Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D’Arc WMA
| Zone | County |
|---|---|
| 180 | Hempstead |
12-Inch Inside Spread of 15-Inch Main Beam Rule
Mobility-Impaired Access
Waterfowl Season Access Restrictions
Valid Hunting or Fishing License or a WMA/Lake Conservation Permit is Required for All Users
Acres: 13,658
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Bear
2026-27 Crow
Sept. 3, 2026-Feb. 21, 2027. Open Thursdays through Mondays only. No limit.
2026-27 Deer
Deer Archery: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28.
Red Slough Waterfowl Rest Area: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Oct. 31 and Feb. 20-28.
Deer Alternative Firearms: Oct. 17-25.
Deer Modern Gun (permit required): Nov. 14-18.
Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunt: Nov. 7-8.
WMA Deer Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (12/15 Rule applies), which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery,
- Three antlerless deer with archery,
- One antlered buck and one antlerless deer with alternative firearms,
- One antlered buck and one antlerless deer with modern gun permit,
- During youth hunt, youths may take two deer, one antlered buck (no antler restrictions) and one antlerless deer.
2026-27 Quail
Nov. 1, 2026-Feb. 7, 2027. Daily limit – 6
2026-27 Rabbit
Sept. 1, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027. Daily limit – 8
2026-27 Squirrel
May 15, 2026-Feb. 28, 2027. Dogs allowed. Daily limit – 12
2026 Alligator
Alligator (permit required): Sept. 18-21 and Sept. 25-28.
2027 Turkey
Youth Hunt: April 10-11. One legal turkey.
Firearms Hunt (permit required): April 12-14, April 17-19, April 24-26 and April 30-May 2. One legal turkey.
2026-27 Dove
Sept. 5-Oct. 25, 2026 and Dec. 8, 2026-Jan. 15, 2027. Permit hunts held Sept. 5-6, 2026.
Mourning Dove and White-Winged Dove
Daily Limit – 15, possession Limit – 45
Eurasian Collared-Dove
No daily or possession limit
Eurasian Collared Doves must remain fully feathered in the field and while being transported from the field.
Dove Notes: The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission prepares a few fields each year for the opening weekend of dove season so the public has a place to enjoy this exciting form of wingshooting. Dove fields on WMAs are available on a first-come, first-served basis. WMA acreage put into dove fields is relatively small because most hunters only pursue doves the first few days of the season. However, after opening weekend of dove season, many wildlife species feed in the fields, particularly those that were top sown with winter wheat. It is unlawful to possess any shot other than federally approved non-toxic shot while hunting any migratory birds with shotguns on this WMA.
2025-26 Waterfowl
- 2025-26 Arkansas Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook
- 2025-26 Statewide Waterfowl Season Dates and Bag Limits
- 2025-26 General WMA Regulations
Waterfowl Notes:
- No boats allowed Nov. 15-21, Dec. 2-9 and Dec. 24-26.
- Closed to all access (except in designated campsites, parking areas, boat launch ramps and boat staging areas) from 2-4 a.m. Nov. 22-Jan. 31 and Feb. 7-8. Boats may only be launched in boat staging areas after 2 a.m. and must remain occupied between 2-4 a.m.
- Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois d’Arc Lake Waterfowl Rest Area is open for fishing and nonhunting access.
- No boats allowed from 1 p.m. to 4 a.m. Nov. 22-Dec. 1, Dec. 10-23 and Dec. 27-Jan. 30
Exception – Boats allowed from 1-6:30 p.m. Jan. 31 and Feb. 7-8. - No outboard motors larger than 25 horsepower, surface-drive motors larger than 37 horsepower or airboats during duck season (except for Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois d’Arc Lake).
Access
From Hope, take Ark Hwy. 29 south about 6 miles, take Ark. Hwy. 355 west toward Springhill and follow into the area. The west side of the area can be accessed from U.S. Hwy. 67 west of Hope.
Age
The area was established as a WMA in 1950s.
Area Notes
- Free georeferenced maps are available for this WMA and others at https://apps.agfc.com/maps/. These maps are frequently updated and include features such as parking, types of road and land boundaries.
- Red Slough Waterfowl Rest Area closes to access Nov. 1-Feb. 15.
- Dr. Lester Sitzes III D’Arc Lake is open for fishing and nonhunting access.
Camping
Primitive campsites are available around the lake and on the west side of the WMA.
Description
The area consists primarily of bottomland hardwood habitats. This includes a 660-acre greentree waterfowl area. Little Grassy Duck Area is a 150-acre moist-soil management unit.
Hunting Opportunities
Waterfowl, deer, quail, turkey, squirrel, and rabbits.
Location
The WMA is 16 miles south of Hope.
Management Practices
A system of levees and water control structures facilitate inundating the area for waterfowl habitat. A forest management prescription and open lands management system provide excellent wildlife habitat.
Ownership
This 13,658-acre area is composed of 5,866 acres of state-owned land and 7,792 acres leased from Red River Texarkana (managed by Hancock Forest Management) and Potlatch timber company.
Phone
833-372-2434
Purpose
The primary objective of this management area is to provide high-quality wildlife habitat and public hunting opportunities.
Recreation Other Than Hunting
Bois d’Arc Lake provides excellent fishing and bird-watching opportunities.
Restaurants and Other Facilities
Facilities are located in Springhill and Hope.
Safety
Bois d’Arc Lake and the associated creeks and sloughs are also home to the American Alligator. Caution should be used at all times, especially during warm weather, and swimming is not allowed. The lake also has numerous stumps and logs which require slow boat operations.