Benson Creek Natural Area WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Benson Creek Natural Area WMA is 1,458 acres of public hunting land in Monroe and Woodruff counties, AGFC's WMA zone 023. Hunters checked 13 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 7 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); 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.
Benson Creek Natural Area WMAOther AGFC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 1,458 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Monroe County, Woodruff County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 023 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 9 |
| Area rules | Flood Prone Region and Three-point rule |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 13 (7 antlered bucks, 1 button buck, 5 does) |
| Phone | 833-345-0283 |
| Nearest towns | Fargo (3 mi), Cotton Plant (4 mi) and Brinkley (4 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Benson Creek Natural Area WMA?
AGFC sets each WMA's own dates and limits. These are its big game seasons for the area.
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Alligator
- Bear
2026-27 Deer
- Deer Archery: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck); Sept. 26-Feb 28.
- Deer Alternative Firearms (permit required): Oct. 17-21.
- Deer Modern Gun (permit required): Nov. 14-18.
- Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts: Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3.
- 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 or one antlerless deer with alternative firearms permit,
- One antlered buck or one antlerless deer with modern gun permit.
- During youth modern gun hunt, youths may take two deer, one antlered buck (no antler restrictions) and one antlerless deer.
- Deer Notes:
- Three-point rule.
- No dogs.
- This WMA is in Flood Prone Region D. Click here for details.
2027 Turkey
- Youth Hunt: April 10-11. One legal turkey.
- Firearms: April 19-27. One legal turkey.
Other seasons AGFC lists for the area: crow, quail, rabbit and squirrel. Their dates are on AGFC's page.
Source: AGFC, Benson Creek Natural Area WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Benson Creek Natural Area WMA?
Hunters checked 13 deer on Benson Creek Natural Area WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 11 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 5 |
| 2023-24 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 |
| 2022-23 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
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 Benson Creek Natural Area 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.
Motorized vehicles, horses, camping and construction of hunting stands are prohibited.
Camping
Camping is not allowed.
Description
Benson Creek Natural Area WMA is one of many natural areas owned by the Natural Heritage Commission that are available to the public. At 1,458 acres, it includes 610 acres of bald cypress/water tupelo swamps along Bayou DeView.
Ownership
Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission
Age
Aquired in 1993.
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Benson Creek Natural Area WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe County | 1,404 | 1,525 | 58th |
| Woodruff County | 60 | 1,199 | 66th |
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 Benson Creek Natural Area WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: I-40, AR 17, AR 38 and US 49. Nearest towns: Fargo (3 miles), Cotton Plant (4 miles), Brinkley (4 miles) and Wheatley (8 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA (next to it), Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA (1.1 miles), Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA (9.7 miles) and Bayou Des Arc WMA (12 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Benson Creek Natural Area WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Benson Creek Natural Area WMA: Deer Archery, Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck); Sept. 26-Feb 28. Deer Alternative Firearms (permit required), Oct. 17-21. Deer Modern Gun (permit required), Nov. 14-18. Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts, Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3.
How many deer can you take on Benson Creek Natural Area 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 or one antlerless deer with alternative firearms permit, one antlered buck or one antlerless deer with modern gun permit, during youth modern gun hunt, youths may take two deer, one antlered buck (no antler restrictions) and one antlerless deer, deer Notes:, three-point rule, no dogs and this WMA is in Flood Prone Region D. Click here for details. (AGFC's 2026-27 rules for the area).
How many deer were killed on Benson Creek Natural Area WMA last season?
Hunters checked 13 deer on Benson Creek Natural Area WMA in the 2024-25 season: 7 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 5 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 11.
What county is Benson Creek Natural Area WMA in?
Monroe County (1,404 acres) and Woodruff County (60 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.
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