The 2026–2027 Arkansas Duck Season: Dates, Bag Limits & What Hunters Need to Know
If you're planning a duck hunt in Arkansas this coming season, the calendar is already taking shape. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) approved the 2026–2027 waterfowl season dates in April 2026, along with a regulations package that includes some meaningful changes hunters should know about before booking a trip or purchasing a license. This guide walks through everything that's been confirmed for the upcoming season — dates, bag limits, licensing requirements, and the rule changes that might affect where and how you hunt.
Whether you're a returning hunter who's chased mallards over Northeast Arkansas rice fields for years or you're planning your first guided duck hunt in the Mississippi Flyway, the goal here is to give you the same information you'd get from reading the AGFC guidebook — just organized in a way that's easier to use when you're actually planning a trip.
2026–2027 Arkansas Waterfowl Season Dates
The AGFC sets Arkansas waterfowl seasons within a federal framework provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, dates were unanimously approved at the AGFC commissioners' meeting on April 17, 2026. Hunting is structured in three split segments to spread opportunity across the migration.
Duck, Coot & Merganser
- November 21 – November 29, 2026
- December 10 – December 23, 2026
- December 26, 2026 – January 31, 2027
Canada Goose
- Early season: September 1 – October 15, 2026
- November 21 – November 29, 2026
- December 10 – December 23, 2026
- December 26, 2026 – January 31, 2027
White-Fronted Goose (Specklebelly)
- October 31 – November 8, 2026
- November 21 – November 29, 2026
- December 10 – December 23, 2026
- December 26, 2026 – January 31, 2027
Snow, Blue & Ross's Goose (Regular Season)
- October 31 – November 8, 2026
- November 21 – November 29, 2026
- December 10 – December 23, 2026
- December 26, 2026 – January 31, 2027
Special Youth, Active-Duty Military & Veteran Waterfowl Hunt
- February 6 – 7, 2027
Light Goose Conservation Order dates for spring 2027 are set as a separate season — covered in its own section below.
One note worth flagging: the AGFC commissioners stated that the 2027–2028 season dates will follow the same calendar pattern as 2026–2027, but those should be treated as placeholders. The Commission indicated it may revisit those dates after the 2026–2027 season concludes, so don't make 2027–2028 plans based on tentative dates yet.
Bag Limits for the 2026–2027 Season
Here's where it's important to be precise. The AGFC adopts annual bag limits each year based on the USFWS regulatory framework, which is typically released in mid-summer once breeding population surveys are finalized. As of April 2026, the official 2026–2027 bag limits have not yet been formally published. The numbers below reflect the 2025–2026 limits (the most recent confirmed AGFC values) and serve as the most reliable baseline available right now. We'll update this post once AGFC publishes the official 2026–2027 numbers — which historically happens in summer.
Duck Daily Bag Limit (2025–2026 baseline)
The total daily limit is 6 ducks, which may include no more than:
- 4 mallards (no more than 2 hens)
- 3 wood ducks
- 3 pintails
- 2 redheads
- 2 canvasbacks
- 2 black ducks
- 1 scaup
- 1 mottled duck
If a species isn't listed above, you may take up to 6 of that species (including teal) within the overall 6-duck daily limit.
A note on pintails: the 3-pintail daily limit is part of an interim harvest strategy adopted by the four Mississippi Flyway Councils and USFWS. The strategy calls for three years of higher pintail limits when supported by population status. AGFC waterfowl program staff have indicated that the three-pintail rule is likely to remain in place for 2026–2027 if breeding population estimates support it, but this won't be officially confirmed until summer.
Coot Daily Bag Limit
- 15 coots per day.
Merganser Daily Bag Limit
- 5 mergansers per day, no more than 2 of which may be hooded mergansers.
Possession Limits
For ducks, coots, and mergansers, the possession limit is three times the daily bag limit. So under the 2025–2026 baseline, you can have a maximum of 18 ducks, 45 coots, and 15 mergansers in your possession at any one time.
