Bearcat Hollow WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Bearcat Hollow WMA is 24,361 acres of public hunting land in Searcy and Newton counties, AGFC's WMA zone 015. Hunters checked 52 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 25 antlered bucks among them (AGFC's deer check records). AGFC's 2026-27 dates for the area: Deer Archery, Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and area rules: AGFC's page for the area. Harvest: AGFC's deer check records, 2022-23 to 2024-25.
Bearcat Hollow WMAOther AGFC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 24,361 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Searcy County, Newton County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 015 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 2 |
| Area rules | CWD Zone, Mobility Impaired Access and Additional USDA Forest Service regulations in place |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 52 (25 antlered bucks, 1 button buck, 26 does) |
| Phone | 833-340-7506 |
| Nearest towns | St. Joe (10 mi), Gilbert (10 mi) and Pindall (11 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Bearcat Hollow WMA?
AGFC sets each WMA's own dates and limits. These are its big game seasons for the area.
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Alligator
2026-27 Deer
- Deer Archery: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28.
- Deer Alternative Firearms: Oct. 17-25.
- Deer Modern Gun: Nov. 14-Dec. 6 and Dec. 26-28.
- Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts: Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3.
- Deer Modern Gun Mobility-Impaired Hunt (permit required): Oct. 3-4.
- WMA Deer Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (no antler restrictions), which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms, or modern gun,
- Three antlerless with archery,
- One antlerless deer with alternative firearms or first two days of modern gun.
- During youth hunt, youths may take two deer, one antlered buck (no antler restrictions) and one antlerless deer.
2026 Bear
- Bear Archery: Sept. 9-Nov. 30.
- Bear Alternative Firearms: Oct. 17-25.
- Bear Modern Gun: Nov. 14-30.
- Bear Modern Gun Youth Hunt: Nov. 7-8.
- Bear Modern Gun Mobility-Impaired Hunt (deer permit holders only): Oct. 3-4.
- Bear Notes:
- Seasons close earlier when Bear Zone 1 quota is reached.
2026 Elk
- Elk (permit required): Oct. 5-9 and Oct. 26-30.
- Elk Youth (permit required): Oct. 3-4 and Oct. 24-25.
2026 Turkey
- Youth Hunt: April 10-11. One legal turkey.
- Firearms Hunt: April 19-May 9. One legal turkey.
Other seasons AGFC lists for the area: crow, quail, rabbit and squirrel. Their dates are on AGFC's page.
Source: AGFC, Bearcat Hollow WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Bearcat Hollow WMA?
Hunters checked 52 deer on Bearcat Hollow WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 53 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 52 | 25 | 1 | 26 |
| 2023-24 | 52 | 28 | 5 | 19 |
| 2022-23 | 56 | 33 | 5 | 18 |
Source: AGFC deer check records, 2022-23 to 2024-25, counted by FilledTag from the records AGFC files under this WMA.
What should you know before hunting Bearcat Hollow WMA?
Area Notes
Free georeferenced maps are available for this WMA and others at https://apps.agfc.com/maps/. These maps are frequently updated and include features such as parking, types of road and land boundaries.
Contact the U.S. Forest Service for a mobility-impaired modern gun permit application at 479-284-3150.
Ownership
USDA Forest Service
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Bearcat Hollow WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Searcy County | 19,755 | 1,976 | 54th |
| Newton County | 4,528 | 1,319 | 64th |
Acres measured by FilledTag on AGFC WMA boundaries and the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries. County harvest: AGFC deer check records, 2022-23 to 2024-25.
How do you get to Bearcat Hollow WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: AR 16, AR 123, AR 377 and AR 74. Nearest towns: St. Joe (10 miles), Gilbert (10 miles), Pindall (11 miles) and Marshall (12 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Gene Rush WMA (next to it), Piney Creeks WMA (next to it), Buffalo National River WMA (next to it) and Howard Hensley Searcy Co. WMA (12.8 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Bearcat Hollow WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Bearcat Hollow WMA: Deer Archery, Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28. Deer Alternative Firearms, Oct. 17-25. Deer Modern Gun, Nov. 14-Dec. 6 and Dec. 26-28. Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts, Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3. Deer Modern Gun Mobility-Impaired Hunt (permit required), Oct. 3-4.
How many deer can you take on Bearcat Hollow WMA?
Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (no antler restrictions), which may include: two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms, or modern gun, three antlerless with archery, one antlerless deer with alternative firearms or first two days of modern gun and during youth hunt, youths may take two deer, one antlered buck (no antler restrictions) and one antlerless deer. (AGFC's 2026-27 rules for the area).
How many deer were killed on Bearcat Hollow WMA last season?
Hunters checked 52 deer on Bearcat Hollow WMA in the 2024-25 season: 25 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 26 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 53.
What county is Bearcat Hollow WMA in?
Searcy County (19,755 acres) and Newton County (4,528 acres), measured on AGFC's boundary.
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Where these numbers come from
- Seasons, limits, size and area notes: AGFC's page for each WMA (AGFC Wildlife Management Areas).
- Deer harvest on the area and by county: AGFC deer check records, 2022-23 to 2024-25.
- Boundary: AGFC WMA boundaries. Counties, highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries; U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer. Refuges: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.
FilledTag is not part of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Numbers are copied from AGFC or measured from public maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
Arkansas hunting All Arkansas WMAs Searcy County deer harvest Newton County deer harvest