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Arkansas ranger district
Caddo Ranger District Hunting, 2026-27
Ranger district in Montgomery County and 5 more counties (Deer Zones 11 and 13; 153,233 acres).
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Caddo Ranger District
Parking, trailheads and gates near Caddo Ranger District
- Winding Stairs Trail HeadParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Owner, acres and AGFC district for Caddo Ranger District
For 2026-27, the Caddo Ranger District counts as one ranger district of a national forest. By the USFS land statistics count it covers 153,233 acres in Montgomery County and 5 other counties. It belongs to AGFC Region 5 (Fort Smith) in the Wildlife Management Division map.
Clear blue lake with pine-covered shores in the Ouachita National ForestPhoto: Oemar (CC BY 2.0)
From lands.json records (Agency page · Source 2 · Source 3 · Source 4); acres: USDA Forest Service EDW Lands Area Statistics, NFS acres in Arkansas. Checked November 9, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Caddo Ranger District
Hunting rules for the Caddo Ranger District
The Forest Service lets hunters use the Caddo Ranger District under AGFC seasons, except in developed recreation sites and posted spots. Look up the national forest regulations page in the guidebook, which applies across national forest land.
Hunting is permitted anywhere on the Ouachita National Forest except within developed recreation sites or otherwise posted areas. All state hunting regulations, fees, and seasons apply on national forest land.
Forest Service page; guidebook national forest page. Checked November 9, 2026.
Zone numbers for the Caddo Ranger District
The Caddo Ranger District lies in Deer Zones 11 and 13, so those zone dates apply off any WMA. Zone lines follow roads and rivers, so check the AGFC zone map when you hunt near one. Nonresident dog hunters buy a $100 dog owner permit and are limited to the last nine days of regular modern gun season.
| Zone | Gun windows | Alt windows | Dog dates | Legal buck | Zone bag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 11 | Nov 14–Dec 6 Dec 26–28 | Oct 17–25 Dec 12–14 | Nov 14–Dec 6 | 3 points one side CWD zone: any buck | 4 (2 antlered) |
| Zone 13 | Nov 14–Dec 20 Dec 26–28 | Oct 17–25 | Nov 14–Dec 20 | 3 points one side CWD zone: any buck | 4 (2 antlered) |
- CWD zone status for the Caddo Ranger District: outside.
- Bear hunters here work under Bear Zone 2, with quotas that can end seasons early.
- Turkey Zone 1 sets the spring turkey season here (from AGFC's zone map).
- Its counties reach Alligator Management Zones 1 and 2, open for night alligator hunts by permit in September.
Zones from the guidebook deer zone pages, the AGFC zone layers and the CWD zone list; turkey zones from AGFC’s zone map. Checked November 9, 2026.
Caddo Ranger District season calendar
Rows marked Permit need a drawn or purchased permit; none of the parsed WMA permit hunts falls on public land touching Montgomery County.
| Game | Season | Area | Buy | Opens | Closes | Splits | Today | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 11 | License | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 19 | |
| Deer | Alternative Firearms | Zone 13 | License | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 19 | |
| Deer | Youth gun hunt | Statewide | License | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 22 | |
| Deer | Modern Gun | Zone 11 | License | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 28, 2026 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 19 | |
| Deer | Modern Gun | Zone 13 | 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 | Archery | Bear Zone 2 | License | Sep 9, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 29 | |
| Black bear | Alternative Firearms | Bear Zone 2 | License | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 29 | |
| Black bear | Youth gun hunt | Bear Zone 2 | License | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 29 | |
| Black bear | Modern Gun | Bear Zone 2 | License | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 29 | |
| 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 | Permit hunt | AMZ 2 | Permit | Sep 18, 2026 | Sep 28, 2026 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 28 | |
| 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.
Deer and turkey numbers near the Caddo Ranger District
Montgomery County checked 1,723 deer in 2025-26, rank 55 of 75, down 14 percent from 2024-25. Public and private harvest are combined in these county numbers.
| Where | 2025-26 | 2024-25 | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery | 1,723 | 1,993 | 55 |
| Polk | 2,951 | 3,669 | 28 |
| Pike | 3,833 | 3,908 | 10 |
| Garland | 2,999 | 3,392 | 26 |
| Howard | 2,398 | 2,550 | 38 |
| Hot Spring | 3,695 | 3,834 | 14 |
deer report 2025-26 (checked deer by county (AGFC deer reports, Table 6)). Checked November 9, 2026.
Records that share ground with the Caddo Ranger District
See the Ouachita National Forest for the whole unit. Caney Creek WMA share ground with the Caddo Ranger District, and WMA seasons win on WMA tracts.
