Rut dates · 2026

When is the rut in Arkansas?

Published rut estimates for Arkansas differ by region and species: Oct 28 – Nov 21 and Nov 22 – Dec 14, each with its source below. Bucks move most in the days before and during the peak.

Sources checked October 2026 · all 12 states

Arkansas peak breeding

White-tailed deer

Western Arkansas Agency Oct 28 – Nov 21 The range of peak conception dates across most western counties. Source: AGFC (2018)

Eastern Arkansas Agency Nov 22 – Dec 14 Latest along the Mississippi River counties. AGFC doesn't define exactly where west ends and east begins. Source: AGFC (2018)

How to read these dates

Biologists date the rut by conception: they back-date from fetuses or fawn births to when does were bred. A single date is the peak, the day most does were bred; a range covers most of the breeding. Weather and deer density shift it year to year, and southern or coastal counties can run weeks earlier than a state average.

Agency / study comes from a state wildlife agency or a peer-reviewed study. Secondary is a biologist quoted in the press or a federal fact sheet.

Arkansas deer seasons, 2026

Season	Dates	Notes
Archery Deer	Sep 26 – Feb 28	Uniform across all deer zones 2026-27; runs into late Feb 2027. Separate early buck-only archery Aug 29-31 also exists.
Muzzleloader Deer	Oct 17 – Oct 25	AGFC 'Alternative Firearms.' Most-common-zone dates. Split: Oct 17-25 plus late Dec 12-14. Zones 4/5 closed to muzzleloader.
Modern Gun Deer	Nov 14 – Dec 6	Most-common-zone dates (zones 1,2,3,6,7,8,10,11). Split season: main Nov 14-Dec 6 plus late Dec 26-28. Zones 4/5 end Nov 22; zones 9/12/13 to Dec 20.

From WikiHunt’s season table (updated Sep 2, 2026). Confirm in the Arkansas regulations. Arkansas hunting maps and all seasons.