Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA is 19,184 acres of public hunting land in Prairie County, AGFC's WMA zone 433. Hunters checked 158 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 66 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.
Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMAOther AGFC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 19,184 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Prairie County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 433 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 9 |
| Area rules | Mobility-Impaired Access, Flood Prone Region, 12-Inch Inside Spread or 15-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 | 158 (66 antlered bucks, 10 button bucks, 82 does) |
| Phone | 833-345-0283 |
| Nearest towns | Hazen (next to it), De Valls Bluff (next to it) and Fredonia (Biscoe) (2 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA?
AGFC sets each WMA's own dates and limits. These are its big game seasons for the area.
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Bear
- 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 (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 permit,
- 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 (permit required): April 10-11. One legal turkey.
- Firearms Hunt (permit required): April 19-21 and April 24-26. One legal turkey.
Other seasons AGFC lists for the area: crow, quail, rabbit, squirrel and waterfowl. Their dates are on AGFC's page.
Source: AGFC, Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA?
Hunters checked 158 deer on Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 145 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 158 | 66 | 10 | 82 |
| 2023-24 | 134 | 56 | 10 | 68 |
| 2022-23 | 143 | 60 | 5 | 78 |
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 Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA?
Location
The area is in Prairie County. It is 40 miles east of Little Rock, 93 miles west of Memphis, 26 miles north of Stuttgart and 3 miles north of Hazen.
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 are 38 primitive campsites maintained by area personnel.
Description
There are approximately 270 acres of old beaver ponds that provide valuable habitat for furbearers and waterfowl. There are 2024 acres of old fields managed on a rotational basis by control burning, bush hogging, disking and planting. There is 14,419 acres of timber, primarily oak and hickory; 96 acres in streams and 113 acres in ponds and lakes. The main streams include; Wattensaw Bayou, Hurricane Creek, Miller Creek, Clark Creek, Barkley Branch and Bell Branch. There are numerous small ponds, 9 ponds created by removing dirt for I-40 construction and Webb and Mooreês lake which are oxbow lakes off the White River on the east side of the area.
Ownership
The AGFC purchased the area in 1959 while under the control of the USFS. There are still tracts of land under private ownership within the area boundary.
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie County | 19,716 | 2,118 | 49th |
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 Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA?
Highways through the area: I-40. Nearest towns: Hazen (next to it), De Valls Bluff (next to it), Fredonia (Biscoe) (2 miles) and Des Arc (6 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Railroad Prairie Natural Area WMA (next to it), Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA (5.4 miles), Bayou Des Arc WMA (7.7 miles) and Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA (8.6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Mike Freeze Wattensaw 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 Mike Freeze Wattensaw 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 permit, 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 Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA last season?
Hunters checked 158 deer on Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA in the 2024-25 season: 66 antlered bucks, 10 button bucks and 82 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 145.
What county is Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA in?
All of it is in Prairie 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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