Petit Jean River WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Petit Jean River WMA is 15,782 acres of public hunting land in Yell County, AGFC's WMA zone 510. Hunters checked 79 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 36 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.
Petit Jean River WMAOther AGFC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 15,782 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Yell County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 510 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 7 |
| Area rules | Mobility-Impaired Access, CWD Zone, Waterfowl Season Access Restrictions and Valid Hunting or Fishing License or a WMA/Lake Conservation Permit is Required for All Users |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 79 (36 antlered bucks, 14 button bucks, 29 does) |
| Phone | 833-356-0871 |
| Nearest towns | Ola (next to it), Casa (3 mi) and Danville (4 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Petit Jean River 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. 6and 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,
- 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.
- 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 (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, dove, quail, rabbit, squirrel and waterfowl. Their dates are on AGFC's page.
Source: AGFC, Petit Jean River WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Petit Jean River WMA?
Hunters checked 79 deer on Petit Jean River WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 90 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 79 | 36 | 14 | 29 |
| 2023-24 | 93 | 52 | 8 | 33 |
| 2022-23 | 98 | 54 | 8 | 36 |
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 Petit Jean River 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.
Portions of this WMA, including roads, are subject to severe flooding.
Ownership
AGFC
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Petit Jean River WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yell County | 15,216 | 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 Petit Jean River WMA?
Highways through the area: AR 28 and AR 7. Nearest towns: Ola (next to it), Casa (3 miles), Danville (4 miles) and Plainview (5 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Mount Magazine WMA (4.1 miles), Nimrod Lloyd Millwood WMA (4.6 miles), Galla Creek WMA (4.8 miles) and Winona WMA (6.7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Petit Jean River WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Petit Jean River 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. 6and Dec. 26-28. Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts, Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3.
How many deer can you take on Petit Jean River 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 Petit Jean River WMA last season?
Hunters checked 79 deer on Petit Jean River WMA in the 2024-25 season: 36 antlered bucks, 14 button bucks and 29 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 90.
What county is Petit Jean River WMA in?
All of it is in Yell 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.