Wedington WMA

CWD Zone

Special Firearms Restrictions (for private land deer zones 4 and 5)

Additional USDA Forest Service Regulations

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Acres: 15,915

2024-25 Closed Seasons

• Deer Alternative Firearms
• Bear
• Alligator
• Quail
• Turkey

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 Modern Gun Mobility Impaired Hunt (permit hunt): Oct. 19-20.
Deer Modern Gun (permit hunt): Nov. 9-10.
Deer Modern Gun Special Youth Hunt: Nov. 2-3 and Jan. 4-5.

WMA Bag Limit: Two deer, no more than one antlered buck, which may include:

• One antlered buck with archery,
• Two antlerless with archery,
• One antlered buck and one antlerless with modern gun permit.
• During youth hunt, youths may take two deer, one antlered buck and one antlerless.
• During mobility-impaired permit hunt, mobility-impaired hunters may take two deer, one antlered buck and one antlerless with permit.

Deer Notes:

• No antler restrictions.
• No dogs.

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 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.

About the Name

The name comes from Lake Wedington, which the WMA surrounds.

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.
• CWD regulations apply.
• This area follows special firearms restrictions for shotgun and muzzleloaders: Only shotguns (.410 and larger) with slugs (no buckshot allowed) or muzzleloading rifles shooting a single projectile are allowed for use during deer modern gun and deer modern gun special youth hunt.
• Contact the USDA Forest Service for a mobility impaired modern gun permit application at 479-667-2191. Refer to USDA Forest Service website for more information.

Area Type

WMA

Camping

Cabins are available for overnight stay, but there are no campgrounds.

Description

Wedington WMA is just outside of the Fayetteville/Springdale area and is owned by the USDA Forest Service. It consists of beautiful hardwood timber forests that surround Lake Wedington. There are wildlife openings within the property that allow game to travel.

Hunting Opportunities

Deer hunting is limited to bow only for the majority of the season, however, there are opportunities for modern gun permit hunts for both youth and non-youth hunters. This area is known to have a healthy population of deer and many bucks are harvested each year. Hunters also have the chance to hunt rabbit and squirrel on this WMA.

Location

The Wedington WMA, located 13 miles west of Fayetteville, is easily accessible from highway 16 and highway 412. Topographic maps of the Area are available from the USGS: Gallatin, Rhea, Robinson, and Wheeler.

Management Practices

Wildlife habitat is managed through timber stand improvements and prescribed fire.

Ownership

USDA Forest Service • 15,915 acres

Phone

833-340-7506

Recreation Other Than Hunting

Fishing and boating on Lake Wedington are great recreational opportunities this WMA offers. Lake Wedington is considered a fishing hot spot in Northwest Arkansas.

Restaurants and Other Facilities

There are many restaurants and hotel accommodations in Fayetteville and Springdale. The Catfish Hole and Mama Deans are great places to eat while visiting this part of The Natural State.