Departee Creek WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Departee Creek WMA is 1,304 acres of public hunting land in White County, AGFC's WMA zone 175. Hunters checked 6 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 2 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.
Departee Creek WMAOther AGFC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 1,304 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | White County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 175 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 9 |
| Area rules | Flood Prone Region Three-point rule and Valid Hunting or Fishing License or a WMA/Lake Conservation Permit is Required for All Users |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 6 (2 antlered bucks, 0 button bucks, 4 does) |
| Phone | 833-345-0283 |
| Nearest towns | Bradford (next to it), Russell (3 mi) and Bald Knob (5 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Departee Creek WMA?
AGFC sets each WMA's own dates and limits. These are its big game seasons for the area.
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Bear
- 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.
- WMA Deer Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (3-Point Rule applies), which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
- Three antlerless deer with archery,
- Two antlerless deer with alternative firearms or modern gun combined.
- During youth hunt, youths may take two deer, one antlered buck (no antler restrictions) and one antlerless deer.
2027 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, Departee Creek WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Departee Creek WMA?
Hunters checked 6 deer on Departee Creek 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 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 2023-24 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 |
| 2022-23 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
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 Departee Creek WMA?
Location
This area is near the city of Bradford in White County.
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.
Description
Previous land use consisted of row crop, rice farmland and commercial fishpond operation. Part of the area would be classified as upland and 154.4 acres would be described as a wetland/floodplain.
Ownership
1,304 acres owned by AGFC
Age
The area was established as a WMA in 1998.
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Departee Creek WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| White County | 1,398 | 4,215 | 8th |
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 Departee Creek WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: US 67, US 64, AR 367 and US 167. Nearest towns: Bradford (next to it), Russell (3 miles), Bald Knob (5 miles) and Augusta (6 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA (1.5 miles), Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA (10 miles), Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA (12.5 miles) and Cherokee WMA (15.4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Departee Creek WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Departee Creek 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.
How many deer can you take on Departee Creek WMA?
Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (3-Point Rule applies), which may include: two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun, three antlerless deer with archery, two antlerless deer with alternative firearms or modern gun combined 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 Departee Creek WMA last season?
Hunters checked 6 deer on Departee Creek WMA in the 2024-25 season: 2 antlered bucks, 0 button bucks and 4 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 10.
What county is Departee Creek WMA in?
All of it is in White 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 White County deer harvest