Arkansas Hunting Laws
Arkansas centerfire deer rifles must be at least .22 caliber, and handguns must fire a straight-wall cartridge of .357 caliber or larger from a barrel of at least 4 inches. Shotguns need at least No. 4 buckshot (or slugs in .410), and big-bore air rifles (.40 caliber, 400+ ft-lb) are legal for deer during modern gun season.
Every rule below cites the official regulation. Last verified August 30, 2026.
At a glance
Check a cartridge in Arkansas
Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.
Sourced rules
Every row cites the controlling regulation and the date we verified it.
Air Gun
2 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Air rifles for deer must be at least .40 caliber, firing a single expandable slug from an externally charged tank.
"A minimum of .40 caliber" |
AGFC Code 6.02(A) | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Air rifles for deer must produce at least 400 ft-lb of muzzle energy.
"Produce a minimum of 400 foot pounds of muzzle energy" |
AGFC Code 6.02(A) | Aug 2026 |
All weapons
2 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| All species |
During open modern gun or alternative firearms deer, bear, or elk seasons, hunters (and anyone accompanying them) must wear at least 400 sq. in. of hunter orange or safety green above the waist plus a hat of the same color, visible at all times; migratory-bird hunting is exempt.
"Wearing an outer garment, above the waistline, of daylight fluorescent blaze orange (hunter orange) or fluorescent chartreuse (hunter safety green) totaling at least 400 square inches, and a hunter orange or hunter sa..." |
AGFC Code 5.20(A) | Aug 2026 |
| All species | Suppressor possession was decriminalized under state law in 2019 and suppressors are widely reported as legal for hunting; no AGFC hunting-regulation prohibition was found, but this has not yet been pinned to a primary regulatory citation. | Secondary compilations (pending primary AGFC/state-law citation) | Aug 2026 needs review |
Handgun
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer handguns must fire a straight-wall cartridge.
"Conventional straight-walled calibers less than .357" |
AGFC Code 6.02(A) | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer handgun straight-wall cartridges must be at least .357 caliber.
"Conventional straight-walled calibers less than .357" |
AGFC Code 6.02(A) | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer handguns need a barrel of at least 4 inches.
"Barrels shorter than 4 inches" |
AGFC Code 6.02(A) | Aug 2026 |
Muzzleloader
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Muzzleloading deer rifles must be at least .40 caliber.
"barrel 18 inches or longer and of .40 caliber or larger" |
Deer-specific Hunting Regulations — Muzzleloaders | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Muzzleloading deer rifles need a barrel of at least 18 inches.
"barrel 18 inches or longer and of .40 caliber or larger" |
Deer-specific Hunting Regulations — Muzzleloaders | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Scoped/magnifying sights are allowed on muzzleloaders — Arkansas does not require open sights.
"with magnifying sights permitted" |
Deer-specific Hunting Regulations — Muzzleloaders | Aug 2026 |
Rifle
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer rifles must be centerfire — rimfire cartridges are not legal during modern gun season.
"Any centerfire rifle smaller than .22 caliber" |
AGFC Code 6.02(A) | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Centerfire deer rifles must be at least .22 caliber.
"Any centerfire rifle smaller than .22 caliber" |
AGFC Code 6.02(A) | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | During Arkansas's Alternative Firearms Season, non-semiautomatic centerfire rifles/handguns firing a straight-wall cartridge of .30 caliber or larger are also legal for deer, alongside muzzleloaders and qualifying air rifles. | Deer-specific Hunting Regulations — Alternative Firearms Season (AGFC Code 6.03 cite pending verification) | Aug 2026 needs review |
Shotgun
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Deer shotguns need at least No. 4 buckshot (or slugs); .410 gauge is legal for deer only with slugs, not shot.
"Any .410 shotguns using ammunition other than slugs ... Any shotguns using shot smaller than No. 4 buckshot" |
AGFC Code 6.02(A) | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey |
Turkey shotguns may be no larger than 10 gauge; only shotguns and archery tackle are legal for turkey.
"Only shotguns (10 gauge and smaller) and archery equipment (including crossbows) are legal for turkey hunting." |
Turkey Dates, Rules and Regulations | Aug 2026 |
| Wild Turkey |
Turkey shot may be no larger than No. 2 (lead or nontoxic).
"Shot larger than No. 2 common shot is prohibited." |
Turkey Dates, Rules and Regulations | Aug 2026 |
Federal rules that apply in every state
These federal requirements apply in Arkansas on top of state law.
Federal law: only USFWS-approved nontoxic shot may be used — or even possessed — while hunting waterfowl, coots, and aggregate-bag species.
50 CFR § 20.21(j)(1)–(3)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds are limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber) with a one-piece plug; limited light-goose and September Canada goose season exceptions exist.
50 CFR § 20.21(b)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds may be no larger than 10 gauge.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
Federal law prohibits taking migratory birds with a rifle, pistol, or fully automatic firearm.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
On Waterfowl Production Areas and designated National Wildlife Refuge lands, possessing shot other than approved nontoxic shot is prohibited; individual refuges may impose stricter rules.
50 CFR § 32.2(k)
Sources
Arkansas Code of Rules 002.01.20-016 — AGFC Reg. 6.02, Certain Firearms and Ammunition Prohibited During Modern Gun Deer Seasons
Arkansas Secretary of State Code of Rules (via Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute) · retrieved August 30, 2026
Arkansas Code of Rules 002.01.22-033 — AGFC Reg. 5.20, Hunter Orange/Safety Green Clothing Requirements
Arkansas Secretary of State Code of Rules (via Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute) · retrieved August 30, 2026
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission — Deer-specific Hunting Regulations
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission · retrieved August 30, 2026
Arkansas Game & Fish Commission — Turkey Dates, Rules and Regulations
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission · retrieved August 30, 2026
Sources & methodology
Rules on this page are verified against state statutes, administrative code, official agency regulation digests, and federal regulations — never forums, retailer blogs, or hunter-ed course summaries. Rules we could not yet pin to a primary source are labeled needs review and never produce a green "legal" answer. Cartridge energy figures used by the checker are typical factory-load values; where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, verify your specific load's manufacturer rating.
Legal disclaimer — please read
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Hunting regulations change every season, vary by zone, season, land type, and county ordinance, and are interpreted by the state's enforcement officers — not by this page.
- Confirm every rule in the current official Arkansas hunting regulations before your hunt.
- Check season dates, license and tag requirements, zone boundaries, and local ordinances — this page covers equipment rules only.
- When in doubt, contact Arkansas Game and Fish Commission directly.
The controlling document is the regulation, not this page. We disclaim all liability for reliance on it.