Hunting in Arkansas: 9 Invasive Species to Arkansas and Its Rules for Hunting Them

Hunting in Arkansas often means having to deal with invasive species. These species may or may not be native to the Natural State, but often compete with surrounding species until the invasive species takes over, sometimes endangering other species, and harming habitats.

Invasive species in Arkansas are most often plants and aquatic species like the Northern snakehead, bighead and silver carp, zebra mussel, tall fescue, hydrilla, and Japanese beetle.

Hunters can help fight invasive species by learning about them, reporting sightings, cleaning their gear and more, but they can also help fight pest species in Arkansas by learning what to do about them.

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For one, it’s good to know nuisance wildlife can be taken during daylight hours or trapped any day of the year on private property. Live trap and release methods don’t even require a permit. There are limits for public property, especially where hunting is concerned.

Here are nine invasive species and nuisance wildlife to Arkansas, and its rules for hunting them:

1. Feral Hogs
Arkansas’s worst invasive pest, feral hogs are not native to North America. To keep the population from getting completely out of control, 70 percent must be killed every year. Trapping is the most effective form of take when it comes to population reduction, but hunting can be done during some big game firearm seasons.

2. Beaver
Like feral pigs, trapping is the most effective method at reducing beavers that sometimes cause flooding around their dams, but hunting is permitted.

3. Coyote
This adaptable scavenger can be taken with nearly any weapon, with or without dogs, depending on the season, for most of the year.

4. Muskrat
Another pest rodent, muskrat can be hunted or trapped in any quantity in Arkansas.

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5. Nutria
This large, burrowing rodent is known to cause considerable erosion. Trapping is effective and there is no limit to how many a hunter can take per day.

6. Opossum
Though not a significant nuisance species, they do tend to root through trash and are part of the furbearer season in Arkansas despite their fur not being particularly marketable.

7. Raccoon
Even with populations stable over the last few years, raccoons are still considered a nuisance and can be hunted or trapped in any quantity.

8. Striped Skunk
Live traps are permitted for use in cities and suburbs, but hunting is permitted in season for these furbearers.

9. Birds
English sparrows, blackbirds, starlings, and crows that are damaging crops or property may be taken without a permit.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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