Howard County WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Howard County WMA is 23,721 acres of public hunting land in Howard County, AGFC's WMA zone 370. Hunters checked 86 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 35 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.
Howard County WMAOther AGFC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 23,721 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Howard County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 370 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 13 |
| Area rules | Three-point rule and Leased Land Permit Required |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 86 (35 antlered bucks, 13 button bucks, 38 does) |
| Phone | 833-372-2434 |
| Nearest towns | Grannis (5 mi), Gillham (6 mi) and Dierks (6 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Howard County WMA?
AGFC sets each WMA's own dates and limits. These are its big game seasons for the area.
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- 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 antler restrictions apply.
- 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 der with alternative firearms and modern gun combined.
2026 Bear
- Bear Archery: Sept. 9-Nov. 30.
- Bear Alternative Firearms: Oct. 17-25.
- Bear Modern Gun: Nov. 14-30.
- Bear Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 7-8.
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, Howard County WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Howard County WMA?
Hunters checked 86 deer on Howard County WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 84 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 86 | 35 | 13 | 38 |
| 2023-24 | 63 | 34 | 5 | 24 |
| 2022-23 | 102 | 44 | 7 | 51 |
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 Howard County WMA?
Location
Located in Howard County, 10 miles north of Dierks and 3 miles southwest of Umpire.
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
Camping is permitted on the area at designated campsites. Additional campsites area available at Blue Ridge Recreational Area on Dierks Lake and at the Gillham Lake dam area.
Description
Typical Athens Piedmont Plateau habitat includes rolling hills intensively managed for pine production and pine/hardwood mixed stands along creeks. The area is bordered on the west by Gillham Lake and the Cossatot River and partially on the south by Dierks Lake.
Ownership
This area is made up of approximately 23,000 acres of Weyerhaeuser Company land.
Age
The area became a WMA in the 1970s.
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Howard County WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County | 26,714 | 2,550 | 37th |
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 Howard County WMA?
Highways through the area: AR 4 and US 278. Nearest towns: Grannis (5 miles), Gillham (6 miles), Dierks (6 miles) and Wickes (7 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Caney Creek WMA (5.1 miles), Provo WMA (6.9 miles), De Queen Lake WMA (8 miles) and Lake Greeson WMA (9.3 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Howard County WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Howard County 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 antler restrictions apply.
How many deer can you take on Howard County 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 and two antlerless der with alternative firearms and modern gun combined. (AGFC's 2026-27 rules for the area).
How many deer were killed on Howard County WMA last season?
Hunters checked 86 deer on Howard County WMA in the 2024-25 season: 35 antlered bucks, 13 button bucks and 38 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 84.
What county is Howard County WMA in?
All of it is in Howard County, by AGFC's boundary.
Do you need a permit to hunt Howard County WMA?
Yes. AGFC lists Howard County WMA as leased land: hunters, trappers and campers 16 or older need a Leased Lands permit.
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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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