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2026-27 fee tables from the Arkansas Hunting Guidebook and Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook
Arkansas Hunting Licenses and Fees
All 41 license, tag, stamp and permit rows printed in the 2026-27 guidebooks: the resident sportsman's and conservation licenses, the nonresident annual, short-term and small game licenses, lifetime, 65 Plus, disability and disabled veteran licenses, guide licenses, waterfowl stamps, WMA permits and the free youth and deferral codes. The page also covers the 2026 changes, who counts as a resident, hunter education and Game Check.
Photo: Shenandoah National Park (Public Domain Mark 1.0)
Which license to buy for hunters in the Natural State
Arkansas sells licenses that run through June 30, and the resident licenses now carry their own tags: the $35.50 Combination Sportsman's and the $25 Resident Sportsman's each hold six deer, two turkey and one bear tag, while the $10.50 Wildlife Conservation License covers small game, furbearers and one deer. Nonresidents start from the $410 annual license with six deer tags and add bear, turkey, elk or alligator permits.
Who needs a license
Anyone 16 or older needs an Arkansas hunting license (except on licensed game-bird shooting resorts with pen-raised birds); printed, hard card or electronic license must be carried.
Residency
Primary residence in Arkansas for at least 60 consecutive days; full-time students of Arkansas schools; residents studying out of state; active-duty military stationed in Arkansas and Arkansas National Guard; Arkansans who entered service from Arkansas. Owning property does not make a resident.
Where to buy
AGFC offices, nature centers, dealers, 833-345-0325, agfc.com, AGFC app; auto-renewal.
License year
Licenses valid through June 30.
Mississippi River border
Mississippi and Tennessee reciprocal agreements on the Mississippi River.
Over the counter
All licenses, statewide deer, turkey, small game and migratory seasons and private land bear and elk outside the core zone are over the counter; draws are listed under draw.
Sources: Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 44; Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 5; Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 47; Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 42. Checked: values matched against the Arkansas text on November 9, 2026.
41 Arkansas fees for 2026-27
The 41 rows fall into 8 groups. Product codes such as CS, NBG and WMC are the codes AGFC prints and the ones a vendor or the AGFC app shows at checkout; the last column links the guidebook page each price came from.
Resident annual licenses (4)
| License, tag or permit | Price | Who | Valid | Notes | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combination Sportsman's License, code CS | $35.50 | Resident | Through June 30 | All game species, full deer/turkey/bear bag, furbearers and sport fishing; 6 deer, 2 turkey and 1 bear tag included. | Guidebook p. 42 |
| Resident Sportsman's License, code RS | $25 | Resident | Through June 30 | All game species and furbearers; 6 deer, 2 turkey and 1 bear tag included. | Guidebook p. 42 |
| Resident Wildlife Conservation License, code HNT | $10.50 | Resident | Through June 30 | Small game and furbearers and one deer (1 deer tag). | Guidebook p. 42 |
| 65 Plus Annual Sportsman's License, code PAH | $3.50 | Resident | Through June 30 | Residents 65+ (60 days residency); 6 deer tags; through June 30. | Guidebook p. 46 |
WMA, lake and leased land permits (4)
| License, tag or permit | Price | Who | Valid | Notes | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMA/Lake Conservation Permit, code WMC | $10.50 | Anyone | Through June 30 | Required for anyone 16+ using AGFC-owned WMAs or lakes without a valid Arkansas hunting or fishing license (new July 1, 2026; replaces the WMA General Use Permit). | Guidebook p. 42 |
| WMA Leased Lands Permit, code LLP | $75 | Anyone | Through June 30 | Hunt, trap and camp on all Leased Lands WMAs (Big Timber, Casey Jones, Cedar Mountain, Cherokee, Jim Kress, Gum Flats, Howard County, Jack Mountain, Lafayette County, Lake Greeson, Provo); not required under 16; expires June 30. | Guidebook p. 42 |
| Nonresident 3-Day WMA Waterfowl Hunting Permit, code NW3 | $40 | Nonresident | As stated | Required for nonresidents hunting waterfowl on WMAs; up to 10 per season; valid on open regular season days. | Waterfowl guide p. 16 |
| Nonresident 30-Day WMA Waterfowl Hunting Permit, code NW30 | $200 | Nonresident | As stated | 30 consecutive days. | Waterfowl guide p. 16 |
Nonresident licenses, tags and permits (12)
