Home › Arkansas › Counties › Columbia County
2026-27 county guide
Columbia County Hunting Guide
Zone dates, CWD rules, bear and alligator quotas, deer harvest since 2021-22 and every public tract in or near Columbia County, checked November 9, 2026.
Photo: Robert Nunnally (CC BY 2.0)
Deer zones that cover Columbia County
Every private acre of Columbia County reads off the Deer Zone 12 line in the guidebook, with no second zone to sort out. Expect the rifle opener on November 14 and the end of the first gun window on December 20. The October alternative firearms window runs October 17 to 25 in Deer Zone 12.
| Deer zone | Gun does | Buck rule | Dog dates | Muzzleloader | Gun dates | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
AGFC allows dogs for deer in Deer Zone 12, and the dog column in the table gives the exact dates. For a legal buck in Columbia County, look for three points on one side. Statewide pieces apply on top: early buck-only archery August 29 to 31, archery September 26 to February 28, 2027, youth gun weekends November 7 to 8 and January 2 to 3, and a season limit of six deer with no more than two antlered bucks.
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 Columbia County
On AGFC's 2026-27 CWD map, Columbia County is unshaded: outside the management zone. Neighbouring Union County is in the zone, so a deer killed across the line follows that county's carcass rules. Carcass movement is limited by tier inside the zone; nothing but low-risk parts may cross into a county like this one.
Out-of-state cervids follow AGFC's import rule: deboned meat, clean skull plates and antlers, cleaned teeth, hides and finished mounts only. To test a deer, leave the head and roughly six inches of neck at an AGFC drop-off container, a participating taxidermist or a regional office. The disease turned up in Arkansas in February 2016; elk surveillance goes back to 1998 and statewide deer sampling to 2002.
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.
Columbia County hunting calendar by zone
A split season shows its first and last day here; the Splits cell says how many separate windows AGFC set between them.
| Species | Hunt | Applies in | Needs | First day | Last day | Pieces | Status | Booklet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 hunts | Permit | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 18, 2026 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 79 | |
| 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 | 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.
Other big game in Columbia County
Columbia County black bear outlook
Open bear zones in Columbia County: 4, with Zone 4 (25). Check the quota line (833-345-0398) the night before; seasons end when a quota fills. Bear bait is legal only on private land in Bear Zones 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 5A, from 30 days before the first bear season to the end of the last.
Columbia County spring turkey dates
AGFC's zone map puts Columbia County in Turkey Zone 2, which opens for gobblers Zone 2 from April 12 to May 2, 2027. Youth turkey hunters have a weekend of their own in April 2027, the 10th and 11th.
Alligator and elk notes for Columbia County
The alligator season in Columbia County (Alligator Management Zone 2, AMZ 2: 5) runs in two September stretches, after dark only. The guidebook prints the Zone 2 quota as 5 alligators. Apply for a public land alligator permit in July; private land permits are bought. No elk permit is needed in Columbia County; the statewide zone lets hunters take an elk during deer seasons. Elk go through their own check and sampling step at 833-356-0824.
| Game | Kind | Applies in | Dates | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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.
Columbia County WMA draws for 2026-27
Permit hunts on the county's WMAs and refuges number 2 in the parsed guidebook list, broken down as 2 deer. Next up is the WMA turkey draw, January 15 to February 15, 2027. When a permit hunt is under way, the WMA is reserved for permit holders apart from waterfowl.
| Public area | Game | Type | When | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcon Bottoms Natural Area WMA | Deer | Deer Alt. firearms | Oct 17-21 | Guidebook p. 79 |
| Falcon Bottoms Natural Area WMA | Deer | Deer Modern Gun | Nov 14-18 | Guidebook p. 79 |
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.
Five seasons of Columbia County deer
Hunters checked 3,739 deer in Columbia County in 2025-26, 13th among the 75 counties. Checked deer peaked at 4,070 in 2021-22 and averaged 3,725 across the five reports. Harvest density came to 4.9 deer for each square mile of land.
| Season | Deer | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 4,070 | 7th | Table 6 |
| 2022-23 | 3,256 | 18th | Table 6 |
| 2023-24 | 3,514 | 17th | Table 6 |
| 2024-25 | 4,044 | 11th | Table 6 |
| 2025-26 | 3,739 | 13th | Table 6 |
Across 2022-23 to 2024-25, antlered bucks made up 46% of the checked deer here and does 48%. By method, modern gun led with 85%; bows and crossbows together took 8%.
| Season | Antlered | Button | Doe | Modern gun | Muzzleloader | Bow/crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 1,423 | 148 | 1,685 | 2,774 | 220 | 262 |
| 2023-24 | 1,656 | 204 | 1,654 | 3,063 | 174 | 269 |
| 2024-25 | 1,947 | 210 | 1,887 | 3,331 | 180 | 299 |
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.
