Ozan WMA

Zone: 495

County: Hempstead

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: Oct. 21-29, 2023 and Dec. 29-31, 2023
Deer Modern Gun: Nov. 11-Dec. 17, 2023 and Dec. 26-28, 2023
Deer Modern Gun Special Youth Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023 and Jan. 6-7, 2024

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

Two bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
Five does with archery,
Four does with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
During youth hunt, youths may take five deer, no more than two bucks (no antler restrictions) or up to five does.

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:

Spinning-wing and mechanically operated decoys not allowed. See Page 43.

2024 Turkey: Youth Hunt: April 6-7, 2024. One legal turkey.
Firearms Hunt: April 15-May 5, 2024. One legal turkey.

Access: The area has two public parking lots - one on the west border to access the moist soil unit, and one on the east border to access the WMA interior. Travel is restricted to foot traffic only.

Age: The area was established as a WMA in 1991.

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.

Camping: Nearest camping facilities are in Hope or on Millwood Lake.

Description: The 580-acre area is within the Blackland Prairie belt in Hempstead County. Levees and water-control structures create many moist-soil units on the area, which provide habitat for migrating waterfowl and wading birds. Hills covered in pine/hardwood and cedars blanket sections of the WMA.

Hunting Opportunities: The area provides excellent public hunting and wildlife viewing for a variety of game and non-game animals. White-tailed deer, bobwhite quail, eastern wild turkey, and squirrels frequent the upland forested areas, while sections of old-field habitat provide excellent rabbit hunting. During winter, the moist-soil units offer excellent waterfowl habitat.

Location: The WMA is east of the Ozan community on Arkansas Highway 278 in Hempstead County.

Management Practices: Prescribed burning is implemented on this area to setback succession and stimulate browse production. Water-control structures enable area managers to flood moist-soil units and retain semi-aquatic vegetation preferred by waterfowl and wading birds.

Ownership: This 580-acre area is owned by the AGFC.

Phone: 833-372-2434

Recreation Other Than Hunting: The area also is excellent for watching wildlife, such as wading birds, waterfowl and Neotropical migrants like Bell's Vireo. Rick Evans/Grandview Prairie WMA is approximately 5 miles to the southwest. Old Washington Historic State Park is approximately 7 miles south on Hwy 4.

Restaurants and Other Facilities: Facilities are in Washington, Nashville or Hope.

Detailed Interactive Map Public Use Maps