Deer Seasons
2023 Deer Season Opening Dates
Archery - Sept. 23, 2022
Muzzleloader - Oct. 21, 2023
Modern Gun - Nov. 11, 2023
Deer Seasons and Limits by Zone

Deer Zone 1 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022- Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23 and Dec. 10-12, 2022
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 4, 2022 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Five antlerless with archery,
- Three antlerless with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
- No antler-point restrictions on harvest.
- Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
- Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
- CWD regulations apply.
Deer Zone 2 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022- Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23 and Dec. 10-12, 2022
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 4 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Five antlerless with archery,
- Three antlerless with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
- No antler-point restrictions on harvest.
- Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
- Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
- CWD regulations apply.
- Due to ongoing research, collared or ear-tagged deer may be present. Research deer are legal for harvest. Tag and check research deer as required and call 1-800-482-9262 within 12 hours of harvest.
Deer Zone 3 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022- Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23 and Dec. 10-12, 2022
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 4 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Five antlerless with archery,
- Three antlerless with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
- No antler point restrictions on harvest within the CWD counties. All other counties within this zone legal bucks must be a button buck or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
- Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
- Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
- In Baxter, Boone, Independence, and Marion counties, CWD regulations apply.
Deer Zone 4 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022- Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Closed
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-20 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – For portions outside of the CWD Management Zone: Three deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two bucks with archery or modern gun,
- Three does with archery,
- One doe with modern gun.
Limit – For portions inside the CWD Management Zone (Jackson and Randolph County): Three deer, no more than two antlered bucks, which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery or modern gun,
- Three anterless with archery,
- One antlerless with modern gun.
Zone Notes
- No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
- Outside the CWD Management Zone, legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack. Inside the CWD Management Zone there are no antler restrictions.
- Special modern gun restrictions apply.
- Button bucks DO count toward a hunter's buck limit outside of the CWD Management Zone and DO NOT count toward a hunter's buck bag limit inside of the CWD Management Zone.
- In Jackson and Randolph County CWD regulations apply.
Deer Zone 4A Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022- Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23 and Dec. 17-19, 2022
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 11 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Three deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Three does with archery,
- Two does with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
- Legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
- Button bucks DO count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
Deer Zone 5 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022- Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Closed
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-20 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Three deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two bucks with archery or modern gun,
- Three does with archery,
- One doe with modern gun.
Zone Notes
- No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
- Legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
- Special modern gun restrictions apply.
- Button bucks DO count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
Deer Zone 5A Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022- Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23 and Dec. 17-19, 2022
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 11 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Three deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Three does with archery,
- Two does with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
- Legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
- Button bucks DO count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
Deer Zone 6 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022- Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23 and Dec. 10-12, 2022
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 4 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Five antlerless with archery,
- Three antlerless with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- Dogs allowed for deer hunting Nov. 13-Dec. 5.
- No antler point restrictions on harvest within the CWD counties. All other counties within this zone legal bucks must be a button buck or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
- Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
- Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
- In Crawford, Franklin, Independence, Johnson, Madison, Newton, Pope, Searcy, Stone, Van Buren and Washington counties, CWD regulations apply.
- Due to ongoing research, collared or ear-tagged deer may be present. Research deer are legal for harvest. Tag and check research deer as required and call 1-800-482-9262 within 12 hours of harvest.
Deer Zone 7 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022- Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23 and Dec. 10-12, 2022
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 4 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Five antlerless with archery,
- Three antlerless with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- Dogs allowed for deer hunting Nov. 13-Dec. 5.
- No antler point restrictions on harvest within the CWD counties. All other counties within this zone legal bucks must be a button buck or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
- Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
- Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
- In Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Pope, Scott, Sebastian and Yell counties, CWD regulations apply.
Deer Zone 8 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022- Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23 and Dec. 10-12, 2022
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 4 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Five antlerless with archery,
- Three antlerless with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- Dogs allowed for deer hunting Nov. 13-Dec. 5.
