Bell Slough WMA

Zone	County
022	Faulkner, Pulaski

Zone

County

022

Faulkner, Pulaski

Three-point rule

Waterfowl Season Access Restrictions

Factory Exhaust Only

Shell Limit (25 shells max per hunter)

Water Trail (paddling allowed)

Waterfowl Hunting Ends at Noon

Acres: 2,366

2024-25 Closed Seasons

Deer Modern Gun
Bear Modern Gun
Alligator

2024-25 Crow

Sept. 1, 2024-Feb. 17, 2025. Open Thursdays through Mondays only. No limit.

2024-25 Deer

Deer Archery: Sept. 7-9 (one buck only); Sept. 28-Feb. 28.
Deer Alternative Firearms (Permit Hunt): Oct. 19-23.
Deer Modern Gun Special Youth Hunt: Nov. 2-3 (permit) and Jan. 4-5 (no permit).

WMA Deer Bag Limit: Four deer, no more than two antlered bucks, which may include:

Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
Four antlerless with archery,
Two antlerless with alternative firearms or modern gun.
During youth hunt, youths may take four deer, two antlered bucks and two antlerless.

Deer Notes:

Three-point rule.
No dogs.

2024-25 Quail

Nov. 1, 2024-Feb. 2, 2025. Daily limit – 6, possession limit – 12.

2024-25 Rabbit

Sept. 1, 2024-Feb. 28, 2025. Daily limit – 8, possession limit – 16.

2024-25 Squirrel

May 15, 2024-Feb. 28, 2025. Dogs allowed. Daily limit – 12, possession limit – 48.

2024-25 Waterfowl

Waterfowl Notes:

Waterfowl hunting allowed only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and all day Jan. 31.
No boats allowed Nov. 16-22, Dec. 3-9 and Dec. 24-26.
Closed to all access (except in designated campsites, parking areas and boat launch ramps) from 2-4 a.m., Nov. 23-Jan. 31 and Feb. 8-9.
Palarm Creek Waterfowl Rest Area is closed to all access from Nov. 1-Feb. 15 (except for youth deer modern gun permit holders on Nov. 2-3).
No boats allowed from 1 p.m. to 4 a.m. Nov. 23-Dec. 2, Dec. 10-23 and Dec. 27-Jan. 31. Exception – Boats allowed from 1-6:30 p.m. Jan. 31 and Feb. 8-9.
No boats allowed Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Nov. 23-Jan. 29.
No airboats during duck season.
Hunters accessing Grassy Lake from Bell Slough are not required to have a Camp Robinson sportsman’s pass, but must stay in or on the water. For information on the sportsman’s pass, call 501-212-4090.

2024-25 Bear

Bear Archery: Sept. 18-Nov. 30.
Bear Alternative Firearms: Oct. 19-27.
Bear Notes:

Statewide limit.
No dogs.
Seasons close earlier if zone quota is reached.

2024-25 Turkey

Youth Turkey Hunt: April 12-13. One legal turkey.

Firearms Hunt (permit required): April 21-23, April 28-30 and May 5-7. One legal turkey. Includes Camp Robinson WMA

Turkey Notes:

A WMA Turkey Hunt Permit is required to hunt turkeys on this WMA. Click here for details.
All hunters including permit holders are required to apply for and obtain a Recreational Pass from the Deaprtment of the Army at Robinson Maneuver Training Center prior to entry. For questions regarding the Recreational Pass please call 501-212-4090 or visit https://arkansas.nationalguard.mil/Home/Camp-Robinson-Maneuver-Training-Center/. Vehicular access is limited to designated improved surface roads. Military activities take precedence over recreational activities and may cause changes to access requirements, dates and available training areas without notice.

Access

Access to Bell Slough is available from Grassy Lake Road and from the backside of the Lake Conway Dam.

Area Notes

A free annual General Use Permit (WMP) is required to hunt or trap on WMAs. Permits are available online by clicking “Buy Licenses” at agfc.com or by calling 833-345-0325 or any regional office.
The Palarm Creek Waterfowl Rest Area closes to access Nov. 1 and reopens to access Feb. 15.
CWD carcass movement restrictions apply in Ashley County. Only nontoxic shot may be possessed and used while hunting small game with shotguns. The Clear Lake access road is subject to flooding and closures. Accessibility information available at 833-345-0398.
For access restrictions that affect all users during waterfowl season, check the waterfowl guidebook.

Description

Bell Slough WMA consists of 2,366 acres of woodlands and wetlands nestled between Little Rock and the growing city of Conway. Palarm Creek Rest Area offers birders a chance to view waterfowl, shorebirds and Neotropical migrants, and provides feeding and loafing habitat for migrating waterfowl.

Hunting Opportunities

Waterfowl hunting is available at Bell Slough. Mallards, gadwall and wood ducks are the primary waterfowl species seen on the area during winter. Bowhunting for deer and squirrel hunting are available on the area as well.

Location

Bell Slough WMA lies just south of Mayflower off Interstate 40.

Ownership

AGFC

Phone

833-356-0879

Recreation Other Than Hunting

The area is home to Kenny Vernon Nature Trail and Bell Slough Water Trail. These trails offer excellent bird-watching and the hiking trail boasts an observation area with mounted binoculars near Palarm Creek Waterfowl Rest Area.

Restaurants and Other Facilities

Restaurants are available in Mayflower, Conway and Little Rock, all less than a 15-minute drive from the area.

Safety

Because the area is home to a nature trail, hunters should pay particular attention to hikers and birdwatchers who may not be wearing safety orange. Hikers and birdwatchers are strongly encouraged to wear safety orange during hunting seasons.