What is a natural area?

Prior to statehood, Arkansas was marked by an expansive mosaic of natural communities. In all, more than 40 different natural community types occurred across Arkansas' landscape. Since the 1800s, however, urban development, agriculture, fire suppression and the spread of invasive plant species have destroyed or degraded many of these diverse ecosystems.

The Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission (ANHC) is charged with the responsibility of protecting the best of the last remaining vestiges of the state's natural communities. ANHC does this through its System of Natural Areas. Natural areas are lands specifically managed to preserve and sometimes restore, natural communities that have become rare.

Natural areas are more than just a glimpse into the past. What these areas ultimately can provide are blueprints for understanding how Arkansas' diverse ecosystems originally functioned. Such information will be especially vital as Arkansas continues to develop and address important environmental issues into the future.                     

Public Hunting Land in Arkansas

Specific forms of hunting are allowed on some natural areas. A cooperative agreement between ANHC and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) incorporated certain natural areas into AGFC's Wildlife Management Area (WMA) system. Every effort has been made by AGFC to provide maximum opportunity, maintain safety, protect healthy wildlife populations, and adhere to the conservation values inherent to ANHC's System of Natural Areas. Natural areas that are also considered AGFC WMAs will receive the same level of attention from AGFC enforcement staff as do other WMAs. Consequently, all applicable hunting regulations will be enforced on natural areas where hunting is allowed. Please make yourself aware of current AGFC hunting regulations before visiting a natural area. You can download a PDF of the current Arkansas Hunting Guidebook.

The AGFC has created a General Use WMA Permit required of anyone who hunts, traps, fishes, or boats on a WMA. The permit is free and can be obtained at any licensed vendor, by calling 800-364-4263, or visiting online. More information about the new permit can be found here.

Hunting on a Specific Natural Area

Below is a list of natural areas where hunting is permitted. Some natural areas have limited access, and it is the hunter's responsibility to obtain permission to access adjacent private landowner's property. Follow the natural area links below for directions and boundary and county locator maps. Please follow the WMA links (listed under each natural area) for specific hunting regulations, as the types of hunting allowed on each natural area varies.

Feral hogs have become a threat to land across the state, including properties within the System of Natural Areas. If you are interested in hunting feral hogs on natural areas, AGFC has developed special regulations for land in the WMA system. Visit the AGFC website for that information.