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Bradley County, Arkansas
Bradley County hunting at a glance
Bradley County for the 2026-27 season: Deer Zone 12, Tier 2 of the CWD Management Zone, 17,050 GIS acres of public ground and AGFC contacts near Warren.
Photo: Brandonrush (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Bradley County deer zone rules for 2026-27
Bradley County is a one-zone county for deer, and that zone is Deer Zone 12. The regular modern gun window here runs November 14 to December 20; AGFC prints 40 gun days for the zone once the holiday hunt is added. Alternative firearms season, formerly called muzzleloader season, covers Deer Zone 12 from October 17.
| Zone | Gun antlerless | Antler minimum | Hounds | Alternative | Centerfire | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone 12 | 4 antlerless, any method | 3-point, any in CWD | Nov 14-Dec 20 | Oct 17-25 | Nov 14-Dec 20/Dec 26-28 | Guidebook p. 19 |
Deer Zone 12 is a dog zone, so packs are part of the November woods in Bradley County. Bucks taken in Bradley County must meet no antler minimum (CWD county). Archers start early with a buck-only weekend at the end of August, then hunt from late September through the end of February.
Zone bags, antler rules, dogs and dates from the 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook zone pages and AGFC’s deer seasons by zone page; county lists from the 2026-27 regs data (AGFC deer zone layer). Checked November 9, 2026.
What the CWD zone means in Bradley County
Bradley County is a Tier 2 county in the CWD Management Zone, one of 32 counties AGFC lists for 2026-27. Antler restrictions do not apply inside the zone, so any buck may be taken. Bait is legal for deer and elk on private ground in the zone from September 1 to December 31 while a season runs, and feeding outside those exceptions is not.
Tier 2 deer stay whole only while they stay inside the zone. Elk or deer killed out of state must enter Arkansas as low-risk parts, which AGFC lists as deboned meat, antlers on a clean skull plate, cleaned teeth, hides and finished taxidermy. CWD testing is free: AGFC runs refrigerated drop-off containers (bring the head with about six inches of neck), works with participating taxidermists and takes samples at regional offices (call ahead). Every elk killed in Arkansas must be checked and sampled as part of CWD monitoring.
Zone list, tiers and rules from the 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook CWD pages and the zone map; tiers read from the map shading. Checked November 9, 2026.
The 2026-27 season list for Bradley County
This table holds 45 rows for 32 species, and the status column compares each window with today.
| Species | Season | Zone or area | Permit? | Open date | Close date | Windows | Today? | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Early buck archery | Statewide | License | Aug 29, 2026 | Aug 31, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 14 | |
| Deer | Archery | Statewide | License | Sep 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 3 | |
| Deer | Alternative Firearms | Zone 12 | License | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 19 | |
| Deer | Deer permits, WMAs | 4 hunts | Permit | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 18, 2026 | 4 parts | Guidebook p. 92 | |
| Deer | Youth gun hunt | Statewide | License | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 22 | |
| Deer | Modern Gun | Zone 12 | License | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 28, 2026 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 19 | |
| Deer | Christmas gun hunt | Statewide | License | Dec 26, 2026 | Dec 28, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 3 | |
| Elk | Outside core counties | Outside core | License | Aug 29, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 25 | |
| Black bear | Modern Gun | Bear Zone 4 | License | Dec 19, 2026 | Dec 25, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 29 | |
| Turkey | Youth spring 2027 | Turkey Zone 2 | License | Apr 10, 2027 | Apr 11, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 31 | |
| Turkey | Spring 2027 | Turkey Zone 2 | License | Apr 12, 2027 | May 2, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 31 | |
| Alligator | Permit hunt | AMZ 2, 3 | Permit | Sep 18, 2026 | Sep 28, 2026 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 28 | |
| Feral hog | Private land | Statewide | License | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 40 | |
| Squirrel | Squirrel | Statewide | License | May 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 36 | |
| Rabbit | Rabbit | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 36 | |
| Quail | Quail | Statewide | License | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 36 | |
| Crow | Crow | Statewide | License | Sep 3, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 36 | |
| Bullfrog | Bullfrog | Statewide | License | Jun 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | One | Date sheet | |
