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Arkansas › Towns › Fayetteville

Washington County · Region 6

Fayetteville hunting, zones and public land

Fayetteville sits in Washington County, which falls in Deer Zones 1 and 6; Kirk Dupps Beaver Lake WMA is 7.3 miles away and 8 public tracts lie within 25 miles.

Season zones
Land within 25 mi
1/6Zones
Tier 2CWD status
7.3 miOpen land
8Tracts, 25mi

Photo: Michael Barera (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Fayetteville deer zones and game rules

Around Fayetteville, Deer Zone 1 and Deer Zone 6 each take in part of Washington County, and each keeps its own gun dates, dog rule and bag split. For modern gun hunters based in Fayetteville, the dates are Zone 1, November 14 to December 6 and December 26 to 28; Zone 6, November 14 to December 6 and December 26 to 28.

Alternative firearms season, the one AGFC used to call muzzleloader, opens October 17 in every zone around Fayetteville. Around Fayetteville, dogs may trail deer in Deer Zone 6 and not in Deer Zone 1; visitors from out of state are limited to the closing nine days of regular gun season. Chronic wasting disease rules apply around Fayetteville, since Washington County sits in Tier 2 of the CWD Management Zone; antler restrictions are lifted and carcass movement is limited.

AGFC zoneGun seasonAlt. firearmsDog ruleCWD overlapGuidebook
Zone 1
Nov 14-Dec 6
Dec 26-28
Oct 17-25
Dec 12-14
No dogsWhole zoneGuidebook p. 14
Zone 6
Nov 14-Dec 6
Dec 26-28
Oct 17-25
Dec 12-14
Dogs allowedWhole zoneGuidebook p. 17

Bear hunting near Fayetteville runs under Bear Zone 1, with quota calls able to end a season early. Spring turkey zones, read from AGFC’s zone map, put Washington County in Turkey Zone 1A; the regular season there opens April 19, 2027. Fayetteville alligator hunters look to AMZ 5, with no alligator season at all. Elk seen near Fayetteville fall under the statewide rule, legal during open deer seasons.

AnimalZoneStatusWhenLimit or note
Black bearBear Zone 1Open
Sep 9-Nov 30
Quota by method
Spring turkeyTurkey Zone 1AOpen
Apr 19-27
from AGFC's zone map
AlligatorAMZ 5ClosedNoneClosed zone
ElkOutside core fiveDeer seasonsWith deer datesStatewide elk rule

Zone 1 bag: Four deer, no more than two antlered bucks: two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun; four antlerless deer with archery; three antlerless deer with alternative firearms and modern gun combined. Antler rule: No antler-point restrictions.

CWD carcass rule: Intact carcasses from a Tier 1 county move freely between Tier 1 counties; only low-risk parts into Tier 2 or outside the zone. Tier 2 carcasses move between Tier 2 counties or into Tier 1; only low-risk parts outside the zone.

Bear Zone 1 quota: archery 450, alternative firearms 50, modern gun 50; seasons close when a quota is reached.

Turkey zone counties are read from AGFC's zone map; Turkey Zone 3 is a strip along the Mississippi River with no county list.

Elk: All counties outside the core five (elk may be taken during deer season).

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 Fayetteville

Shooting Ranges Near Fayetteville

Range · 1 mi from Fayetteville

Directions
Shooting Ranges Near Springdale

Range · 8 mi from Fayetteville

Directions
Hunting Near Springdale, Arkansas

Town · 8 mi from Fayetteville

Directions
Shooting Ranges Near Rogers

Range · 17 mi from Fayetteville

Directions
Hunting Near Rogers, Arkansas

Town · 17 mi from Fayetteville

Directions
White Rock WMA

Public land · 35 mi from Fayetteville

Directions

Fayetteville land table and map

Draw a 10-mile circle around Fayetteville and it catches 4 places on this site, with 4 more between 10 and 25 miles. By mapped area, 728 acres of public hunting land lie within 10 miles of Fayetteville and 80,253 within 25; treat them as GIS figures, not official acreage.

