Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMA is 13,658 acres of public hunting land in Hempstead County, AGFC's WMA zone 180. Hunters checked 62 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 27 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.
Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMAOther AGFC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 13,658 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Hempstead County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 180 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 15 |
| Area rules | 12-Inch Inside Spread of 15-Inch Main Beam Rule Mobility-Impaired Access, Waterfowl Season Access Restrictions and Valid Hunting or Fishing License or a WMA/Lake Conservation Permit is Required for All Users |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 62 (27 antlered bucks, 1 button buck, 34 does) |
| Phone | 833-372-2434 |
| Nearest towns | Fulton (2 mi), McNab (5 mi) and Hope (6 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMA?
AGFC sets each WMA's own dates and limits. These are its big game seasons for the area.
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Bear
2026-27 Deer
- Deer Archery: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28.
- Red Slough Waterfowl Rest Area: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Oct. 31 and Feb. 20-28.
- Deer Alternative Firearms: Oct. 17-25.
- Deer Modern Gun (permit required): Nov. 14-18.
- Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunt: Nov. 7-8.
- WMA Deer Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (12/15 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,
- One antlered buck and one antlerless deer with modern gun permit,
- 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 (permit required): April 12-14, April 17-19, April 24-26 and April 30-May 2. One legal turkey.
Other seasons AGFC lists for the area: crow, quail, rabbit, squirrel, alligator, dove and waterfowl. Their dates are on AGFC's page.
Source: AGFC, Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMA?
Hunters checked 62 deer on Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 52 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 62 | 27 | 1 | 34 |
| 2023-24 | 41 | 22 | 1 | 18 |
| 2022-23 | 54 | 25 | 0 | 29 |
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 Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMA?
Location
The WMA is 16 miles south of Hope.
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.
Red Slough Waterfowl Rest Area closes to access Nov. 1-Feb. 15.
Dr. Lester Sitzes III D’Arc Lake is open for fishing and nonhunting access.
Camping
Primitive campsites are available around the lake and on the west side of the WMA.
Description
The area consists primarily of bottomland hardwood habitats. This includes a 660-acre greentree waterfowl area. Little Grassy Duck Area is a 150-acre moist-soil management unit.
Ownership
This 13,658-acre area is composed of 5,866 acres of state-owned land and 7,792 acres leased from Red River Texarkana (managed by Hancock Forest Management) and Potlatch timber company.
Age
The area was established as a WMA in 1950s.
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hempstead County | 13,481 | 2,996 | 27th |
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 Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: I-30, US 67, AR 355 and AR 29. Nearest towns: Fulton (2 miles), McNab (5 miles), Hope (6 miles) and Patmos (7 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Nacatoch Ravines Natural Area WMA (3.6 miles), Little River WMA (5.3 miles), Hope Upland WMA (7.5 miles) and Rick Evans Grandview Prairie WMA (11 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMA: Deer Archery, Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28. Red Slough Waterfowl Rest Area, Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Oct. 31 and Feb. 20-28. Deer Alternative Firearms, Oct. 17-25. Deer Modern Gun (permit required), Nov. 14-18. Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunt, Nov. 7-8.
How many deer can you take on Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMA?
Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (12/15 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, one antlered buck and one antlerless deer with modern gun 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 Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMA last season?
Hunters checked 62 deer on Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMA in the 2024-25 season: 27 antlered bucks, 1 button buck and 34 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 52.
What county is Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D'Arc WMA in?
All of it is in Hempstead 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 Hempstead County deer harvest