Arkansas River Valley · Faulkner County
Conway, Arkansas hunting guide
From Conway, Lake Conway WMA is 3.1 miles away; the Faulkner County line-up is Deer Zones 8 and 10, outside the CWD zone for CWD.
Photo: Marcus O. Bst (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Conway zone dates for deer and more
Conway hunters work under Deer Zone 8 and Deer Zone 10, because Faulkner County straddles more than one AGFC deer zone line. Plan gun hunts from Conway around these zone windows: Zone 8, November 14 to December 6 and December 26 to 28; Zone 10, November 14 to December 6 and December 26 to 28.
The October alternative firearms window, the season formerly known as muzzleloader, applies across Faulkner County. Running deer with dogs is legal in Deer Zones 8 and 10 near Conway; a nonresident dog owner needs the $100 permit and is held to the final nine days of regular gun season. CWD tiers do not reach Faulkner County; check the antler rule for the zone before taking a buck near Conway.
| Zone page | Modern gun | Alt. firearms | Dogs | CWD coverage | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 8 | Nov 14-Dec 6 Dec 26-28 | Oct 17-25 Dec 12-14 | Dogs allowed | Part | Guidebook p. 17 |
| Zone 10 | Nov 14-Dec 6 Dec 26-28 | Oct 17-25 Dec 12-14 | Dogs allowed | None | Guidebook p. 18 |
Black bear: Faulkner County is in Bear Zone 1 and Bear Zone 2, open for 2026-27. For gobblers, Faulkner County is Turkey Zone 1 going by the county lines from AGFC’s zone map; spring opens April 19, 2027. For alligator, Conway sits in AMZ 2 and AMZ 5; that means AMZ 2 open by permit at night in late September and AMZ 5 closed. Outside the five core elk counties, an elk near Conway may be taken in any open deer season.
| Species | Zone | Status | Season dates | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear | Bear Zone 1 | Open | Sep 9-Nov 30 | Quota by method |
| Black bear | Bear Zone 2 | Open | Sep 9-Nov 30 | No quota printed |
| Spring turkey | Turkey Zone 1 | Open | Apr 19-May 9 | from AGFC's zone map |
| Alligator | AMZ 2 | Open | Sep 18-21 Sep 25-28 | Printed 5, see note |
| Alligator | AMZ 5 | Closed | None | Closed zone |
| Elk | Outside core five | Deer seasons | With deer dates | Statewide elk rule |
Zones and dates from the 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); CWD tiers from the CWD Management Zone list; bear zones, turkey zones and alligator zones from AGFC; checked November 9, 2026. All deer zones · CWD zone · Turkey zones · Alligator zones · Elk.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Conway
Conway public hunting land by distance
The short list for Conway, inside 10 miles, holds 4 WMAs and 2 Corps lake lands; widening to 25 miles adds 13 more. The mapped count for Conway is 7,392 acres at 10 miles and 61,879 at 25; private hunting clubs and leases outside the WMA program are not in it.
Lake Conway WMA is the closest ground without a caution, 3.1 mi from Conway as the crow flies.
