The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in April approved new hunting and fishing regulations and set dates for the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 waterfowl seasons.
New regulations
“These changes aren’t just the results of a few months of ideas; they are the culmination of, in some cases, years of monitoring and research as well as gathering comments from the public,” Tommy Laird, chief of AGFC’s fisheries division, said at the meeting.
New waterfowl hunting regulations and modifications to existing rules were made largely based on public comment. The AGFC modified access and regulations on some of its most popular waterfowl hunting-focused Wildlife Management Areas to reduce hunter conflicts and complaints about crowding.
Changes to waterfowl regulations include:
– New “non-motorized boat only” access areas will be established on portions of George H. Dunklin Bayou Meto WMA, Dave Donaldson Black River WMA and Shirey Bay Rainey Brake WMA.
– All of Galla Creek WMA will now be “non-motorized boat only” access.
– Waterfowl permit hunt opportunities will be established on all moist-soil units within Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA beginning with the 2027-28 waterfowl season.
– Waterfowl permit hunt opportunities will be established at Prairie Bayou WMA, Buckingham Flats Greentree Reservoir on Bayou Meto WMA and the Wiville West Unit of Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA.
– A valid Arkansas hunting license and state duck stamp are now required to participate in the light goose conservation order.
– Non-residents will be prohibited from waterfowl hunting at Dave Donaldson Black River WMA during the first segment of regular duck season (Nov. 21-29, 2026).
The AGFC will publish maps of the new non-motorized boat access areas and permit hunt areas closer to the start of waterfowl hunting season.
A proposal to increase the allotted horsepower of surface drive motors on certain WMAs from 37hp to 40 hp was tabled at the meeting.
2026-2027 season dates
The 2026-2027 waterfowl season dates are:
Duck, Coot and Merganser: Nov. 21-29, Dec. 10-23, and Dec. 26, 2026-Jan. 31, 2027
Canada Goose: Sept. 1-Oct. 15, Nov. 21-29, Dec. 10-23, and Dec. 26, 2026-Jan. 31, 2027
White-fronted Goose: Oct. 31-Nov. 8, Nov. 21-29, Dec. 10-23, and Dec. 26, 2026-Jan. 31, 2027
Snow, Blue and Ross’s Goose: Oct. 31-Nov. 8, Nov. 21-29, Dec. 10-23, and Dec. 26, 2026-Jan. 31, 2027
Veteran, Active-Duty Military and Youth Waterfowl Hunt: Feb. 6-7.
The 2027-28 waterfowl seasons will reflect the same timing as 2026-27, with only slight adjustments for calendar creep (dates will correspond with the same days of the week as 2026-27).
Commissioner Philip Tappan of Little Rock pointed out that the season dates for next year’s waterfowl season should be seen more as placeholders for planning, but the Commission still wanted to revisit the possibility of shifting those dates after the conclusion of this year’s duck season.
