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Arkansas county hunting, 2026-27
Hunting Mississippi County zone by zone
From the late August archery opener to spring gobblers, this Mississippi County page lines up zone rules, harvest tables and public ground for 2026-27.
Photo: Jeremy Bennett (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) (CC BY 2.0)
Mississippi County zone dates and bag rules
Mississippi County is split among 2 private land deer zones, 4 and 17, because AGFC draws zone lines along highways and rivers rather than county lines. A buck tag here can be worth more days on one side of a zone line: the regular gun season stops on November 22 in Zone 4 and on December 28 in Zone 17. AGFC prints the alternative firearms season as closed for Deer Zone 4.
| Zone | Does by gun | Antlers | Dogs | October guns | Gun windows | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Zone 4 | 1 antlerless by gun | 3-point, any in CWD | No dogs | None | Nov 14-22/Dec 26-28 | Guidebook p. 15 |
| Deer Zone 17 | 4 antlerless, any method | 15/18-inch, any in CWD | Nov 14-Dec 25 | Oct 17-25 | Nov 14-Dec 28 | Guidebook p. 21 |
AGFC sets the alternative firearms opener for Deer Zone 17 on October 17, and that nine-day window is the only one. Dog hunting for deer is legal in Deer Zone 17 but not in Deer Zone 4; a nonresident dog owner buys the $100 permit and is limited to the final nine days of regular gun season. Antler rules that apply to Mississippi County: no antler minimum (CWD county). Each private land zone allows four deer, the state as a whole six, and WMAs three; youth hunters get two gun weekends of their own. Near a zone line, check AGFC's zone map and report the deer under the zone where it fell.
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 Mississippi County
Hunters here work under CWD Management Zone rules, with Mississippi County shaded Tier 2 on the AGFC map. Inside the zone any buck is legal, because AGFC removed antler restrictions there. AGFC lets hunters in the zone bait deer and elk on private land from September 1 through December 31 in an open season; other feeding is off limits unless listed.
Before leaving the zone with a Tier 2 deer, debone it or keep to the other low-risk parts AGFC lists. AGFC bars importing whole cervid carcasses from outside Arkansas; low-risk parts are the exception. Testing is free and voluntary for deer, through head drop-off containers, listed taxidermists or a call to a regional office. Surveillance began with elk in 1998 and statewide deer in 2002; the first positive came in February 2016.
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.
Opening days that apply in Mississippi County
Mississippi County sits in Deer Zones 4 and 17, so the deer rows below follow those zone dates; bear, turkey and alligator rows follow their own AGFC zone lines.
| Game | Hunt type | Where | License kind | From | Through | Blocks | Now | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 17 | License | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 21 | |
| Deer | Youth gun hunt | Statewide | License | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 22 | |
| Deer | Modern Gun | Zone 17 | License | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 28, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 21 | |
| Deer | Modern Gun | Zone 4 | License | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 28, 2026 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 15 | |
| Deer | Christmas gun hunt | Statewide | License | Dec 26, 2026 | Dec 28, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 3 | |
| Deer | Alternative Firearms | Zone 4 | Closed | – | – | – | Closed | Guidebook p. 15 |
| Elk | Outside core counties | Outside core | License | Aug 29, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 25 | |
| Black bear | All seasons closed | Bear Zone 7 | Closed | – | – | – | Closed | Guidebook p. 29 |
| Turkey | Youth spring 2027 | Turkey Zone 1A | License | Apr 10, 2027 | Apr 11, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 31 | |
| Turkey | Turkey permits, WMAs | 1 hunt | Permit | Apr 10, 2027 | Apr 11, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 70 | |
| Turkey | Spring 2027 | Turkey Zone 1A | License | Apr 19, 2027 | Apr 27, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 31 | |
| Alligator | All seasons closed | AMZ 4 | 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.
Mississippi County big game zones besides deer
Bear seasons and quotas in Mississippi County
AGFC keeps Bear Zone 7 closed to bear hunting.
Spring turkey in Mississippi County
Spring 2027 in Mississippi County: Turkey Zone 1A from AGFC's zone map, Zone 1A from April 19 to April 27. Youth hunters ages 6 to 15 have April 10 and 11, 2027. Along the Mississippi River AGFC draws a separate strip, Turkey Zone 3, that the county lists do not cover.
Gators and elk around Blytheville
AGFC keeps Alligator Management Zone 4 closed. AGFC's statewide elk rule covers Mississippi County: any elk seen during an open deer season may be taken. A harvested elk must be checked and sampled statewide.
| Game | Season | Zone | Dates | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Spring 2027 | Zone 1A (map) | Apr 19-27 | 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.
WMA permit hunts in Mississippi County
1 parsed WMA permit hunts touch Mississippi County: 1 turkey. The deer permit window for WMAs closed July 1, 2026, and the turkey window opens January 15, 2027. Only permit holders may take part in hunting activity while a permit hunt is on, and most other seasons on the WMA pause.
| WMA or refuge | Game | Hunt name | Dates | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Lake WMA | Turkey | Turkey Youth | Apr 10-11 | Guidebook p. 70 |
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.
Mississippi County deer numbers from Game Check
The newest deer report (2025-26) puts Mississippi County at 250 deer, 75th in the state. Over five seasons the count moved up (55%) from 161 in 2021-22, and the best year was 2025-26 with 250. That is about 0.3 deer per square mile of land in 2025-26.
| Season | Deer checked | Place | Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 161 | 75th | Table 6 |
| 2022-23 | 196 | 75th | Table 6 |
| 2023-24 | 196 | 75th | Table 6 |
| 2024-25 | 193 | 75th | Table 6 |
| 2025-26 | 250 | 75th | Table 6 |
The sex split over three seasons runs 62% antlered, 34% doe. Archery and crossbow deer were 35% of the total; modern gun deer were 60%.
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button | Doe | Modern gun | Muzzleloader | Archery, crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 124 | 10 | 62 | 124 | 8 | 64 |
| 2023-24 | 117 | 8 | 71 | 121 | 7 | 63 |
| 2024-25 | 119 | 7 | 67 | 105 | 2 | 76 |
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.
Where Mississippi County hunters may walk in
Public hunting land in Mississippi County measures roughly 21,994 acres on the GIS layers, or 4% of the county. WMAs make up the largest share, about 12,185 acres.
| Land type | Acres | Open? |
|---|---|---|
| WMAs | 12,185 | WMA dates |
| Wildlife refuges | 9,827 | Refuge seasons |
| State parks | 4 | Closed |
| Public union | 21,994 | Overlaps once |
Refuge land uses the refuge zone number and its own hunt rules. Parks stay closed, including Hampson Archeological Museum State Park and Herman Davis State Park.
Mississippi County hunting land, card by card
Big Lake WMA
Zone 040 · some by permit
Public tracts a short drive from Mississippi County
- St. Francis Sunken Lands WMAWMA, 2 mi
- Wapanocca National Wildlife RefugeRefuge, 4 mi
- Frierson WMAWMA, 40 mi
- W. E. Brewer Scatter Creek WMAWMA, 42 mi
- Whitehall WMAWMA, 46 mi
- Cattail Marsh WMAWMA, 47 mi
- Earl Buss Bayou DeView WMAWMA, 52 mi
- Ring Slough WMAWMA, 52 mi
Where Mississippi County hunting stops
- Hampson Archeological Museum State Park (closed to hunting)No hunting · State Park
- Herman Davis 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.
Who to phone in Mississippi County
AGFC manages wildlife here from its Region 1 district office in Jonesboro ((877) 972-5438). Nearest AGFC counter: Jonesboro, roughly 38 straight-line miles. The county's town guides cover Blytheville, Osceola, Manila and Leachville. These listings are not individually verified as open, so phone before making the trip.
Mississippi County AGFC contacts
Mississippi County towns with hunting guides
- Blytheville12,359 people
- Osceola6,496 people
- Manila3,736 people
- Leachville1,898 people
Mississippi County hunting services
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.
Mississippi County hunting calendar
On November 8, 2026 the county showed 2 dates ahead, covering DU banquet and NWTF banquet.
| When | Title | Location | Tickets or sign-up | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 | Northeast Arkansas DU Banquet – Blytheville kind: DU banquet | Blytheville Country Club (Blytheville) | Tickets | Source |
| Jan 31, 2027 | Blytheville Beards and Spurs NWTF Banquet kind: NWTF banquet | 22010N 6th st | Tickets | Source |
Mississippi County: firing lines and clay fields
No Mississippi County listing yet, so the nearest three ranges stand in.
A rifle zero from Mississippi County means 32 miles to Jonesboro Shooting Sports Complex.
Ranges from the AGFC Shooting and Archery Ranges page, the AGFC range layer, club sites and directory listings, checked November 9, 2026.
Shooting light in Mississippi County
AGFC prints sunrise and sunset for Little Rock and tells hunters to shift them one minute for every nine miles east or west; Mississippi County needs almost no shift.
| Day | Note | Sunup | Sundown | Game hours | Duck hours | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2026 | Early buck archery | 6:29 a.m. | 7:34 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 8:04 p.m. | 5:59 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 6:50 a.m. | 6:53 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Zone 17 alt-firearms | 7:01 a.m. | 6:16 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 6:16 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Youth gun weekend | 6:20 a.m. | 4:54 p.m. | 5:50 a.m. to 5:24 p.m. | 5:50 a.m. to 4:54 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 4 gun opener | 6:27 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 5:57 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:34 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 22, 2026 | Zone 4 gun closes | 6:34 a.m. | 4:45 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | 6:04 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 6:57 a.m. | 4:47 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 4:47 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Apr 19, 2027 | Turkey Zone 1A opens | 6:17 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 5:47 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. | 5:47 a.m. to 7:29 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.

