Public land quail are tough to find, but not impossible. The Ouachita NF has places that have relatively good numbers, but one has to do his/her homework to locate birds and wear out boot leather. Areas within 2-5 years after harvest or areas where thinned pines or site prep has been burned are the best places to look. Most AGFC areas don't have good quail numbers as deer or waterfowl are featured species in terms of management; most are heavily forested (or have been planted to forest after being acquired as open land) but there are a few exceptions. Look for WMAs with native grass areas, thinned stands of pine, a good burn rotations, etc. In the east part of the state where CRP and similar farm programs have been going on for years, young tree plantations (<10 years old) can hold good quail numbers, but most are on private land. However, some public land has also been subjected to hardwood restoration, and young forested areas may hold quail. I still hunt quite a bit in AR, and most of my hunting is on these latter types of areas on public land.
Mike, Author, A Life with Gentleman Bob and a Few of His Kinfolk, Hunting Midwest Quail, Amazon.
