With less than a month remaining until the start of duck season, Arkansas hunters are busy with their annual preparations, cleaning decoys, brushing blinds, checking wheel bearings on boat trailers and, of course, praying for rain to flood the state’s bottomland hardwoods.
One more ritual to add to the list this year is downloading the 2025-26 Arkansas Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook and reviewing changes to state regulations.
Printed guidebooks are available at all Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) license dealers, but supplies can run out quickly. Hunters are encouraged to download a digital copy from www.agfc.com/guidebooks or access it through the AGFC smartphone app to keep the rules on hand in the field.
The most notable change this season is an increase in the daily bag limit for pintails, from one to three per day. This adjustment is part of a new interim harvest strategy designed to cautiously expand opportunities for hunters while continuing to monitor population impacts.
Other notable changes for the 202526 season:
The Veterans and Active-duty Military Waterfowl Hunt will again be held over two days, coinciding with the Special Youth Hunt, on Feb. 78.
Frog Bayou WMA will add a new draw-permit hunt area for youth and mobility-impaired hunters, including access to a blind.
The fine for reckless operation of a motorboat or vessel on any WMA or NWR has increased to $750$7,500. Violators may face up to 180 days in jail, lose hunting and fishing privileges for at least one year, and be banned from WMAs for a year from conviction.
Fines for obstruction or harassment of hunting, fishing or trapping activities have also increased. Non-physical offenses now carry penalties of $500$5,000 and up to 90 days in jail, while physical offenses with injury can result in $750$7,500 in fines, up to 180 days in jail, and a one-year suspension of hunting and fishing privileges.
The early teal season in September has been reduced to nine days.
Cache River National Wildlife Refuge will implement a new permit draw system beginning this season. For details, visit fws.gov/cacheriver
or call 501-203-7253.
Hunters can download the complete 202526 Arkansas Waterfowl Hunting Guidebook at www.agfc.com/guidebooks.
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