Special permit-based quail hunts available on two Arkansas WMAs

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will hold its first-ever public land draw hunts for northern bobwhite this December and the time to apply begins Dec. 2.
For the 2024-25 hunting season, Stone Prairie WMA in Faulkner County and Little Bayou WMA in Ashley County will allow quail hunting only during two managed hunts to preserve the hunting quality and protect the growing coveys for future hunters.
Applications for the two hunts on each WMA will be available through the AGFC’s license system under the Special Hunt Permits section for $5. The application dates are Dec. 2-8 for the Dec. 14-15 hunt period and Dec. 30-Jan. 5 for the Jan. 11-12 hunt. Successful applicants will be notified the day after the application for each hunt period closes. Each hunter may bring three additional party members, but only two members may be 16 or older. Dog handlers who are not actively hunting do not count toward the total hunting party limit of four. The bag limit on each hunt is four quail per person.
The addition of these draw opportunities is a milestone for northern bobwhite management in The Natural State. As some of the public land managed for upland game begins to produce healthy populations of quail, the AGFC is keeping a close eye on hunting pressure to ensure the rebounding population isn’t squelched midstream.
“These two WMAs were designated as quail focal areas in 2017 and habitat work concentrated, with the goal of restoring a huntable quail population,” AGFC Quail Program Coordinator Clint Johnson said. “At that time, quail season was closed to avoid harvesting the small number of birds that would colonize the WMAs, with the intent of opening the season when quail populations could support harvest.”

Both of these WMAs are relatively small, supporting less than 1,000 acres of quail habitat, but the quail density is high.
“AGFC has performed quail surveys on these WMAs since 2017 and we have a good idea of how many birds are there,” Johnson said. “Some simple math results in an estimate of how many birds can be harvested without negatively impacting the population, and a permit system allows us to carefully control the amount of pressure, which can be dialed in each year, based on population levels.”
Johnson says the permit hunts also offer more variety in experiences for the hunters who draw.
“Much like how deer regulations vary across the state to offer a variety of experiences for hunters, we want to provide a mix of quality and quantity for our quail hunters,” Johnson said. “These are by no means the only two public places to hunt quail in Arkansas. Most WMAs are open to quail hunting with the same structure as the statewide season, but you’ll notice a few other WMAs with more restrictions to balance hunting pressure to ensure we aren't overharvesting the birds.”