| Hunting ground | Kind | Straight line | Ring | Zones | Can you hunt? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Conway WMA | WMA | 3.1 mi | Under 10 mi | 10 | WMA zone 100 |
| Toad Suck Ferry Pool | Corps lake land | 5.7 mi | Under 10 mi | 7, 8 | Corps rule, call office |
| Bell Slough WMA | WMA | 8.4 mi | Under 10 mi | 10 | WMA zone 022 |
| Murray Pool (Corps) | Corps lake land | 8.5 mi | Under 10 mi | 10 | Corps rule, call office |
| Camp Robinson WMA | WMA | 9.0 mi | Under 10 mi | 10 | WMA zone 110 |
| Stone Prairie WMA | WMA | 9.4 mi | Under 10 mi | 10 | WMA zone 608 |
| Maumelle River WMA | WMA | 12 mi | 10 to 25 mi | 10, 13 | WMA zone 425 |
| Brewer Lake/Cypress Creek WMA | WMA | 12 mi | 10 to 25 mi | 8 | WMA zone 075 |
| River Bend WMA | WMA | 14 mi | 10 to 25 mi | 8 | WMA zone 553 |
| Cove Creek NA WMA | Natural area WMA | 14 mi | 10 to 25 mi | 8 | WMA zone 134 |
| Lake Overcup WMA | WMA | 16 mi | 10 to 25 mi | 8 | WMA zone 411 |
| Harris Brake WMA | WMA | 16 mi | 10 to 25 mi | 10 | WMA zone 300 |
| Ed Gordon Point Remove | WMA | 18 mi | 10 to 25 mi | 8 | WMA zone 213 |
| Lake Ouachita (Corps) | Corps lake land | 19 mi | 10 to 25 mi | 11 | Corps rule, call office |
| Ouachita National Forest (Arkansas) | National forest | 19 mi | 10 to 25 mi | 10, 11, 13 | Forest land, posted areas |
| Winona WMA | WMA | 20 mi | 10 to 25 mi | 11 | WMA zone 680 |
Rings and boundary distances from places.json (lands.json polygons to the Census point of Conway); access cells from each record’s own fields (2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook WMA entries, 50 CFR 32.23 for refuges, 36 CFR 327.8 for Corps project land, Forest Service pages). GIS acres are not official acreage. Checked November 9, 2026. All public land.
Three tracts nearest Conway, read closely
Below, the first three mapped public places by distance from Conway, each with its record's rules.
Lake Conway WMA
Its guidebook page is the plan for Lake Conway WMA, covering zone 100 dates, closed seasons and any permit hunts.
Toad Suck Ferry Pool
For Toad Suck Ferry Pool (Corps of Engineers project lands), the District Commander decides the closed areas; this site could not read them.
Bell Slough WMA
Its guidebook page is the plan for Bell Slough WMA, covering zone 022 dates, closed seasons and any permit hunts.
From lands.json (2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook WMA entries, Forest Service pages, 50 CFR 32.23, 36 CFR 327.8); permit hunts as parsed from the guidebook, which misses some text on a few listings. Checked November 9, 2026. WMA permit hunts · WMA rules.
Opening days that apply in Conway
2 rows in the list are closed outright for Conway, which AGFC marks where a zone has no season for that game.
| Quarry | Window | Zone | Paperwork | Start | Finish | Parts | Right now | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Early buck archery | Statewide | License | Aug 29, 2026 | Aug 31, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 14 | |
| Deer | Archery | Statewide | License | Sep 26, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 3 | |
| Deer | Alternative Firearms | Zone 10 | License | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 18 | |
| Deer | Alternative Firearms | Zone 8 | License | Oct 17, 2026 | Dec 14, 2026 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 17 | |
| Deer | Deer permits, WMAs | 6 hunts | Permit | Oct 17, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | 6 parts | Guidebook p. 69 | |
| Deer | Youth gun hunt | Statewide | License | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 3, 2027 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 22 | |
| Deer | Modern Gun | Zone 10 | License | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 28, 2026 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 18 | |
| Deer | Modern Gun | Zone 8 | License | Nov 14, 2026 | Dec 28, 2026 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 17 | |
| Deer | Christmas gun hunt | Statewide | License | Dec 26, 2026 | Dec 28, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 3 | |
| Elk | Outside core counties | Outside core | License | Aug 29, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 25 | |
| Black bear | Archery | Bear Zones 1, 2 | License | Sep 9, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 29 | |
| Black bear | Alternative Firearms | Bear Zones 1, 2 | License | Oct 17, 2026 | Oct 25, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 29 | |
| Black bear | Youth gun hunt | Bear Zones 1, 2 | License | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 29 | |
| Black bear | Modern Gun | Bear Zones 1, 2 | License | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 30, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 29 | |
| Turkey | Youth spring 2027 | Turkey Zone 1 | License | Apr 10, 2027 | Apr 11, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 31 | |
| Turkey | Turkey permits, WMAs | 7 hunts | Permit | Apr 10, 2027 | May 9, 2027 | 18 parts | Guidebook p. 69 | |
| Turkey | Spring 2027 | Turkey Zone 1 | License | Apr 19, 2027 | May 9, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 31 | |
| Alligator | Permit hunt | AMZ 2 | Permit | Sep 18, 2026 | Sep 28, 2026 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 28 | |
| Alligator | All seasons closed | AMZ 5 | Closed | – | – | – | Closed | Guidebook p. 28 |
