Hunting License Required

• Arkansas is the duck capital of the world.Arkansas state contour against blurred USA flag image by Stasys Eidiejus from Fotolia.com
  
  All persons over 16 years of age, hunting ducks in the state of Arkansas, are required to have a valid hunting license. Licenses are available from the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission at its website (agfc.com) or from hunting and fishing stores, convenience stores and sporting goods discount stores. Licenses can also be purchased by telephone (800-364-4263) 24 hours a day. Just give them your driver's license, Social Security number, address, age and credit card number and the license is effective immediately. A copy of your new hunting license will arrive in the mail within 10 days. Duck hunting season normally starts the last week of November. The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission sets the opening day and limits each year.
  
  

State & Federal Lands

• Wild ducks are attracted by water ponds.The Ducks image by Boschak from Fotolia.com
  
  Whether you are hunting ducks, doves, geese, coots, snipe, woodcocks, rails, moorgens or gallinules, you will find them in the 2.9 million Arkansas acres of lakes, streams and woodlands managed by the United States Forest Service.
  
  U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service lands:
  
  Ozark - St. Francis National Forest
  
  605 West Main St.
  
  Russellville, AR 72801
  
  479-964-7200
  
  Ouachita National Forest
  
  P.O. Box 1270
  
  100 Reserve St.
  
  Hot Springs, AR 71902
  
  501-321-5202
  
  The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission manages state-owned lands. There are literally hundreds of thousands of acres of prime waterfowl habitat to hunt. Heavily saturated with mallards, the bountiful region between the Black and Cache rivers in northeast Arkansas is a favorite spot for hunters to set up decoys and work their dogs.
  
  

Mississippi Flyway

• Arkansas is a waterfowl mecca. Grain fields, rice paddies, flooded timber, grasslands and an abundance of open water along the Mississippi flyway provide ideal habitat for migratory waterfowl on their journey south. Mississippi flyway extends from the Arctic Circle in Alaska to the Patagonia Region of South America. Through much of the United States, the flyway follows the Mississippi River. When viewed on an aerial map, the flyway looks like a gigantic funnel that narrows at Arkansas.
  
  

Economic Impact

• Mallards migrate to Arkansas.mallard image by John Sandoy from Fotolia.com
  
  Duck hunting is of great importance to the economy of Arkansas. Duck hunting guides, hunting supply stores, hunting dog breeders, duck hunting lodges and a wide variety of other services involved with Arkansas' annual duck hunting season are economically dependent on the yearly duck migration. Local landowners benefit from leasing waterfowl wetlands to duck hunting clubs and organizations. Funds derived from the sale of federal duck stamps has funded the acquisition of the majority of the acreage within 10 Arkansas wildlife refuges.
  
  

Duck Capital of the World

• Stuttgart, Arkansas, has the proud distinction of being known as the Duck Capital, with Arkansas home to the largest wintering population of mallards in the world. Every season, festivals, parades, duck calling contests and fantastic food celebrate the opening day of duck season.