FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas — Archery deer season is now open in Arkansas! The anticipation of opening day is as palpable as the cool crisp morning air that hunters walked out to this morning.
In this weeks edition of 5OUTDOORS, Skot Covert visits with Trey Reid from the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission (AGFC) about a wide range of topics from archery season, dove and early teal season, as well as hunters education opportunities.
Bucks-Only Season A Success
It's worth noting that some archery deer hunting has already taken place this year. This year the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission (AGFC) opened a new bucks-only season for bowhunters September 7-9. The numbers suggest it was a resounding success.
AGFC reported that bowhunters harvested 1,231 during this inaugural hunt.
Ralph Meeker, deer program coordinator for the AGFC, said the hunt’s harvest was within the range expected by biologists when the hunt was announced.
“When we look at historical harvest for the first three days of archery season, hunters typically check between 2,000 and 4,000 deer, depending on the weather,” Meeker said. “But a lot of those deer are does, so when you look at only the buck component of that harvest, it’s around 800 to 1,500 antlered deer.”
New Alternative Firearms Season
Hunters will also be afforded with another new opportunity to harvest deer this year in Arkansas. Beginning this year the Commission has implemented an "alternative firearms season".
"Essentially we're allowing straight wall cartridge rifle ammunition," according to AGFC spokesperson Trey Reid. "They can be bolt action or lever action, but just can't be semiautomatic."
Alternative Firearms Seasons opens October 19, 2024.
For more information on what is and isn't allowed, visit AGFC's website by tapping here.
Early Teal Season
Early teal season in Arkansas officially ends on Sunday, September 30, 2024.
Hunters may find opportunity in AGFC's Frog Bayou Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Crawford County. This area is an annual draw for waterfowl migrating through the area.
Frog Bayou WMA, established in 2005 by the AGFC in collaboration with Ducks Unlimited and the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, has grown significantly over the years. In 2017, the area nearly tripled in size to 2,180 acres, thanks to a partnership with The Trust for Public Land and funding from Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration.
Located along Frog Bayou (also known as Clear Creek) south of Dyer in Crawford County near the Arkansas River, the WMA is bordered by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers land.
Once a farm, this land has been transformed into a wetland restoration project, primarily benefiting migratory waterfowl. The WMA features seven moist soil units with low levees, managed as shallow impoundments during the late fall and winter months. One of these units is set apart from the main tract. Much of the remaining land has been reforested with hardwoods like cypress and willow oak, covering around 40 acres.
AGFC App and Licensing
Last year AGFC implemented a new mobile app and licensing system. The commission wants to remind hunters and anglers to delete the old app and make sure to have the current app installed. It's available for free in all app stores.
This new app allows users to purchase necessary licenses and permits as well as check harvested game.
Hunters Education
It's not too late to take the required hunters education course! AGFC free in-person classes all across Arkansas as well as an online version as well.
If you were born after 1968 and want to hunt in Arkansas, you're required to complete a hunter education course and carry a valid hunter education card. Kids under 16 can hunt without the course, but they need to be directly supervised by an adult who’s at least 21.
Tap here to find and register for a hunters education course near you.
Upcoming In-Person Classes
October 5, 2024 - St. Paul
St. Paul High School
8AM - 6PM
October 5, 2024 Fort Smith
Grand Avenue Baptist
8AM - 7PM
October 12, 2024 Fort Smith
Janet Huckabee Nature Center
7AM - 6PM
October 12, 2024 Fayetteville
Washington County Sheriffs Department
8AM - 6PM
Tap here for more information on these classes and to register.
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