Arkansas is part of the Mississippi Flyway, one of four major migratory bird corridors in North America. The 2025–2026 waterfowl season runs from September 1 through April 25, 2026, with 31 distinct season segments covering ducks, geese, coots, and other migratory game birds. Season dates and bag limits are set annually by the Game and Fish Commission within frameworks established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
State waterfowl stamp required in addition to federal
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Nov 22 – Dec 1 First Split | 6 | 18 |
| Dec 10 – Dec 23 Second Split | |||
| Dec 27 – Jan 31 Third Split |
| Species | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|
| Greater Scaup Greater scaup | 1 | 3 |
| Redhead | 2 | 6 |
| Lesser Scaup Lesser scaup | 1 | 3 |
| Mottled Duck | 1 | 3 |
| Canvasback | 2 | 6 |
| Mallard No more than 2 hens | 4 | 12 |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 9 |
| Black Duck | 2 | 6 |
| Pintail (Northern) Increased from 1 for 2025-26 per USFWS interim harvest strategy | 3 | 9 |
14 mallards (2 hens max), 1 scaup, 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, 1 mottled duck; up to 6 of any unlisted species including teal
2WMA shooting ends at noon except last day of season (Jan. 31) when sunset applies
3WMA shooting ends at noon Nov. 22–Jan. 30; Jan. 31 shooting allowed until sunset on WMAs
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5 | Sep 20 – Sep 28 | 6 | 18 |
| Sep 20 – Sep 28 Early Teal Season | |||
| Sep 20 – Sep 28 |
1Blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal combined
2Shooting hours begin at sunrise (not 30 min before)
3Shooting hours start at sunrise (not 30 min before) · Spinning-wing decoys prohibited on AGFC WMAs/lakes · Max 25 shells on Common Restriction A WMAs · No electronic calls
4Blue-winged, green-winged, cinnamon teal only. Shooting hours begin at sunrise (not 30 min before). 9 days, shortened from 16.
5Shooting hours begin at sunrise (not the standard 30 min before sunrise)
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Sep 1 – Oct 15 Early Canada Goose Season | 5 | 15 |
| Oct 25 – Nov 2 White-fronted Goose Early Segment | |||
| Nov 22 – Dec 1 Regular Season First Split | |||
| Nov 22 – Dec 1 White-fronted Goose Regular Season First Split | |||
| Dec 10 – Dec 23 Regular Season Second Split | |||
| Dec 10 – Dec 23 White-fronted Goose Regular Season Second Split | |||
| Dec 27 – Jan 31 Regular Season Third Split | |||
| Dec 27 – Jan 31 White-fronted Goose Regular Season Third Split |
1Canada Goose only
2White-fronted Goose only
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Oct 25 – Nov 2 Early Segment | 20 | – |
| Nov 22 – Dec 1 Regular Season First Split | |||
| Dec 10 – Dec 23 Regular Season Second Split | |||
| Dec 27 – Jan 31 Regular Season Third Split |
1Snow, Blue and Ross's Goose; no possession limit
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3 | Feb 1 – Feb 6 Light Goose Conservation Order First Segment | – | – |
| Feb 9 – Apr 25 Light Goose Conservation Order Second Segment |
1Snow, Blue and Ross's Goose; no bag limit
2See Light Goose Conservation Order page for special regulations
3Feb. 7–8 gap is Youth/Veterans hunt days; see Light Goose Conservation Order page for special regulations
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1 | Nov 22 – Dec 1 First Split | 15 | 45 |
| Dec 10 – Dec 23 Second Split | |||
| Dec 27 – Jan 31 Third Split |
1Coot season runs concurrent with duck season splits
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2 | Nov 22 – Dec 1 First Split | 5 | 15 |
| Dec 10 – Dec 23 Second Split | |||
| Dec 27 – Jan 31 Third Split |
1No more than 2 hooded mergansers
2Merganser season concurrent with duck splits
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4,5,6 | Feb 7 – Feb 8 Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt | 6 | 18 |
| Feb 7 – Feb 8 Youth & Veterans Weekend | |||
| Feb 7 – Feb 8 |
1Youths 15 and younger only; must be accompanied by mentor 21+ if hunter education not completed; mentor may not hunt but may call waterfowl; WMA General Use Permits not required
2Same bag limits as regular duck and goose seasons
3Youth 15 & under · Mentors 21+ may call but not hunt · Full day hours (no noon cutoff) · Spinning-wing decoys prohibited · WMA permits waived
4Youth age 15 and under + active military and veterans. Regular season bag limits apply.
5Youths 15 and younger only; must be accompanied by mentor 21+ if no hunter ed; mentors may not hunt but may call; same bag limits as regular duck and goose seasons; WMA General Use Permits not required
6Youth hunters may harvest ducks, geese, coots and mergansers
| Zone / Season | Dates | Daily Bag | Possession |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide1,2,3,4 | Feb 7 – Feb 8 | 6 | 18 |
| Feb 7 – Feb 8 Special Active Duty Military and Veteran Hunt |
1Active duty military (incl. National Guard/Reserves on active duty) and military veterans with honorable discharge; must carry DD214, Veteran Benefit Card, Retired Military I.D., Veteran Hunting License, or Military I.D.; WMA General Use Permits required
2Hunters may harvest ducks, geese, coots and mergansers; same bag limits as regular duck and goose seasons
3Active duty military and military veterans only; must carry DD214, Veteran Benefit Card, Retired Military I.D., Veteran Hunting License, or Military I.D. card; WMA General Use Permits required
4Same bag limits as regular duck and goose seasons
Season dates and bag limits are verified against official state wildlife agency publications and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Data shown is for the 2025-2026 season. This data was verified on April 26, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.