Big Game: Bear

Hunting black bear in Arkansas stands the test of time in the state’s history. Once known as the “Bear State,” Arkansas’s reputation for bear hunting stands alone.

• The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission reported in 1928 that the population of bear in the state was only 25 animals. With a restoration project from 1959–1968 focused on restoring their numbers in the Ouachita and Ozark regions, the number of bears increased to a point that a bear hunting season was reestablished in 1980.
• The bear season normally runs during the months of September, October, and November. Check the current Arkansas Hunting Guidebook for dates and requirements.