Goose Bag Limits (2025–2026 baseline)
- Canada goose: 5 daily / 15 possession during the early September season; 2 daily / 6 possession during the regular season.
- White-fronted goose (specklebelly): 2 daily / 6 possession.
- Snow, blue, and Ross's goose: 20 daily, no possession limit.
Light Goose Conservation Order: Spring 2027 Snow Goose Season
The Light Goose Conservation Order is a separate, federally authorized special season designed to manage the overpopulation of mid-continent snow, blue, and Ross's geese, which have grown to numbers that damage their Arctic nesting habitat. Arkansas's portion of this season runs in two segments and is governed by relaxed regulations that don't apply during the regular waterfowl season.
Spring 2027 conservation order dates haven't been officially listed in the AGFC regulations package approved in April 2026, but the framework follows the same federal structure used in prior years. Spring 2026 dates ran February 1–6 and February 9 – April 25 — the 2027 season will follow a similar timeline once AGFC publishes the official dates.
What's Different About the Conservation Order
- No daily bag limit. No possession limit. Hunters can shoot as many snow, blue, and Ross's geese as the day allows.
- Electronic calls are permitted (they're prohibited during the regular season).
- Unplugged shotguns are permitted — meaning your gun can hold more than three shells.
- Shooting hours extend from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset (longer than the regular season).
New for the 2026–2027 Conservation Order
The AGFC's April 2026 regulations package introduced a notable change to conservation order participation: a valid Arkansas hunting license and state duck stamp are now required to participate in the Light Goose Conservation Order. Previously, hunters only needed a free Light Goose Conservation Order permit. This is a meaningful change and worth noting before you plan a spring snow goose trip — if you're a non-resident, that means an Arkansas non-resident hunting license plus the Arkansas waterfowl stamp, in addition to the conservation order permit.
Licenses, Stamps & HIP Registration
Arkansas waterfowl licensing isn't complicated, but it's important to get right — game wardens routinely check, and missing paperwork carries real penalties. Here's what you need.
For Resident Hunters
- Arkansas resident hunting license.
- Arkansas resident waterfowl stamp.
- Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (the federal duck stamp), required for hunters age 16 and older.
- HIP (Harvest Information Program) registration, required for any migratory bird hunter age 16 or older. HIP is free and is completed when you purchase your license, either online or at any AGFC office.
For Non-Resident Hunters
- Arkansas non-resident hunting license.
- Arkansas non-resident waterfowl stamp ($50 as of 2025–2026).
- Federal duck stamp.
- HIP registration.
If you plan to hunt on any Arkansas Wildlife Management Area (WMA), non-residents also need either a 3-day Non-resident WMA Waterfowl Hunting Permit ($40, with up to 10 permits allowed per season) or a 30-day Non-resident WMA Waterfowl Hunting Permit ($200, used consecutively). These are in addition to the free annual WMA General Use Permit that all hunters need on WMAs.
Pricing for licenses and stamps is set by AGFC and subject to change — verify current pricing on the official AGFC licensing portal before purchasing.
A Note for Guided Hunters
If you're hunting on private land with a licensed guide service like The Mallard's Nest, you don't need WMA permits — those only apply to public Wildlife Management Areas. You'll still need your hunting license, waterfowl stamp, federal duck stamp, and HIP registration. Most guided outfitters help walk first-time clients through what they need before they arrive.
2026–2027 Regulation Changes Worth Knowing
Beyond the season dates, the AGFC regulations package approved in April 2026 included several changes that hunters should be aware of:
Conservation Order License Requirement
As noted above, hunters now need a valid Arkansas hunting license and state duck stamp to participate in the Light Goose Conservation Order — a tightening from the previous free-permit-only rule.
