Decatur State Wildlife Area
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Decatur State Wildlife Area is located in the state of Arkansas and is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
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Summary
The area offers a variety of activities, including hunting, fishing, hiking, and bird watching. The wildlife area covers over 14,000 acres and is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including deer, turkey, quail, and waterfowl.
One of the main reasons to visit Decatur State Wildlife Area is for its excellent hunting opportunities. The area is known for its abundance of deer, turkey, and waterfowl. The area is also a popular destination for fishing, with several lakes and streams available for anglers.
Visitors to the area can enjoy hiking along several trails, including the scenic Ozark Highlands Trail. Other points of interest in the area include the historic town of Decatur, the Devil's Eyebrow Natural Area, and the Ozark National Forest.
Interesting facts about Decatur State Wildlife Area include its designation as a critical habitat area for the endangered Indiana bat. The area is also home to several rare plant species, including the Ozark trillium and the Ozark ginseng.
The best time of year to visit Decatur State Wildlife Area depends on the activity you are interested in. Hunting season runs from September to February, while fishing is best in the spring and fall. Hiking and bird watching can be enjoyed year-round, with the spring and fall offering the best weather conditions.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Shewmaker County Park
Sand Creek State Wildlife Area
Slip Bluff County Park