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Franklin County, Arkansas
Franklin County hunting at a glance
Franklin County for the 2026-27 season: Deer Zones 6 and 7, Tier 2 of the CWD Management Zone, 122,140 GIS acres of public ground and AGFC contacts near Ozark.
Photo: SlapTheWorld (CC0 1.0)
Franklin County deer zone rules for 2026-27
AGFC lists Franklin County in Deer Zones 6 and 7; the boundaries follow roads and streams, so the zone on your stand depends on which side of those lines it sits. The regular modern gun window here runs November 14 to December 6; AGFC prints 26 gun days for the zone once the holiday hunt is added. Alternative firearms season, formerly called muzzleloader season, covers Deer Zones 6 and 7 from October 17 and comes back in December for Deer Zones 6 and 7.
| Zone | Gun antlerless | Antler minimum | Hounds | Alternative | Centerfire | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone 6 | 3 antlerless by gun | Any buck (CWD zone) | Nov 14-Dec 6 | Oct 17-25/Dec 12-14 | Nov 14-Dec 6/Dec 26-28 | Guidebook p. 17 |
| Deer Zone 7 | 3 antlerless by gun | 3-point, any in CWD | Nov 14-Dec 6 | Oct 17-25/Dec 12-14 | Nov 14-Dec 6/Dec 26-28 | Guidebook p. 17 |
Deer Zones 6 and 7 are dog zones, so packs are part of the November woods in Franklin County. Bucks taken in Franklin County must meet no antler minimum and no antler minimum (CWD county), depending on the zone. Archers start early with a buck-only weekend at the end of August, then hunt from late September through the end of February. Game Check asks for the private land deer zone, so know which side of the line the stand is on.
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.
CWD tier and carcass rules for Franklin County
Franklin 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 Franklin County
This table holds 51 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 6 | License | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 17 | |
| Deer | Alternative Firearms | Zone 7 | License | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 17 | |
| Deer | Deer permits, WMAs | 12 hunts | Permit | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 16, 2026 | 14 parts | Guidebook p. 75 | |
| Deer | Youth gun hunt | Statewide | License | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 22 | |
| Deer | Modern Gun | Zone 6 | License | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 28, 2026 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 17 | |
| Deer | Modern Gun | Zone 7 | License | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 28, 2026 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 17 | |
| 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 | Archery | Bear Zones 1, 2 | License | Sep 9, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 29 | |
| Black bear | Alternative Firearms | Bear Zones 1, 2 | License | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 29 | |
| Black bear | Youth gun hunt | Bear Zones 1, 2 | License | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 29 | |
| Black bear | Modern Gun | Bear Zones 1, 2 | License | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 29 | |
| Turkey | Turkey permits, WMAs | 1 hunt | Permit | Apr 5, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | 4 parts | Guidebook p. 79 | |
| Turkey | Youth spring 2027 | Turkey Zone 1 | License | Apr 10, 2027 | Apr 11, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 31 | |
| Turkey | Spring 2027 | Turkey Zone 1 | License | Apr 19, 2027 | May 9, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 31 | |
| Alligator | All seasons closed | AMZ 5 | Closed | – | – | – | Closed | 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 Franklin County
Franklin County bear rules
Black bear seasons reach Franklin County through Bear Zones 1 and 2, with quotas of Zone 1 (archery 450, alternative firearms 50, modern gun 50) and Zone 2 (no quota printed). 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.
Franklin County turkey zones
Spring turkey zones for Franklin County, from AGFC's zone map: Turkey Zone 1, open Zone 1 from April 19 to May 9, 2027. The youth turkey weekend is April 10 and 11, 2027, in Zones 1, 1A, 2 and 2A.