Public land pins surrounding the Caddo Ranger District
If the Caddo Ranger District is crowded, Lake Greeson (Corps) is 15 miles away to the southeast. Neighbouring pins by kind: 3 lake projects, 2 leased land WMAs and 1 ranger district.
| Neighbour | Category | Acreage | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Greeson (Corps) | Corps lake | – | Pike | 15 miles | southeast |
| Lake Greeson WMA | Leased land WMA | 29,060 | Howard | 15 miles | south |
| Howard County WMA | Leased land WMA | 23,721 | Howard | 19 miles | southwest |
| Dierks Lake (Corps) | Corps lake | 4,162 | Sevier | 21 miles | southwest |
| Gillham Lake (Corps) | Corps lake | 8,518 | Howard | 23 miles | southwest |
| Oden RD | Ranger district | 183,999 | Montgomery | 25 miles | north |
Point: USDA Forest Service EDW Ranger Districts layer clipped to NFS land (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Arkansas public land map.
Closed ground near the Caddo Ranger District
Within 13 miles lies Daisy, where hunting is not allowed. Under Code 05.11, the only parks open to hunting are Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area and the Buffalo National River WMA.
| Closed area | Why closed | Miles off | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daisy | State park (Code 05.11) | 13 miles | Pike |
| Cossatot River State Park – Natural Area | State park (Code 05.11) | 22 miles | Howard, Polk |
| Crater of Diamonds | State park (Code 05.11) | 27 miles | Pike |
AGFC Code 05.11; closed places from lands.json (PAD-US 4.1, NPS, FWS). Straight-line miles. Checked November 9, 2026.
Gas, processing and supplies near the Caddo Ranger District
Nearest town: Norman, about 11 miles away from the Caddo Ranger District. The nearest AGFC building is in Columbus, 41 miles away. Call ahead before driving to any business listed here.
| Place | County | Population | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norman | Montgomery | 305 | 11 miles | northeast |
| Newhope | Pike | – | 12 miles | south |
| Caddo Gap | Montgomery | – | 14 miles | east |
| Kirby | Pike | – | 15 miles | southeast |
| Board Camp | Polk | – | 16 miles | northwest |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); AGFC buildings from the AGFC offices page and AGFC layers; businesses from services.json directory listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 9, 2026.
Sunrise math for the Caddo Ranger District from the AGFC table
AGFC prints sunrise and sunset for Little Rock and tells hunters to shift them one minute for every nine miles; the Caddo Ranger District sits about 9 minutes west of that table.
| Date | Event | Sunrise | Sunset | General rule | Bird rule | Times via |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2026 | Early buck archery | 6:46 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 8:18 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 7:48 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 11 alt-firearms | 7:25 a.m. | 6:40 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Youth gun weekend | 6:44 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 11 gun opener | 6:51 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:58 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Zone 11 gun closes | 7:11 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:21 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Apr 19, 2027 | Turkey Zone 1 opens | 6:41 a.m. | 7:53 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 8:23 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 7:53 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.
Caddo Ranger District, Ouachita National Forest hunters: nearest ranges on file
Caddo Ranger District, Ouachita National Forest hunters can practise at Bear Mountain Shooting Range, 28 miles off.
From the AGFC Shooting and Archery Ranges page, the AGFC range layer, club sites and directory listings, checked November 9, 2026.
Golden and orange fall leaves in a hardwood forest in the Ouachita National ForestPhoto: Tammo2011 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Brier Creek running through bare spring woods in the Ouachita National ForestPhoto: Fredlyfish4 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Caddo Ranger District questions and answers
What number do I give Game Check from Caddo Ranger District?
Deer Zones 11 and 13 on the AGFC map.
When does modern gun deer season run on Caddo Ranger District?
Per Deer Zone 11: Nov 14–Dec 6 and Dec 26–28.
Where does Caddo Ranger District sit on the AGFC CWD map?
Outside the zone; cervid parts from other states still follow the import rule.
Black bear on Caddo Ranger District, open, closed or quota-limited?
It is in Bear Zone 2; seasons end early when the zone quota fills.
When do spring gobbler days open on Caddo Ranger District in 2027?
Use Turkey Zone 1, from AGFC's zone map.
How large is Caddo Ranger District on the AGFC or agency record?
About 153,233 acres in Montgomery County and 5 other counties.
What community sits closest to Caddo Ranger District?
The closest town page here is Norman, 11 miles off. Columbus holds the closest AGFC office or center (41 miles).
Which safety colors pass on Caddo Ranger District during deer gun season?
Required in firearm deer, bear and elk seasons; blaze pink is not an approved color in the guidebook.
When does legal light open on Caddo Ranger District for the gun opener?
Expect 6:21 a.m. as first legal light and 5:43 p.m. as last on the November 14 opener here; ducks stop at sunset instead.
Which agency is responsible for Caddo Ranger District?
The record lists USDA Forest Service as manager.
Which documents cover Caddo Ranger District?
The 2026-27 AGFC guidebooks, AGFC map layers and the managing agency pages, checked November 9, 2026; signs and the agency outrank this page.
Is a special pass needed for Caddo Ranger District?
Most hunters need only their license; drawn permit hunts are the exception.
Things to confirm the week of a the Caddo Ranger District hunt
Look up flood, road and fire closures affecting the Caddo Ranger District before you set off.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4; seasons from the 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook and the 2026-27 Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook. Checked November 9, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Oemar (CC BY 2.0).