Arkansas hunting license

How much is an Arkansas hunting license?

A resident Arkansas hunting license costs $25 for the Resident Sportsman's License, as listed by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for the current license year. That single purchase lets a resident hunt all game in season, and it already carries six deer tags, two turkey tags and one bear tag. For many hunters it is the only thing they need to buy before opening day.

Arkansas offers two cheaper or broader alternatives worth knowing about. The Combination Sportsman's License adds fishing and costs $35.50. The Resident Wildlife Conservation License, at $10.50, covers small game and comes with just one deer tag, so it suits a hunter who mainly chases squirrels or rabbits and might take a single deer.

Nonresidents pay a lot more, which is typical across the South. The annual all game license is $410, and bear, elk and alligator permits cost $300 each on top. The table below lays out every option from the AGFC license descriptions and fees page, including trip licenses, youth tags, lifetime licenses and discounts. Prices can change between license years, so confirm the amount at checkout.

Who needs hunter education in Arkansas?

Anyone born after 1968 must carry a hunter education card while hunting in Arkansas, unless the words HE-VERIFIED already appear on their license. If you were born in 1968 or earlier, the rule does not apply to you. Arkansas honors hunter education cards issued by other states, so a visiting hunter with a card from home is covered.

You can take the course two ways. The classroom version runs about 10 hours and includes hands-on work. Approved online courses are also offered, priced from $19.99 to $49.95 depending on the provider. The AGFC hunter education page does not say whether online students must also attend a field day, so read the course details or ask the AGFC before you sign up.

Not ready to take the course this season? Arkansas has a free Deferred Hunter Education Code (DHE) for hunters 16 and older. You still buy a regular license, and you must hunt under the direct supervision of a licensed hunter at least 21 years old who is hunter-ed certified or was born on or before December 31, 1968. The code can be renewed each year.

Where can I buy a license to hunt in Arkansas?

The fastest route is online through the AGFC licensing system linked from agfc.com, where you can buy and print an Arkansas hunting license in a few minutes. If you prefer to talk to someone, the AGFC sells licenses by phone at 833-345-0325, Monday through Friday from 8 to 5. You can also buy in person at license dealers, AGFC regional offices, nature centers and the Little Rock headquarters.

Have your hunter education card number handy, or decide on the deferral code first, before you start. Nonresidents buying a trip license pick their exact hunting days at checkout, so settle your travel dates first. Unless your license shows HE-VERIFIED, carry your hunter education card with it in the field.

1. Check whether you need hunter education (born after 1968) or plan to use the free deferral code.
2. Choose your license: the $25 Resident Sportsman's, the $35.50 combination with fishing, or a nonresident annual or trip license.
3. Buy online at agfc.com, call 833-345-0325, or visit a license dealer or AGFC office.
4. Carry your license in the field and keep track of your included deer, turkey and bear tags.

Buy a Arkansas hunting license on the official site

How do deer, turkey and elk tags work in Arkansas?

Resident annual licenses include deer, turkey and bear tags, while nonresidents buy add-on tags or permits for those animals. That is the biggest difference between the two groups. A nonresident who wants to hunt turkey, for example, needs the $100 Nonresident Turkey Tag or the $325 annual turkey license in addition to the base license.

Every deer and turkey you take must be checked within 12 hours. You can check by phone at 833-289-2469, online, or through the AGFC app. Build that step into your day so you are not scrambling after dark.

Elk work differently. They require a permit, either through a public-land draw or a private-land permit, and an elk must be reported immediately after harvest. Public-land elk applications run May 1 to June 1 with the drawing in late June, and private-land elk permits go on sale May 15 with no deadline. WMA permit deer hunts take applications June 1 to July 1, and turkey permit hunts take them January 15 to February 15. The 2026-27 guidebook lists these windows without a year, so confirm dates in the AGFC hunting guidebook.

Do kids need a license to hunt in Arkansas?

No, hunters under 16 do not need an Arkansas hunting license. A license is required starting at age 16, so younger hunters can head out without buying one.

Young hunters still record their deer, turkey and bear with free youth game tags. Residents 6 to 15 use the resident youth game tag, and nonresident youth use separate free youth tags for deer, turkey and bear. These tags are how the harvest gets checked, so pick them up before the hunt.

Hunter education is also flexible for this age group. A hunter under 16 may hunt without a hunter education card as long as an adult 21 or older directly supervises them. Once a young hunter wants to go out alone, finishing the course is the next step.

Thinking long term? Arkansas sells the Natural State Lifetime Combination for residents 10 and younger at $500, which covers hunting and fishing for life.

What are the Arkansas hunting license options for nonresidents?

A nonresident can buy the $410 Nonresident Annual All Game Hunting License, which covers deer and small game and includes six deer tags. If you only want small game for the full year, the nonresident annual small game license costs $110 instead.

Short visits are where Arkansas stands out. The 1-Day Hunting License costs $100 and the 3-Day Hunting License costs $225, and both cover deer with six deer tags. Bird and rabbit hunters can pick the 5-Day Small Game Hunting License for $80. You choose the dates when you buy, and the license is good only on those days.

Bear, elk and alligator permits run $300 each for nonresidents, and turkey needs its own tag or license. If you are planning a trip that crosses state lines, compare the Missouri hunting license and Texas hunting license guides, or see every hunting license by state in one place.

What other Arkansas hunting rules should you know?

Annual Arkansas licenses expire June 30 each year, no matter when you bought them, so a license purchased in May only gives you a few weeks. Trip licenses cover just the days you picked. Here are a few more rules to keep in mind.

• Hunter orange: when modern gun or alternative firearm deer, bear or elk seasons are open, hunters and anyone with them must wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange, chartreuse or blaze camo above the waist, plus a matching head garment. Migratory bird hunters are exempt.
• Seniors: residents 65 and older can buy an annual hunting license for $3.50 or a lifetime hunting license for $25, or a lifetime combination for $35.50.
• Disabled hunters and veterans: 100% disabled residents can buy a 3-year hunting license for $25, and 100% disabled veterans can get a lifetime hunting license for $1.50.
• Military: military retirees 60 and older can buy a $25 lifetime hunting license, and active-duty military stationed in Arkansas get resident privileges.
• Lifetime: the Resident Sportsman's Lifetime Combination License and Permit costs $1,000 at any age after one year of residency.
• Landowners: the AGFC pages we checked do not describe a landowner exemption, so check the AGFC licensing FAQ before hunting your own land without a license.