National Wildlife Refuge · Arkansas · FWS Region 4

Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Located in Sevier County, Arkansas, Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with about 27,457 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 3 mapped hunt units: 2 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 28,428 huntable acres.

2 with special regs1 closedPermit requiredYouth hunts
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
3hunt units
28.4Khuntable acres
27.5KFWS-owned acres
5game categories

Pond Creek 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 Pond Creek NWR

Hunting opportunities include 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. Special youth hunting opportunities are offered.

Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge provides a 27,000-acre bottomland hardwood habitat that is prime for wildlife. Access is provided by public roads, ATV/UTV trails and water. Primitive camping is allowed.

Youth hunting

A firearms deer hunt is held for youth hunters, issued by lottery.

All refuges with youth hunts →
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 (3)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 28,428 (99%)Closed: 360 (1%)28.4Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations28,428 ac 99%
  • Closed360 ac 1%
Units by size (acres)
Hunt Area
28,153 ac
No Hunting Zone
360 ac
Mobility Impaired Hunt Area
274 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Hunt Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 28,153 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Everything.
🧒 A firearms deer hunt is held for youth hunters, issued by lottery.
Mobility Impaired Hunt Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 274 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Everything.
🧒 A firearms deer hunt is held for youth hunters, issued by lottery.
No Hunting Zone
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 360 Required
Signed Brochure or Similar		 Everything.
🧒 A firearms deer hunt is held for youth hunters, issued by lottery.

Pond Creek NWR by the numbers

With about 28,428 huntable acres, Pond Creek NWR ranks #4 of 9 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in Arkansas and #86 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 99% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is Hunt Area (28,153 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, Mobility Impaired Hunt Area, covers 274 acres. Every huntable unit requires a refuge permit.

1 unit totaling 360 acres is closed to hunting (No Hunting Zone). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 27,457 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 208 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Pond Creek 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, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Required

Everything.

Type: Signed Brochure or Similar

How to get it:

  • 🪧 Kiosk at the refuge
  • 💻 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 Pond Creek NWR

  • 🐟 Freshwater fishing

The refuge is open year-round to fishing in multiple natural oxbow lakes and in the Little and Cossatot Rivers, which border the refuge to the south and east.

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

How to get to Pond Creek NWR

Navigate

Destination: Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
Decimal
33.85114, -94.25293
DMS
33°51′04.1″N 94°15′10.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Texarkana, AR31 mi NW of town
  • Idabel, OK33 mi E of town
  • Shreveport, LA96 mi N of town
  • El Dorado, AR101 mi NW of town

Closest airports

  • SHV Shreveport Regional100 mi
  • LIT Little Rock Clinton National131 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 Pond Creek 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, 20266:20 AM6:50 AM7:44 PM12h 55m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:29 AM6:59 AM7:25 PM12h 26m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:40 AM7:10 AM7:02 PM11h 53m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:50 AM7:20 AM6:44 PM11h 24m
Sun, Nov 1, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM5:25 PM10h 50m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:18 AM6:48 AM5:14 PM10h 26m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:33 AM7:03 AM5:08 PM10h 05m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:44 AM7:14 AM5:09 PM9h 55m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:51 AM7:21 AM5:18 PM9h 56m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:51 AM7:21 AM5:29 PM10h 08m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:44 AM7:14 AM5:46 PM10h 32m

Computed for 33.851, -94.253 (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 Pond Creek 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…

Your First Public-Land Hunt: A Step-by-Step Checklist for New Hunters

Hunter education, licenses, choosing a first species, gear, practice, scouting with maps and what to expect on your…

Pond Creek NWR FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Pond Creek NWR?

Yes. Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 2 units (28,428 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 Pond Creek NWR?

Yes — Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge requires a refuge permit for some or all hunting. Permit type: Signed Brochure or Similar. Permits can be obtained kiosk, 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 Pond Creek NWR?

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

Where is Pond Creek NWR located?

Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge is in Sevier County, Arkansas, about 31 miles NW of Texarkana, AR (straight-line). GPS: 33.85114, -94.25293.

What are legal shooting hours at Pond Creek 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

Little River NWR

McCurtain County, OK · 25 mi W

6 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐇🐗🎣

14.1K huntable acres

Caddo Lake NWR

Harrison County, TX · 83 mi S

11 special1 closed
🦌🐇🐗

6.9K huntable acres

Holla Bend NWR

Pope County, AR · 112 mi NE

2 special1 closed
🦌🦃🐦🐇🐗🎣

6K huntable acres

Sequoyah NWR

Haskell County, OK · 117 mi N

13 special3 closed
🦌🦆🦃🕊️🐇🐗🎣

16.5K huntable acres

Felsenthal NWR

Union County, AR · 131 mi E

2 special1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

77.3K huntable acres

Ozark Plateau NWR

Adair County, OK · 131 mi N

1 special1 closed
🦌🐇🐗

799 huntable acres

All refuges in Arkansas →

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