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Wedington WMA

Zone: 653

Counties: Benton, Washington

2023-24 Closed Seasons
  • Alligator
  • Bear
  • Deer Muzzleloader
  • Quail
  • Turkey
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: Closed
Deer Modern Gun Mobility Impaired Hunt (permit hunt): Oct. 21-22, 2023. Firearm restrictions apply; see area notes.
Deer Modern Gun (permit hunt): Nov. 11-12, 2023. Firearm restrictions apply; see area notes.
Deer Modern Gun Special Youth Hunt: Nov. 4-5, 2023 and Jan. 6-7, 2024. Firearm restrictions apply; see area notes.

WMA Bag Limit: Two deer, no more than one antlered buck, which may include:

  • One antlered buck with archery,
  • Two antlerless with archery,
  • One antlered buck and one antlerless with modern gun permit.
  • During youth hunt, youths may take two deer, one antlered buck and one antlerless.
  • During mobility impaired permit hunt, mobility impaired hunters may take two deer, one antlered buck and one antlerless with permit.

Deer Notes:

  • No antler restrictions.
  • No dogs.
2023-24 Dove

Sept. 2-Oct. 22, 2023 and Dec. 8, 2023-Jan. 15, 2024

Mourning Dove and White-Winged Dove 
Daily Limit - 15, possession limit - 45

Eurasian Collared-Dove
No daily or possession limit
Eurasian Collared Doves must remain fully feathered in the field and while being transported from the field.

Dove Notes:

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission prepares a few fields each year for the opening weekend of dove season so the public has a place to enjoy this exciting form of wingshooting.

Dove fields on WMAs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. WMA acreage put into dove fields is relatively small because most hunters only pursue doves the first few days of the season. However, after opening weekend of dove season, many wildlife species feed in the fields, particularly those that were topsown with winter wheat.

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. 

About the Name

The name comes from LakeWedington, which the WMA surrounds.

Area Notes
Area Type

WMA

Camping

Cabins are available for overnight stay, but there are no campgrounds. 

Description

Wedington WMA is just outside of the Fayetteville/Springdale area and is owned by the USDA Forest Service. It consists of beautiful hardwood timber forests that surround Lake Wedington. There are wildlife openings within the property that allow game to travel.

Hunting Opportunities

Deer hunting is limited to bow only for the majority of the season, however, there are opportunities for modern gun permit hunts for both youth and non-youth hunters. This area is known to have a healthy population of deer and many bucks are harvested each year. Hunters also have the chance to hunt rabbit and squirrel on this WMA.

Location

The Wedington WMA, located 13 miles west of Fayetteville, is easily accessible from highway 16 and highway 412. Topographic maps of the Area are available from the USGS: Gallatin, Rhea, Robinson, and Wheeler.

Management Practices

Wildlife habitat is managed through timber stand improvements and prescribed fire.

Ownership

USDA Forest Service • 15,915 acres

Phone

833-340-7506

Recreation Other Than Hunting

Fishing and boating on Lake Wedington are great recreational opportunities this WMA offers. Lake Wedington is considered a fishing hot spot in Northwest Arkansas.

Restaurants and Other Facilities

There are many restaurants and hotel accommodations in Fayetteville and Springdale. The Catfish Hole and Mama Deans are great places to eat while visiting this part of The Natural State.

Detailed Interactive Map Public Use Maps