Poison Springs WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Poison Springs WMA is 22,162 acres of public hunting land in Ouachita and Nevada counties, AGFC's WMA zone 530. Hunters checked 199 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 89 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.
Poison Springs WMAOther AGFC WMAsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 22,162 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Ouachita County, Nevada County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 530 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 12 |
| Area rules | Three-point rule |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 199 (89 antlered bucks, 17 button bucks, 93 does) |
| Phone | 833-372-2434 |
| Nearest towns | Chidester (next to it), Bluff City (next to it) and Cale (3 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Poison Springs WMA?
AGFC sets each WMA's own dates and limits. These are its big game seasons for the area.
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Bear firearms
- 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. 20 and Dec. 26-28.
- Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts: Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3. No antler restrictions apply.
- WMA Deer Bag Limit: Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (3-Point Rule applies), which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun,
- Three antlerless deer with archery, alternative firearms and modern gun combined.
2026 Bear
- Bear Archery: Dec. 19-25. Season closes earlier when Bear Zone 4 quota is reached.
2027 Turkey
- Youth Hunt: April 10-11. One legal turkey.
- Firearms Hunt: April 12-May 2. One legal turkey.
Other seasons AGFC lists for the area: crow, dove, quail, rabbit and squirrel. Their dates are on AGFC's page.
Source: AGFC, Poison Springs WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Poison Springs WMA?
Hunters checked 199 deer on Poison Springs WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 153 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 199 | 89 | 17 | 93 |
| 2023-24 | 139 | 50 | 16 | 73 |
| 2022-23 | 120 | 44 | 8 | 68 |
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 Poison Springs WMA?
Location
The tracts that make up Poison Springs WMA are located in Ouachita and Nevada Counties and are widely dispersed.
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.
Free permit from Arkansas Dept. of Agriculture Division of Forestry required to hunt, camp or collect firewood. Call 870-836-5882 to reserve campsite and obtain permit.
Horses and mules allowed for legal hunting activities during specific hunting seasons and at night during furbearer season.
Camping
The Arkansas Forestry Commission has designated several areas as primitive campsites. A free permit must be obtained from them in order to use these campsites.
Description
Poison Springs WMA is located entirely in the West Gulf Coastal Plain Physiographic Region. Most of the tracts are of an Upland habitat type and are characterized by pine and upland oaks, rolling hills, sandy soils, and small streams.
Ownership
22,162 acres, includes Arkansas Oak Natural Area (Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission; Poison Spring State Forest Sand Barren (Arkansas Forestry Commission) and Oak-Pine Forest Preserve Natural Area (Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission).
Age
Poison Springs WMA was established in 1972.
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Poison Springs WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ouachita County | 12,987 | 3,929 | 14th |
| Nevada County | 12,099 | 3,706 | 19th |
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 Poison Springs WMA?
Highways through the area: AR 24, AR 368, AR 57 and AR 299. Nearest towns: Chidester (next to it), Bluff City (next to it), Cale (3 miles) and Stephens (6 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Big Timber WMA (4.6 miles), Two Bayou Creek WMA (10.1 miles) and Terre Noire Natural Area WMA (22.1 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Poison Springs WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Poison Springs 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. 20 and Dec. 26-28. Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts, Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3. No antler restrictions apply.
How many deer can you take on Poison Springs WMA?
Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (3-Point Rule applies), which may include: two antlered bucks with archery, alternative firearms or modern gun and three antlerless deer with archery, alternative firearms and modern gun combined. (AGFC's 2026-27 rules for the area).
How many deer were killed on Poison Springs WMA last season?
Hunters checked 199 deer on Poison Springs WMA in the 2024-25 season: 89 antlered bucks, 17 button bucks and 93 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 153.
What county is Poison Springs WMA in?
Ouachita County (12,987 acres) and Nevada County (12,099 acres), measured on AGFC's boundary.
Get a Arkansas hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Arkansas included.
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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