Arkansas › Species › Common and Purple Gallinules
Migratory game bird
Common and Purple Gallinules Hunting in Arkansas (2026-27)
When and how to hunt gallinules in Arkansas this season, from the September 1 opener to November 9, 2026.
Photo: Linda Tanner (flickr user: goingslo) (CC BY 2.0)
Common and Purple Gallinules season snapshot for 2026-27
The 2026-27 gallinule calendar in Arkansas starts September 1, 2026 and ends November 9, 2026, across 1 printed row. Bag line for gallinules: 15/day, possession 45. In brief, the gallinule rules run like this: september 1-November 9.
Sources: Waterfowl guide p. 4 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
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Every 2026-27 gallinule season row
Sorted by opening day; a gallinule row with several date lines has breaks between its windows.
| Season | Zone or area | Date range | Bag | Open? | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallinule | Statewide | Sep 1–Nov 9 | 15/day combined, possession 45 | Waterfowl guide p. 4 |
- HIP required.
Sources: Waterfowl guide p. 4 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
How gallinules are regulated in Arkansas
Arkansas sets one statewide season for gallinules; the Harvest Information Program registration comes with it.
For gallinules, a baited field is closed until ten days after every grain is removed.
Sources: Waterfowl Guidebook and baiting (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Common and Purple Gallinules bag limits
Limits for gallinules come straight from the 2026-27 bag table; where a limit is shared with another species it says so.
| Applies to | Limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Common and purple gallinule | 15/day combined, possession 45 (Gallinule) | Waterfowl guide p. 4 |
Equipment rules for Arkansas gallinules
The weapons table names what the guidebook allows for gallinules and what it bans outright.
- Waterfowl and migratory birds
For gallinules in waterfowl and migratory birds seasons, AGFC allows shotguns 10 gauge or smaller holding no more than three shells; nontoxic shot T or smaller for waterfowl and coots; other migratory birds nontoxic T or smaller or lead BB or smaller. Banned for gallinule hunters: rifles, pistols, traps, live decoys, sink boxes, motorboats under power, bait.
How gallinules may be taken, per row
- How gallinules may be taken: Shotguns.
Sources: Waterfowl guide p. 36 and Waterfowl guide p. 4 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Paperwork for gallinules
Hunters 16 and up need a license before going after gallinules; the list below holds the AGFC products that cover them.
| License | Who | Price | 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 |
| Annual Hunting License | Nonresident | $410 | NBG |
Sources: license list and license requirements (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
What else applies to gallinules
Federal rules for gallinules ban rifles, pistols, live decoys and motorboats under power.
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Near homes | Hunting gallinules: written permission of the owner or occupant needed to hunt with firearms within 150 yards or archery within 50 yards of a residence (owners and lessees excepted). |
| Vehicles, aircraft | For gallinule hunters: no hunting from a moving motorized land vehicle or from an aircraft. |
| Technology | Gallinule hunters note: no electronic tracking equipment to locate wildlife and no computer-assisted hunting. |
| Wanton waste | When after gallinules: edible portions must not be wasted (game mammals: quarters, loins, tenderloins; birds: breasts; alligators: tail, legs, flanks, loins); no carcass disposal in cemeteries, waters or within 50 yards of a public road centerline. |
Sources: Guidebook p. 55, Guidebook p. 49 and Guidebook p. 54 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Common and Purple Gallinules on WMAs and other public ground
A short list of public ground for gallinules; the land pages carry the full entry, permit hunts and closures.
Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge
This area's species list names migratory game birds; gallinules fall under it.
Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge
This area's species list names migratory game birds; gallinules fall under it.
Cache River National Wildlife Refuge
This area's species list names migratory game birds; gallinules fall under it.
Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge
This area's species list names migratory game birds; gallinules fall under it.
Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge
This area's species list names migratory game birds; gallinules fall under it.
Overflow National Wildlife Refuge
This area's species list names migratory game birds; gallinules fall under it.
Sources: WMA listings (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
The gallinule clock in Arkansas
Gallinule hunting uses the migratory clock: half an hour before sunrise to sunset. Clocks fall back November 1, 2026 and spring forward March 14, 2027, which shifts the listed times by an hour.
| Town | On | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal | Worked from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Home | Sep 1, 2026 | 6:40 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Mountain Home | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:12 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Mountain Home | Jan 15, 2027 | 7:16 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Fayetteville | Sep 1, 2026 | 6:48 a.m. | 7:46 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Fayetteville | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:23 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Fayetteville | Jan 15, 2027 | 7:27 a.m. | 5:32 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Fort Smith | Sep 1, 2026 | 6:49 a.m. | 7:47 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:47 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Fort Smith | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:25 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Fort Smith | Jan 15, 2027 | 7:29 a.m. | 5:34 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:34 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Texarkana | Sep 1, 2026 | 6:49 a.m. | 7:43 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Texarkana | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:22 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Texarkana | Jan 15, 2027 | 7:26 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. | 6:56 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | AGFC table |
Sources: shooting hours and AGFC Little Rock sun table (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Orange sunset over flat open fields in the Arkansas DeltaPhoto: pfly (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Farmstead with silos and a barn across a flat plowed field in eastern ArkansasPhoto: peggydavis66 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Late afternoon light on the golden Boxley Valley hills and a rail fencePhoto: Noel Pennington (CC BY 2.0)
Questions about gallinules in Arkansas
What is the bag limit for gallinules in Arkansas?
15/day, possession 45.
When does Arkansas gallinule season open?
Gallinules may be hunted gallinule September 1 to November 9, 2026.
Is a license required for gallinules?
Yes, for anyone 16 or older; the license table on this page lists every product for gallinules.
Which guns or bows can I use on gallinules?
For gallinules (waterfowl and migratory birds rules): shotguns 10 gauge or smaller holding no more than three shells; nontoxic shot T or smaller for waterfowl and coots; other migratory birds nontoxic T or smaller or lead BB or smaller.
Is gallinule season open right now?
Gallinules were open on November 9, 2026 under gallinule.
When does legal light end for gallinules?
For gallinules, 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Little Rock example for September 1, 2026: 6:12 a.m. to 7:38 p.m.
Paperwork for gallinules beyond the license?
HIP registration.
Which WMAs are good for gallinules?
Areas such as Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge, Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge and Cache River National Wildlife Refuge name gallinules in their guidebook entries.
Can I trust these gallinule dates?
They match the AGFC books as of November 9, 2026; each row links its page.