Brick buildings on a quiet downtown street in Blytheville, Mississippi CountyPhoto: Paul Sableman (CC BY 2.0)

Wapanocca Lake shore with tall marsh grass and big trees on the Wapanocca National Wildlife RefugePhoto: Lizzy Hogan (CC0 1.0)

Sunset over the Mississippi River and a long bridge from the Crittenden County shorePhoto: chames richalds (CC BY 2.0)
Asked about Mississippi County
Does a quota cap the bear season in Mississippi County?
The zones here are closed.
Can I take a whole deer out of Mississippi County?
Within the zone yes; out of the zone only low-risk parts.
Which alligator zone numbers reach Mississippi County on AGFC maps?
Alligator Management Zone 4.
Which turkey zone covers Mississippi County?
Turkey Zone 1A, from AGFC’s zone map.
What public hunting ground sits just outside Mississippi County?
Within reach are St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA (2 mi), Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge (4 mi) and Frierson WMA (40 mi).
Is elk hunting possible in Mississippi County this October?
Yes, during open deer seasons, under the statewide elk rule.
Which AGFC office building is nearest to Mississippi County?
Northeast Office in Jonesboro, about 38 miles from mid-county.
What did Mississippi County hunters check in 2025-26?
250, from AGFC Table 6.
How many deer zones touch Mississippi County?
2: Deer Zone 4 and Deer Zone 17.
Which Mississippi County zones allow dogs?
Deer Zone 17.
Is there a Christmas deer hunt in Mississippi County?
Yes, December 26 to 28, 2026, statewide.
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.