Ozark Lake WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Ozark Lake WMA is 7,834 acres of public hunting land in Franklin, Crawford and Sebastian counties, AGFC's WMA zone 500. Hunters checked 39 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 23 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.
Ozark Lake WMAOther AGFC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 7,834 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County, Crawford County, Sebastian County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 500 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 7 |
| Area rules | CWD Zone and Dogs Allowed (during a specific portion of deer season) |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 39 (23 antlered bucks, 4 button bucks, 12 does) |
| Phone | 833-356-0871 |
| Nearest towns | Mulberry (next to it), Ozark (next to it) and Dyer (next to it) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Ozark 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: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28.
- Deer Alternative Firearms: Oct. 17-25.
- Deer Modern Gun: Nov. 14-Dec. 6 (dogs allowed except on islands) and Dec. 26-28 (no dogs).
- Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts: Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3 (no dogs).
- 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,
- Nonresidents hunting deer with dogs are limited to one deer during the last nine days of the regular modern gun season.
- Deer Notes:
- Dogs allowed except on islands.
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, dove, quail, rabbit, squirrel and waterfowl. Their dates are on AGFC's page.
Source: AGFC, Ozark Lake WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Ozark Lake WMA?
Hunters checked 39 deer on Ozark Lake WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 37 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 39 | 23 | 4 | 12 |
| 2023-24 | 32 | 18 | 1 | 13 |
| 2022-23 | 41 | 17 | 3 | 21 |
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 Ozark Lake WMA?
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.
The WMA boundary includes lands within the Corps of Engineers boundary including islands and shoreline acreage.
Additional COE regulations apply. Contact COE, 479-968-5008.
Ownership
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Ozark Lake WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | 7,690 | 2,190 | 46th |
| Crawford County | 6,325 | 2,893 | 29th |
| Sebastian County | 3,133 | 1,409 | 62nd |
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 Ozark Lake WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: I-40, AR 96, US 64 and US 71. Nearest towns: Mulberry (next to it), Ozark (next to it), Dyer (next to it) and Kibler (2 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Frog Bayou WMA (next to it), Dardanelle WMA (3 miles), Fort Chaffee WMA (3.5 miles) and Cherokee Prairie Natural Area WMA (4.3 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Ozark Lake WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Ozark Lake 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 (dogs allowed except on islands) and Dec. 26-28 (no dogs). Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts, Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3 (no dogs).
How many deer can you take on Ozark 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, one antlerless deer with alternative firearms or modern gun combined, nonresidents hunting deer with dogs are limited to one deer during the last nine days of the regular modern gun season, deer Notes: and dogs allowed except on islands. (AGFC's 2026-27 rules for the area).
How many deer were killed on Ozark Lake WMA last season?
Hunters checked 39 deer on Ozark Lake WMA in the 2024-25 season: 23 antlered bucks, 4 button bucks and 12 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 37.
What county is Ozark Lake WMA in?
Franklin County (7,690 acres), Crawford County (6,325 acres) and Sebastian County (3,133 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.
Arkansas hunting All Arkansas WMAs Franklin County deer harvest Crawford County deer harvest Sebastian County deer harvest