Norfork Lake WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Norfork Lake WMA is 10,000 acres of public hunting land in Baxter and Fulton counties, AGFC's WMA zone 480. Hunters checked 101 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 46 antlered bucks among them (AGFC's deer check records). AGFC's 2026-27 dates for the area: Deer Archery (all units), 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.
Norfork Lake WMAOther AGFC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 10,000 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Baxter County, Fulton County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 480 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 3 |
| Area rules | CWD Zone |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 101 (46 antlered bucks, 10 button bucks, 45 does) |
| Phone | 833-356-0879 |
| Nearest towns | Mountain Home (6 mi), Briarcliff (6 mi) and Salesville (7 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Norfork Lake 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 (all units): Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28.
- Deer Alternative Firearms: Oct. 17-25 (Seward Point, Bennett’s Bayou and Fulton County Units only; Chapin Point and Indian Head Units closed).
- Deer Modern Gun: Nov. 14-Dec. 6 and Dec. 26-28 (Seward Point, Bennett’s Bayou and Fulton County Units only; Chapin Point and Indian Head Units closed).
- Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts: Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3 (Seward Point, Bennett’s Bayou and Fulton County Units only; Chapin Point and Indian Head Units closed).
- 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,
- Three antlerless deer with archery,
- One antlerless deer with alternative firearms or modern gun combined.
2026 Bear
- Bear Archery: Sept. 9-Nov. 30.
- Bear Alternative Firearms: Oct. 17-25 (Seward Point, Bennett’s Bayou and Fulton County Units only; Chapin Point and Indian Head Units closed).
- Bear Modern Gun: Nov. 14-30 (Seward Point, Bennett’s Bayou and Fulton County Units only; Chapin Point and Indian Head Units closed).
- Bear Modern Gun Youth Hunt: Nov. 7-8 (Seward Point, Bennett’s Bayou and Fulton County Units only; Chapin Point and Indian Head Units closed).
- Bear Notes:
- Seasons close earlier when Bear Zone 1 quota is reached.
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, Norfork Lake WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Norfork Lake WMA?
Hunters checked 101 deer on Norfork Lake WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 89 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 101 | 46 | 10 | 45 |
| 2023-24 | 75 | 32 | 6 | 37 |
| 2022-23 | 90 | 33 | 6 | 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 Norfork Lake WMA?
Location
Baxter county: Indian Head Unit and Chapin Point Unit, 16 miles north of Mtn. Home and east off state hwy 201; Seward Point Unit, 8 miles north of Mtn. Home west of hwy 101; Bennetts Creek Unit, 12 miles east of Mtn. Home on hwy 62 then north 3 miles on county road 46. Fulton county: Fulton County Unit approximately 15 miles north of Calico Rock hwy 87. At Elizabeth take county roads 15, 17 and 33.
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
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers campsites are available around lake area. No camping on WMA.
Description
This area consists of five units, on Norfork Lake: Chapin Point, Indian Head, Seward Point, Bennets Creek and Fulton County. Mixed hardwood forest with scattered tracts to pine plantations, topography ranges from flat to moderately sloped. Walk-in hunting only.
Ownership
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Age
Established in 1967.
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Norfork Lake WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baxter County | 7,640 | 2,448 | 43rd |
| Fulton County | 2,939 | 2,789 | 32nd |
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 Norfork Lake WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: US 412, US 62, AR 87 and AR 101. Nearest towns: Mountain Home (6 miles), Briarcliff (6 miles), Salesville (7 miles) and Viola (8 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Sylamore WMA (9.1 miles), Buffalo National River WMA (16.2 miles), Devil's Knob Natural Area WMA (18.6 miles) and Slippery Hollow Natural Area WMA (22.9 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Norfork Lake WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Norfork Lake WMA: Deer Archery (all units), Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28. Deer Alternative Firearms, Oct. 17-25 (Seward Point, Bennett’s Bayou and Fulton County Units only; Chapin Point and Indian Head Units closed). Deer Modern Gun, Nov. 14-Dec. 6 and Dec. 26-28 (Seward Point, Bennett’s Bayou and Fulton County Units only; Chapin Point and Indian Head Units closed). Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts, Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3 (Seward Point, Bennett’s Bayou and Fulton County Units only; Chapin Point and Indian Head Units closed).
How many deer can you take on Norfork Lake 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, three antlerless deer with archery and one antlerless deer with alternative firearms or modern gun combined. (AGFC's 2026-27 rules for the area).
How many deer were killed on Norfork Lake WMA last season?
Hunters checked 101 deer on Norfork Lake WMA in the 2024-25 season: 46 antlered bucks, 10 button bucks and 45 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 89.
What county is Norfork Lake WMA in?
Baxter County (7,640 acres) and Fulton County (2,939 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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