Summary of Arkansas Deer Baiting Regulations
- Hunters may bait and feed deer on private land outside of the CWD Management Zone year-round.
- Baiting is not allowed on wildlife management areas.
- It is unlawful to feed wildlife within the CWD Management Zone with some exceptions (see detailed regulations below).
Detailed Regulations
Baiting is the direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of salt, grain or other feed that could serve to lure or attract wildlife to, on or over an area where hunters are attempting to take them. An area is considered baited for 10 days following complete removal of bait.
- Hunters may bait and feed deer on private land outside of the CWD Management Zone year-round.
- Baiting is not allowed on wildlife management areas.
- It is unlawful to feed wildlife within the CWD Management Zone (Baxter, Benton, Boone, Carroll, Crawford, Franklin, Johnson, Logan, Madison, Marion, Newton, Pope, Searcy, Scott, Sebastian, Stone, Van Buren, Washington and Yell counties) with the following exceptions:
- You may bait to hunt deer and elk on private land from Sept. 1-Dec. 31.
- Food plots may be used year-round
- Baiting bears on private land may begin 30 days before bear season opens, however, before Sept. 1, bears may only be baited with dog food, cat food, pastries/bread, cooking oils/grease, non-wildlife meat scraps, popped popcorn, fish and fish byproducts.
- Baiting furbearers or quail is allowed during open seasons on private land.
- Incidental feeding of wildlife from active livestock operations is allowed.
- Normal agricultural, gardening or soil stabilization practices are allowed.
- Bird feeders, squirrel feeders and birdbaths are allowed.
- Grain completely submerged in water is allowed for feeding waterfowl.