| Ducks | Regular duck season | Statewide | License | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 3 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Coot | Coot | Statewide | License | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 3 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Mergansers | Merganser | Statewide | License | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 3 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Teal | Special Early Teal | Statewide | License | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | One | Date sheet | |
| Canada Goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Canada Goose | Regular Canada goose | Statewide | License | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 3 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| White-fronted Goose | White-fronted goose | Statewide | License | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 4 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Light geese | Light geese (regular) | Statewide | License | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 4 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Light geese | Conservation order | Statewide | License | Feb 1, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | 2 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Ducks and geese | Youth waterfowl | Statewide | License | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 7, 2027 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Ducks and geese | Veteran and military | Statewide | License | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 7, 2027 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Doves | Dove | Statewide | License | Sep 5, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | 2 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 4 | |
| Snipe | Snipe | Statewide | License | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 4 | |
| Gallinules | Gallinule | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 4 | |
| Rails | Rails | Statewide | License | Sep 12, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 4 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock | Statewide | License | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 4 | |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunting | Statewide | License | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 37 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 37 | |
| Bobcat | During turkey season | Statewide | License | Apr 5, 2027 | May 9, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 37 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | Statewide | License | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 37 | |
| Coyote | Trapping | Statewide | License | Aug 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 38 | |
| Fox, muskrat, mink | Hunting | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 37 | |
| River Otter | Hunting | Statewide | License | Nov 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 37 | |
| Beaver, nutria | Hunting | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 37 | |
| Beaver, nutria | Trapping | Statewide | License | Nov 21, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 38 | |
| Badger, weasel | Hunting | Statewide | Closed | – | – | – | Closed | Guidebook p. 37 |
| Furbearers | Trapping | Statewide | License | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 38 |
Dates from the 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook, the 2026-27 Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook and the AGFC season date sheet (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); zone county lists from AGFC zone layers and maps; checked November 9, 2026.
More big game rules for Bradley County
Bradley County bear rules
Black bear seasons reach Bradley County through Bear Zone 4, with quotas of Zone 4 (25). Before each bear hunt, the quota line at 833-345-0398 says whether the zone is still open. Bait for bears goes out on private land only, beginning 30 days before the first season in the zone.
Bradley County turkey zones
Spring turkey zones for Bradley County, from AGFC's zone map: Turkey Zone 2, open Zone 2 from April 12 to May 2, 2027. The youth turkey weekend is April 10 and 11, 2027, in Zones 1, 1A, 2 and 2A.
Bradley County alligator zones, elk status
Gator permits can be used in Bradley County under Alligator Management Zones 2 and 3 (AMZ 2: 5 and AMZ 3: 106), two September stretches, night only. The guidebook prints the Zone 2 quota as 5 alligators. AGFC draws public land alligator permits in July and sells private land permits. Away from the core elk counties, elk count as fair game during deer seasons, and Bradley County is one of those counties. Every elk must be checked and sampled; call 833-356-0824.
| Species | Hunt | Area | Windows | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear | Modern Gun | Bear Zone 4 | Dec 19-25 | Guidebook p. 29 |
| Turkey | Spring 2027 | Zone 2 (map) | Apr 12-May 2 | Guidebook p. 31 |
| Alligator | Permit | AMZ 2, 3 | Sep 18-21; Sep 25-28 | Guidebook p. 28 |
| Elk | Statewide Elk Zone | Statewide zone | Aug 29-Feb 28 | Guidebook p. 25 |
Bear, turkey, alligator and elk seasons, quotas and rules from the 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook (bear, turkey, alligator, elk); bear and alligator county lists from AGFC zone layers; turkey zone counties read from AGFC’s zone map; ranks from the 2025 bear report and turkey reports. Checked November 9, 2026.
