Trusten Holder WMA: deer harvest, 2026-27 seasons and map
Trusten Holder WMA is 8,173 acres of public hunting land in Arkansas and Desha counties, AGFC's WMA zone 630. Hunters checked 171 deer on it in the 2024-25 season, 66 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.
Trusten Holder WMAOther AGFC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 8,173 acres (AGFC) |
|---|---|
| County | Arkansas County, Desha County |
| AGFC WMA zone | 630 |
| Deer zone around it | Zone 9, Zone 16, Zone 17 |
| Area rules | Mobility-Impaired Access, Flood Prone Region, Waterfowl Season Access Restrictions, 15-Inch Inside Spread or 18-Inch Main Beam Rule and Valid Hunting or Fishing License or a WMA/Lake Conservation Permit is Required for All Users |
| Deer checked, 2024-25 | 171 (66 antlered bucks, 9 button bucks, 96 does) |
| Phone | 833-363-7638 |
| Nearest towns | Watson (6 mi), Gillett (6 mi) and Mitchellville (8 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Trusten Holder 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
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 Alternative Firearms Mobility-Impaired Hunt (permit required): As set by Corps of Engineers.
- 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 (15/18 Rule applies), 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 hunts and alternative firearms mobility-impaired hunt, hunters may take two deer, one antlered buck (no antler restrictions) and one antlerless deer.
- Deer Notes:
- Contact Corp of Engineers at 870-548-2291 or at www.swl.usace.army.mil/parks/pinebluff/hunting.htm for specific mobility impaired criteria; application period July 5-Sept. 5.
2026 Bear
- Bear Archery: Dec. 19-25. Season closes earlier when Bear Zone 5A quota is reached.
2027 Turkey
- Youth Hunt: April 10-11. One legal turkey.
- Firearms Hunt (permit required): April 12-14 (permit required), April 15-May 2 (no permit required). One legal turkey.
Other seasons AGFC lists for the area: crow, dove, quail, rabbit, squirrel, alligator and waterfowl. Their dates are on AGFC's page.
Source: AGFC, Trusten Holder WMA, read October 2026. AGFC's page and its regulations are the final word.
How many deer are taken on Trusten Holder WMA?
Hunters checked 171 deer on Trusten Holder WMA in the 2024-25 season. Over the 3 seasons in AGFC's records, the area averaged 162 deer a season.
| Season | Deer checked | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 171 | 66 | 9 | 96 |
| 2023-24 | 141 | 47 | 11 | 83 |
| 2022-23 | 173 | 49 | 10 | 114 |
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 Trusten Holder WMA?
Location
Arkansas and Desha Counties; 35 miles SE of De Witt, near Lock and Dam no. 1 on the white River. In Desha County, area located 15 miles NE of Dumas near Pendleton bridge on the Arkansas 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.
Horses, mules, ATVs, bikes, and e-bikes are not allowed on Army Corps of Engineers property.
WMA includes Army Corps of Engineers lands north and east of the Arkansas River downstream from the Pendleton Bridge to just below Dam 2 (Wilbur D. Mills Dam) and to Lock no. 2, including Merrisach Lake, Arkansas Post Canal, Moore Bayou to the old Highway 1, one lane bridge and Post Lake to Highway 169.
Hunting equipment on this portion of Trusten Holder WMA is limited to archery equipment and shotguns using T-shot or smaller.
Alternative firearms deer season is closed on this expanded portion of Trusten Holder WMA.
In areas where the Arkansas Post National Memorial Boundary follows the shoreline, a marked “no hunting” buffer zone has been established.
Possession or discharge of a loaded firearm in the no hunting zone is prohibited.
Portions of Trusten Holder owned by the USFWS are closed to bear hunting.
Road closure information available by calling the AGFC’s Wildlife Information Hotline, 833-345-0398, option 9.
Camping
There are 5 primitive camping areas located in Arkansas County.. Located 3 miles from the adjacent to Lock #2 is Merrisach Park. It is a fee area with all the modern facilities. Located along Hwy 212 East is Pendleton park. The park has water and electrical service at each of its 13 sites, a fee is charged and the park is open year round. Wilbur D. Mills Park is just down stream of Dam # 2 on the Desha County side of the river and offers the same services as Pendleton park, March through October.
Description
The area is a typical overflow bottomland hardwood area with overcup oak, Nuttall oak, sugarberry, ash and persimmon being the dominate species. An oxbow lake, named LaGrues Lake, provides excellent wetlands habitat for the areaês native wildlife and migrating waterfowl.
Ownership
AGFC: 4,406 acres; USFWS: 1,490 acres; US Army Corps of Engineers: 4,372 acres.
Age
Purchased in 1973.
From AGFC's page for the area.
Which county is Trusten Holder WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it | County deer, 2024-25 | Rank of 75 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas County | 14,128 | 4,427 | 6th |
| Desha County | 4,432 | 3,180 | 25th |
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 Trusten Holder WMA?
Highways through the area: AR 169. Nearest towns: Watson (6 miles), Gillett (6 miles), Mitchellville (8 miles) and Dumas (9 miles).
The closest other WMAs with a page here: Ethel WMA (14.8 miles), George H. Dunklin Jr. Bayou Meto WMA (16.3 miles), Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA East Unit (21.4 miles) and Freddie Black Choctaw Island WMA West Unit (22.4 miles).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Trusten Holder WMA in 2026-27?
AGFC's dates for Trusten Holder 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 Trusten Holder WMA?
Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks (15/18 Rule applies), 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 hunts and alternative firearms mobility-impaired hunt, hunters may take two deer, one antlered buck (no antler restrictions) and one antlerless deer, deer Notes: and contact Corp of Engineers at 870-548-2291 or at www.swl.usace.army.mil/parks/pinebluff/hunting.htm for specific mobility impaired criteria; application period July 5-Sept. 5. (AGFC's 2026-27 rules for the area).
How many deer were killed on Trusten Holder WMA last season?
Hunters checked 171 deer on Trusten Holder WMA in the 2024-25 season: 66 antlered bucks, 9 button bucks and 96 does, by AGFC's deer check records. The 3-season average is 162.
What county is Trusten Holder WMA in?
Arkansas County (14,128 acres) and Desha County (4,432 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 Arkansas County deer harvest Desha County deer harvest