| Feral hog | Private land | Statewide | License | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 40 | |
| Squirrel | Squirrel | Statewide | License | May 15, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 36 | |
| Rabbit | Rabbit | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 36 | |
| Quail | Quail | Statewide | License | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 7, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 36 | |
| Quail | Quail permits, WMAs | 1 hunt | Permit | Dec 12, 2026 | Jan 10, 2027 | 2 parts | Guidebook p. 104 | |
| Crow | Crow | Statewide | License | Sep 3, 2026 | Feb 21, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 36 | |
| Bullfrog | Bullfrog | Statewide | License | Jun 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | One | Date sheet | |
| Ducks | Regular duck season | Statewide | License | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 3 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Coot | Coot | Statewide | License | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 3 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Mergansers | Merganser | Statewide | License | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 3 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Teal | Special Early Teal | Statewide | License | Sep 19, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | One | Date sheet | |
| Canada Goose | Early Canada goose | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Oct 15, 2026 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Canada Goose | Regular Canada goose | Statewide | License | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 3 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| White-fronted Goose | White-fronted goose | Statewide | License | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 4 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Light geese | Light geese (regular) | Statewide | License | Oct 31, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | 4 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Light geese | Conservation order | Statewide | License | Feb 1, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | 2 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Ducks and geese | Youth waterfowl | Statewide | License | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 7, 2027 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Ducks and geese | Veteran and military | Statewide | License | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 7, 2027 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 3 | |
| Doves | Dove | Statewide | License | Sep 5, 2026 | Jan 15, 2027 | 2 parts | Waterfowl guide p. 4 | |
| Snipe | Snipe | Statewide | License | Nov 1, 2026 | Feb 15, 2027 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 4 | |
| Gallinules | Gallinule | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 9, 2026 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 4 | |
| Rails | Rails | Statewide | License | Sep 12, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 4 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock | Statewide | License | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 21, 2026 | One | Waterfowl guide p. 4 | |
| Raccoon, opossum, skunk | Hunting | Statewide | License | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 37 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 37 | |
| Bobcat | During turkey season | Statewide | License | Apr 5, 2027 | May 9, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 37 | |
| Coyote | Hunting | Statewide | License | Jan 1, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | One | Guidebook p. 37 | |
| Coyote | Trapping | Statewide | License | Aug 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 38 | |
| Fox, muskrat, mink | Hunting | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 37 | |
| River Otter | Hunting | Statewide | License | Nov 14, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 37 | |
| Beaver, nutria | Hunting | Statewide | License | Sep 1, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 37 | |
| Beaver, nutria | Trapping | Statewide | License | Nov 21, 2026 | Mar 31, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 38 | |
| Badger, weasel | Hunting | Statewide | Closed | – | – | – | Closed | Guidebook p. 37 |
| Furbearers | Trapping | Statewide | License | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | One | Guidebook p. 38 |
Dates from the 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook, the 2026-27 Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook and the AGFC season date sheet (Arkansas Game and Fish Commission); zone county lists from AGFC zone layers and maps; checked November 9, 2026.
Who Conway hunters call
Conway is in AGFC Region 7 (Mayflower); its district office is at 213 A Hwy. 89 South in Mayflower. The nearest AGFC building of any kind is AGFC Mayflower Field Office, about 8 miles away. AGFC measures AGFC Headquarters as the nearest of its nine regional offices to the middle of Faulkner County, about 27 miles.
AGFC buildings from the AGFC Regional Offices page and the AGFC buildings layer (services.json); district offices from the AGFC Wildlife Management Division districts layer; straight-line distances. Checked November 9, 2026. All AGFC offices.
