Arkansas · Duck · 2026–27 Edition
Arkansas Duck Season 2026–27: Zones, Dates, Bag Limits & Shooting Hours
Sep 19 — mark it
Mark it.
2026–27 Edition
01 — Seasons by zone
| Season / Segment | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Special Early Teal Season | Statewide | Sep 19 – Sep 27 |
| Duck, Coot & Merganser · Segment 1 | Statewide | Nov 21 – Nov 29 |
| Duck, Coot & Merganser · Segment 2 | Statewide | Dec 10 – Dec 23 |
| Duck, Coot & Merganser · Segment 3 | Statewide | Dec 26 – Jan 31 |
| Special Youth Waterfowl Hunt | Statewide | Feb 6 – Feb 7 |
| Special Active Duty Military & Veteran Hunt | Statewide | Feb 6 – Feb 7 |
02 — Bag limits
| Teal — Daily | 6 (blue-winged, green-winged and cinnamon teal combined) |
|---|---|
| Teal — Possession | 18 |
| Duck — Daily | 6 total, with max: 4 mallards (2 hens), 1 scaup, 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 black ducks, 1 mottled duck. If not listed, up to 6 of a species (including teal) may be taken. |
| Coot — Daily | 15 |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 19, 2026) 06:26 — 19:10
Rule: 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset (off-WMA). On WMAs, shooting ends at NOON during regular duck season (with WMA-specific exceptions). Special Early Teal shooting hours begin at SUNRISE (not sunrise −30).. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Arkansas sun times for any other date.
04 — License, HIP & Duck Stamp
Duck hunters in Arkansas need three things (in addition to any state-specific waterfowl stamp): a Arkansas hunting license, free federal HIP registration (Harvest Information Program) and a Federal Duck Stamp — required for hunters 16+ under federal law.
Arkansas licenses & permits — Arkansas Game and Fish Commission →
05 — FAQ
When does duck season open in Arkansas?
The 2026–27 opener is September 19, 2026. Waterfowl seasons run under federal flyway frameworks with state-set zone splits — see the zone table above.
When does duck season end in Arkansas?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is February 7, 2027. Late-zone and second-segment closes vary — see the zone table.
Do I need a Federal Duck Stamp?
Yes. Every waterfowl hunter 16 or older must carry a signed current-year Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp). It is available at U.S. Post Offices, many license retailers, most National Wildlife Refuges, and at fws.gov/service/buy-duck-stamp.
Verified · Arkansas Game and Fish Commission · Last verified 2026-08-01
Publisher's note. Statewide dates per AGFC 2026-27 Waterfowl Season Dates. WMA hunts end at noon during regular duck season (with WMA-specific exceptions); shooting is 30-min-before-sunrise-to-noon on WMAs, otherwise 30-min-before-sunrise-to-sunset off-WMA. On the LAST day of regular season and during Youth/Special Active Duty & Veteran hunts, WMA hunting runs the full day.