Bradley County draw hunts on public land
Public land touching Bradley County carries 4 permit-required hunts in the 2026-27 guidebook, 4 deer. Apply for WMA turkey permits from January 15 to February 15, 2027; deer permit applications were taken June 1 to July 1, 2026. A permit hunt closes the area to everyone else except waterfowl hunters.
| Area | Game | Hunt | Dates | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Longview Saline Natural Area WMA | Deer | Deer Alt. firearms | Oct 17-21 | Guidebook p. 92 |
| Longview Saline Natural Area WMA | Deer | Deer Modern Gun | Nov 14-18 | Guidebook p. 92 |
| Warren Prairie Natural Area WMA | Deer | Deer Alt. firearms | Oct 17-21 | Guidebook p. 107 |
| Warren Prairie Natural Area WMA | Deer | Deer Modern Gun | Nov 14-18 | Guidebook p. 107 |
Permit hunts parsed from the WMA pages of the 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook (“permit required”); application windows from the guidebook draw page. The parse misses some text on a few listings. Checked November 9, 2026.
How many deer Bradley County hunters check
In 2025-26, Game Check recorded 4,132 deer from Bradley County, good for 4th place. The five-season average is 4,492 deer; 2024-25 was the high point at 4,784. Spread over 649 square miles, the 2025-26 harvest works out to 6.4 deer per square mile.
| Season | Total | Rank | Table |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 4,669 | 3rd | Table 6 |
| 2022-23 | 4,455 | 3rd | Table 6 |
| 2023-24 | 4,418 | 6th | Table 6 |
| 2024-25 | 4,784 | 3rd | Table 6 |
| 2025-26 | 4,132 | 4th | Table 6 |
Roughly 46% of deer checked in Bradley County from 2022-23 to 2024-25 carried antlers. 7% of deer here fell to a bow or crossbow over those seasons, while modern gun took 85%.
| Season | Antlered | Button | Antlerless doe | Gun | Muzzleloader | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 2,105 | 239 | 2,111 | 3,773 | 348 | 334 |
| 2023-24 | 2,032 | 264 | 2,122 | 3,799 | 252 | 358 |
| 2024-25 | 2,146 | 279 | 2,359 | 4,005 | 234 | 293 |
Checked deer by county from AGFC White-tailed Deer Reports, Table 6 (2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25, 2025-26); sex and weapon from the AGFC deer harvest record table (2022-23 to 2024-25). Checked November 9, 2026.
Bradley County WMAs, forests and refuges
About 4% of Bradley County (17,050 GIS acres) is public land where hunting is allowed under each owner's rules. The biggest piece is refuges, near 16,098 acres.
| Owner | GIS acres | Note |
|---|---|---|
| WMAs (AGFC layer) | 952 | WMA rules |
| Refuge land | 16,098 | Refuge permits |
| State park land | 116 | No hunting |
| Open acres | 17,050 | Counted once |
Check the refuge's hunting page; refuge dates differ from private land zones. Moro Bay State Park counts as closed ground for hunters.
Public tracts inside Bradley County
Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge
Zone 220 · changes proposed
Casey Jones WMA
Zone 125
Longview Saline Natural Area WMA
Zone 423 · permit hunts
Warren Prairie Natural Area WMA (natural area wma)
Zone 645 · permit hunts
Close to the Bradley County line
- Moro Big Pine Natural Area WMANatural area, 1 mi
- Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMAWMA, 2 mi
- Hall Creek Barrens Natural Area WMA (natural area wma)Natural area, 7 mi
Bradley County places off limits
- Moro Bay State ParkOff limits · State Park
GIS acres from the AGFC WMA boundary layer, USFS ownership, 50 CFR 32.23 refuges, PAD-US Corps of Engineers and NPS units (merged, water over 2 square kilometres removed; not official acreage); land records from AGFC, USFS, USFWS and Corps sources; closures under AGFC Code 05.11, 36 CFR 327.8 and 50 CFR 32.23. Checked November 9, 2026.
