Triple Trophy recognizes deer hunting skill

Deer season is winding down, but there's still a reward for those lucky and skilled enough to hit the trifecta of hunting. Applications for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Triple Trophy Award may be submitted by April 10.

Hunters who qualify for the award must, within a single annual deer season, take at least one deer by each of the three legal hunting methods -- muzzle-loader, modern gun and archery. Qualifying hunters receive certificates suitable for framing and a patch to place on their hunting vests or jackets.

The program began in the mid-1980s to encourage primitive weapons hunting. It was intended to accomplish two things -- increase the harvest of antlerless deer and spread out hunting pressure to reduce crowding during modern gun season.

In addition to more liberal seasons, hunters using archery tackle and muzzle-loaders are more apt to harvest antlerless deer because of the increased difficulty of using those methods.

Protecting does was essential decades ago, while managers where trying to increase the total number of deer in the state. Now that deer are plentiful, the management goal has shifted to keeping the herd at healthy levels for the habitat available.

Applications are available at agfc.com or by calling 501-223-6351.

Sports on 02/21/2017

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