Bell Slough WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Bell Slough WMA is 2,366 acres of public hunting land in Faulkner County, AGFC's WMA zone 022. Hunters checked 33 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 11 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.
Bell Slough WMAOther AGFC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 2,366 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Faulkner County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 022 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 10 |
| Area rules | Three-point rule, Waterfowl Season Access Restrictions, Valid Hunting or Fishing License or a WMA/Lake Conservation Permit is Required for All Users, Factory Exhaust Only, Shell Limit (25 shells max per hunter), Waterfowl Hunting Ends at Noon and Water Trail (paddling allowed) |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 33 (11 antlered bucks, 3 button bucks, 19 does) |
| Phone | 833-356-0879 |
| Nearest towns | Mayflower (next to it), Maumelle (5 mi) and Conway (8 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Bell Slough WMA?
AGFC sets each WMA's own dates and limits. These are its big game seasons for the area.
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Deer Modern Gun (youth hunt available)
- Bear Modern Gun (youth hunt available)
- Alligator
2026-27 Deer
- Deer Archery: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28.
- Deer Alternative Firearms (permit required): Oct. 17-21.
- Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts: Nov. 7-8 (permit required) and Jan. 2-3 (no permit).
- WMA Deer Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (3-Point Rule applies), which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery,
- Three antlerless deer with archery,
- One antlered buck and one antlerless deer with alternative firearms permit,
- 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. 17-251 (deer permit holders only).
- Bear Modern Gun Youth Hunt (youth deer hunt permit holders only): Nov. 7-8.
- Bear Notes:
- Seasons close earlier when Bear Zone 1 quota is reached. Click here for details.
2027 Turkey
- Youth Hunt (permit required): April 10-11. One legal turkey.
- Firearms Hunt (permit required): April 19-21, April 24-26, May 1-3 and May 7-9. One legal turkey. Includes Camp Robinson WMA
- Turkey Notes:
- A WMA Turkey Hunt Permit is required to hunt turkeys on this WMA. Click here for details.
- All hunters including permit holders are required to apply for and obtain a Recreational Pass from the Department of the Army at Robinson Maneuver Training Center prior to entry. For questions regarding the Recreational Pass please call 501-212-4090 or visit https://arkansas.nationalguard.mil/Home/Camp-Robinson-Maneuver-Training-Center/. Vehicular access is limited to designated improved surface roads. Military activities take precedence over recreational activities and may cause changes to access requirements, dates and available training areas without notice.
Other seasons AGFC lists for the area: crow, quail, rabbit, squirrel, dove and waterfowl. Their dates are on AGFC's page.
Source: AGFC, Bell Slough WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Bell Slough WMA?
Hunters checked 33 deer on Bell Slough WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 22 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 33 | 11 | 3 | 19 |
| 2023-24 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 10 |
| 2022-23 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 11 |
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 Bell Slough WMA?
Location
Bell Slough WMA lies just south of Mayflower off Interstate 40.
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.
The Palarm Creek Waterfowl Rest Area closes to access Nov. 1-Feb. 15.
Description
Bell Slough WMA consists of 2,366 acres of woodlands and wetlands nestled between Little Rock and the growing city of Conway. Palarm Creek Rest Area offers birders a chance to view waterfowl, shorebirds and Neotropical migrants, and provides feeding and loafing habitat for migrating waterfowl.
Ownership
AGFC
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Bell Slough WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner County | 2,333 | 2,774 | 34th |
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 Bell Slough WMA?
Highways through the area: I-40 and US 65. Nearest towns: Mayflower (next to it), Maumelle (5 miles), Conway (8 miles) and Cammack Village (11 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Camp Robinson WMA (next to it), Stone Prairie WMA (2.7 miles), Maumelle River WMA (5.6 miles) and Holland Bottoms WMA (16.8 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Bell Slough WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Bell Slough WMA: Deer Archery, Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28. Deer Alternative Firearms (permit required), Oct. 17-21. Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts, Nov. 7-8 (permit required) and Jan. 2-3 (no permit).
How many deer can you take on Bell Slough WMA?
Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (3-Point Rule applies), which may include: two antlered bucks with archery, three antlerless deer with archery, one antlered buck and one antlerless deer with alternative firearms permit 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 Bell Slough WMA last season?
Hunters checked 33 deer on Bell Slough WMA in the 2024-25 season: 11 antlered bucks, 3 button bucks and 19 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 22.
What county is Bell Slough WMA in?
All of it is in Faulkner County, by 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 Faulkner County deer harvest