FYU
States / AR / Pope County

Pope County, Arkansas

Game found here
White-tailed DeerWild TurkeyWaterfowl
Ozarks & River ValleySee on map →0 questions

Unit info

Game species
White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, Waterfowl
Group
Ozarks & River Valley
Area
N/A
Public land
N/A
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
Reported harvest
4,046

Draw odds for White-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.

Season & harvest data is published for White-tailed Deer so far. Wild Turkey, Waterfowl also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.

About this unit

AI-compiled · sourced
Sign in to contribute

Pope County straddles the Arkansas River Valley in west-central Arkansas, anchored by Russellville and Lake Dardanelle, with Ozark National Forest covering the rugged northern slopes and offering upland deer and turkey hunting above the fertile river bottom. The county spans a dramatic terrain transition from the flat Arkansas River plain to the Boston Mountain escarpment, creating diverse habitat and hunting opportunities across species. The combination of National Forest land and Corps of Engineers impoundments makes Pope County one of the more accessible mixed-bag hunting counties in the state.

Terrain & elevation

Arkansas River Valley floor transitioning north into Ozark National Forest foothills and Boston Mountain plateau; Lake Dardanelle dominates the center; Petit Jean River to the south

Hunting pressure

Moderate; proximity to Russellville and Fort Smith population centers draws hunters but the National Forest absorbs pressure well

Tags & permits

Over-the-counter license; statewide antler restrictions apply

Species & seasons

Lake Dardanelle holds diving ducks and Canada geese in migration; Ozark NF turkey hunting is solid in mast-producing hardwoods; Holla Bend NWR across the river provides complementary waterfowl hunting

Highlights

The Boston Mountain transition zone in the northern county concentrates deer along elevation-break browse lines; Dardanelle reservoir complex attracts diverse waterfowl during fall migration

Questions, tips & discussion

Ask anything about Pope County— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.

Nothing posted yet about Pope County.

Be the first — ask a question (“Best public access on the north end?”) or share a tip (“Glass the burn scars off the main ridge at first light”).

Boundaries: AGFC county-based deer management units. Community info last updated 16d ago.