With less than a month before the Arkansas duck season opener, hunters across the state are preparing for another year in the flooded timber—cleaning decoys, brushing blinds, checking boat trailers, and hoping for rain to fill the bottomland woods.
One more preseason ritual to add to that list: downloading the new 2025–26 Arkansas Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC).
Printed guidebooks will be available at AGFC hunting license dealers statewide, though supplies often run out quickly. Hunters are encouraged to access a digital copy through the AGFC mobile app or directly from agfc.com/guidebooks
to stay up to date on the latest regulations.
New Pintail Limit and Regulation Updates
The most notable change this year is an increase in the daily bag limit for pintails from one to three birds per day. The adjustment is part of an interim harvest strategy developed from extensive research over the past decade.
“Every study shows that hunting mortality is a low driver of populations compared to habitat quality and seasonal weather fluctuations,” said Brett Leach, AGFC Waterfowl Program Coordinator. “As one of the leading states in the Mississippi Flyway for pintail harvest, it’s important that we measure any effects carefully.”
While pintail populations remain below their long-term average, the decline largely stems from habitat conversion in the Prairie Pothole Region more than 40 years ago, when shortgrass prairies were replaced by wheat fields.
Additional Regulation Highlights
Veterans and Active-Duty Military Waterfowl Hunt returns Feb. 7–8, coinciding with the Special Youth Hunt.
Frog Bayou WMA adds a youth and mobility-impaired draw permit area, with accessible blinds available.
Reckless boat operation fines increased to $750–$7,500, with possible jail time and hunting privilege suspensions.
Obstruction or harassment of hunting and public disorder fines raised to $500–$7,500, with potential jail sentences and license suspensions.
Early teal season reduced to nine days in September.
Cache River National Wildlife Refuge now requires permit draw hunting. Visit fws.gov/cacheriver
or call 501-203-7253 for details.
Hunters are encouraged to review the complete 2025–26 Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook to ensure compliance and stay informed of all updates before heading into the field.
Download your copy at www.agfc.com/guidebooks
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