The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has implemented several regulation changes for the 2026-27 season, including a new annual conservation permit required for many visitors using commission-owned wildlife management areas and lakes.
The new AGFC Wildlife Management Area/Lake Conservation Permit took effect July 1 and is required for anyone age 16 or older using an AGFC-owned wildlife management area or lake. The annual permit costs $10.50.
The requirement does not apply to people who already possess a valid Arkansas hunting or fishing license, individuals traveling through a wildlife management area on a designated route without participating in recreational activities, or those traveling on public roads or navigable waterways. It also does not apply to cooperatively managed wildlife management areas owned by other entities, such as national forest lands or certain Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission properties.
The new permit replaces two previous permits: the free WMA General Use Permit, which tracked visitor use, and the $5 camping permit introduced in 2024 that was discontinued this year.
According to the commission, revenue generated by the permit will be deposited into the Game Protection Fund and may be used to maintain wildlife management areas, roads, boat ramps and habitat, while also supporting future improvements for non-hunting recreational users such as hiking trails, canoe and kayak launches and other amenities.
Commission officials said the permit also reflects changing patterns of public land use, noting that hunters and anglers have traditionally funded much of the state’s conservation work through license fees, federal excise taxes and other conservation funding sources. They said the new permit allows other recreational users who benefit from wildlife management areas to contribute directly toward their maintenance.
The commission also cited declining revenue from several traditional funding sources, including conservation sales tax receipts, federal wildlife restoration funding and hunting and fishing license sales.
Before the regulation was approved, the commission received 8,447 survey responses. According to AGFC, 41.5% supported the proposal requiring the conservation permit, 24.7% opposed it and the remaining respondents expressed no opinion. While opponents submitted more written comments than supporters, many comments in favor stated that users of wildlife management areas should help support conservation efforts and maintenance costs.
Some members of Arkansas’ birdwatching and outdoor recreation communities expressed concern about the new fee, saying they were unaware the regulation was being considered and would have preferred greater public outreach before it was adopted. Others questioned whether low-impact recreational users should be required to purchase the permit in addition to contributing through the state’s conservation sales tax.
Commission officials said game wardens will emphasize education during the early implementation of the new requirement before focusing on enforcement.
The permit requirement is one of several regulation changes approved for the 2026-27 season.
Other notable changes include:
The Resident Trapper’s Permit has been eliminated.
Resident Turkey Tags and Resident Bear Tags are no longer issued as separate license products. Instead, they are automatically included with each resident hunting license.
Individual Leased Land Permits have been consolidated into a single WMA Leased Land Permit, which costs $75 and is valid for all leased land wildlife management areas.
The Nonresident Hunting Dog Owners Permit fee increased from $20 to $100.
The complete list of regulation changes and permit requirements is available through the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission ahead of the 2026-27 hunting seasons.
