Closed furbearer
Weasel, Protected in Arkansas
Why weasels cannot be hunted in Arkansas this season, and which furbearer seasons run instead.
Photo: Michael McGaha (CC BY 2.0)
The rule that protects weasels
There is no open window for weasels anywhere in Arkansas in 2026-27, on private land or on WMAs.
| Species | Status | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| All species without an open season | There are no open seasons for any species not discussed in an AGFC regulations guidebook. | Guidebook p. 49 |
| Badger, spotted skunk and weasel | Hunting closed (also closed on WMAs). | Guidebook p. 37 |
| Furbearer season row | Hunting closed. | Guidebook p. 37 |
Alternatives to weasels in Arkansas
Instead of weasels, Arkansas hunters can pursue the game in this table during the 2026-27 season.
| 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 |
Arkansas protected wildlife and weasels
Seven protected lines appear in the 2026-27 books; the one covering weasels is among them.
| 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.
Where weasels sit among game groups
A quick map of the legal groups, set against weasels.
| 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.
Points for unlawful weasel take
Fines by class are in the AGFC Code of Regulations, which this site has not read; the points table below is printed in the guidebook.
| 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.
Laws that apply near weasels
| Topic | Rule |
|---|---|
| Live animals | Afield where weasels live: no importing wildlife without permits, no releasing wildlife, no possessing deer of any age; no releasing domestic turkeys or capturing wild turkeys/eggs. |
| Sale of wildlife | Near weasels: 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. |
| Poisons and traps | Afield where weasels live: no deadfalls, drugs, chemicals, poisons, booby traps or explosives. |
| Permission and posting | Afield where weasels live: 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. 53, Guidebook p. 48, Guidebook p. 49 and Guidebook p. 55 (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)
Early morning frost on the Boxley Valley fields below wooded ridgesPhoto: Noel Pennington (CC BY 2.0)
Late afternoon light on the golden Boxley Valley hills and a rail fencePhoto: Noel Pennington (CC BY 2.0)
Questions about weasels in Arkansas
Can I lose my license over weasels?
Yes, at 18 points within five years.
Does a missing season mean it is open?
There are no open seasons for any species not discussed in an AGFC regulations guidebook.
Are other furbearers open?
Beaver, nutria, bobcat, coyote, opossum, raccoon, striped skunk, gray fox, red fox, mink, muskrat and river otter.
What species are open?
Big game, small game, furbearers, migratory game birds and invasive feral hogs.
Is this from AGFC?
The 2026-27 AGFC guidebooks, checked November 9, 2026.
Is there a WMA season for weasels?
No.
What law applies to weasels?
The furbearer table prints badger, spotted skunk and weasel hunting as closed.
Is it ever legal to shoot weasels?
Not under the 2026-27 rules.