Deer hunting season opens Saturday (Sept. 28) for archery hunters.
Bow hunters can begin hunting 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset.
The state allows hunters to tag six deer during the season with no more than two legal bucks. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission reports 213,000 deer were checked in last year, which is an all-time high for the state.
As regular bow hunting season starts, urban archery is already underway. Ralph Meeker with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission said so far there have been 180 deer checked in between the seven urban hunts in the state. So far, 21 deer have been tagged in Chaffee Crossing, according Meeker. The commission has implemented new bow regulations this year.
“We did decrease the draw weight on bows to 35 pounds, so that will probably be very attractive for some youth that can now pull back a bow,” Meeker said.
Saturday’s forecast calls for rain, but Meeker said he expects the first day to be a busy for hunters.
"With weather participating, we think it's probably going to be raining on Saturday, so you might get a morning hunt in,” Meeker said. “The evening hunt might be a little wet, but you're still going to have a lot of folks out there, because it is opening day of deer season, out there hunting in the rain.”
He encourages hunters to be safe, especially when getting in and out of tree stand. Bow hunters can harvest deer, during open firearm season.
Modern gun season begins Nov. 9. Hunter must wear orange while hunting. Bow hunting season ends Feb. 28.