Straight-line distance favours Kirk Dupps Beaver Lake WMA at 7.3 mi; road miles from Fayetteville will run longer, especially where rivers and levees get in the way. Beaver Lake (Corps of Engineers project lands) sits 7.3 mi away, yet its access cell reads "corps rule, call office". Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park, about 10 miles from Fayetteville, is closed to hunting and is left out of the table.

LandManager typeHow farRingZone linesStatus
Beaver Lake (Corps)Corps lake land7.3 miClose ring1Corps rule, call office
Kirk Dupps Beaver LakeWMA7.3 miClose ring1WMA zone 020
Ozark-St. Francis National ForestsNational forest9.6 miClose ring1, 2, 5AForest land, posted areas
Wedington WMAWMA9.6 miClose ring1WMA zone 653
Hobbs State Park Conservation Area WMAWMA16 miOuter ring1WMA zone 320
White Rock WMAWMA18 miOuter ring1, 2, 6WMA zone 670
Lee Creek WMAWMA19 miOuter ring6WMA zone 413
Garrett Hollow NA WMANatural area WMA23 miOuter ring6WMA zone 245

Rings and boundary distances from places.json (lands.json polygons to the Census point of Fayetteville); 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.

Fayetteville first-look hunting spots

Start scouting from Fayetteville with these three, nearest first:

Corps lake land

Beaver Lake (Corps)

7.3 mi · 38,946 acres · zone 1

Hunting on Beaver Lake (Corps of Engineers project lands) rests on 36 CFR 327.8, and any AGFC WMA on the same land is listed separately.

36 CFR 327.8(a): "Hunting is permitted except in areas and during periods where prohibited by the District Commander."

WMA

Kirk Dupps Beaver Lake

7.3 mi · 8,007 acres · zone 1

The 2026-27 guidebook entry for Kirk Dupps Beaver Lake WMA sets its own dates under WMA zone 020; the WMA deer bag is three.

Guidebook: CLOSED: alligator and turkey; Deer Archery: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28

National forest

Ozark-St. Francis National Forests

9.6 mi · 1,161,330 acres · zones 1, 2, 5A

Camping and hunting share Ozark-St. Francis National Forests; developed campgrounds and recreation sites are closed to hunting.

Forest page: Hunting is permitted anywhere on the Ozark-St. Francis National Forests except within developed recreation sites, areas closed by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission or otherwise posted areas. All state hunting regulatio

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.

What is open in Fayetteville and when

Rows marked Permit need a drawn or purchased permit; the WMA permit rows count 3 hunts on public land touching Fayetteville.

