Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East Unit: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East Unit is 9,501 acres of public hunting land in Desha County, AGFC's WMA zone 233. Hunters checked 123 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 26 antlered bucks among them (AGFC's deer check records). AGFC's 2026-27 dates for the area: Deer Archery, 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.
Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East UnitOther AGFC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 9,501 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Desha County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 233 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 17 |
| Area rules | Flood Prone Region, Waterfowl Season Access Restrictions, 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 | 123 (26 antlered bucks, 2 button bucks, 95 does) |
| Phone | 833-363-7638 |
| Nearest towns | Arkansas City (next to it), McGehee (10 mi) and Dermott (11 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East Unit?
AGFC sets each WMA's own dates and limits. These are its big game seasons for the area.
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Alligator
- Bear
2026-27 Deer
- Deer Archery: Sept. 26-Feb. 28.
- Deer Alternative Firearms (permit required): Dec. 5-9.
- Deer Modern Gun (permit required): Dec. 12-16.
- Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunt (permit required): Nov. 28-29.
- Deer Modern Gun Mobility-Impaired Hunt (permit required): Oct. 24-26.
- WMA Deer Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (15/18 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 permit,
- One antlered buck and one antlerless deer with modern gun permit,
- During youth permit hunt, youths may take two deer, one antlered buck (no antler restrictions) and one antlerless deer with permit,
- During mobility-impaired permit hunt, mobility-impaired hunters may take one antlered buck and one antlerless deer.
- Deer Notes:
- 15-inch inside spread or 18-inch main beam rule.
- No dogs.
- Hunters must harvest and check a doe on Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA Deer Research Area prior to harvesting a buck.
- A youth is not required to harvest a doe before harvesting a buck during any hunt.
2026 Bear
- Bear Archery: Dec. 19-25. Season closes earlier when Bear Zone 5A quota is reached.
2027 Turkey
- Firearms Hunt (permit required): April 5-7, April 10-12, April 17-19 and April 23-25. One legal turkey.
Other seasons AGFC lists for the area: crow, dove, quail, rabbit, squirrel and waterfowl. Their dates are on AGFC's page.
Source: AGFC, Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East Unit, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East Unit?
Hunters checked 123 deer on Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East Unit in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 106 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 123 | 26 | 2 | 95 |
| 2023-24 | 95 | 16 | 1 | 78 |
| 2022-23 | 101 | 17 | 1 | 83 |
Source: AGFC deer check records, 2022-23 to 2024-25, counted by FilledTag from the records AGFC files under this WMA (Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA Research Area-East Unit and Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA Research Area - East Unit).
What should you know before hunting Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East Unit?
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.
Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA Deer Research Area East Unit closes to deer hunting when the Mississippi River gauge at Arkansas City reaches 31 feet and remains closed until the gauge falls to 29 feet or below.
Horses and mules are allowed only for nighttime furbearer hunting.
Ownership
AGFC
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East Unit in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desha County | 9,525 | 3,180 | 25th |
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 Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East Unit?
Highways within 5 miles: AR 4, AR 208 and AR 159. Nearest towns: Arkansas City (next to it), McGehee (10 miles), Dermott (11 miles) and Reed (15 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA West Unit (1 miles), Cut-Off Creek WMA (16.5 miles), Seven Devils WMA (17.3 miles) and Casey Jones WMA (17.8 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East Unit in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East Unit: Deer Archery, Sept. 26-Feb. 28. Deer Alternative Firearms (permit required), Dec. 5-9. Deer Modern Gun (permit required), Dec. 12-16. Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunt (permit required), Nov. 28-29. Deer Modern Gun Mobility-Impaired Hunt (permit required), Oct. 24-26.
How many deer can you take on Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East Unit?
Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (15/18 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 permit, one antlered buck and one antlerless deer with modern gun permit, during youth permit hunt, youths may take two deer, one antlered buck (no antler restrictions) and one antlerless deer with permit, during mobility-impaired permit hunt, mobility-impaired hunters may take one antlered buck and one antlerless deer, deer Notes:, 15-inch inside spread or 18-inch main beam rule, no dogs, hunters must harvest and check a doe on Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA Deer Research Area prior to harvesting a buck and a youth is not required to harvest a doe before harvesting a buck during any hunt. (AGFC's 2026-27 rules for the area).
How many deer were killed on Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East Unit last season?
Hunters checked 123 deer on Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East Unit in the 2024-25 season: 26 antlered bucks, 2 button bucks and 95 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 106.
What county is Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East Unit in?
All of it is in Desha 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 Desha County deer harvest