Arkansas is one of the best states in the country for bowfishing. The Mississippi Delta, the Arkansas River system, and hundreds of oxbow lakes give you consistent access to gar, carp, buffalo, and drum in numbers that most other states simply cannot match. The Natural State has earned a strong reputation among bowfishers for exactly this reason.
That said, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) enforces a clear set of rules that every bowfisher must follow — from which species are legal targets to what gear you can run on the water. Getting those details wrong can cost you your license and your catch. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about bowfishing laws in Arkansas so you can focus on the fish.
Important Note: Regulations can change after a guidebook goes to press. According to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the official Code of Regulations always takes precedence over printed summaries. Always verify current rules at agfc.com before your trip.
Is Bowfishing Legal in Arkansas?
Yes, bowfishing is legal in Arkansas. The AGFC officially defines bowfishing as taking fish with a bow and arrow on a line, and it permits rough fish — including gar, bowfin, common carp, grass carp, bighead carp, silver carp, sucker, buffalo, bullhead, and drum — as well as catfish to be taken this way.
Bowfishing is restricted to non-game species such as gar, carp, and buffalo. Shooting game fish, even if caught and released, violates harvest regulations. That rule is firm, and enforcement officers take it seriously on Arkansas waters.
Arkansas also made a notable regulatory update in 2026: the AGFC now allows bowfishing tackle for alligator hunting on private land during the open alligator season. This expands the practical use of bowfishing gear beyond traditional fish-only contexts for landowners.
If you enjoy other forms of archery-based outdoor recreation in the state, you may also want to review the bow hunting laws in Arkansas for a broader look at how the AGFC regulates archery equipment in the field.
What Fish Can You Bowfish for in Arkansas?
Rough fish — specifically gar, bowfin, common carp, grass carp, bighead carp, silver carp, sucker, buffalo, bullhead, and drum — and catfish may be taken by bowfishing. These species make up the core of what Arkansas bowfishers target, and for good reason: carp and buffalo run thick in the Delta, and gar are plentiful throughout the river systems.
Alligator gar may also be taken by bowfishing, but special regulations apply to the taking of alligator gar. The alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) is one of the most sought-after bowfishing targets in the state, and the AGFC manages it carefully given its size and ecological role.
Alligator gar longer than 36 inches may not be harvested from noon, May 1 through noon, July 1, statewide. An Alligator Gar Permit is required to harvest alligator gar. Fishermen may apply for a free Alligator Gar Trophy Tag (AGT) from November 1 through December 31 through the AGFC Licensing System. A limited number of Alligator Gar Trophy Tags are drawn on January 2. A valid Arkansas fishing license is also required; if received, the AGT allows for the harvest of one alligator gar over 36 inches for that calendar year.
Catfish are a special case. Bowfishermen may take catfish from noon July 15 through noon May 1. They may take half the daily statewide limit or half the limit of the waters being fished, whichever is smaller. Outside that window — from noon May 1 through noon July 15 — catfish are off-limits to bowfishers.
Pro Tip: Daily limits for bowfishing are measured from noon to noon, not midnight to midnight. Plan your outing accordingly so you do not accidentally exceed your limit across a single overnight session.
| Species | Legal for Bowfishing? | Season / Restrictions |
|---|---|---|
| Common Carp, Grass Carp, Bighead Carp, Silver Carp | Yes | Year-round; no statewide limit |
| Gar (non-alligator species) | Yes | Year-round; no statewide limit |
| Buffalo, Drum, Bowfin, Sucker, Bullhead | Yes | Year-round; no statewide limit |
| Catfish | Yes (restricted season) | Noon July 15 – noon May 1 only; half the daily limit applies |
| Alligator Gar (under 36 inches) | Yes (with permit) | Closed noon May 1 – noon July 1; permit required |
| Alligator Gar (over 36 inches) | Yes (with Trophy Tag) | AGT required; drawn annually; closed May 1 – July 1 |
| Bass, Crappie, Walleye, Trout, Bream | No | Game fish — prohibited for bowfishing statewide |
Bowfishing License Requirements in Arkansas
If you are 16 or older, you must carry a valid fishing license to take or attempt to take aquatic wildlife in Arkansas, unless you are fishing in a licensed “put-and-take” pay lake. Bowfishing counts as taking aquatic wildlife, so this requirement applies directly to every bowfisher on public waters.
