Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – July 25, 2024 – Recent mornings with low humidity and lower than normal temperatures will get a hunter thinking about the seasonal changes that are approaching. A cool oak forest, the smell of a cut corn field, or the sound of leaves clattering as they fall to the forest floor are still a few weeks away, but thoughts of hunting are beginning to creep into the minds of those that want to be out there.
Another thing that might have stirred some thoughts about time in the woods has been talk about the recent changes by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to hunting regulations. The changes for this season represent the widest array of season/regulation changes that I can remember. These changes will provide some great opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in some new ways. To save on space and limit boredom from excessive reading, let’s take a broad look at a couple of the changes.
Many changes center around white-tailed deer hunting. Less than one hundred years ago the deer population of Arkansas had fallen to a low of around five hundred animals. Now, through regulation and management, the deer herd in Arkansas is somewhere around one million. That is one of the greatest success stories in the history of wildlife management.
With that success comes new management issues that must be addressed. Without diving into data, observable indicators like deer/car collisions, as well as damage to crops and residential vegetation, indicate a deer population that needs control in some areas of the state.
Based on biological principles and interest from hunters, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has introduced new regulations that should afford the deer hunter more opportunity and options throughout the season.
One of the biggest changes is the introduction of the alternative firearms season, which has replaced muzzleloader season. This change allows hunters a wider array of firearms, including bolt action, single-shot or lever action rifles that fire a straight-walled cartridge, during those seasons.
Deer zones 4 and 5, which cover most of Northeast Arkansas, do not have the dedicated alternative firearms season. Due to low deer populations, most of NEA has been regulated both by method of take and length of season for many years. As the deer population began to grow, a limited firearm season with restrictions to certain types of firearms, mainly shotguns with slugs or muzzleloader, was introduced. The conservative season lengths have been increased in recent years, allowing more days of hunting. Now there is another step toward less conservative seasons with the addition of the straight-walled cartridges to the allowed methods of take during the modern gun season in zones 4 and 5. For a full run-down of the particulars of a legal straight-walled cartridge please refer to this article at agfc.com. https://www.agfc.com/news/shooting-straight/
Another unique change to the season structure for whitetails is the addition of an archery hunt in early September. The early archery hunt will be open September 7 – 9 and is for bucks only. This season could give a hunter the chance to take a buck that is still in velvet.
This link https://www.agfc.com/hunting/deer/deer-seasons-and-limits-by-zone/ will go directly to the summary of the deer hunting regulations. More information on these regulations and others will be shared here as time and space allows. For up-to-date information please check the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website at www.agfc.com. Make plans to get out there this fall and enjoy all the Natural State has to offer. I hope to see you out there.