Big Lake WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Big Lake WMA is 12,320 acres of public hunting land in Mississippi County, AGFC's WMA zone 040. Hunters checked 9 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 5 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.
Big Lake WMAOther AGFC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 12,320 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Mississippi County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 040 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 4 |
| Area rules | CWD Zone, Mobility-Impaired Access, Flood Prone Region, 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) and Waterfowl Hunting Ends at Noon |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 9 (5 antlered bucks, 0 button bucks, 4 does) |
| Phone | 833-200-5199 |
| Nearest towns | Manila (3 mi), Dell (3 mi) and Gosnell (5 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Big Lake WMA?
AGFC sets each WMA's own dates and limits. These are its big game seasons for the area.
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Deer Alternative Firearms
- Bear
- Alligator
- Turkey Regular Firearms (youth hunt available)
2026-27 Deer
- Deer Archery: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28.
- Deer Modern Gun: Nov. 14-22 and Dec. 26-28.
- Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts: Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3.
- WMA Deer Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (no antler restrictions apply), which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery or modern gun,
- Three antlerless deer with archery,
- One antlerless deer with modern gun.
2027 Turkey
- Youth Hunt (permit required): April 10-11. One legal turkey.
Other seasons AGFC lists for the area: crow, dove, furbearers, quail, rabbit, squirrel and waterfowl. Their dates are on AGFC's page.
Source: AGFC, Big Lake WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Big Lake WMA?
Hunters checked 9 deer on Big Lake WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 13 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| 2023-24 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 5 |
| 2022-23 | 17 | 10 | 2 | 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 Big Lake WMA?
Location
Big Lake WMA is adjacent to Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge 15 miles west of Blytheville.
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.
Deer hunting is closed when the water level exceeds 236 msl at Seven Mile access gauge.
For hunting info on Mallard Lake, refer to https://www.agfc.com/en/zone-map/fishing-map/667/.
Any firearm being transported in Ditch 28 must be dismantled or unloaded and cased.
Camping
Historically, there has been little interest in overnight camping on Big Lake, but camping is permitted around Mallard Lake Where there is adequate space, and at access areas on the east and west sides of the area. There are no improvements other than gravel parking areas at campsites. Mosquitoes and biting flies are a nuisance from early spring through fall.
Description
This 12,320-acre WMA is the only sizable public hunting area in extreme northeastern Arkansas. The area contains a mixture of typical bottomland forest, such as tupelo, willow, buttonbush and cypress. The northern third of the area supports timber types such as oak, elm and hackberry.
Ownership
AGFC
Age
A 7,000-acre tract next to Big Lake NWR was purchased in 1950. The adjoining 5,000+ acres were purchased in subsequent years through 1969.
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Big Lake WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi County | 12,011 | 193 | 75th |
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 Big Lake WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: AR 181, AR 18, AR 77 and AR 119. Nearest towns: Manila (3 miles), Dell (3 miles), Gosnell (5 miles) and Victoria (7 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: St. Francis Sunken Lands WMA (12.2 miles), W. E. Brewer Scatter Creek WMA (26.7 miles), Frierson WMA (31.9 miles) and Dave Donaldson Black River WMA (35.7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Big Lake WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Big Lake WMA: Deer Archery, Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28. Deer Modern Gun, Nov. 14-22 and Dec. 26-28. Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts, Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3.
How many deer can you take on Big Lake WMA?
Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (no antler restrictions apply), which may include: two antlered bucks with archery or modern gun, three antlerless deer with archery and one antlerless deer with modern gun. (AGFC's 2026-27 rules for the area).
How many deer were killed on Big Lake WMA last season?
Hunters checked 9 deer on Big Lake WMA in the 2024-25 season: 5 antlered bucks, 0 button bucks and 4 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 13.
What county is Big Lake WMA in?
All of it is in Mississippi County, by AGFC's boundary.
Get a Arkansas hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Arkansas are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Arkansas included.
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 Mississippi County deer harvest