| License, tag or permit | Price | Who | Valid | Notes | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonresident Annual Hunting License, code NBG | $410 | Nonresident | Through June 30 | All game species (modern gun, alternative firearms, archery) and full deer bag; 6 deer tags; furbearer hunting; extra permits for waterfowl, elk, bear, turkey, alligator. | Guidebook p. 42 |
| Nonresident Annual Turkey Hunting License, code NRTL | $325 | Nonresident | Through June 30 | Turkey only; one turkey without the Nonresident Turkey Tag. | Guidebook p. 43 |
| Nonresident Bear Tag, code NRB | $300 | Nonresident | Through June 30 | With NBG, one bear; not required under 16 or for $1,000 lifetime holders; one per year. | Guidebook p. 43 |
| Nonresident Turkey Tag, code NRTT | $100 | Nonresident | Through June 30 | With NBG, one turkey; one per year. | Guidebook p. 43 |
| Nonresident 1-Day Hunting License, code AG1 | $100 | Nonresident | As stated | Deer, one specified day; 6 deer tags. | Guidebook p. 43 |
| Nonresident 3-Day Hunting License, code AG3 | $225 | Nonresident | As stated | Deer, three specified days; 6 deer tags. | Guidebook p. 43 |
| Nonresident Annual Small Game Hunting License, code NRH | $110 | Nonresident | Through June 30 | Small game and furbearers. | Guidebook p. 43 |
| Nonresident 3-Day Small Game Hunting License, code SG3 | $80 | Nonresident | As stated | Small game and furbearers, three days. | Guidebook p. 43 |
| Nonresident Trapper's Permit, code NFT | $125 | Nonresident | Through June 30 | With a nonresident hunting license, trap furbearers. | Guidebook p. 43 |
| Nonresident Hunting Dog Owner's Permit, code NDP | $100 | Nonresident | Through June 30 | Use dogs to hunt, chase or retrieve deer (raised from $20 in 2026). | Guidebook p. 43 |
| Nonresident Private Lands Elk Permit, code NRE | $300 | Nonresident | Through June 30 | With nonresident annual hunting license, elk on private land. | Guidebook p. 43 |
| Nonresident Private Lands Alligator Permit, code NRG | $300 | Nonresident | Through June 30 | With nonresident annual hunting license, alligator on privately owned water. | Guidebook p. 43 |
Disability, veteran, retiree and 65 Plus licenses (8)
| License, tag or permit | Price | Who | Valid | Notes | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-year Resident Disability Hunting License, code RDH | $25 | Resident | Three years | Proof of 100% disability; Little Rock office only; three years. | Guidebook p. 44 |
| 3-year Resident Disability Combination License, code RDC | $35.50 | Resident | Three years | Includes fishing; three years. | Guidebook p. 44 |
| 65 Plus Lifetime Hunting License, code PLH2 | $25 | Resident | Lifetime | Residents 65+ (one year residency). | Guidebook p. 46 |
| 65 Plus Lifetime Combination License, code PLC2 | $35.50 | Resident | Lifetime | Residents 65+; hunting and fishing. | Guidebook p. 46 |
| Resident Disabled Military Veteran Lifetime Hunting License, code VLH2 | $1.50 | Resident | Lifetime | 100% permanent service-connected disability; Little Rock office. | Guidebook p. 46 |
| Resident Disabled Military Veteran Lifetime Combination License, code VLC2 | $3 | Resident | Lifetime | 100% permanent service-connected disability. | Guidebook p. 46 |
| Resident Disabled Military Veteran Lifetime Combination License and Permit, code VLL2 | $52.50 | Resident | Lifetime | 70% disability, or 50% with Purple Heart; includes trout and state waterfowl permits. | Guidebook p. 47 |
| Resident Military Retiree Lifetime Hunting License, code MRH2 | $25 | Resident | Lifetime | Age 60+, one year residency, retired from the US Armed Services. | Waterfowl guide p. 16 |
Lifetime combination licenses (2)
| License, tag or permit | Price | Who | Valid | Notes | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Sportsman's Lifetime Combination License and Permit, code LSP2 | $1,000 | Resident | Lifetime | Lifetime hunting and fishing including state waterfowl and trout permits; application fees waived for public land permits; one year residency. | Guidebook p. 45 |
| Resident Natural State Lifetime Combination License and Permit, code NSLL | $500 | Resident | Lifetime | Youths 10 and younger; limited number. | Guidebook p. 46 |
Guide licenses (4)
| License, tag or permit | Price | Who | Valid | Notes | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Guide License (hunting), code GLH | $250 | Resident | Through June 30 | Guide on land not owned or leased by AGFC; $100,000 liability insurance; no hunting privileges. | Guidebook p. 44 |
| Resident Combination Guide License, code GLC | $350 | Resident | Through June 30 | Hunting and fishing guide; expires June 30. | Guidebook p. 44 |
| Nonresident Guide License/Hunting, code GNH | $500 | Nonresident | Through June 30 | Guide on land not owned or leased by AGFC. | Guidebook p. 44 |
