunting Daily Use Permit on their person.
• On Tuesdays, Thursdays and the last day of the regular duck season, nonrestricted permits are available at the parking area. Hunters are not restricted to designated locations on these days.
• On Saturdays and Sundays, a limited number of permits will be available by online drawing. Permits will be for designated locations. There may be a total of four hunters per party for each location drawn. All members of each hunting party must hunt within immediate proximity of each other.
Visit agfc.com and click on “Buy License” to apply.
• All permits must be carried while hunting, completed and returned to the collection box at the end of the hunt.
• Permits are not required during the Youth/Veteran Waterfowl Hunt.

2024 Turkey: Youth Hunt: April 6-7, 2024. One legal turkey.
Firearms Hunt (permit required): April 15-17 and April 20-22, 2024. One legal turkey.

About the Name: Cypress Bayou WMA is named after the bayou that flows through the area.

Area Notes

A free annual General Use Permit (WMP) is required to hunt or trap on WMAs. Permits are available online by clicking "Buy Licenses" at agfc.com or by calling 833-345-0325 or any regional office.
For access restrictions that affect all users during waterfowl season, check the waterfowl guidebook.

Camping: Camping is not allowed on the WMA.

Description: Cypress Bayou WMA encompasses 1,503 acres in northern Lonoke and southern White counties. The management area was acquired through the Farmers Home Administration program in 1989 and most of the area was reforested with mixed hardwood species in the early 1990s.

Hunting Opportunities: Hunting opportunities exist for deer, turkey and small game.

Ownership: AGFC

Phone: 833-345-0283

Recreation Other Than Hunting: A small 6-acre pond is adjacent to the parking on Arkansas Highway 31, and provides fishing opportunities for bream, catfish and bass.

Restaurants and Other Facilities: The city of Beebe is about 8 miles north and provides lodging and restaurant accommodations.

Detailed Interactive Map Public Use Maps