Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA is 7,221 acres of public hunting land in Woodruff County, AGFC's WMA zone 550. Hunters checked 29 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 14 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.
Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMAOther AGFC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 7,221 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Woodruff County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 550 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 9 |
| Area rules | Flood Prone Region, 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 | 29 (14 antlered bucks, 5 button bucks, 10 does) |
| Phone | 833-345-0283 |
| Nearest towns | Cotton Plant (4 mi), Patterson (5 mi) and McCrory (6 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA?
AGFC sets each WMA's own dates and limits. These are its big game seasons for the area.
2026-27 Closed Seasons
- Bear
- Alligator
2026-27 Deer
- Deer Archery: Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28.
- Deer Alternative Firearms (permit required): Oct. 17-21.
- Deer Modern Gun (permit required): Nov. 14-18.
- 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,
- Three antlerless deer with archery,
- One antlered buck and one antlerless deer with alternative firearms permit,
- One antlered buck and one antlerless deer with modern gun permit,
- During youth hunt, youths may take two deer, one antlered buck (no antler restrictions) and one antlerless deer.
2027 Turkey
- Youth Hunt: April 10-11. One legal turkey.
- Firearms Hunt (permit required): April 19-20 and April 24-25. One legal turkey.
- Turkey Notes:
- Includes the Cache River NWR (within an area bounced by U.S. Highway 64 and the north, state Highway 17 on the east, state Highway 38 on the south and state Highway 33 on the West) (Zone 095).
Other seasons AGFC lists for the area: crow, quail, rabbit, squirrel, dove and waterfowl. Their dates are on AGFC's page.
Source: AGFC, Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA?
Hunters checked 29 deer on Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 41 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 29 | 14 | 5 | 10 |
| 2023-24 | 45 | 18 | 5 | 22 |
| 2022-23 | 48 | 26 | 2 | 20 |
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 Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA?
Location
This WMA is in Woodruff County 10 miles south of Augusta and 4 miles east of Gregory along the Cache River.
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.
Only non-toxic shot may be possessed and used while hunting small game with shotguns.
Deer hunting closes when the Cache River gauge at Patterson exceeds 10 feet and reopens when the gauge falls below 8.5 feet.
The Lee LeBlanc Waterfowl Rest Area closes to access Nov. 1-Feb. 15.
Road closures available at 833-345-0398.
No camping allowed in designated parking areas during waterfowl season.
Camping
There are four camping areas located on Rex Hancock. The largest and most used camping area is located at the end of the all-weather road east of Gregory. Camping is primitive.
Description
The WMA is mostly low bottomlands and swamps. The Cache River splits the area in the middle. Major hardwood species are Cypress, tupelo, oaks and hickory.
Ownership
AGFC
Age
The initial purchase was made in 1971 from 3 different owners; approximately 3,888 acres were purchased at this time. In 1983, 1,694 acres of Potlatch land on the south end was purchased by the Natural Heritage Commission, which deeded it to the AGFC. Another 377 acres know as the LeBlanc Unit was purchased in cooperation with Ducks Unlimited and the Nature Conservancy in 1990. In 1995 a 427-acre FmHA tract was deeded to the Commission bringing the total acreage to 6,394, all under AGFC ownership.
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodruff County | 6,697 | 1,199 | 66th |
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 Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: AR 17, AR 33, AR 260 and AR 38. Nearest towns: Cotton Plant (4 miles), Patterson (5 miles), McCrory (6 miles) and Georgetown (7 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Benson Creek Natural Area WMA (1.1 miles), Sheffield Nelson Dagmar WMA (3 miles), Henry Gray Hurricane Lake WMA (4.8 miles) and Steve N. Wilson Raft Creek Bottoms WMA (6.5 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA: Deer Archery, Aug. 29-31 (one antlered buck only); Sept. 26-Feb. 28. Deer Alternative Firearms (permit required), Oct. 17-21. Deer Modern Gun (permit required), Nov. 14-18. Deer Modern Gun Youth Hunts, Nov. 7-8 and Jan. 2-3.
How many deer can you take on Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA?
Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (no antler restrictions), which may include: two antlered bucks with archery, three antlerless deer with archery, one antlered buck and one antlerless deer with alternative firearms permit, one antlered buck and one antlerless deer with modern gun permit 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 Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA last season?
Hunters checked 29 deer on Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA in the 2024-25 season: 14 antlered bucks, 5 button bucks and 10 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 41.
What county is Rex Hancock Black Swamp WMA in?
All of it is in Woodruff 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.
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