There is no separate bowfishing-specific license in Arkansas. A standard resident or nonresident fishing license covers the activity. Residents generally pay a lower annual fee than nonresidents, and short-term licenses are available for visitors. License fees are set by the AGFC and can be purchased online, at sporting goods retailers, or through the AGFC mobile app.
If you plan to target alligator gar, you need more than just a fishing license. An Alligator Gar Permit is required to harvest alligator gar. Apply for the free Alligator Gar Trophy Tag through the AGFC Licensing System between November 1 and December 31 if you want to keep a fish over 36 inches.
Anglers under 16 are exempt from the license requirement in Arkansas. If you are taking someone younger out on the water, they can bowfish alongside you without a license, but all other regulations — species restrictions, limits, and equipment rules — still apply to them.
For more on how Arkansas structures its outdoor licensing and activity regulations, the hunting laws in Arkansas page covers the broader framework the AGFC uses across all harvest-based activities.
Legal Bowfishing Equipment in Arkansas
Arkansas law defines bowfishing as taking fish with a bow and arrow on a line. That covers traditional recurve bows, compound bows, and crossbows fitted with bowfishing reels and arrows. The arrow must be attached to a line — a free-flying arrow is not legal bowfishing equipment under AGFC rules.
Bowfishing-specific arrows are typically made of fiberglass or carbon with a barbed point designed to hold fish. There is no state restriction on draw weight or arrow material for bowfishing in Arkansas, but your equipment must function as a bow-and-arrow system with a retrieval line.
Boats operated during darkness must be equipped with lights sufficient to make the boat’s presence and location known to any other vessel within a reasonable distance on state-controlled waters. If you run a bowfishing boat at night — which is common practice — proper navigation lighting is a legal requirement, not just a safety suggestion.
Pro Tip: Many serious Arkansas bowfishers use elevated shooting platforms on jon boats with submersible LED lights to attract fish at night. While this setup is popular and effective, make sure your boat’s navigation lights still meet AGFC and U.S. Coast Guard requirements regardless of the lighting rig you add for fishing.
There are no restrictions on the use of artificial lights for attracting fish during bowfishing in Arkansas — underwater lights and above-water spotlights are both widely used and legal. Crossbows are also legal for bowfishing in Arkansas, making the sport accessible to archers who prefer that platform. If you want to compare how neighboring states handle similar rules, the bowfishing laws in Missouri and bowfishing laws in Tennessee pages offer useful context.
Where You Can and Cannot Bowfish in Arkansas
Most public freshwater bodies in Arkansas are open to bowfishing for rough fish and catfish (during the legal season). The Mississippi River, Arkansas River, Red River, White River, and the Delta’s extensive network of oxbow lakes and bayous are all productive and generally open waters.
However, some stretches of river carry specific gear restrictions that affect bowfishers. From 100 yards below Dardanelle Dam to Highway 7, fishing is open to rod or pole only, though scaled rough fish may be taken by bowfishing or gigging during open season. Similar restrictions apply to other dam tailwaters, so always check the area-specific regulations for the water you plan to fish.
Unless otherwise noted in the current Fishing Guidebook, gigging — and by the same logic, bowfishing — is not allowed in areas where fishing is limited to rod or pole. Rod-and-pole-only zones effectively close those stretches to bowfishers unless the regulations explicitly carve out an exception for rough fish.
Private land is another consideration. You need landowner permission to access private property along any waterway. Trespassing to reach a bowfishing spot is a separate legal issue from fishing regulations and can result in criminal charges independent of any AGFC violation.