| Resident Special Guide License, code GLS | $150 | Resident | Through June 30 | Guide (not waterfowl) on AGFC-owned or leased land; one year residency. | Guidebook p. 45 |
Federal and state waterfowl stamps (4)
| License, tag or permit | Price | Who | Valid | Notes | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (physical), code DFS | $25 | Anyone | Through June 30 | Waterfowl hunters 16+; sign across the face. | Waterfowl guide p. 16 |
| Federal Duck Stamp (electronic), code FDE | $30 | Anyone | Through June 30 | Electronic federal stamp code. | Waterfowl guide p. 16 |
| Resident Arkansas Waterfowl Stamp, code DSR | $7 | Resident | Through June 30 | Waterfowl, early teal and early Canada goose. | Waterfowl guide p. 16 |
| Nonresident Arkansas Waterfowl Stamp, code DSN | $50 | Nonresident | Through June 30 | Waterfowl. | Waterfowl guide p. 16 |
Free tags, codes and border permits (3)
| License, tag or permit | Price | Who | Valid | Notes | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resident Youth Game Tag, code YGT | Free | Resident | Through June 30 | Youth hunters need it to check deer, turkey and bear; nonresident youth use YDTN (deer), YTTN (turkey), YBTN (bear). | Guidebook p. 22 |
| Nonresident Border Land Deer, Bear and Turkey Permits, code NBLDP/BBT/NBLTP | Free | Nonresident | Through June 30 | Mississippi and Tennessee residents hunting the Mississippi River border area under the reciprocal license agreements. | Guidebook p. 47 |
| Deferred Hunter Education Code, code DHE | Free | Anyone | Through June 30 | Hunters 16+ may hunt without hunter education under direct supervision of a licensed hunter 21+ who is certified or born on or before December 31, 1968. | Guidebook p. 45 |
Sources: Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 42; Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 43; Waterfowl Guidebook, PDF p. 16. Checked: values matched against the Arkansas text on November 9, 2026.
Arkansas licenses that changed in 2026
Starting July 1, 2026 the separate resident turkey and bear tags, game check tags, WMA General Use Permit and Resident Trapper permit are gone. Anyone 16 or older who uses an AGFC-owned WMA or lake without a hunting or fishing license now needs the $10.50 WMA/Lake Conservation Permit, and the nonresident dog permit went from $20 to $100.
- Tags inside the licenseResident turkey and bear tags, game check tags, WMA General Use and Resident Trapper permits eliminated as separate products; tags load into the CS, RS and HNT licenses. WMA/Lake Conservation Permit (WMC) required from July 1, 2026 for non-licensed users 16+ of AGFC-owned WMAs and lakes.
- WMA/Lake Conservation PermitRequired for anyone 16+ using AGFC-owned WMAs or lakes without a valid Arkansas hunting or fishing license (new July 1, 2026; replaces the WMA General Use Permit).
- Leased land WMAsHunt, trap and camp on all Leased Lands WMAs (Big Timber, Casey Jones, Cedar Mountain, Cherokee, Jim Kress, Gum Flats, Howard County, Jack Mountain, Lafayette County, Lake Greeson, Provo); not required under 16; expires June 30.
- Nonresident dog permitUse dogs to hunt, chase or retrieve deer (raised from $20 in 2026).
- All 2026 changesNonresident Hunting Dog Owner's Permit raised from $20 to $100; WMA Leased Lands permits consolidated into one $75 permit; WMC $10.50 added.
Sources: Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 44; Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 42; New This Year sheet, p. 1; Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 43. Checked: values matched against the Arkansas text on November 9, 2026.
Arkansas residents against visitors, item by item
A resident's bear and turkey tags come inside the $35.50 or $25 license; a nonresident adds the $300 bear tag or the $100 turkey tag to the $410 annual license, or buys the $325 turkey-only license. Short visits have their own options: a one-day deer license for $100, three days for $225, and three days of small game for $80.
| Item | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Annual all-game license | $35.50 | $410 |
| Small game license | $10.50 | $110 |
| Waterfowl stamp | $7 | $50 |
| Bear | $35.50 | $300 |
| Turkey | $35.50 | $100 |
| Hunting guide license | $250 | $500 |
Sources: Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 42; Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 43; Waterfowl Guidebook, PDF p. 16. Checked: values matched against the Arkansas text on November 9, 2026.
Game Check for hunters in the Natural State
Deer, turkey and bear are checked within 12 hours through the AGFC website, the AGFC app or the Game Check phone line, and the check number goes on the tag. Elk need a phone call at once and a head for CWD sampling, and alligators are checked online before AGFC mails the CITES tag.