Franklin County alligator zones, elk status
Alligator Management Zone 5 has no alligator season. Away from the core elk counties, elk count as fair game during deer seasons, and Franklin County is one of those counties. Every elk must be checked and sampled; call 833-356-0824.
| Species | Hunt | Area | Windows | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear | Archery | Bear Zones 1, 2 | Sep 9-Nov 30 | Guidebook p. 29 |
| Black bear | Alternative Firearms | Bear Zones 1, 2 | Oct 17-25 | Guidebook p. 29 |
| Black bear | Youth Modern Gun Hunt | Bear Zones 1, 2 | Nov 7-8 | Guidebook p. 29 |
| Black bear | Modern Gun | Bear Zones 1, 2 | Nov 14-30 | Guidebook p. 29 |
| Turkey | Spring 2027 | Zone 1 (map) | Apr 19-May 9 | Guidebook p. 31 |
| 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.
Franklin County draw hunts on public land
Public land touching Franklin County carries 13 permit-required hunts in the 2026-27 guidebook, 12 deer and 1 turkey. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Chaffee WMA | Deer | Deer Alt. firearms | Nov 22 | Guidebook p. 79 |
| Fort Chaffee WMA | Deer | Deer Modern Gun | Nov 21 | Guidebook p. 79 |
| Fort Chaffee WMA | Deer | Deer Alt. firearms | Oct 17-21 | Guidebook p. 79 |
| Fort Chaffee WMA | Deer | Deer Modern Gun | Nov 14-18 | Guidebook p. 79 |
| Fort Chaffee WMA | Deer | Deer Alt. firearms | Dec 5-9 | Guidebook p. 79 |
| Fort Chaffee WMA | Deer | Deer Modern Gun | Dec 12-16 | Guidebook p. 79 |
| Dardanelle WMA | Deer | Deer Special Modern Gun | Nov 3-5 | Guidebook p. 75 |
| White Rock WMA | Deer | Deer Modern Gun Mobility-impaired | Nov 7-8 | Guidebook p. 108 |
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 Franklin County hunters check
In 2025-26, Game Check recorded 2,095 deer from Franklin County, good for 48th place. The five-season average is 2,136 deer; 2022-23 was the high point at 2,400. Spread over 609 square miles, the 2025-26 harvest works out to 3.4 deer per square mile.
| Season | Total | Rank | Table |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 1,846 | 53rd | Table 6 |
| 2022-23 | 2,400 | 37th | Table 6 |
| 2023-24 | 2,148 | 48th | Table 6 |
| 2024-25 | 2,190 | 46th | Table 6 |
| 2025-26 | 2,095 | 48th | Table 6 |
Roughly 53% of deer checked in Franklin County from 2022-23 to 2024-25 carried antlers. 15% of deer here fell to a bow or crossbow over those seasons, while modern gun took 75%.
| Season | Antlered | Button | Antlerless doe | Gun | Muzzleloader | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 1,266 | 130 | 1,004 | 1,795 | 234 | 371 |
| 2023-24 | 1,095 | 162 | 891 | 1,638 | 179 | 324 |
| 2024-25 | 1,206 | 117 | 867 | 1,594 | 130 | 300 |
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.
Franklin County WMAs, forests and refuges
About 31% of Franklin County (122,140 GIS acres) is public land where hunting is allowed under each owner's rules. The biggest piece is WMAs, near 122,083 acres.
| Owner | GIS acres | Note |
|---|---|---|
| WMAs (AGFC layer) | 122,083 | WMA rules |
| Forest Service land | 105,359 | Open |
| Corps land | 5,841 | 36 CFR 327.8 |
| Military ground | 9,733 | Not in total |
| Open acres | 122,140 | Counted once |
On Corps project land, federal rules permit hunting except in areas and periods the District Commander closes; check with the lake office. Military sites are not open public hunting land outside the WMA programs.