Bradley County offices, towns and services
For wildlife management questions, Bradley County falls under AGFC Region 3 (Monticello), whose office is in Monticello. The nearest office on AGFC's regional offices list is the Southeast Office in Monticello, about 22 miles from the middle of the county. Hunting pages exist for 1 town in Bradley County. Check hours by phone; directory listings change from season to season.
AGFC buildings closest to Bradley County
Bradley County town guides
- Warren5,196 people
Services around Warren
District offices from the AGFC districts layer; offices from the AGFC regional offices page; towns from the 2024 Census gazetteer; shops from Yellow Pages listings, chain store locators and the AGFC CWD taxidermist list (not individually verified; call ahead). Checked November 9, 2026.
Bradley County ranges: gun clubs, clays and bow lanes
The first six Bradley County ranges appear as cards; any more sit in the table.
Ranges from the AGFC Shooting and Archery Ranges page, the AGFC range layer, club sites and directory listings, checked November 9, 2026.
Bradley County legal hours by season date
Ducks, geese, doves and other migratory birds stop at sunset rather than half an hour after it, so the last column closes earlier around Bradley County.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | General hours | Migratory birds | Sun times from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2026 | Early buck archery | 6:40 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 8:10 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 6:58 a.m. | 7:02 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 7:02 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Zone 12 alt-firearms | 7:15 a.m. | 6:30 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Youth gun weekend | 6:34 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 12 gun opener | 6:41 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:48 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Dec 20, 2026 | Zone 12 gun closes | 7:11 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:11 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Turkey Zone 2 opens | 6:40 a.m. | 7:37 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 8:07 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:37 p.m. | AGFC table |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook; sunrise and sunset from the AGFC Little Rock table with AGFC’s nine-mile correction, or the NOAA solar formula on Central Time where the table has no entry; checked November 9, 2026. Legal hours across Arkansas.
Fountain on the courthouse square with downtown storefronts in Monticello, Drew CountyPhoto: Brandonrush (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Old dogtrot log cabin under shade trees near Thornton in southern Calhoun CountyPhoto: Farther Along (CC BY 2.0)
Old white wooden store with a Coca-Cola sign in Kingsland, Cleveland CountyPhoto: Farther Along (CC BY 2.0)
Hunting Bradley County, answered
Are alligators fair game in Bradley County this September?
Yes, in Alligator Management Zones 2 and 3 with a permit.
Is Bradley County a core elk county?
No. The five core counties are Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton and Searcy.
Which public tracts in Bradley County allow hunting?
Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge, Casey Jones WMA, Longview Saline Natural Area WMA and Warren Prairie Natural Area WMA.
How many deer did Game Check log for Bradley County last season?
4,132 checked deer in 2025-26.
Does Bradley County have its own AGFC office?
No; the nearest is Monticello.
What permit do nonresident dog hunters need in Bradley County?
The $100 Nonresident Hunting Dog Owner’s Permit.
Which deer zone applies to my land in Bradley County?
Deer Zone 12, for every private tract in the county.
When is modern gun deer season in Bradley County?
It opens November 14, 2026; Zone 12: Nov 14-Dec 20/Dec 26-28.
Which CWD rules bind hunters in Bradley County?
Any buck is legal, feeding wildlife is restricted and carcass movement follows Tier 2 rules.
Which bear zone numbers cover Bradley County ground?
Bear Zone 4.
Is Bradley County a good turkey county?
AGFC publishes county turkey harvest only as a map, and this county is not in its top counties tables.
From the 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook, the AGFC deer zone page, CWD rules, quota lines, AGFC harvest reports and the county data above. Checked November 9, 2026.