Furbearer
Beaver Hunting in Arkansas (2026-27)
Seasons, limits, legal methods and hours for beavers in Arkansas, opening September 1, 2026.
Photo: Jasari (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Beaver hunting by the numbers
From September 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027, the AGFC books hold 2 rows covering beavers. For beavers, the printed limit is no limit. Dates and methods in short: Hunting September 1-March 31 day only; trapping November 21-March 31.
Sources: Guidebook p. 37 and Guidebook p. 38 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Beaver seasons in the AGFC guidebooks
Dates as printed by AGFC for beavers; notes from the same rows follow the table.
| Season line | Covers | Dates | Bag | Status | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting | Statewide | Sep 1–Mar 31 | No limit | Guidebook p. 37 | |
| Trapping | Statewide | Nov 21–Mar 31 | No limit | Guidebook p. 38 |
- Day hunting only.
- Sunrise November 21-sunset March 31.
Sources: Guidebook p. 37 and Guidebook p. 38 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Beaver: the furbearer rules
Beavers sit on the furbearer list, so hunting hours, dogs and trap types all have rules.
From November 21, 2026 to March 31, 2027, beavers may be trapped with land sets: smooth-jawed foothold jaw spread 7 inches or less (over 5 inches offset or padded), dogproof, body-gripping 6 inches or less, box traps; Water sets: foothold 8.5 inches or less, body-gripping 11 inches or less; Snares November 21-February 28 (not for coyote, beaver, nutria; land snares need deer locks beyond 20 feet of water).
Sources: trapping and Predator Control Permit (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Legal methods for beavers
No general weapon list in the guidebook names beavers, so the method lines printed on the beaver rows are the rules to follow.
Sources: Guidebook p. 37 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
What you need to hunt beavers
Which license covers beavers? The rows below list the AGFC products that apply, with prices for 2026-27.
| License or permit | Residency | Fee | Product code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combination Sportsman's License | Resident | $35.50 | CS |
| Sportsman's License | Resident | $25 | RS |
| Wildlife Conservation License | Resident | $10.50 | HNT |
| Annual Small Game License | Nonresident | $110 | NRH |
| 3-Day Small Game License | Nonresident | $80 | SG3 |
| Trapper's Permit | Nonresident | $125 | NFT |
Sources: license list and license requirements (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
What else applies to beavers
| Subject | Guidebook rule |
|---|---|
| Lights | On a beaver hunt: no shining an artificial light from a public road or within a WMA. |
| Poisons and traps | Beaver hunters note: no deadfalls, drugs, chemicals, poisons, booby traps or explosives. |
| Sale of wildlife | On a beaver hunt: no buying or selling wildlife or parts except furbearer pelts/carcasses, squirrel tails and pelts, rabbit pelts, turkey bones, deer and elk antlers and hides, and unprotected feathers. |
| Permission and posting | On a beaver hunt: written permission (relatives excepted) required to hunt, trap or run dogs on private land; Posting: signs or 8-inch purple paint marks at most 100 feet apart (1,000 feet on cultivated land, pasture etc.) and at road entrances. |
Sources: Guidebook p. 48, Guidebook p. 49 and Guidebook p. 55 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Places to try for beavers
These public areas print a line about beavers in their guidebook entry or list them among their game; read the full entry before you go.
Sylamore WMA
Beaver line in the entry: Area Notes: Dogs, hunting or trapping equipment are not allowed in Blanchard Springs Recreation Area.
Buffalo National River WMA
Beaver line in the entry: Area Notes: No trapping allowed on Buffalo National River.
Dardanelle WMA
Beaver line in the entry: Area Notes: Dogs, hunting or trapping equipment not allowed on Johnson County WRA, except as noted above.
Cherokee WMA
Beaver line in the entry: Area Notes: Dogs may be used for coyote, fox and bobcat hunting when the declared furbearer hunting season is open and firearms deer season is closed.
Poison Springs WMA
Beaver line in the entry: Area Notes: Horses and mules allowed for legal hunting activities during specific hunting seasons and at night during furbearer season.
Cedar Mountain WMA
Beaver line in the entry: Area Notes: Dogs may be used for coyote, fox and bobcat hunting when the declared furbearer hunting season is open and firearms deer season is closed.
Big Lake WMA
Beaver line in the entry: Furbearers: Ditch 28 closed to all trapping.
Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA/Deer Research Area East Unit
Beaver line in the entry: Area Notes: Horses and mules only allowed for nighttime furbearer hunting on East Unit.
Sources: WMA listings (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Legal hours for beavers
Beaver hunting is limited to the hours between sunrise and sunset. Sunrise and sunset for each town use AGFC's Little Rock table, shifted one minute for every nine miles east or west.
| Town | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal hours | Sun times |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonesboro | Sep 1, 2026 | 6:34 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Jonesboro | Nov 21, 2026 | 6:38 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Jonesboro | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:01 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 4:51 p.m. | AGFC table |
| El Dorado | Sep 1, 2026 | 6:44 a.m. | 7:38 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| El Dorado | Nov 21, 2026 | 6:51 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | AGFC table |
| El Dorado | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:14 a.m. | 5:04 p.m. | 7:14 a.m. to 5:04 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Mountain Home | Sep 1, 2026 | 6:40 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Mountain Home | Nov 21, 2026 | 6:49 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Mountain Home | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:12 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Fayetteville | Sep 1, 2026 | 6:48 a.m. | 7:46 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Fayetteville | Nov 21, 2026 | 7:00 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Fayetteville | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:23 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 7:23 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | AGFC table |
Sources: shooting hours and AGFC Little Rock sun table (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Cossatot River rushing over tilted gray rock ledges at Cossatot River State Park-Natural AreaPhoto: MyBiggestFan (CC BY 2.0)
Clark Creek and mossy boulders below a bluff in Lost Valley, Buffalo National RiverPhoto: Sharon Mollerus (CC BY 2.0)
Buffalo National River flowing past a gravel bar under a tall green bluffPhoto: David Brossard (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Common questions on beavers
Which Arkansas license covers beavers?
Resident options include the Combination Sportsman's License, Resident Sportsman's License and Resident Wildlife Conservation License; everyone 16 or older needs one.
Which weapons work for beaver hunting?
As printed: daylight: archery or any rifle or shotgun ammunition. At night (raccoon, opossum, bobcat): no slugs or shot larger than T; rimfire .22 or smaller only.
Are beavers in season now?
On November 9, 2026 the open beaver rows were: hunting.
What are legal shooting hours for beavers?
The rule for beavers is Sunrise to sunset; in Little Rock on September 1, 2026 that meant 6:42 a.m. to 7:38 p.m.
Is trapping beavers legal?
Yes; trapping beavers is legal November 21, 2026 to March 31, 2027.
Can I hunt beavers on WMAs?
WMA dates can differ from statewide ones; Sylamore WMA, Buffalo National River WMA and Dardanelle WMA each print a line for beavers.
How current is this beaver information?
Checked November 9, 2026 against the 2026-27 AGFC books.
Is a separate trapping license needed for beavers?
Not for residents.
What is the bag limit for beavers in Arkansas?
No limit.
Which days are open for beavers in 2026-27?
As printed for 2026-27: hunting September 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027; trapping November 21, 2026 to March 31, 2027.