LITTLE ROCK — The printers are rolling full steam ahead and soon 2024-25 Arkansas Waterfowl Hunting Guidebooks will grace the checkout counters of sporting goods stores, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission regional offices and AGFC nature centers throughout the state.
Don’t wait to get the latest ducky details, though; download the guidebook today at www.agfc.com. The guidebook may be downloaded to print at home or kept on your computer or laptop, and even loaded to your mobile device so it’s always available should a question arise in the field.
This season sees quite a few changes to the regulations many hunters have come to know when heading to the woods and waters of The Natural State in the last few years. The most notable change is the reinstatement of spinning-wing and other mechanically operated decoys on AGFC wildlife management areas. These decoys have been allowed on private land for the last few years, and are now allowed on WMAs. Hunters should make note that these decoys are still illegal on national wildlife refuges in the state, however.
Another liberalization for a few duck hunting-focused WMAs is the expansion of the shot shell limit from 15 to 25. To add consistency to AGFC regulations, the Commission decided to have a standard 25-shell limit and a maximum shot size of No. 2 on all WMAs where boating and access timing restrictions called “Common Restriction A” are in place.
Hunters who purchase their federal duck stamp electronically also will be able to use their electronic license as proof of purchase for the entire season, thanks to new legislation passed at the federal level and championed by U.S. Sen.John Boozman and U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas.
Other notable changes include:
Tree hooks no more than 3/8-inch in diameter are now allowed on Commission-owned WMAs but must be removed daily.
Nonmotorized boat access to designated water trails is allowed from 1-6:30 p.m. during regular duck season, all day during duck season splits, and all day Nov. 18-22.
One day (Feb. 9) is available for the Veteran and Active-Duty Military Waterfowl Hunt. The two Special Youth Hunt days take place over one weekend, Feb. 8-9, 2025.
The daily bag limit for greater white-fronted geese (aka specklebellies) has been reduced from 3 to 2 for the 2024-25 season. The possession limit is 6. The greater white-fronted goose season has been reduced to 69 days and will open for nine days on Oct. 26, along with seasons for snow, blue and Ross’s geese.
The annual Resident Guide License price has been increased to $250.
The Nonresident 5-day Waterfowl Hunting Permit has been eliminated; the Nonresident WMA Waterfowl Hunting Permit 3-Day Trip (NW3) is $40, and 10 permits may be purchased by a nonresident. Nonresidents may purchase a 30-day permit ($200) to be used for 30 consecutive hunting days during regular season waterfowl hunting days. Nonresident no-hunting days have been eliminated.
Egyptian geese may be taken at any time.
Petit Jean River WMA east of Arkansas Highway 7 is open to waterfowl hunting only on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday Nov. 23-Jan. 30. All-day hunting is allowed Jan. 31.
Camp Robinson Special Use Area, except Lake Conway Nursery Pond, is open to waterfowl hunting.
Camp Robinson WMA is open to waterfowl hunting only on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday Nov. 23-Jan. 30. All-day hunting is allowed Jan. 31.
Dove hunting is allowed on J. Perry Mikles Special Use Area while field trials are being conducted.
Only boat motors with factory-installed exhaust systems may be used on the following NWRs: Cache River, Dale Bumpers White River, Felsenthal and Overflow.
Common Restriction A applies within the greentree reservoir/special regulatory area of Nimrod Lloyd Millwood WMA.
Scouting for waterfowl after 1 p.m. is prohibited on Cache River and Dale Bumpers White River NWRs.
Visit www.agfc.com to download a copy of the 2024-25 Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook.