GameSeasonAreaBuyOpensClosesSplitsTodaySource
DeerEarly buck archeryStatewideLicenseAug 29, 2026Aug 31, 2026OneGuidebook p. 14
DeerArcheryStatewideLicenseSep 26, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuidebook p. 3
DeerAlternative FirearmsZone 1LicenseOct 17, 2026Dec 14, 20262 partsGuidebook p. 14
DeerAlternative FirearmsZone 6LicenseOct 17, 2026Dec 14, 20262 partsGuidebook p. 17
DeerDeer permits, WMAs3 huntsPermitNov 7, 2026Nov 18, 20263 partsGuidebook p. 107
DeerYouth gun huntStatewideLicenseNov 7, 2026Jan 3, 20272 partsGuidebook p. 22
DeerModern GunZone 1LicenseNov 14, 2026Dec 28, 20262 partsGuidebook p. 14
DeerModern GunZone 6LicenseNov 14, 2026Dec 28, 20262 partsGuidebook p. 17
DeerChristmas gun huntStatewideLicenseDec 26, 2026Dec 28, 2026OneGuidebook p. 3
ElkOutside core countiesOutside coreLicenseAug 29, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuidebook p. 25
Black bearArcheryBear Zone 1LicenseSep 9, 2026Nov 30, 2026OneGuidebook p. 29
Black bearAlternative FirearmsBear Zone 1LicenseOct 17, 2026Oct 25, 2026OneGuidebook p. 29
Black bearYouth gun huntBear Zone 1LicenseNov 7, 2026Nov 8, 2026OneGuidebook p. 29
Black bearModern GunBear Zone 1LicenseNov 14, 2026Nov 30, 2026OneGuidebook p. 29
TurkeyYouth spring 2027Turkey Zone 1ALicenseApr 10, 2027Apr 11, 2027OneGuidebook p. 31
TurkeySpring 2027Turkey Zone 1ALicenseApr 19, 2027Apr 27, 2027OneGuidebook p. 31
AlligatorAll seasons closedAMZ 5Closed–––ClosedGuidebook p. 28
Feral hogPrivate landStatewideLicenseJan 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026OneGuidebook p. 40
SquirrelSquirrelStatewideLicenseMay 15, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuidebook p. 36
RabbitRabbitStatewideLicenseSep 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuidebook p. 36
QuailQuailStatewideLicenseNov 1, 2026Feb 7, 2027OneGuidebook p. 36
CrowCrowStatewideLicenseSep 3, 2026Feb 21, 2027OneGuidebook p. 36
BullfrogBullfrogStatewideLicenseJun 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026OneDate sheet
DucksRegular duck seasonStatewideLicenseNov 21, 2026Jan 31, 20273 partsWaterfowl guide p. 3
CootCootStatewideLicenseNov 21, 2026Jan 31, 20273 partsWaterfowl guide p. 3
MergansersMerganserStatewideLicenseNov 21, 2026Jan 31, 20273 partsWaterfowl guide p. 3
TealSpecial Early TealStatewideLicenseSep 19, 2026Sep 27, 2026OneDate sheet
Canada GooseEarly Canada gooseStatewideLicenseSep 1, 2026Oct 15, 2026OneWaterfowl guide p. 3
Canada GooseRegular Canada gooseStatewideLicenseNov 21, 2026Jan 31, 20273 partsWaterfowl guide p. 3
White-fronted GooseWhite-fronted gooseStatewideLicenseOct 31, 2026Jan 31, 20274 partsWaterfowl guide p. 3
Light geeseLight geese (regular)StatewideLicenseOct 31, 2026Jan 31, 20274 partsWaterfowl guide p. 3
Light geeseConservation orderStatewideLicenseFeb 1, 2027Apr 25, 20272 partsWaterfowl guide p. 3
Ducks and geeseYouth waterfowlStatewideLicenseFeb 6, 2027Feb 7, 2027OneWaterfowl guide p. 3
Ducks and geeseVeteran and militaryStatewideLicenseFeb 6, 2027Feb 7, 2027OneWaterfowl guide p. 3
DovesDoveStatewideLicenseSep 5, 2026Jan 15, 20272 partsWaterfowl guide p. 4
SnipeSnipeStatewideLicenseNov 1, 2026Feb 15, 2027OneWaterfowl guide p. 4
GallinulesGallinuleStatewideLicenseSep 1, 2026Nov 9, 2026OneWaterfowl guide p. 4
RailsRailsStatewideLicenseSep 12, 2026Nov 20, 2026OneWaterfowl guide p. 4
WoodcockWoodcockStatewideLicenseNov 7, 2026Dec 21, 2026OneWaterfowl guide p. 4
Raccoon, opossum, skunkHuntingStatewideLicenseJan 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026OneGuidebook p. 37
BobcatHuntingStatewideLicenseSep 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuidebook p. 37
BobcatDuring turkey seasonStatewideLicenseApr 5, 2027May 9, 2027OneGuidebook p. 37
CoyoteHuntingStatewideLicenseJan 1, 2026Dec 31, 2026OneGuidebook p. 37
CoyoteTrappingStatewideLicenseAug 1, 2026Mar 31, 2027OneGuidebook p. 38
Fox, muskrat, minkHuntingStatewideLicenseSep 1, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuidebook p. 37
River OtterHuntingStatewideLicenseNov 14, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuidebook p. 37
Beaver, nutriaHuntingStatewideLicenseSep 1, 2026Mar 31, 2027OneGuidebook p. 37
Beaver, nutriaTrappingStatewideLicenseNov 21, 2026Mar 31, 2027OneGuidebook p. 38
Badger, weaselHuntingStatewideClosed–––ClosedGuidebook p. 37
FurbearersTrappingStatewideLicenseNov 21, 2026Feb 28, 2027OneGuidebook p. 38

Refuges post their own seasons.

