Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMA

Zone: 180

County: Hempstead

2023-24 Closed Seasons

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
Red Slough Waterfowl Rest Area: Sept. 23-Oct. 31, 2023 and Feb. 17-29, 2024
Deer Muzzleloader (permit hunt): Oct. 21-29, 2023
Deer Modern Gun (permit hunt): Nov. 11-19, 2023
Deer Modern Gun Special Youth Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023

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

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

Deer Notes:

12-inch inside spread or 15-inch main beam 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.
Closed to all access (except in designated campsites, parking areas, boat launch ramps and boat staging areas) from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m., Nov. 18-Jan. 31 and Feb. 3. Boats may only be launched in boat staging areas after 2 a.m. and must remain occupied between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m.
Spinning-wing and mechanically operated decoys not allowed. See Page 43.
Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois d’Arc Lake WRA is open for fishing and non-hunting access.
No boats allowed from 1 p.m. to 4 a.m., Nov. 18-Jan. 31.
Exception – Boats allowed from 1 p.m. until 6:30 p.m., Dec. 2 and Jan. 31.
Boats are not allowed on the greentree waterfowl area 14 days before duck season opens.
No outboard motors larger than 25 horsepower, surface-drive motors larger than 37 horsepower or airboats during duck season (except for Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois d'Arc Lake).
Motors with factory exhaust systems only during waterfowl season.

2023 Alligator: Alligator (permit hunts): Sept. 15-18, 2023 and Sept. 22-25, 2023. Permit required.

2024 Turkey

Youth Hunt (permit required): April 6-7, 2024. One legal turkey.
Archery: April 18-19 and April 23-May 5, 2024. (closed during firearms permit hunts). One legal turkey.
Firearms Hunt (permit required): April 15-17 and April 20-22, 2024. One legal turkey.

Turkey Notes:

A WMA Turkey Hunt Permit is required to hunt turkeys on this WMA. Click here for details.

Access: From Hope, take Ark Hwy. 29 south about 6 miles, take Ark. Hwy. 355 west toward Springhill and follow into the area. The west side of the area can be accessed from U.S. Hwy. 67 west of Hope.

Age: The area was established as a WMA in 1950s.

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.
Red Slough Waterfowl Rest Area closes to access Nov. 1 and will reopen to access Feb. 16.
Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D’Arc Lake is open for fishing and non-hunting access.
For access restrictions that affect all users during waterfowl season, check the waterfowl guidebook.

Camping: Primitive campsites are available around the lake and on the west side of the WMA.

Description: The area consists primarily of bottomland hardwood habitats. This includes a 660-acre greentree waterfowl area. Little Grassy Duck Area is a 150-acre moist-soil management unit.

Hunting Opportunities: Waterfowl, deer, quail, turkey, squirrel, and rabbits.

Location: The WMA is 16 miles south of Hope.

Management Practices: A system of levees and water control structures facilitate inundating the area for waterfowl habitat. A forest management prescription and open lands management system provide excellent wildlife habitat.

Ownership: This 13,658-acre area is composed of 5,866 acres of state-owned land and 7,792 acres leased from Red River Texarkana (managed by Hancock Forest Management) and Potlatch timber company.

Phone: 833-372-2434

Purpose: The primary objective of this management area is to provide high-quality wildlife habitat and public hunting opportunities.

Recreation Other Than Hunting: Bois d'Arc Lake provides excellent fishing and bird-watching opportunities.

Restaurants and Other Facilities: Facilities are located in Springhill and Hope.

Safety: Bois d'Arc Lake and the associated creeks and sloughs are also home to the American Alligator. Caution should be used at all times, especially during warm weather, and swimming is not allowed. The lake also has numerous stumps and logs which require slow boat operations.

WMA Master Plan: View the master plan for this AGFC-owned WMA

Detailed Interactive Map Public Use Maps