- Most public rivers, lakes, and reservoirs: open to bowfishing for legal species
- Rod-and-pole-only zones (certain dam tailwaters): bowfishing restricted, check area regulations
- AGFC-owned lakes and WMAs: standard bowfishing rules apply; check for WMA-specific restrictions
- National Park waters (e.g., Buffalo National River): check NPS and AGFC rules; some restrictions apply
- Private property waters: legal access requires landowner permission
For a broader look at how Arkansas manages outdoor activity on private and public land, the roadkill laws in Arkansas and transporting livestock laws in Arkansas pages reflect how the state balances public resource management with private property rights.
Night Bowfishing Rules in Arkansas
Arkansas does not impose a statewide ban on night bowfishing. You can legally bowfish after dark on most public waters as long as you follow all standard species, license, and equipment rules. This is a significant advantage for Arkansas bowfishers — night sessions are often the most productive, particularly for carp and gar that move into shallower water after sunset.
For bowfishing and gigging, daily limits are measured from noon to noon during their respective seasons. This noon-to-noon measurement window is specifically designed to accommodate anglers who fish across a single overnight trip. You do not reset your limit at midnight — your limit runs from the noon you started to the noon the following day.
The boat lighting requirement is the main legal obligation specific to night bowfishing. On federally controlled waters, nonpowered boats must have a readily accessible light source to prevent collisions. Motorboats operating on federally controlled waters must have a combination red-and-green light on the bow and a white light aft. State-controlled waters require lights sufficient to make your boat visible to other vessels.
Some WMA-specific regulations restrict certain activities after specific hours. On AGFC-owned lakes and wildlife management areas, creating a disturbance after 10 p.m. is prohibited. This does not ban bowfishing itself after 10 p.m. on those waters, but it does mean you need to run a quiet, low-impact operation if you are fishing AGFC-owned lakes late at night.
Pro Tip: Submersible green or white LED lights attract plankton, which draws baitfish, which in turn pulls in carp, buffalo, and gar. Running lights on a timer or dimmer can help you comply with noise and disturbance rules on AGFC-owned waters while still getting the light attraction benefit.
Bowfishers in neighboring states face different night rules. See how they compare with the bowfishing laws in Ohio, bowfishing laws in Minnesota, and bowfishing laws in North Carolina for a regional perspective.
Saltwater Bowfishing Rules in Arkansas
Arkansas is a landlocked state with no coastline, so there are no saltwater bowfishing regulations under AGFC jurisdiction. The state has no tidal waters, no Gulf or Atlantic access, and no saltwater species management framework. Every body of water in Arkansas falls under freshwater regulation.
If you are traveling from Arkansas to bowfish in a coastal state — Louisiana, Texas, or Mississippi, for example — you will need to obtain a saltwater fishing license from that state and follow its specific bowfishing rules. Those regulations vary significantly from Arkansas’s freshwater framework, particularly regarding protected marine species and gear restrictions near coastal management zones.
Within Arkansas, the closest thing to brackish or transitional water management occurs on the Mississippi River border with Tennessee and Mississippi. The state line on the Arkansas-Oklahoma border runs from the second rock jetty downstream of the Garrison Avenue Bridge on the west side of the river to approximately the third bridge support column of the same bridge, continuing to the mouth of the Poteau River and up its center to the old Port of Fort Smith. On the Mississippi River side, Arkansas and Tennessee share jurisdiction, so anglers should confirm which state’s regulations apply to the specific water they are fishing.
For other Arkansas-specific animal and outdoor laws that may affect your time on the water or in the field, the dog leash laws in Arkansas and beekeeping laws in Arkansas pages cover additional AGFC and state-level regulations worth knowing if you spend time outdoors across the state.
Arkansas rewards bowfishers who do their homework. The species list is generous, the waters are productive, and the AGFC’s regulations are built around sustainable harvest rather than blanket restrictions. Carry your fishing license, know your target species, run proper boat lights at night, and check the area-specific rules for any dam tailwater or WMA you plan to fish. When in doubt, the AGFC General Fishing Regulations page and the eRegulations Arkansas Fishing Seasons guide are the most reliable places to confirm current rules before you hit the water.