Conway shops, mounts and meat care
For mounts, meat and shells, the 25-mile list around Conway carries 5, 2 and 28 businesses in turn. Hours and services change; phone before driving over with a deer in the truck.
Listings from Yellow Pages, store locators and the AGFC 2026-27 CWD participating taxidermist list (services.json); chain stores left out. Checked November 9, 2026.
Fundraisers and AGFC classes near Conway
A ring of roughly 30 straight-line miles takes in 1 date ahead, covering NWTF banquet.
| Day | What | Miles | Place | Next step | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 8, 2027 | Perry County NWTF Banquet type: NWTF banquet | 19 | 207 4th st | Tickets | Source |
Conway: ranges within a drive
Toe2Toe Conway is 3 miles from Conway, the closest of the three.
Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 9, 2026.
Sunrise and hunting times near Conway
Deer, bear, elk, turkey and small game follow the general window; the migratory bird column applies to ducks, geese, doves, woodcock and snipe near Conway.
| Date | Marker | Rise | Set | Big and small game | Waterfowl window | Worked from |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 29, 2026 | Early buck archery | 6:40 a.m. | 7:43 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 8:13 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Sep 26, 2026 | Archery deer opens | 7:00 a.m. | 7:03 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 7:33 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 7:03 p.m. | NOAA formula |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Zone 8 alt-firearms | 7:17 a.m. | 6:32 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 7:02 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 6:32 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Youth gun weekend | 6:36 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Zone 8 gun opener | 6:43 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Nov 21, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:50 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Zone 8 gun closes | 7:03 a.m. | 4:58 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 4:58 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:13 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. | AGFC table |
| Apr 19, 2027 | Turkey Zone 1 opens | 6:33 a.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. | AGFC table |
Hours rules from the 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook; sunrise and sunset from the AGFC Little Rock table with AGFC’s nine-mile correction, or the NOAA solar formula on Central Time where the table has no entry; checked November 9, 2026. Legal hours across Arkansas.
Conway hunters ask, we answer
Conway to public land, how many miles?
3.1 mi to the edge of Lake Conway WMA as the crow flies; 6 listed tracts sit inside 10 miles and 19 inside 25.
How soon must I check a deer taken near Conway?
Within 12 hours through Game Check; turkey and bear follow the same 12-hour rule.
When does archery deer season run near Conway?
Statewide: an early buck-only hunt August 29 to 31, then September 26, 2026 to February 28, 2027.
Do WMAs near Conway follow the county deer zone?
No. Every WMA and national wildlife refuge is its own deer and turkey zone; private land around Conway follows Deer Zone 8 and Deer Zone 10.
Is there a bear quota near Conway?
Zone 1: quota by method; Zone 2: no quota printed.
Would a deer shot near Conway need CWD carcass handling?
Not under the tier rules, since Faulkner County is outside the zone; carcasses from zone counties still follow theirs.
On the alligator map, where does Conway land?
Alligator Management Zone 2 and Zone 5.
How long is turkey season around Conway?
Turkey Zone 1: April 19 to May 9, 2027, with the zone from AGFC’s zone map.
Sunrise at Conway on the gun opener, what time?
6:43 a.m. on November 14, 2026, from AGFC’s Little Rock table corrected for Conway; deer hunting may start at 6:13 a.m.
Is there an AGFC office in Conway itself?
No. The closest AGFC building is AGFC Mayflower Field Office, roughly 8 miles away in Mayflower.
Venison processing near Conway, who handles it?
The Buck Stops Here, 21 miles from Conway in Jacksonville, heads the processor list; phone first, because seasonal hours vary.
From places.json, lands.json, regs.json (the 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook, hunter orange, license fees, CWD, AGFC sun table), counties.json and services.json. Checked November 9, 2026. License guide · Legal hours.
Other photos on this page: Becky Haner (CC BY 2.0); L. Allen Brewer (CC BY 2.0); peggydavis66 (CC BY-SA 2.0); Michael McGaha (CC BY 2.0).