LITTLE ROCK — DON’T FORGET Hunters are required to wear a fluorescent cap and vest or jacket and must possess a proper hunting license and tags. Hunters also should carry an ink pen and a rubber band, length of wire or zip tie so they can fill out their tag and attach it to their deer before transporting.
Arkansas’ most popular sporting event will begin at sunrise today as nearly 300,000 deer hunters go afield for opening day of modern gun deer season.
Although Arkansas is famous for its world-class duck hunting, opening weekend of the modern gun deer season is its biggest event in terms of participation. David Goad, chief of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s wildlife management division, said it’s one of the biggest days of the year for Arkansas sportsmen.
“It’s huge,” Goad said. “Every year we put the date of next year’s opening day of gun deer season in our regulations guide book because hundreds, if not thousands, of people plan their vacations around it. It puts a lot of money into small communities, and mom-and-pop stores all over the state look forward to it. The biggest thing is it’s a management tool. It’s necessary to manage deer across Arkansas.”
Of the 192,512 deer that hunters reported killing in the 2011-2012 deer seasons, nearly 70 percent were killed during the modern gun season, said Dick Baxter, assistant chief of the AGFC’s wildlife management division. Of those, 29,495 were killed during opening weekend, more than any other weekend.
“We provide quite a bit of hunting opportunity for archery and muzzleloaders, but we manage deer in Arkansas with modern guns,” Baxter said. “More people hunt with modern guns than any other method.”
Opening day of modern gun deer season involves more than just hunting. It’s a time when families get together at deer camps, catch up on the year’s news and enjoy time away from the working world.
“I would say more hunters look forward to opening day of the modern gun season than any other hunting day of the year,” Baxter said. “It’s camaraderie with your hunting companions, and of course, everyone’s out there trying to get that big buck.The night before opening day is almost like the night before Christmas.”
Many hunters spend a lot of time scouting for big bucks and checking trail cameras, but almost every year, hunters kill the biggest bucks in the state by happenstance. That element of chance is part of what makes opening day so exciting.
“I think deer hunters are eternal optimists,” Baxter said. “You never know what day you’re out in the woods will be the one a buck of a lifetime might step out. There’s always some downtime, but when a buck does finally come out, there’s such an adrenaline rush. There’s nothing like it. It’s something you can’t explain to someone who doesn’t deer hunt.”
Deer hunting is such a prominent part of Arkansas culture that it takes in nonhunters, as well as hunters,Baxter said.
“We have a very strong deer hunting tradition,” Baxter said. “They talk about it on the news all the time, and that’s all I hear on the radio right now. Most people don’t hunt, but most people know somebody who does hunt, so they kind of take in the experience vicariously.”
Last year, hunters killed 19,262 deer on opening day, including 11,133 antlered bucks and 6,706 does. The following Sunday they killed 10,233 deer, including 5,486 antlered bucks and 4,402 does.
Arkansas schedules its modern gun deer season to coincide roughly with the rut, or the white tailed deer’s breeding period. The peak of the rut varies across the state, but by mid-November, rutting activity should be occurring in all parts of the state. Baxter said it progresses east to west, but it’s typically earliest in Randolph Co. With the new moon and cool temperatures, hunters expect deer to be active during the daylight hours this weekend.
Deer hunting is also a vital economic generator in Arkansas. According to the AGFC’s 1999 deer management plan, Arkansas deer hunters in 1996 spent nearly $200 million in total retail sales that supported about 6,000 jobs, resulting in $374 million in total economic activity. This includes purchases for ammunition, gasoline, meals, clothing and other hunting equipment. Leasing land to deer hunters and deer hunting clubs also provides additional income for landowners.
For those who don’t hunt private land, Arkansas offers more than 3 million acres of public hunting in the Ozark and Ouachita national forests. About 25 percent of Arkansas’ deer hunters pursue their game on public land.
In gun deer season, deer hunters are required to wear a fluorescent cap and vest or jacket. They also must possess a hunting license and proper tags. They should also carry an ink pen and a rubber band, length of wire or zip tie so they can fill out their tag and attach it to their deer before transporting it. This year, successful hunters do not have to take their deer to a check station. You can check your deer by calling (877) 507-4263 or online at the AGFC’s Web site, www.agfc.com.
At a glance WHAT Opening day of modern gun deer season.
SEASON DATES Today-Dec. 12: Zones 1, 1A, 2, 3, 6, 6A, 7, 8, 8A, 10. Today-Dec. 9: Zones 4A, 5A, 14, 15. Today-Dec. 25: Zone 16, 16A, 17. Today-Dec.
16: Zone 9, 12, 13. Today-Nov. 18: Zones 4B, 5B. Today-Sunday: Zones 4, 5. Today-Dec. 2: Zone 11. Nov. 17-Nov. 18: Zone 5 BAG LIMIT Varies by zone. Hunters may kill as many as six deer, but no more than two legal bucks.
SHOOTING HOURS 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset CHECK-IN Hunters can check deer at a check-in station. Deer also can be checked in by calling (877) 507-4263 or online at www.agfc.com.
Sports, Pages 19 on 11/10/2012