Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA/Deer Research Area East Unit

15-Inch Inside Spread or 18-Inch Main Beam Rule

Flood Prone Region

Waterfowl Hunting Ends at Noon

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Acres: 9,501

2024-25 Closed Seasons

• Alligator
• Bear

2024-25 Crow

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

2024-25 Deer

Deer Archery: Sept. 28-Feb. 28.
Deer Alternative Firearms (permit hunt): Jan. 11-13.
Deer Modern Gun (permit hunt): Dec. 7-9.
Deer Modern Gun (youth permit hunt): Nov. 23-24.
Deer Modern Gun Mobility Impaired (permit hunt): Oct. 19-21.

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

• One buck with archery,
• One buck with alternative firearms permit,
• One buck with modern gun permit,
• Two does with archery, alternative firearms permit or modern gun permit.
• During youth permit hunt, youths may take three deer, one buck (no antler restrictions) and two does with permit.
• During mobility-impaired permit hunt, mobility-impaired hunters may take three deer, one buck and two does with permit.

Deer Notes:

• 15-inch inside spread or 18-inch main beam rule.
• No dogs.
• Hunters must harvest and check a doe on Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA Deer Research Area prior to harvesting a buck.
• A youth is not required to harvest a doe before harvesting a buck during any hunt.

2024-25 Dove

Sept. 7-Oct. 27, 2024 and Dec. 8, 2024-Jan. 15, 2025

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 topsown with winter wheat.

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

• 2024-25 Arkansas Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook
• 2024-25 Statewide Waterfowl Season Dates and Bag Limits
• General WMA Regulations

Waterfowl Notes:

• No airboats during duck season. (excluding the Mississippi River)

2025 Turkey

Youth Hunt (permit required): April 12-13. One legal turkey.
Archery: April 24-25, April 29-May 2 and May 6-11 (closed during firearms permit hunts). One legal turkey.
Firearms Hunt (permit required): April 21-23, April 26-28 and May 3-5. One legal turkey.

Turkey Notes: A WMA Turkey Hunt Permit is required to hunt turkeys on this WMA during firearms hunts. Click here for details.

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.
• Check antler restrictions for important additional information.
• Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA Deer Research Area East Unit closes to deer hunting when the Mississippi River gauge at Arkansas City reaches 31 feet and remains closed until the gauge falls to 29 feet or below.
• The West Unit does not flood and should remain independent of the East Unit.
• Horses and mules are prohibited during deer season.
• For access restrictions that affect all users during waterfowl season, check the waterfowl guidebook.

Ownership

AGFC

Phone

833-363-7638