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.

Fayetteville AGFC offices and district

AGFC J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center sits 10 miles from Fayetteville, the shortest trip to an AGFC building; district questions go to the Jasper office. Nature centers and field offices count as AGFC buildings in the cards below, alongside the AGFC Fort Smith Office (Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center).

AGFC J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center · AGFC nature center · Springdale, Benton County · about 10 mi away

(479) 365-6550
Driving route
Their website

AGFC Rogers Field Office · AGFC field office · Rogers, Benton County · about 18 mi away

(877) 631-6005
Driving route
Their website

Ponca Elk Nature Center · AGFC nature center · Ponca, Newton County · about 45 mi away

(870) 861-2432
Driving route
Their website

Jasper district office

AGFC Wildlife Management Division

601 E Hwy 7, Jasper

(866) 253-2506

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.

Fayetteville gun shops, taxidermists, processors

A 25-mile radius around Fayetteville takes in 24 stores selling hunting gear, 8 taxidermists and 4 meat cutters. The list is built from directories, not visits, so a quick call saves a wasted trip.

Southtown Sporting Goods · Gun shop · Fayetteville, Washington County

(479) 443-7148
Driving route

Fayetteville Firearms, llc · Gun shop · Fayetteville, Washington County · about 1 mi away

(479) 595-1431
Driving route

Palmer Dick Archery · Archery shop · Fayetteville, Washington County · about 1 mi away

(479) 443-9265
Driving route
Their website

The Arms Room · Gun shop · Fayetteville, Washington County · about 2 mi away

(479) 445-6480
Driving route

Lewis & Clark Outfitters · Outdoor store · Springdale, Washington County · about 5 mi away

(479) 756-1456
Driving route

David C Rose Gun Shop Inc · Gun shop · Farmington, Washington County · about 7 mi away

(479) 267-3965
Driving route
Their website

Transformation Taxidermy · Taxidermist · Farmington, Washington County · about 7 mi away

(479) 236-5228
Driving route

Arky Armory · Gun shop · Springdale, Washington County · about 7 mi away

(479) 756-6667
Driving route
Their website
Statewide services

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.

Dinners, courses and hunts close to Fayetteville

Around Fayetteville, some 30 miles out, the calendar shows 3 dates ahead; the kinds are NWTF banquet and hunter education class. 2 AGFC hunter education courses are in the list; the course is free and needed by anyone born after 1968.

DateEventMiles offWhereBookSource
Nov 14, 2026AGFC Hunter Education Class (Springdale) hunter education class listing10Register

starts 8 a.m.

free

48 seats open when read

Source, read 11/8/2026
Nov 21, 2026AGFC Hunter Education Class (Farmington) hunter education class listing5
Farmington Public Library (Farmington)
Register

starts 8 a.m.

free

19 seats open when read

Source, read 11/8/2026
Feb 27, 2027Benton County Longbeards NWTF Banquet NWTF banquet listing20
Highway 12279
TicketsSource, read 11/8/2026
Arkansas events hub
AGFC classes and workshops
Conservation banquets

Got a flyer for a local chapter night we have not posted? Pass it on

Fayetteville: where to zero before deer season

Each card says who may shoot, so Fayetteville hunters can plan before driving.

Black Oak Gun Club
gun club

Fayetteville, Washington County · 8 mi

Lines: rifle, skeet, shotgun, trap

Members only · boisegunclub.com, checked Nov 8, 2026

Ozark Sportsman
gun club

Springdale, Washington County · 8 mi

Lines: rifle, archery, 3D archery, to 50 yd

Access not stated · gunranges.org, checked Nov 8, 2026

J.B.⁠ and Johnelle Hunt
Family Ozark Highlands Nature
Center 3D Archery Range
AGFC layer range

Springdale, Benton County · 10 mi

Lines: archery, 3D archery

Public (AGFC layer) · AGFC range layer, checked Nov 8, 2026

Straight-line miles from the town centre; ranges checked November 9, 2026.

Shooting light in Fayetteville

Ducks, geese, doves and other migratory birds stop at sunset rather than half an hour after it, so the last column closes earlier around Fayetteville.

