McIlroy Madison County WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
McIlroy Madison County WMA is 15,086 acres of public hunting land in Madison County, AGFC's WMA zone 430. Hunters checked 59 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 28 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.
McIlroy Madison County WMAOther AGFC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 15,086 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 430 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 1 |
| Area rules | CWD Zone, Mobility-Impaired Access and Valid Hunting or Fishing License or a WMA/Lake Conservation Permit is Required for All Users |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 59 (28 antlered bucks, 6 button bucks, 25 does) |
| Phone | 833-340-7506 |
| Nearest towns | Huntsville (7 mi), Eureka Springs (8 mi) and Berryville (8 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on McIlroy Madison County WMA?
AGFC sets each WMA's own dates and limits. These are its big game seasons for the area.
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Quail
- Alligator
2026-27 Deer
- Deer Archery: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28.
- Deer Alternative Firearms (permit required): Oct. 17-21.
- Deer Modern Gun (permit required): Nov. 14-18.
- Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts: Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3.
- WMA Deer Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (no antler restrictions), 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 the youth hunt, youths may take two deer, one antlered buck (no antler restrictions) and one antlerless deer.
2026 Bear
- Bear Archery: Sept. 9-Nov. 30.
- Bear Alternative Firearms: Oct. 17-21 (deer permit holders only).
- Bear Modern Gun: Nov. 14-18 (deer permit holders only).
- Bear Modern Gun Youth Hunt: Nov. 7-8.
- Bear Notes:
- Seasons close earlier when Bear Zone 1 quota is reached.
2027 Turkey
- Youth Hunt (permit required): April 10-11. One legal turkey.
- Firearms Hunt (permit required): April 19-21, April 24-26, May 1-3 and May 7-9. One legal turkey.
Other seasons AGFC lists for the area: crow, rabbit and squirrel. Their dates are on AGFC's page.
Source: AGFC, McIlroy Madison County WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on McIlroy Madison County WMA?
Hunters checked 59 deer on McIlroy Madison County WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 56 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 59 | 28 | 6 | 25 |
| 2023-24 | 64 | 35 | 4 | 25 |
| 2022-23 | 45 | 26 | 5 | 14 |
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 McIlroy Madison County WMA?
Location
The entire area is in Madison County, 12 miles north of Huntsville on state highway 23 and/or 13 miles south of Eureka Springs on highway 23.
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.
All caves closed to public access.
Mobility-Impaired Access (MIA) permit holders may operate ATVs only on designated mobility access areas; roads 2c, 13c, and 16c.
Camping
There are currently 23 primitive camping sites designated on the area. These areas were developed and are maintained by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Area maps depict exact locations of camping sites as well as the natural area and overlook. Camping is restricted to designated areas only.
Description
The area is typical rugged Ozark Mountain terrain with numerous steep mountains and hollows. Elevations range from 1,100 to over 1,600 feet above mean sea level. The area is extensively forested in upland hardwood and shortleaf pine/upland hardwood timber stands with associated understory and midstory vegetation. There are numerous small streams on the area that are all tributaries of the nearby Kings River which skirts the eastern boundary of the area. The area consists of a total of 14,536 acres of state owned land.
Ownership
AGFC
Age
The initial purchase for the area was July of 1957.
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is McIlroy Madison County WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County | 15,041 | 2,590 | 36th |
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 McIlroy Madison County WMA?
Highways through the area: AR 127 and AR 23. Nearest towns: Huntsville (7 miles), Eureka Springs (8 miles), Berryville (8 miles) and Hindsville (9 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Kirk Dupps Beaver Lake WMA (4.3 miles), Hobbs State Park Conservation Area WMA (6.2 miles), Devils Eyebrow Natural Area WMA (14.4 miles) and Buffalo National River WMA (18.5 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on McIlroy Madison County WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for McIlroy Madison County WMA: Deer Archery, Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28. Deer Alternative Firearms (permit required), Oct. 17-21. Deer Modern Gun (permit required), Nov. 14-18. Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts, Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3.
How many deer can you take on McIlroy Madison County WMA?
Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (no antler restrictions), 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 and during the 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 McIlroy Madison County WMA last season?
Hunters checked 59 deer on McIlroy Madison County WMA in the 2024-25 season: 28 antlered bucks, 6 button bucks and 25 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 56.
What county is McIlroy Madison County WMA in?
All of it is in Madison 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.
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