Furbearer
Opossum in Arkansas, 2026-27 Seasons and Rules
Opossums in Arkansas: 2026-27 dates, limits and licenses from the AGFC guidebooks, checked November 9, 2026.
Photo: Michael McGaha (CC BY 2.0)
Arkansas opossums, the short version
Opossums can be hunted all year in Arkansas, and the dated rows add a window from November 21, 2026. The AGFC limit summary for opossums reads: No limit. Season outline for opossums: hunting year-round; trapping November 21-February 28.
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 →
Opossum seasons in the AGFC guidebooks
Read across for opossums: season, area, the dates AGFC printed, the bag and whether it is open now.
| Row | Applies to | Open dates | Bag limit | Today | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting | Statewide | Year-round | No limit | Year-round | Guidebook p. 37 |
| Trapping | Statewide | Nov 21–Feb 28 | No limit | Guidebook p. 38 |
- Day or night; dogs required at night. WMA dates differ (raccoon July 1-March 31 by segment; opossum/skunk September 1-February 28).
- Furbearers other than beaver, coyote and nutria: sunrise November 21-sunset February 28.
Sources: Guidebook p. 37 and Guidebook p. 38 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Hunting and trapping opossums in Arkansas
Both hunting and trapping seasons cover opossums; the trapping rows set jaw spread and set type.
The trapping window for opossums runs November 21, 2026 to February 28, 2027; legal opossum sets are 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).
The Predator Control Permit covers opossums: free online permit: year-round take of bobcat, coyote, gray fox, opossum, raccoon, red fox and striped skunk on private land; coyote at night.
Sources: trapping and Predator Control Permit (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Equipment rules for Arkansas opossums
Methods for opossums come from the season rows, which are quoted below.
Sources: Guidebook p. 37 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Arkansas opossum licenses and prices
Licenses for opossums are sold online, by phone, at AGFC offices and nature centers and by dealers, and each one expires June 30.
| Product | Residency | Fee | 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.
Rules that catch opossum hunters out
| Rule topic | Text |
|---|---|
| Poisons and traps | For opossum hunters: no deadfalls, drugs, chemicals, poisons, booby traps or explosives. |
| Others' game | Applies to opossums: wildlife taken by someone else must have a signed statement (name, address, species, date, license number); also applies to camps, processors and taxidermists. |
| Technology | When after opossums: no electronic tracking equipment to locate wildlife and no computer-assisted hunting. |
| Lights | Applies to opossums: no shining an artificial light from a public road or within a WMA. |
Sources: Guidebook p. 49 and Guidebook p. 48 (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Places to try for opossums
Each of these areas mentions opossums in its own rules or species list; WMA statements can differ from statewide dates.
Cherokee WMA
For opossums here: 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
For opossums here: Area Notes: Horses and mules allowed for legal hunting activities during specific hunting seasons and at night during furbearer season.
Cedar Mountain WMA
For opossums here: 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
For opossums here: Furbearers: Ditch 28 closed to all trapping.
Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA/Deer Research Area East Unit
For opossums here: Area Notes: Horses and mules only allowed for nighttime furbearer hunting on East Unit.
Maumelle River WMA
For opossums here: Area Notes: Shotguns using legal, nontoxic ammunition are required to take small game, turkey and furbearers.
Hot Springs State Forest WMA
For opossums here: Area Notes: Shotguns and rimfire rifles using legal ammunition may be used to take crow, furbearers, quail, rabbit and squirrel on areas designated on the public use map as open for firearms.
Harris Brake WMA
For opossums here: Area Notes: During duck season, other hunters may hunt only during the same hours and days as duck hunters except for those trapping, rabbit hunting, deer archery hunting, squirrel hunting and hunting furbearers at night.
Sources: WMA listings (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Sunrise, sunset and opossum hours
AGFC lets hunters pursue opossums day or night; after sunset, dogs must be used. Western towns run later than Little Rock and eastern towns earlier, by about a minute for each nine miles.
| Town | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Window | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | Nov 21, 2026 | 6:49 a.m. | 5:00 p.m. | Day or night | AGFC table |
| Little Rock | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:12 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | Day or night | AGFC table |
| Little Rock | Jan 15, 2027 | 7:16 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | Day or night | AGFC table |
| Helena-West Helena | Nov 21, 2026 | 6:38 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | Day or night | AGFC table |
| Helena-West Helena | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:01 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | Day or night | AGFC table |
| Helena-West Helena | Jan 15, 2027 | 7:05 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | Day or night | AGFC table |
| Mena | Nov 21, 2026 | 7:01 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | Day or night | AGFC table |
| Mena | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:24 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | Day or night | AGFC table |
| Mena | Jan 15, 2027 | 7:28 a.m. | 5:33 p.m. | Day or night | AGFC table |
| Jonesboro | Nov 21, 2026 | 6:38 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | Day or night | AGFC table |
| Jonesboro | Dec 21, 2026 | 7:01 a.m. | 4:51 p.m. | Day or night | AGFC table |
| Jonesboro | Jan 15, 2027 | 7:05 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | Day or night | AGFC table |
Sources: shooting hours and AGFC Little Rock sun table (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); checked November 9, 2026.
Red, orange and green fall foliage on a forested Ouachita Mountains slopePhoto: Tammo2011 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Buffalo National River flowing past a gravel bar under a tall green bluffPhoto: David Brossard (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Clark Creek and mossy boulders below a bluff in Lost Valley, Buffalo National RiverPhoto: Sharon Mollerus (CC BY 2.0)
Opossum questions
Which AGFC license works for opossums?
The Combination Sportsman's License ($35.50) covers opossums; nonresident options are in the license table.
Can I hunt opossums at night?
There are no set hours for opossums; night hunting needs dogs.
Are opossums open as of today?
Open: the year-round line, as of November 9, 2026.
Which public areas name opossums?
Public ground for opossums includes Cherokee WMA, Poison Springs WMA and Cedar Mountain WMA.
Is trapping opossums legal?
Yes; trapping opossums is legal November 21, 2026 to February 28, 2027.
Who needs a trapper permit for opossums?
Nonresidents: Nonresident Trapper's Permit ($125) with a nonresident hunting license.
Which AGFC documents cover opossums?
The hunting guidebook, the Waterfowl Guidebook and the season date sheets.
When does Arkansas opossum season open?
Opossums may be hunted trapping November 21, 2026 to February 28, 2027.
What limit applies to opossums?
AGFC sums it up as no limit.
What gear is legal for opossums?
For opossums: 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.