Youth Waterfowl Hunting

Arkansas Game & Fish Commission

ARKANSAS CITY, AR --(AmmoLand.com)-
Beginning Dec. 19, the Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA and Deer Research Area West Unit will be open for permit youth waterfowl hunts each Saturday for the remainder of waterfowl season. There will be five online permits drawn for each Saturday the area is open to waterfowl hunting.

Only youths 15 and under may apply and a valid hunter education certificate is required. Each successful applicant may bring up to three additional youth hunters and must be accompanied by at least one supervising adult.

The deadline to apply for the December hunts has passed, but the application period for the Jan. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 hunts is underway with a Dec. 26 deadline. The successful hunter will receive email notification and that email will serve as the successful applicant’s entry permit. A printed copy is required to enter any flooded or inundated area during the waterfowl season.

To apply for a youth permit, go to https://www.ark.org/agfc/waterfowl/index.php. Computer drawn permit holders should pick up an area map at the WMA headquarters that will denote duck hole locations along with directions to the individual duck holes. Signs will be in place to direct hunting parties to the appropriate duck hole. ATVs may be used for travel to duck holes and back from parking lot access only.

Waterfowl hunters may not enter inundated areas before 4 a.m. and must stop hunting by 12 noon and off the WMA by 1 p.m. No boat motors allowed. Airboats may not be operated on waters within the Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA and Deer Research Area (both units, excluding the Mississippi River) during duck season.