Deer season in Arkansas is kind of like a major heavyweight boxing event.
Modern gun deer season is the headliner. It has the biggest payout, the highest stakes and draws the highest ratings, but first you have the undercard, the warm-up events that get everyone primed for the big show.
It starts with the opening day of archery season on the last Saturday of September, followed by the private lands antlerless-only modern gun deer hunt.
After that comes muzzleloader season, followed by the final appetizer, the youth-only modern gun deer season.
The youth gun deer season begins 30 minutes before sunrise Saturday and ends 30 minutes after sunset Sunday. It is open only for youngsters ages 6-15.
Participants who have not passed a certified hunter education course must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 18 years old. That means the adult must be within sight and sound of the youth without the aid of electronics.
Youths who have not passed a hunter education course must be under the direct supervision of an adult who is at least 21. That means the hunter and mentor must be within arm’s reach.
Adult mentors who accompany youths may not carry a firearm. That includes hunters 65 and older.
Youths may kill deer of either sex during the two-day season, and they may kill as many deer as allowed in the zones they hunt, as long as they don’t exceed the statewide season limit.
They may also kill any buck, regardless of antler points, length or width, but they must abide by all zone restrictions. Dogs are not allowed during the youth gun season.
The youth-only modern gun deer hunt serves several purposes. Its primary function is to get children enthusiastic about hunting by enabling them to to enjoy a quality hunting experience without competition or distraction from adult hunters. That increases the odds of success, which increases satisfaction.
It’s also a time for dads and moms to bond with their children. There is so much to see and hear in the Arkansas woods in the fall, such as cardinals, buntings and other songbirds. You can make games of identifying trees, and you might see a coyote, bobcat, raccoon or even a black bear.
The youth modern gun deer season is also important for management. Many landowners whose properties are enrolled in the Deer Management Assistance Program invite youth hunters onto their properties to cull excess does, and to cull bucks that do not meet the landowner’s management goals.
For example, a mature four-point buck has roamed my hunting club in northern Grant County for at least four years. It’s a big-bodied buck, and its antlers have impressive mass, but it is unlikely to ever grow a third point on either antler to make it legal for an adult to shoot under the statewide three-point rule.
It does not meet our club’s management goals, and we certainly don’t want more like it, but only a youth may shoot it legally.
Likewise, we have some bucks with single spike antlers that are 12-14 inches long. One of my game cameras photographed numerous photos of one such buck in late summer, as well as a big four-point that may or may not be the mature buck we’ve seen all these years.
The tall spikes are probably 2 years old or older, and they probably won’t ever grow decent, traditional whitetail antlers. Adults can’t cull those bucks, but children can and they would be thrilled to do it.
Some of my favorite hunts have been during the youth-only modern gun season with my daughter Amy. Three years ago, the biggest buck that I had seen at our club to that point strolled to within 35 yards and stopped broadside, offering a clean, open shot. Amy couldn’t find the buck in her scope, and after what seemed an eternity it casually walked away.
Last season was the last she was eligible to participate. She had opportunities, but deer crossing logging roads don’t stand still very long, and it didn’t work out. A photo of her in the deer stand that morning is the wallpaper on my iPhone.
We remember that morning fondly and speak of it often.
Make some deer hunting memories with your children this weekend. Be safe, and send us photos.