- How Game Check worksGame Check: check deer, turkey and bear immediately (online, AGFC app or 833-289-2469) or tag first with the license/guidebook tag in ink, then check within 12 hours and write the check number on the tag. Duplicate harvest information stays with all parts until final storage.
- DeerCheck within 12 hours; evidence of sex must remain until checked; quarters may be separated but the head stays with them; button bucks must be checked as button bucks. Use the private land deer zone number or the WMA/NWR zone number.
- TurkeyCheck within 12 hours; tag on the leg; use the turkey zone map (private land) or the WMA zone.
- BearCheck within 12 hours; premolar and hair samples encouraged (no longer required in 2026).
- ElkCall 833-356-0824 immediately; check online within 12 hours; present the head to an AGFC biologist for a CWD sample.
- AlligatorCheck online within 12 hours; CITES tag mailed after verification.
- Giving game awayGiving away checked game requires a game transfer form (name, address, species, date, license number).
- Youth codesResident youth YGT; nonresident youth YDTN (deer), YTTN (turkey), YBTN (bear).
Sources: Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 24; Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 25; Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 28; Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 30. Checked: values matched against the Arkansas text on November 9, 2026.
Arkansas hunter education cards, line by line
Anyone born after 1968 needs a hunter education card, or HE-VERIFIED printed on the license, to hunt in Arkansas. Hunters 16 and older who have not taken the course can get the free Deferred Hunter Education code (DHE) and hunt under the direct supervision of a licensed hunter 21 or older who is certified or was born on or before December 31, 1968.
Who must carry a card
Hunters born after 1968 must carry a valid hunter education card unless "HE-VERIFIED" is on the license. Hunters under 16 need no card if under direct supervision of an adult 21+. Other states' cards honored.
Deferred Hunter Education code
Free Deferred Hunter Education Code (DHE) for hunters 16+: valid hunting license and direct supervision of a licensed hunter 21+ who is certified or born on or before December 31, 1968; not for those with prior hunter education violations.
Youth during youth hunts
Youth 6-15 without hunter education must be supervised by a licensed hunter/adult 21+ during youth deer, bear and turkey hunts; youth who completed it may hunt turkey alone.
Finding a class
Class schedule at agfc.com/events.
Sources: Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 45; Hunting Guidebook, PDF p. 22. Checked: values matched against the Arkansas text on November 9, 2026.
Arkansas license questions
Which Arkansas resident licenses carry deer, turkey and bear tags?
$25 for the Resident Sportsman's License, $35.50 for the Combination Sportsman's with fishing, or $10.50 for the Wildlife Conservation License. All run through June 30.
How long do I have to check a deer in Arkansas?
12 hours. Tag the deer in ink first if you cannot check it right away, then write the check number on the tag.
Who needs the new WMA/Lake Conservation Permit?
Required for anyone 16+ using AGFC-owned WMAs or lakes without a valid Arkansas hunting or fishing license (new July 1, 2026; replaces the WMA General Use Permit). It costs $10.50.
How much is an Arkansas deer license for a visitor?
$410 for the annual nonresident license with six deer tags, $225 for three specified days or $100 for one day.
Who counts as an Arkansas resident for a license?
Primary residence in Arkansas for at least 60 consecutive days; full-time students of Arkansas schools; residents studying out of state; active-duty military stationed in Arkansas and Arkansas National Guard; Arkansans who entered service from Arkansas. Owning property does not make a resident.
Are turkey and bear tags still sold separately to residents?
No. Since July 1, 2026 the resident turkey and bear tags load into the Combination Sportsman's, Resident Sportsman's and Wildlife Conservation licenses.
Do Arkansas seniors get a cheaper license?
Yes. Residents 65 and older can buy the 65 Plus Annual Sportsman's License for $3.50, or a 65 Plus lifetime hunting license for $25.
What waterfowl stamps does an Arkansas duck hunter need?
The federal duck stamp ($25 physical or $30 electronic) for hunters 16 and older, plus the Arkansas waterfowl stamp ($7 resident, $50 nonresident). Nonresidents hunting ducks on WMAs also need a $40 three-day or $200 thirty-day WMA waterfowl permit.
Which Arkansas hunters must carry a hunter education card?
Hunters born after 1968 must carry a valid hunter education card unless "HE-VERIFIED" is on the license. Hunters under 16 need no card if under direct supervision of an adult 21+. Other states' cards honored.
Open the AGFC guidebooks
Every WMA and national wildlife refuge carries its own zone number and its own dates, so the WMA listing in the hunting guidebook overrides the private land zone around it.
Other photos on this page: Noel Pennington (CC BY 2.0); mbarrison (CC BY-SA 2.0); Alyenaa Buckles (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain).