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 22 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.
Required Licenses & Stamps
Arkansas hunting license
Federal Migratory Bird (Duck) Stamp — $25
Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration
Arkansas Arkansas Waterfowl Stamp
State waterfowl stamp required in addition to federal
2025-2026 Arkansas Early Teal hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Sep 20
Sep 28
6
18
Shooting hours: Sunrise – sunset
Shooting 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
Light Geese
2025-2026 Arkansas Light Geese hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Segment
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Light Geese Early
Oct 25
Nov 2
20
60
Light Geese Split 1
Nov 22
Dec 1
20
60
Light Geese Split 2
Dec 10
Dec 23
20
60
Light Geese Split 3
Dec 27
Jan 31
20
60
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
20/day · Non-toxic shot · WMA hours same as ducks · No electronic calls
Ducks
2025-2026 Arkansas Ducks hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Segment
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
First Split
Nov 22
Dec 1
6
18
Second Split
Dec 10
Dec 23
6
18
Third Split
Dec 27
Jan 31
6
18
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Non-toxic shot · WMA hours: 30 min before sunrise to noon, off water by 1 PM (noon at Bayou Meto & Dave Donaldson) · Max 25 shells, no larger than #2 on Common Restriction A WMAs · No electronic calls
Coots
2025-2026 Arkansas Coots hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Segment
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Coot Season Split 1
Nov 22
Dec 1
15
45
Coot Season Split 2
Dec 10
Dec 23
15
45
Coot Season Split 3
Dec 27
Jan 31
15
45
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Same as ducks · WMA restrictions apply · Non-toxic shot
Mergansers
2025-2026 Arkansas Mergansers hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Segment
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
First Split
Nov 22
Dec 1
5
15
Second Split
Dec 10
Dec 23
5
15
Third Split
Dec 27
Jan 31
5
15
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Same as ducks · Max 2 hooded mergansers/day · Non-toxic shot · WMA restrictions apply
Cons. Order
2025-2026 Arkansas Cons. Order hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Segment
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Conservation Order Segment 1
Feb 1
Feb 6
–
–
Conservation Order Segment 2
Feb 9
Apr 25
–
–
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – 30 minutes after sunset
No bag/possession limit · Electronic calls & unplugged shotguns allowed · Extended hours (30 min after sunset) · No stamps required, only hunting license + free snow goose permit
Youth
2025-2026 Arkansas Youth hunting season dates, daily bag limits, and possession limits
Opens
Closes
Daily Bag
Possession
Feb 7
Feb 8
6
18
Shooting hours: 30 minutes before sunrise – sunset
Youth 15 & under · Mentors 21+ may call but not hunt · Full day hours (no noon cutoff) · Spinning-wing decoys prohibited · WMA permits waived
Duck Species Sub-Limits
SpeciesDaily Bag
Lesser ScaupLesser scaup
1
Greater ScaupGreater scaup
1
Canvasback
2
Black Duck
2
Redhead
2
Mottled Duck
1
MallardNo more than 2 hens
4
Wood Duck
3
Pintail (Northern)Increased from 1 for 2025-26 per USFWS interim harvest strategy
3
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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 March 9, 2026. Always confirm with your state's official regulations before hunting.