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WMA · Region 5
Winona WMA for Hunters, 2026-27
Wildlife management area in Garland County and 2 more counties; WMA zone 680, 145,276 acres.
Photo: Tony Webster (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Winona WMA
Parking, trailheads and gates near Winona WMA
- Grindstone GapParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- TrailheadTrailhead · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Flatside Pinnacle AccessParking · 2.8 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.
Size, owner and district of Winona WMA
On paper, Winona WMA is an AGFC wildlife management area. 145,276 acres is the figure from the 2026-27 guidebook; the land sits in Garland County and 2 other counties. AGFC handles it out of AGFC Region 5 (Fort Smith), whose district office is in Fort Smith. The guidebook names U.S. Forest Service as landowner or co-manager.
Evening light through pines and oaks beside a lake in Garland CountyPhoto: baronsquirrel (CC BY 2.0)
From lands.json records (Guidebook · Source 2 · Source 3 · Source 4); acres: 2026-27 AGFC Hunting Guidebook WMA entry ("145,276 acres"). Checked November 9, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Winona WMA
Which zone rules apply at Winona WMA
The guidebook gives Winona WMA zone number 680, while neighbouring private land falls in Deer Zone 11. The $100 nonresident dog permit allows dogs only during the final nine days of regular modern gun.
| Zone | Gun | Alt firearms | Dogs | Buck rule | Deer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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) |
- Winona WMA is outside the CWD Management Zone on the 2026-27 list.
- Bear zone: Bear Zone 2, quota-limited.
- For gobblers, use Turkey Zone 1, taken from AGFC's zone map.
- September alligator permits in these counties fall under Alligator Management Zone 2.
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.
2026-27 dates and limits on Winona WMA
AGFC prints a separate entry for each WMA; this is the one for Winona WMA, WMA zone 680. This table leaves out waterfowl, which the Waterfowl Guidebook covers WMA by WMA. Where the entry and the statewide calendar disagree, the entry wins on WMA ground. No alligator season on Winona WMA.
| Hunt type | Calendar | Needs | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer archery | Sep 26–Feb 28 | License | – |
| Deer alt firearms | Oct 17–25 | License | – |
| Deer gun | Nov 14–Dec 6 Dec 26–28 | License | – |
| Deer youth gun | Nov 7–8 Jan 2–3 | License | – |
| Bear archery | Sep 9–Nov 30 | License | – |
| Bear alt firearms | Oct 17–25 | License | – |
| Bear gun | Nov 14–30 | License | – |
| Bear gun youth | Nov 7–8 | License | – |
| Turkey youth | Apr 10–11 | License | One turkey |
| Turkey | Apr 19–May 9 | License | One turkey |
The WMA deer limit for Winona WMA
| Limit | Category | Method |
|---|---|---|
| two | antlered bucks | archery alternative firearms modern gun |
| three | antlerless deer | archery |
| one | antlerless deer | alternative firearms modern gun |
The statewide cap of six deer (two antlered) still sits over any WMA limit.
What else the entry says about Winona WMA
- Central Arkansas Water policy restricts ATV use or camping on CAW properties immediately surrounding Lake Winona.
- A Cedar Mountain WMA Leased Land Permit is required to hunt, trap or camp on the Cedar Mountain WMA property within the Winona WMA.
Guidebook p. 109 of the 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook (WMA-specific regulations; Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); waterfowl: 2026-27 Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook. Checked November 9, 2026.
Winona WMA permit calendar
Drawn-hunt game around Winona WMA.
Wild turkey gobbler strutting with tail fannedPhoto: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain)
No dated permit hunt turned up for Winona WMA in the parse, so treat the guidebook page as final.
guidebook entry; draw rules. Checked November 9, 2026.
Winona WMA family of records
Related records for Winona WMA: Ouachita National Forest and Winona RD.
Recent harvest near Winona WMA
Checked deer in Garland County: 2,999 in 2025-26 against 3,392 the season before. County counts mix every kind of land; the WMA share is not split out. Spring 2025: 94 turkeys checked on Winona WMA, 4th among public areas.
| Spring | Rank | Turkeys |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 | 50 |
| 2024 | 4 | 44 |
| 2025 | 4 | 94 |
deer report 2025-26; turkey report 2025 (checked deer by county (AGFC deer reports, Table 6)). Checked November 9, 2026.
Where hunting stops near Winona WMA
The nearest place closed to hunting is Petit Jean, 18 miles out. AGFC Code 05.11 bars hunting and killing devices in every state and national park in Arkansas, with two named exceptions.
| Off limits | Rule | Distance | County |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petit Jean | State park (Code 05.11) | 18 miles | Conway |
| Lake Ouachita | State park (Code 05.11) | 21 miles | Garland |
| Hot Springs NP | Park Service unit | 23 miles | Garland |
| Pinnacle Mountain | State park (Code 05.11) | 27 miles | Pulaski |
| Lake Catherine | State park (Code 05.11) | 29 miles | Hot Spring, Garland |
AGFC Code 05.11; closed places from lands.json (PAD-US 4.1, NPS, FWS). Straight-line miles. Checked November 9, 2026.
