National Wildlife Refuge · Arkansas · FWS Region 4

Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Monroe County, Arkansas, Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 157,095 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 17 mapped hunt units: 13 open with special regulations and 4 closed, covering about 153,578 huntable acres.

13 with special regs4 closedPermit required
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
17hunt units
154Khuntable acres
157KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Dale Bumpers White River 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 Dale Bumpers White River NWR

Permitted hunting categories are big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, small game, and feral & exotic, 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.

Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1935, contains approximately 160,000 acres of bottomland hardwood habitat within the floodplain of the lower White River.

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 turkeySmall 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 (17)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 153,578 (98%)Closed: 3,307 (2%)154Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations153,578 ac 98%
  • Closed3,307 ac 2%
Units by size (acres)
South Unit
78,972 ac
North Unit
49,176 ac
Jacks Bay Hunt Area
9,350 ac
Kansas Lake Area
2,892 ac
Trusten Holder WMA Tracts
2,768 ac
Demonstration Area
1,943 ac
Levee Hunt Area
1,818 ac
Cooks Lake Area
1,810 ac
Dry Lake Area
1,680 ac
Farm Unit
1,433 ac
Moore Tract
1,191 ac
Outlying Tracts with Public Access
1,169 ac
Surround Fields Area
990 ac
Outlying Tracts with No Public Access
803 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Cooks Lake Area Special regs 1,810 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…
Demonstration Area Special regs 1,943 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…
Dry Lake Area Special regs 1,680 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…
Jacks Bay Hunt Area Special regs 9,350 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…
Kansas Lake Area Special regs 2,892 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…
Levee Hunt Area Special regs 1,818 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…
North Unit Special regs 49,176 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…
Outlying Tracts with No Public Access Special regs 803 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…
Outlying Tracts with Public Access Special regs 1,169 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…
South Unit Special regs 78,972 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…
Surround Fields Area Special regs 990 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…
Trusten Holder WMA Tracts Special regs 2,768 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…
Turner Tract Area Special regs 209 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…
Farm Unit Closed 1,433 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…
Moore Tract Closed 1,191 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…
Office Area Closed 524 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…
Walker Cypress Tract Closed 159 Required
Other		 Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on…

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Annual Public Use Permit, which costs $20 for 16 years and older; Free if you?re 15 and under (But must still have on your person)

Type: Other

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 Dale Bumpers White River NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

Available species include crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass and catfish. Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge contains approximately 300 recognizable bodies of water that total in excess of 10,000 surface acres.

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

How to get to Dale Bumpers White River NWR

Navigate

Destination: Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
34.45785, -91.18408
DMS
34°27′28.3″N 91°11′02.7″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Stuttgart, AR21 mi E of town
  • Helena-West Helena, AR34 mi W of town
  • Pine Bluff, AR49 mi E of town
  • Little Rock, AR66 mi E of town

Closest airports

  • LIT Little Rock Clinton National62 mi
  • MEM Memphis Intl79 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 Dale Bumpers White River 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, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM7:32 PM12h 56m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:16 AM6:46 AM7:13 PM12h 26m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:28 AM6:58 AM6:50 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:38 AM7:08 AM6:31 PM11h 23m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:54 AM6:24 AM5:12 PM10h 49m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:07 AM6:37 AM5:01 PM10h 24m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:22 AM6:52 AM4:55 PM10h 02m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM4:55 PM9h 52m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM5:04 PM9h 53m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM5:15 PM10h 05m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:33 AM7:03 AM5:32 PM10h 30m

Computed for 34.458, -91.184 (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.

Dale Bumpers White River NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Dale Bumpers White River NWR?

Yes. Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 13 units (153,578 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, 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 Dale Bumpers White River NWR?

Yes — Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Other. 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 Dale Bumpers White River NWR?

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

Where is Dale Bumpers White River NWR located?

Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge is in Monroe County, Arkansas, about 21 miles E of Stuttgart, AR (straight-line). GPS: 34.45785, -91.18408.

What are legal shooting hours at Dale Bumpers White River 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

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Tallahatchie NWR

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All refuges in Arkansas →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.