Into the woods!

Into the woods!

Deer Season 2016 under way in Arkansas

Outdoors Columnist Our most popular hunting season, deer season, is here again. The weather has started to cool a little, but it has been hot and very dry this fall. This has not been typical deer hunting weather so the rut will be later and the deer stands will be hot. If we are lucky we can get some much cooler weather. The good part is Arkansas has a long season in most parts of the state and that increases the odds that conditions will be become good.

Have you noticed the trucks and 4-wheelers on the road going to hunting camp? There will be no shortage of deer hunters on opening morning. Over many years, the first weekend has been the most successful two days of deer harvest. Arkansas will harvest over 200,000 deer for the season that includes archery, muzzle loader, and rifle hunting. About 40 years ago, the state recorded a kill total of 5,000.

Many people felt the season should be closed before all the deer were killed. Thanks to the foresight and hard work of the Arkansas Game & Fish, look at the deer herd we have now! These are the “good old days” of deer hunting.

The deer hunters in Arkansas are about equally divided into those that hunt private clubs and those that take advantage of public lands. We are blessed with many thousand acres of very good hunting. Close to home, the private clubs offer more good hunting.

Arkansas has 17 different deer zones and modern gun season started on Nov.

12, 2016, in most of the zones. There are variations in the hunting rules, so be sure to read the FREE 2016-17 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook. This book can be obtained at almost any place that has hunting equipment.

This year Chronic Wasting Disease or CWD is getting a lot of attention, with certain zones having special regulations. Read the book! For those folks that have been taking deer into Tennessee for processing and taxidermy, Do Not. It is now illegal to transport deer into that state without preparation like deboning, skull cleaning, and hide prep. We have good facilities on this side of the river to handle those chores most people do not have the knowledge nor the desire to do. Lakeside Taxidermy does a great job mounting your trophies at a very reasonable price and quick turn around.

Hunting camps have long been a tradition of deer season. We all look forward to going to camp and being with our friends.

That first night is always about eating too much and staying up too late telling stories of hunts gone by. It seems like the hunts got harder and horns grew bigger. Some of those little 6 pointers became candidates for the Boone & Crockett Club. Think about that first deer the little boy got.

How happy he was, with all the hugging and high five’s and picture taking.

He was almost as happy as his daddy!

I hope to see pictures and hear stories about your hunt. Don’t forget your camera or picture taking phone. That picture may happen only once in a life time. Lakeside Taxidermy, 870-732-0455, is always ready to help. It’s been about a year ago that I wrote my first story for the Evening Times. I have enjoyed writing and sharing pictures with my readers. Let’s hope for an even better year in the woods and on the water. Always wear your orange. Most of all, PLEASE BE CAREFUL! Be sure what you shoot at. One mistake can make for a lifetime of regrets. Good Hunting.

Congratulations to President-elect Trump. He supports the 2nd Amendment and that means that hunters and home protectors do not have to worry about the seizure of our guns. I understand that gun sales have been at an all time high. Just in case the wrong candidate won.

Papa Duck Lakeside Taxidermy 870- 732- 0455 or 901482- 3430 jhcriner@ hotmail. com

By John Criner