National Wildlife Refuge · Arkansas · FWS Region 4

Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge is located in White County, Arkansas, with about 15,436 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 4 mapped hunt units: 4 open with special regulations, covering about 15,436 huntable acres.

4 with special regsPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
4hunt units
15.4Khuntable acres
15.4KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Bald Knob NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Bald Knob NWR

Hunters can pursue big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic here, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available — freshwater fishing. A refuge permit is required for at least some activities, in addition to your state license.

Each year, many pintails end their fall migration at Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge, which was established in 1993 to provide important habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow Arkansas regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (4)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 15,436 (100%)15.4Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations15,436 ac 100%
Units by size (acres)
Waterfowl Sanctuary
7,785 ac
Bison
3,545 ac
Core Waterfowl Area
2,173 ac
Mingo Creek
1,933 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Bison
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3,545 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All state and federal approved huntable and fishable species
Core Waterfowl Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 2,173 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All state and federal approved huntable and fishable species
Mingo Creek
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,933 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All state and federal approved huntable and fishable species
Waterfowl Sanctuary
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 7,785 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 All state and federal approved huntable and fishable species

Bald Knob NWR by the numbers

With about 15,436 huntable acres, Bald Knob NWR ranks #5 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Arkansas and #136 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Waterfowl Sanctuary (7,785 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Mingo Creek, covers 1,933 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

When to hunt Bald Knob NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. Arkansas sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

All state and federal approved huntable and fishable species

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 💻 Online (FWS)
  • 🏛️ Refuge visitor center / office

You'll also need

  • A valid Arkansas hunting license and any required tags or stamps — Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Bald Knob NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Primary fishing sites include Pole Brake, Overflow Creek and the numerous irrigation ditches and canals. Available species include largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish.

State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

How to get to Bald Knob NWR

Navigate

Destination: Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
35.24357, -91.58115
DMS
35°14′36.9″N 91°34′52.1″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Stuttgart, AR51 mi N of town
  • Little Rock, AR53 mi NE of town
  • Jonesboro, AR64 mi SW of town
  • Pine Bluff, AR74 mi N of town

Closest airports

  • LIT Little Rock Clinton National51 mi
  • MEM Memphis Intl92 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Bald Knob NWR

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Chicago local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:08 AM6:38 AM7:35 PM12h 57m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM7:15 PM12h 27m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM6:51 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM6:32 PM11h 21m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:56 AM6:26 AM5:13 PM10h 46m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM5:01 PM10h 21m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:26 AM6:56 AM4:54 PM9h 59m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:37 AM7:07 AM4:55 PM9h 48m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM5:03 PM9h 49m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM5:15 PM10h 01m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:36 AM7:06 AM5:32 PM10h 27m

Computed for 35.244, -91.581 (CDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Guides for hunting Bald Knob NWR

Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

Bald Knob NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Bald Knob NWR?

Yes. Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 4 units (15,436 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

Do I need a permit to hunt Bald Knob NWR?

Yes — Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained online through fws or visitor center. You also need the appropriate state hunting license and, for waterfowl, a Federal Duck Stamp.

Can you fish at Bald Knob NWR?

Yes. Fishing is permitted (freshwater fishing). State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

Where is Bald Knob NWR located?

Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge is in White County, Arkansas, about 51 miles N of Stuttgart, AR (straight-line). GPS: 35.24357, -91.58115.

What are legal shooting hours at Bald Knob NWR?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Greers Ferry NFH

Cleburne County, AR · 30 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Cache River NWR

Monroe County, AR · 38 mi S

10 special
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

75.2K huntable acres

Dale Bumpers White River NWR

Monroe County, AR · 59 mi SE

13 special4 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

154K huntable acres

Wapanocca NWR

Crittenden County, AR · 77 mi E

2 special
🦌🐦🐇🐗🎣

5.7K huntable acres

Norfork NFH

Baxter County, AR · 79 mi NW

1 closed
🎣

Holla Bend NWR

Pope County, AR · 84 mi W

2 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🐗🎣

6K huntable acres

All refuges in Arkansas →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.