Deer season began in September, but the number of hunters in South Arkansas forests saw a big jump earlier this month with the start of modern gun season.
Cory Gray, research division chief at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said the deer harvest so far this season is about equal to last year.
"Our staff have been working statewide collecting biological data, and we're not seeing a big decrease. Anecdotally, we feel like the harvest is very similar to years past," he said this week.
Approximately 300,000 hunters throughout Arkansas hit the woods Nov. 4 and 5, when modern gun season opened, Gray said. Some have reported what appears to be a decrease in deer movement, and Gray said there are a number of factors that might play into that.
"Our rut may be taking place right now, movement may be a little altered," he said. "Last weekend was very hot and dry, so that may be something to do with it in south Arkansas... Food source is also another issue – you want it where the deer have to get up and move to find the food."
Gray said he has seen deer around during the day time. Any decrease in movement could be due to the high volume of hunters in the woods.
"It may be a little due to hunters having been in the woods now for several months, hunting since October," he said. "But I saw several deer in front of the (cold) front that came in (Monday)... I've been seeing some scrapes."
Now with duck season open, Gray said hunters might have more luck, if they haven't already bagged a deer this year.
"There's other seasons that are taking place that may take some pressure of deer hunters as others participate in other sports," Gray said.
The AGFC is encouraging those who do bag a deer to have it tested for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), which was found in a deer in Union County in December 2021 and has since led to new regulations on deer hunters in south Arkansas.
AGFC staff have check stations within the south Arkansas CWD Management Zone, which stretches across Union, Bradley and Ashley counties. Additionally, hunters can drop off the head of their deer, with six inches of neck attached, for free testing at the Union County Sheriff's Office, 250 American Rd. in El Dorado, or the Strong Fire Department, 210 Pine St. in Strong.
"We continue to test statewide," Gray said. "That's still a priority for us, and we still encourage hunters to submit their animals for testing. Game and Fish will test their animals free of charge."
This year, the AGFC has partnered with the Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation to provide one lifetime hunting license and one lifetime fishing license to two hunters who submit their deer for testing.
"Names will go into a drawing and at the end of the season, two hunters will get a lifetime hunting or fishing license, so that's a pretty cool opportunity to hopefully engage hunters to submit their deer and keep them hunting," Gray said. "We want to reward them with these licenses and make sure they keep enjoying these natural resources."
Bear season will also be opening soon, on Dec. 9. The harvest limit on bears is 25, statewide. Hunters must call 833-345-0398 the evening before their planned bear hunt to check the harvest number, and the season will end the morning after the quota is reached or Dec. 15, whichever comes first.
For more information about hunting this year, visit agfc.com.