Public tracts inside Franklin County
Ozark-St. Francis National Forests
National forest
White Rock WMA
Zone 670 · permit hunts
Fort Chaffee WMA
Zone 230 · permit hunts
Dardanelle Lake (Corps land)
check first
Dardanelle WMA
Zone 160 · permit hunts
Ozark Lake (Corps land)
check first
Ozark Lake WMA
Zone 500 · check first
Close to the Franklin County line
- Frog Bayou WMAWMA, 2 mi
- Cherokee WMALeased land, 6 mi
- Lake Ouachita (Corps land)Corps lake, 6 mi
- Ouachita National ForestNational forest, 6 mi
- Mount Magazine WMAWMA, 6 mi
- Blue Mountain Lake (Corps land)Corps lake, 7 mi
- Blue Mountain WMAWMA, 7 mi
- Lee Creek WMAWMA, 10 mi
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.
Franklin County offices, towns and services
For wildlife management questions, Franklin County falls under AGFC Region 6 (Jasper), whose office is in Jasper. The nearest office on AGFC's regional offices list is the Fort Smith Office in Fort Smith, about 29 miles from the middle of the county. Hunting pages exist for 3 towns in Franklin County. Check hours by phone; directory listings change from season to season.
Nearest AGFC doors to Franklin County
Franklin County communities
- Ozark3,601 people
- Charleston2,731 people
- Branch307 people
Services around Ozark
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.
Franklin County ranges: gun clubs, clays and bow lanes
The first six Franklin County ranges appear as cards; any more sit in the table.
Old Fort Gun Club, 17 miles off in Crawford County, is the nearest range with rifles listed.
Shoots coming up here
Ranges from the AGFC Shooting and Archery Ranges page, the AGFC range layer, club sites and directory listings, checked November 9, 2026.
Franklin 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 Franklin County.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | General hours | Migratory birds | Sun times from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2026 | Early buck archery | 6:45 a.m. | 7:49 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 8:19 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:49 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:05 a.m. | 7:08 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 7:08 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Zone 6 alt-firearms | 7:26 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Youth gun weekend | 6:45 a.m. | 5:19 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:49 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 6 gun opener | 6:52 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:44 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:59 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Zone 6 gun closes | 7:12 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:22 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Apr 19, 2027 | Turkey Zone 1 opens | 6:42 a.m. | 7:54 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 8:24 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 7:54 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.
Highway bridge approach and the wide Arkansas River valley at Morrison Bluff, Logan CountyPhoto: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Aerial view of hay fields, a tree and Highway 22 in the Arkansas River Valley west of Dardanelle, Logan CountyPhoto: Arkansas Highways (CC0 1.0)
Pink sunset over blue ridges seen from Mount Magazine, Logan CountyPhoto: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Hunting Franklin County, answered
When is modern gun deer season in Franklin County?
It opens November 14, 2026; Zone 6: Nov 14-Dec 6/Dec 26-28; Zone 7: Nov 14-Dec 6/Dec 26-28.
Where can I get a deer tested near Franklin County?
At an AGFC drop-off container, a taxidermist on the CWD list, or by calling the Fort Smith Office in Fort Smith.
Which bear zone numbers cover Franklin County ground?
Bear Zones 1 and 2.
Is Franklin County a good turkey county?
AGFC publishes county turkey harvest only as a map, and this county is not in its top counties tables.
Are alligators fair game in Franklin County this September?
No. The alligator zone here is closed.
Is Franklin County a core elk county?
No. The five core counties are Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton and Searcy.
Which public tracts in Franklin County allow hunting?
Ozark-St. Francis National Forests, White Rock WMA, Fort Chaffee WMA and Dardanelle Lake (Corps land).
How many antlered bucks come out of Franklin County?
3,567 antlered bucks over 2022-23 to 2024-25.
Where is the district office that serves Franklin County?
At 601 E Hwy 7 in Jasper.
What permit do nonresident dog hunters need in Franklin County?
The $100 Nonresident Hunting Dog Owner’s Permit.
Which deer zone applies to my land in Franklin County?
It depends on which side of the zone line the land sits: Deer Zone 6 and Deer Zone 7. The AGFC zone map shows the boundaries.
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.