- No antler point restrictions on harvest within the CWD counties. All other counties within this zone legal bucks must be a button buck or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
- Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
- Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
- In Independence, Jackson, Johnson, Pope and Van Buren counties, CWD regulations apply.
Deer Zone 9 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022-Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23, 2022
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 18 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Four deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Four does with archery,
- Two does with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
- No antler point restrictions on harvest within the CWD counties. All other counties within this zone legal bucks must be a button buck or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
- Button bucks DO count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
- In Jackson County CWD regulations apply.
Deer Zone 10 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022- Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23 and Dec. 10-12, 2022
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 4 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Five antlerless with archery,
- Three antlerless with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- Dogs allowed for deer hunting Nov. 13-Dec. 5.
- Legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
- Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
- Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
Deer Zone 11 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022- Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23 and Dec. 10-12, 2022
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 4 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Five antlerless with archery,
- Three antlerless with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- Dogs allowed for deer hunting Nov. 13-Dec. 5.
- No antler point restrictions on harvest within the CWD counties. All other counties within this zone legal bucks must be a button buck or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
- Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
- Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
- In Logan, Scott, Sebastian and Yell counties, CWD regulations apply.
Deer Zone 12 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022-Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23, 2022
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 18 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – For portions outside of the CWD Management Zone: Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Five does with archery,
- Five does with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Limit – For portions inside the CWD Management Zone (Ashley, Bradley and Union Counties): Five deer, no more than two antlered bucks, which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Five anterless with archery,
- Five antlerless with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- Dogs allowed for deer hunting Nov. 13-Dec. 19.
- Legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
- Button bucks DO count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
Deer Zone 13 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022-Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23, 2022
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 18 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two antlered bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Five antlerless with archery,
- Three antlerless with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- Dogs allowed for deer hunting Nov. 13-Dec. 19.
- Legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
- Button bucks count as antlerless deer, but must be checked as a button buck.
- Button bucks do NOT count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
Deer Zone 14 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022-Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23 and Dec. 17-19, 2022
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 11 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Four deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Four does with archery,
- Two does with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- Dogs allowed for deer hunting Nov. 13-Dec. 12.
- Legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
- Button bucks DO count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
Deer Zone 15 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022-Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23 and Dec. 17-19, 2022
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 11 and Dec. 26-28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Four deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Four does with archery,
- Two does with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- Dogs allowed for deer hunting Nov. 13-Dec. 12.
- Legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack.
- Button bucks DO count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
Deer Zone 16 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022-Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23, 2022
Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Four deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Four does with archery,
- Two does with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- No dogs allowed for deer hunting.
- Legal bucks must be button bucks or have antlers with at least 15-inch inside spread or 18-inch main beam.
- Button bucks DO count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
Deer Zone 16A Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022-Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23, 2022
Private Land Antlerless Only Modern Gun Deer Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Four deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Four does with archery,
- Two does with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- Dogs allowed for deer hunting Nov. 13-Dec. 28.
- Legal bucks must be button bucks or have antlers with at least 15-inch inside spread or 18-inch main beam.
- Button bucks DO count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.
Deer Zone 17 Season Details
2022-23 Deer Season Dates
Archery: Sept. 24, 2022-Feb. 28, 2023
Muzzleloader: Oct. 15-23, 2022
Private Land Antlerless Only Modern Gun Deer Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2022
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 5-6, 2022 and Jan. 7-8, 2023
Modern Gun: Nov. 12-Dec. 28, 2022
Zone Bag Limit
Limit – Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:
- Two bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun,
- Five does with archery,
- Five does with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Zone Notes
- Dogs allowed for deer hunting Nov. 13-Dec. 28.
- Legal bucks must be button bucks or have antlers with at least 15-inch inside spread or 18-inch main beam.
- Button bucks DO count toward a hunter's buck limit in this zone.