DateSeason pointSunriseSunsetGeneral hoursMigratory birdsSun times from
Aug 29, 2026Early buck archery6:45 a.m.7:51 p.m.6:15 a.m. to 8:21 p.m.6:15 a.m. to 7:51 p.m.NOAA formula
Sep 26, 2026Archery deer opens7:06 a.m.7:09 p.m.6:36 a.m. to 7:39 p.m.6:36 a.m. to 7:09 p.m.NOAA formula
Oct 17, 2026Zone 1 alt-firearms7:27 a.m.6:42 p.m.6:57 a.m. to 7:12 p.m.6:57 a.m. to 6:42 p.m.AGFC table
Nov 7, 2026Youth gun weekend6:46 a.m.5:20 p.m.6:16 a.m. to 5:50 p.m.6:16 a.m. to 5:20 p.m.AGFC table
Nov 14, 2026Zone 1 gun opener6:53 a.m.5:15 p.m.6:23 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.6:23 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.AGFC table
Nov 21, 2026Duck season opens7:00 a.m.5:11 p.m.6:30 a.m. to 5:41 p.m.6:30 a.m. to 5:11 p.m.AGFC table
Dec 6, 2026Zone 1 gun closes7:13 a.m.5:08 p.m.6:43 a.m. to 5:38 p.m.6:43 a.m. to 5:08 p.m.AGFC table
Dec 21, 2026Shortest day7:23 a.m.5:13 p.m.6:53 a.m. to 5:43 p.m.6:53 a.m. to 5:13 p.m.AGFC table
Apr 19, 2027Turkey Zone 1A opens6:43 a.m.7:55 p.m.6:13 a.m. to 8:25 p.m.6:13 a.m. to 7:55 p.m.AGFC table

Some WMAs post shorter hours.

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.

Fayetteville neighbours on this site

Tontitown heads the list of neighbouring town pages, 8 miles from Fayetteville as the crow flies.

Tontitown8 mi northwestSpringdaleZones 1, 6, 8 miElm Springs10 mi northwestRogersZones 1, 17 mi
Washington County hunting
Season tables
Public hunting land
All Arkansas towns

FAQ, hunting near Fayetteville

How far do Fayetteville hunters drive to reach a WMA or national forest?

The nearest tract without a caution, Kirk Dupps Beaver Lake WMA, starts 7.3 mi from the town point; road miles add more. 4 listed tracts sit inside 10 miles and 8 inside 25.

Does a hunter from Fayetteville need hunter education?

Yes, if born after 1968, unless the license shows HE-VERIFIED; a free Deferred Hunter Education code covers hunters 16 and up with a supervising adult.

Is there a Christmas deer hunt near Fayetteville?

Yes. The Christmas modern gun hunt runs December 26 to 28, 2026 statewide.

Is Fayetteville split between deer zones?

Yes. Washington County touches Deer Zone 1 and Deer Zone 6; the side of the line you hunt decides the dates.

Which bear zone page covers Fayetteville?

Bear Zone 1.

Are there antler restrictions near Fayetteville?

No. Washington County is inside the CWD Management Zone, where any buck may be taken.

How do I get an alligator permit near Fayetteville?

Alligator hunting is closed in this county’s zones.

Is there a youth turkey hunt near Fayetteville?

Yes, April 10 to 11, 2027 in Turkey Zones 1, 1A, 2 and 2A.

How late can I hunt deer at Fayetteville in mid-November?

Until 5:45 p.m. on November 14, 2026, half an hour after the 5:15 p.m. sunset.

How do I check a deer taken near Fayetteville?

Through Game Check within 12 hours; AGFC J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center is the nearest AGFC building (10 miles).

Can a taxidermist near Fayetteville pull a CWD sample?

AGFC keeps a list of taxidermists taking part in CWD testing, and the taxidermist directory includes them; the nearest listed shop to Fayetteville is Transformation Taxidermy.

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: Tim Palmer (USDA Forest Service) (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Ray Ashley (CC BY 2.0); JustTooLazy (CC BY 2.0); Brandonrush (CC BY-SA 4.0).