Non-Resident Restriction at Dave Donaldson Black River WMA
Non-resident hunters will be prohibited from waterfowl hunting at Dave Donaldson Black River WMA during the first segment of the regular duck season (November 21–29, 2026). This is one of several changes AGFC is implementing to address overcrowding complaints at popular WMAs. Maps of new non-motorized access areas and permit zones will be published on AGFC.com closer to the season.
New Waterfowl Permit Hunt Areas
Permit hunt opportunities are being established at Prairie Bayou WMA, the Buckingham Flats Greentree Reservoir on Bayou Meto WMA, and the Wiville West Unit of Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA. If you typically hunt these areas, check AGFC's special waterfowl permit hunts page for application details.
Reminder: Nontoxic Shot Statewide
Federally approved nontoxic shot is required for all duck, goose, and merganser hunting statewide. This isn't new — but it's the kind of rule worth re-mentioning every season.
Why Northeast Arkansas Stays a Top Waterfowl Destination
Arkansas sits squarely in the Mississippi Flyway, and the state's combination of flooded rice fields, hardwood bottomland timber, and agricultural diversity wintering grounds keeps it one of the premier waterfowl destinations in North America. According to AGFC, more than 100,000 waterfowl hunters take to Arkansas's rice fields and greentree reservoirs each year.
Northeast Arkansas — the corridor that includes Hoxie, Walnut Ridge, Pocahontas, and the Cache River and Black River drainages — sees strong concentrations of migrating ducks throughout the regular season. The flooded rice fields that define the agricultural landscape here serve as ideal feeding habitat for mallards, pintails, wigeon, gadwall, and teal as they push down the flyway. Specklebelly geese and snow geese add bonus opportunities, and the spring conservation order delivers some of the highest-volume snow goose hunting anywhere in the country.
If you're planning a trip and looking for a guided experience, The Mallard's Nest offers 3-day and 5-day guided duck hunt packages over private flooded rice fields, plus drive-up and all-inclusive snow goose conservation hunts during the spring migration. Lodging, meals, and professional guides are included with most packages.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Arkansas duck season open in 2026?
The first segment of the 2026–2027 Arkansas regular duck season opens November 21, 2026, and runs through November 29, 2026. The season then breaks before the second segment, which opens December 10, 2026.
How many pintails can I shoot in Arkansas?
Under the 2025–2026 limits (the most recent confirmed values), the daily pintail limit is 3. The 2026–2027 limit is expected to remain at 3 if the interim harvest strategy continues, but won't be officially confirmed until AGFC publishes 2026–2027 bag limits in summer. Always verify on AGFC.com before your hunt.
Do non-residents need a federal duck stamp to hunt in Arkansas?
Yes. Any waterfowl hunter age 16 or older — resident or non-resident — needs a federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (the federal duck stamp) to hunt ducks, geese, mergansers, or coots.
Do I need a license to hunt the Arkansas snow goose conservation order?
Yes — and this is new for 2026–2027. A valid Arkansas hunting license and state duck stamp are now required to participate in the Light Goose Conservation Order, in addition to the free Light Goose Conservation Order permit.
Can I hunt with a guide on a Wildlife Management Area?
No. It is illegal for waterfowl hunters to be guided for pay or other compensation on Arkansas Wildlife Management Areas, special use areas, or national wildlife refuges. Both hunters and guides are subject to penalties. Guided hunts in Arkansas take place on private land.
Plan Your 2026–2027 Arkansas Duck Hunt
With the 2026–2027 Arkansas duck season dates now official, the calendar is wide open for booking — but it doesn't stay that way for long. The best dates with experienced outfitters fill up fast, and Northeast Arkansas guide services typically begin booking 6 to 12 months ahead of opening day.
If you're considering a guided hunt in Northeast Arkansas, The Mallard's Nest offers all-inclusive 3-day and 5-day duck hunt packages on private flooded rice fields in Hoxie, plus drive-up and full lodging snow goose conservation hunts during the spring migration.
Reach out to check availability for your preferred dates — the season fills fast.