Arkansas Expands Permit Waterfowl Hunts Amid Dry Conditions
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is opening more permit-based waterfowl hunts as much of the state awaits rainfall.
Updated on Nov. 12, 2026 in Hunting
Live Poll
Do you plan to apply for a waterfowl permit hunt this season?
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has expanded permit-based waterfowl hunts because much of the state is still waiting for rain to fill late-season hunting areas. Staff drew down available surface water over the past month to create hunting opportunities, and several public areas that once allowed open hunting now require permits in designated sections.
Why it matters
Permit requirements are intended to reduce overcrowding and conflicts among hunters during a season with limited water. Many rice fields remain dry, requiring the commission to adjust its WRICE program across Arkansas.
Rice field permits are split by water depth, with duck hunts for fields holding at least 4 inches of water and goose hunts for fields with less than 4 inches. The St. Francis designated section includes nine hunting locations, but only those with adequate water will be available through the online draw.
The players
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)
The state agency responsible for managing Arkansas's fish and wildlife resources, wildlife management areas and hunting regulations.
The details
Hunters apply online for permit hunts, and winners are selected through a draw and notified the following Monday. Buckingham Flats Greentree Reservoir is the first AGFC-managed greentree reservoir to offer permit-based waterfowl hunts, joined by new permit locations at Wiville West Tract, Prairie Bayou WMA, Pat Fitts Oakwood WMA and a portion of St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA.
Timeline
Nov. 12: Permit hunt applications begin.
Each week, Thursday 3 p.m. through Sunday midnight: application window opens.
The following Monday: winners of the permit draw are notified.
Hunting Outlook
The expansion extends the commission's WMA permit approach into greentree reservoirs and rice fields that previously allowed open access. The move reflects how Arkansas waterfowl management adapts to drought by concentrating hunters onto the limited areas that hold water.
Waterfowl hunters must apply online during the weekly window, since only designated sections on the listed areas are open to permit holders. Hunters may apply for one WMA permit hunt and one permit in each WRICE category.
The takeaway
Hunters planning late-season waterfowl trips in Arkansas should check weekly permit locations before applying, since water conditions are changing the available hunting areas. Applying during the Thursday-to-Sunday window gives the best chance of entering the draw.
What happens next
Permit hunt locations will be updated weekly as water conditions change, and applications open each Thursday through Sunday.
Further reading
Explore more on hunting in Arkansas and how seasonal conditions shape where hunters can go.
More information
Apply for the AGFC waterfowl permit hunt applications through the commission's online portal.
Live Poll
Do you plan to apply for a waterfowl permit hunt this season?
