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Endangered and Threatened Species in Arkansas, Status and Law
Protected status for endangered and threatened species in Arkansas, the federal and state rules behind it and the open game close by.
Photo: Sharon Mollerus (CC BY 2.0)
Why endangered and threatened species are closed in Arkansas
Endangered and threatened animals fall under the rule that there is no open season for any species not discussed in a guidebook.
| Line | Rule | From |
|---|---|---|
| All species without an open season | There are no open seasons for any species not discussed in an AGFC regulations guidebook. | Guidebook p. 49 |
| Endangered and threatened species | See agfc.com/endangered; nuisance rules exclude bats, migratory birds and endangered species. | Guidebook p. 53 |
Seasons that do open, unlike endangered and threatened species
Endangered and threatened species have no season, but the species below do; each row shows today's status.
| Species | Today | First day | Last day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | Year-round | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| Opossum | Year-round | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| Striped Skunk | Year-round | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| Bobcat | Open now | Sep 1, 2026 | May 9, 2027 |
| Coyote | Year-round | Aug 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 |
| Gray Fox | Open now | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| Red Fox | Open now | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| Mink | Open now | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| Muskrat | Open now | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| River Otter | Opens Nov 14 | Nov 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 |
| Beaver | Open now | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 |
| Nutria | Open now | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 |
Every protected group, endangered and threatened species included
Endangered and threatened species share the protected list with the groups below.
| Species or group | Rule |
|---|---|
| All species without an open season | There are no open seasons for any species not discussed in an AGFC regulations guidebook. |
| Badger, spotted skunk and weasel | Hunting closed (also closed on WMAs). |
| Hen turkeys (including bearded hens) and jakes | Illegal to harvest hens; jakes legal only for hunters 6-15 (one jake). |
| Deer (live), cervids and black bears in rehabilitation | Illegal to catch, trap or possess deer of any age; rehabilitation of deer, elk or black bears prohibited. |
| Endangered and threatened species | See agfc.com/endangered; nuisance rules exclude bats, migratory birds and endangered species. |
| Nongame migratory birds | Federal law prohibits killing nongame migratory birds; feathers protected by 50 CFR 20 may not be sold. |
| Bears with cubs or telemetry collars | AGFC asks hunters not to shoot them (request, not a rule). |
Sources: Guidebook p. 49, Guidebook p. 37, Guidebook p. 31, Guidebook p. 53, Waterfowl guide p. 39 and Guidebook p. 29 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Arkansas legal groups next to endangered and threatened species
Big game, small game, furbearers, migratory game birds and invasive hogs make up the legal list; endangered and threatened species do not appear.
| Group | Species | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Big game | white-tailed deer, elk, black bear, wild turkey, American alligator | Seasons by zone; elk and alligator by permit (elk also outside the core counties during deer season). |
| Small game | squirrel, rabbit, quail, American crow | Statewide seasons; possession limits removed in 2026. |
| Furbearers | beaver, nutria, bobcat, coyote, opossum, raccoon, striped skunk, gray fox, red fox, mink, muskrat, river otter | Hunting and trapping seasons; badger, spotted skunk and weasel closed. |
| Migratory game birds | ducks, mergansers, American coot, Canada goose, white-fronted goose, snow, blue and Ross's geese, mourning dove, white-winged dove, Eurasian collared-dove, Wilson's snipe, common and purple gallinule, Virginia rail, sora, American woodcock | Federal frameworks; HIP required. |
| Invasive | feral hog | Private land year-round any method; on WMAs only incidental to open bear, deer or elk seasons. |
Sources: Guidebook p. 3, Guidebook p. 36, Guidebook p. 37, Waterfowl guide p. 3 and Guidebook p. 40 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Suspension rules that cover endangered and threatened species
The points system decides suspensions: 18 points in five years is the trigger, whether the case involved endangered and threatened species or anything else.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Violation points | Convictions add points by offense class: Class 1 6, Class 2 12, Class 3 18, Class 4 30, Class 5 99, unclassified 0. 18-24 points = 1-year suspension, 25-48 = 2 years, 49-72 = 3 years, 73-98 = 5 years, 99+ = 7 years. Suspended hunters may not apply for permit hunts. |
| Suspension trigger | AGFC suspends hunting and fishing privileges of anyone with 18 or more violation points within a 5-year period (the table header reads "points over three years"). |
| Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact | Violations and suspensions in member states can add points or bar hunting in Arkansas and vice versa. |
Sources: Guidebook p. 56 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Endangered and Threatened Species: related field rules
| Rule topic | Text |
|---|---|
| Incident reporting | Around endangered and threatened species: hunting or trapping incidents with injury beyond basic first aid must be reported immediately (833-356-0824). |
| Live animals | Also relevant to endangered and threatened species: no importing wildlife without permits, no releasing wildlife, no possessing deer of any age; no releasing domestic turkeys or capturing wild turkeys/eggs. |
| Lights | Near endangered and threatened species: no shining an artificial light from a public road or within a WMA. |
| Sale of wildlife | Around endangered and threatened species: 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. |
Sources: Guidebook p. 54, Guidebook p. 53 and Guidebook p. 48 (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)
Buffalo National River flowing past a gravel bar under a tall green bluffPhoto: David Brossard (CC BY-SA 2.0)
View down the green Buffalo River valley and bluffs from the Steel Creek overlookPhoto: Jasari (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Endangered and Threatened Species questions
How are wildlife convictions scored?
Class 1 6 points up to Class 5 99 points.
Which groups have seasons?
Big game, small game, furbearers, migratory game birds and invasive feral hogs.
What birds may I shoot?
Ducks, mergansers, American coot, Canada goose, white-fronted goose, snow, blue and Ross's geese, mourning dove, white-winged dove, Eurasian collared-dove, Wilson's snipe, common and purple gallinule, Virginia rail, sora and American woodcock.
Can I remove a protected animal causing damage?
See agfc.com/endangered; nuisance rules exclude bats, migratory birds and endangered species.
Which documents were checked?
The 2026-27 AGFC guidebooks, checked November 9, 2026.
Are endangered and threatened species legal to hunt?
No; endangered and threatened species are closed.
Who protects endangered and threatened species?
See agfc.com/endangered; nuisance rules exclude bats, migratory birds and endangered species.
Are unlisted animals open?
There are no open seasons for any species not discussed in an AGFC regulations guidebook.