Muddy Creek WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Muddy Creek WMA is 146,206 acres of public hunting land in Montgomery, Scott and Yell counties, AGFC's WMA zone 460. Hunters checked 223 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 140 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.
Muddy Creek WMAOther AGFC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 146,206 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County, Scott County, Yell County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 460 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 11 |
| Area rules | CWD Zone and Additional USDA Forest Service Regulations |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 223 (140 antlered bucks, 15 button bucks, 68 does) |
| Phone | 833-356-0871 |
| Nearest towns | Oden (3 mi), Mount Ida (8 mi) and Waldron (13 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Muddy Creek 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. 6 and Dec. 26-28.
- Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts: Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3.
- WMA Deer Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (no antler restrictions), which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
- Two antlerless deer with archery,
- One antlerless deer during alternative firearms season or the first two days of modern gun season,
- During 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. 17-25.
- Bear Modern Gun: Nov. 14-30.
- Bear Modern Gun Youth 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, Muddy Creek WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Muddy Creek WMA?
Hunters checked 223 deer on Muddy Creek WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 194 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 223 | 140 | 15 | 68 |
| 2023-24 | 163 | 105 | 6 | 52 |
| 2022-23 | 197 | 115 | 6 | 76 |
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 Muddy Creek WMA?
Location
It is in Montgomery, Scott and Yell counties. 10 miles Northwest of Mt. Ida.
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 unrestricted on Forest Service land so finding a campsite is no problem. No developed campsites are available.
Description
Muddy Creek consists of 150,000 acres of moderate to rugged mountain terrain and narrow valleys. The predominate timber types are upland hardwoods, shortleaf pine and mixed pine-hardwood. Typical of the Ouachitas, the ridges run in an east-west fashion. Hardwoods a re generally found on the north and east aspects of the mountains while pine occupies the south and west aspects. Numerous streams are found on the area.
Ownership
Primary ownership is by the USDA Forest Service.
Age
The area was established in 1968 as a result of a Memorandum of Understanding between the USDA Forest Service and AGFC.
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Muddy Creek WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | 49,242 | 1,993 | 53rd |
| Scott County | 48,377 | 1,920 | 55th |
| Yell County | 42,368 | 4,055 | 9th |
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 Muddy Creek WMA?
Highways through the area: AR 28 and AR 27. Nearest towns: Oden (3 miles), Mount Ida (8 miles), Waldron (13 miles) and Norman (15 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Cedar Creek WMA (next to it), Nimrod Lloyd Millwood WMA (5.6 miles), Blue Mountain WMA (15.2 miles) and Caney Creek WMA (15.5 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Muddy Creek WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Muddy Creek 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. 6 and Dec. 26-28. Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts, Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3.
How many deer can you take on Muddy Creek WMA?
Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (no antler restrictions), which may include: two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun, two antlerless deer with archery, one antlerless deer during alternative firearms season or the first two days of modern gun season 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 Muddy Creek WMA last season?
Hunters checked 223 deer on Muddy Creek WMA in the 2024-25 season: 140 antlered bucks, 15 button bucks and 68 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 194.
What county is Muddy Creek WMA in?
Montgomery County (49,242 acres), Scott County (48,377 acres) and Yell County (42,368 acres), measured on 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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