BY BEN DANFORTH
Deer hunting season is coming up and you do not want to miss it! There are many different styles of hunting when it comes to deer. Archery and crossbow season is from October 1st, 2008, to February 29th, 2009. Muzzle-loading season goes on from October 18th to the 26th, and from December 29th to the 31st, 2008. Modern guns season go on any time from November 8th to December 25th, 2008. There is also a special youth hunt with modern guns for kids age 15 and under--with a licensed hunter--November 1 and 2.
There is a controversy on deer in Arkansas. A lot of people want deer in surplus so they can hunt, take pictures, or just observe nature. However, there are some people who want the deer population to decrease, mostly farmers and commuters. Deer can destroy crops, get run over by cars, and just make driving difficult.
There are about one million white-tailed deer in this state. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is doing all they can to keep the deer population in check for commuters and farmers but still maintain a healthy population for hunters.
For more information on purchasing tags and permits, an online version of the hunter safety manual, and downloading the 2008-2009 hunting zone map, visit the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s official website at www.agfc.com.