Columbia County public acres
Of every hundred acres in Columbia County, roughly 1 are public hunting land, 1,436 acres in all. 1,436 of those acres are WMAs, more than any other kind.
| Owner | Acres (GIS) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| AGFC WMAs | 1,436 | Per WMA entry |
| State parks | 137 | Off limits |
| Public total | 1,436 | No double count |
Logoly State Park is off limits; state and national parks are closed to hunting.
Columbia County public land with its own page
Falcon Bottoms Natural Area WMA (natural area wma)
Zone 219 · draw hunts
Next-door public land for Columbia County
- Lafayette County WMALeased land, 3 mi
- Poison Springs WMAWMA, 4 mi
- Two Bayou Creek WMAWMA, 34 mi
- Spring Bank WMAWMA, 36 mi
- Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMAWMA, 38 mi
- Sulphur River WMAWMA, 42 mi
- Hope Upland WMAWMA, 43 mi
- Big Timber WMALeased land, 46 mi
Columbia County parks and closed places
- Logoly State ParkNo hunting · 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.
Columbia County AGFC contacts and shops
AGFC groups Columbia County with the Perrytown district, reached at (870) 777-5580. For questions or a CWD sample, the Southwest Office in Perrytown is about 37 miles off in a straight line. Town pages for Columbia County: Magnolia. Call ahead: these are directory rows, not checked visits.
AGFC buildings closest to Columbia County
Columbia County communities
- Magnolia10,759 people
Where Columbia County hunters buy shells and drop deer
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.
Dates on the Columbia County calendar
Held within the county: 1 date ahead, namely DU gun bingo.
| Date | Event | Where | Book | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 1, 2026 | SAU Ducks Unlimited Bingo type: DU gun bingo | SAU Alumni Center (Magnolia) | Tickets | Source |
Columbia County: firing lines and clay fields
Kidd's Nevada Gamebirds, 20 miles from the Columbia County centre, is the closest listed range.
Columbia County deer hunters needing a rifle bench can drive 20 miles to Kidd's Nevada Gamebirds (Nevada County).
Local shoot calendar
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 5, 2026 | NASP tournament | Listing |
| Dec 12, 2026 | NASP tournament | Listing |
| Dec 12, 2026 | NASP tournament | Listing |
| Jan 9, 2027 | NASP tournament | Listing |
| Jan 9, 2027 | NASP tournament | Listing |
| Jan 16, 2027 | NASP tournament | Listing |
Ranges from the AGFC Shooting and Archery Ranges page, the AGFC range layer, club sites and directory listings, checked November 9, 2026.
When legal light starts around Columbia County
Deer, bear, elk, turkey and small game follow the general window; the migratory bird column applies to ducks, geese, doves, woodcock and snipe near Columbia County.
| Date | Marker | Rise | Set | Big and small game | Waterfowl window | Worked from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2026 | Early buck archery | 6:45 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 8:14 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:03 a.m. | 7:06 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 7:06 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Zone 12 alt-firearms | 7:22 a.m. | 6:37 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 7:07 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Youth gun weekend | 6:41 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 12 gun opener | 6:48 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:55 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Dec 20, 2026 | Zone 12 gun closes | 7:18 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:18 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Apr 12, 2027 | Turkey Zone 2 opens | 6:47 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 8:14 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:44 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.
Ouachita River bend with a sandbar under a summer sky near CamdenPhoto: Robert Nunnally (CC BY 2.0)
Calm Ouachita River lined with green bottomland trees near Camden, Ouachita CountyPhoto: Robert Nunnally (CC BY 2.0)
The Red River and a highway bridge near Lewisville in south ArkansasPhoto: Robert Nunnally (CC BY 2.0)
Columbia County FAQ
Where can I get a deer tested near Columbia County?
At an AGFC drop-off container, a taxidermist on the CWD list, or by calling the Southwest Office in Perrytown.
What dates can I hunt bears around Columbia County?
Modern Gun Dec 19-25.
When does spring turkey season open in Columbia County?
Zone 2 from April 12 to May 2, 2027 (zone from AGFC’s zone map).
Is there an alligator quota in Columbia County?
AMZ 2: 5. The guidebook prints the Zone 2 quota as 5 alligators.
Which days are elk legal in Columbia County?
During any open deer season.
Does Columbia County have any AGFC WMAs?
Yes, 1 WMA record here, including Falcon Bottoms Natural Area WMA.
How many antlered bucks come out of Columbia County?
5,026 antlered bucks over 2022-23 to 2024-25.
How many miles separate Magnolia from the nearest AGFC office?
About 37 miles from the county centre to Perrytown.
Are deer dogs legal in Columbia County?
Yes, in Deer Zone 12.
What zone do I report a Columbia County deer under?
Under the private land zone where it fell (Deer Zone 12); on a WMA or refuge, use that area’s own zone number.
How long is gun season in Columbia County?
Zone 12 has 40 gun days, holiday days included.
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.