Buck Island WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Buck Island WMA is 1,510 acres of public hunting land in Phillips County, AGFC's WMA zone 078. Hunters checked 11 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 4 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.
Buck Island WMAOther AGFC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 1,510 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Phillips County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 078 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 17 |
| Area rules | 15-Inch Inside Spread or 18-Inch Main Beam Rule and Valid Hunting or Fishing License or a WMA/Lake Conservation Permit is Required for All Users |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 11 (4 antlered bucks, 0 button bucks, 7 does) |
| Phone | 833-345-0283 |
| Nearest towns | Helena-West Helena (3 mi), Lexa (11 mi) and LaGrange (11 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Buck Island WMA?
AGFC sets each WMA's own dates and limits. These are its big game seasons for the area.
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Bear
- Furbearer Trapping
- 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. 20 and Dec. 26-28.
- Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts: Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3. No alter restrictions apply.
- WMA Deer Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (15/18 Rule applies), which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
- Three antlerless deer with archery, alternative firearms and modern gun combined.
2027 Turkey
- Firearms Hunt: April 5-25.
Other seasons AGFC lists for the area: crow, quail, rabbit and squirrel. Their dates are on AGFC's page.
Source: AGFC, Buck Island WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Buck Island WMA?
Hunters checked 11 deer on Buck Island WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 10 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| 2023-24 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 |
| 2022-23 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
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 Buck Island 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.
No vehicular or foot access.
Boating access only.
WMA is subject to flooding when the Mississippi River reaches 36 feet at the Helena gauge.
There is no youth turkey hunt in Turkey Zone 3.
Description
1,510 acres
Ownership
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Buck Island WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phillips County | 1,657 | 1,054 | 69th |
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 Buck Island WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: US 49, AR 20, AR 242 and AR 44. Nearest towns: Helena-West Helena (3 miles), Lexa (11 miles), LaGrange (11 miles) and Lake View (15 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: St. Francis National Forest WMA (1.6 miles), Lee County WMA (23.9 miles), Pine City Natural Area WMA (29.6 miles) and U of A Pine Tree Experimental Station WDA (38.3 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Buck Island WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Buck Island 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. 20 and Dec. 26-28. Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts, Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3. No alter restrictions apply.
How many deer can you take on Buck Island WMA?
Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (15/18 Rule applies), which may include: two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun and three antlerless deer with archery, alternative firearms and modern gun combined. (AGFC's 2026-27 rules for the area).
How many deer were killed on Buck Island WMA last season?
Hunters checked 11 deer on Buck Island WMA in the 2024-25 season: 4 antlered bucks, 0 button bucks and 7 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 10.
What county is Buck Island WMA in?
All of it is in Phillips 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.
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