Neighbouring public ground on the Winona WMA map
Closest other public land: Cedar Mountain WMA, 3 miles to the north. The six nearest pins split into 3 wildlife management areas, 1 leased land WMA and 1 natural area WMA.
| Name | Kind | Size (ac) | County | Away | Bearing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Mountain WMA | Leased land WMA | 14,724 | Perry | 3 miles | north |
| Alum Fork | Natural area WMA | 493 | Saline | 8 miles | southeast |
| Harris Brake WMA | WMA | 2,859 | Perry | 14 miles | northeast |
| Hot Springs State Forest | WMA | 3,273 | Garland | 19 miles | south |
| River Bend WMA | WMA | 104 | Perry | 19 miles | northeast |
| Holla Bend NWR | Wildlife refuge | 7,057 | Pope | 21 miles | north |
Point: AGFC WMA boundary layer (GIS/wmas_website_link) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Arkansas public land map.
Where to resupply around Winona WMA
The handiest town is Aplin, 8 miles from Winona WMA. Perryville, 14 miles out, is the bigger service town. Town pages that list Winona WMA within ten miles: Aplin, Hot Springs Village, Perryville and Perry. Nearest AGFC site: Benton, 29 miles. Treat the listings as leads and call ahead.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aplin | Perry | – | 8 miles | north |
| Hot Springs Village | Saline | – | 13 miles | south |
| Perryville | Perry | 1,406 | 14 miles | northeast |
| Perry | Perry | 267 | 16 miles | northeast |
| Fountain Lake | Garland | 472 | 17 miles | south |
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.
Winona WMA sunrise, sunset and legal light
WMA duck hunts, the early teal season and night alligator hunts keep their own hours, which the Winona WMA table does not show.
| Date | Marker | Rise | Set | Big and small game | Waterfowl window | Worked from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2026 | Early buck archery | 6:42 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 8:14 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:02 a.m. | 7:05 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Zone 11 alt-firearms | 7:20 a.m. | 6:35 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 6:35 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Youth gun weekend | 6:39 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 11 gun opener | 6:46 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:53 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Zone 11 gun closes | 7:06 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:16 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Apr 19, 2027 | Turkey Zone 1 opens | 6:36 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 8:18 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 7:48 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.
Winona WMA: ranges within a drive
Central Arkansas Shooters Association is the closest listed range to Winona WMA, 13 miles away.
From the AGFC Shooting and Archery Ranges page, the AGFC range layer, club sites and directory listings, checked November 9, 2026.
Ouachita River and a low mountain at sunset near Hot Springs in Garland CountyPhoto: pedrik (CC BY 2.0)
Clear lake with a sandy shore and a wooded ridge in Garland CountyPhoto: Samuel Hozan (CC0 1.0)
Winona WMA FAQ for the 2026-27 season
What acreage do AGFC or agency records give Winona WMA?
It covers 145,276 acres across Garland County and 2 other counties.
How far is the closest town page from Winona WMA?
Try Aplin, 8 miles from the mapped point. The nearest AGFC building is in Benton, about 29 miles.
What does a pop-up blind on Winona WMA need in firearms season?
In firearm seasons for deer, bear or elk, wear at least 400 square inches of orange, chartreuse or blaze camo plus a cap; pink is not on the list.
When does shooting light end on Winona WMA on the gun opener?
Worked from AGFC's Little Rock table with its distance shift, November 14 legal light here starts 6:16 a.m. and stops 5:38 p.m.
Who should I call with a question about Winona WMA?
The record lists Arkansas Game and Fish Commission as manager and U.S. Forest Service as owner or partner.
When was the Winona WMA information checked?
Use it to plan, then confirm with the linked guidebook page or agency; last checked November 9, 2026.
Can I hunt Winona WMA with a regular license?
A hunting license is enough for open WMA seasons; permit hunts and some quota hunts need their own permit.
Which zone number goes on the Game Check for Winona WMA?
Yes: 680. Off the boundary you are in Deer Zone 11.
How long is the gun season on Winona WMA?
Plan on Nov 14–Dec 6 and Dec 26–28, as printed in the guidebook entry.
Can I haul a whole deer carcass out of Winona WMA?
No. None of its counties is on the CWD Management Zone list.
Is Winona WMA inside an open bear zone or a closed one?
Yes. Bear Zone 2; quotas can close it early.
How does the 2027 turkey season work on Winona WMA?
Turkey Zone 1 (from AGFC's zone map); the WMA entry prints Apr 19–May 9.
Do I need to apply for any Winona WMA hunts?
The parse shows none; check the entry itself.
Last calls before driving to Winona WMA
Plan with this page, then reread the guidebook or agency source for Winona WMA in the week before you go.
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: baronsquirrel (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).