Ethel WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Ethel WMA is 176 acres of public hunting land in Arkansas County, AGFC's WMA zone 217. Hunters checked 6 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 3 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.
Ethel WMAOther AGFC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 176 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Arkansas County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 217 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 9 |
| Area rules | 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 (3 antlered bucks, 0 button bucks, 3 does) |
| Phone | 833-363-7638 |
| Nearest towns | St. Charles (6 mi), DeWitt (8 mi) and Almyra (14 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Ethel WMA?
AGFC sets each WMA's own dates and limits. These are its big game seasons for the area.
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Deer Firearms
- Bear
- Alligator
2026-27 Deer
- Deer Archery: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 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,
- Three antlerless deer with archery,
- During youth modern gun 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 12-May 2. One legal turkey.
Other seasons AGFC lists for the area: crow, quail, rabbit and squirrel. Their dates are on AGFC's page.
Source: AGFC, Ethel WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Ethel WMA?
Hunters checked 6 deer on Ethel 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 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 2023-24 | 16 | 7 | 2 | 7 |
| 2022-23 | 9 | 4 | 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 Ethel 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.
Camping
There is no camping on this WMA.
Description
Ethel WMA comprises 176 acres in Arkansas County. The area was formerly managed for agriculture, but was transferred to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission through the Farmers Home Administration. This area is composed of early successional hardwoods intermixed with older bottomland hardwoods.
Ownership
AGFC
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Ethel WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas County | 176 | 4,427 | 6th |
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 Ethel WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: AR 17, AR 153 and AR 1. Nearest towns: St. Charles (6 miles), DeWitt (8 miles), Almyra (14 miles) and Gillett (15 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Trusten Holder WMA (14.8 miles), George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto WMA (20.3 miles), Pine City Natural Area WMA (20.4 miles) and Roth Prairie Natural Area WMA (23.9 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Ethel WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Ethel WMA: Deer Archery, Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28. Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts, Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3.
How many deer can you take on Ethel 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 and during youth modern gun 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 Ethel WMA last season?
Hunters checked 6 deer on Ethel WMA in the 2024-25 season: 3 antlered bucks, 0 button bucks and 3 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 10.
What county is Ethel WMA in?
All of it is in Arkansas 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.
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