Christmas Holiday Modern Gun Deer Hunt Set for Dec. 26-28

Staff Writer

Courtesy of Brad Sears

   Arkansas' annual Christmas Holiday Modern Gun deer hunt takes place Dec. 26-28.

   Hunters may use a modern gun (hi-powered rifle), muzzleloader or bow during the statewide deer hunt.

   The event contains regulations that must be followed, such as the required wearing of a fluorescent orange vest and hat during the hunt to help hunters distinguish between people and animals in the woods.

   People born after Dec. 31, 1968 are required to have a hunter's education card, which can be acquired through local classes or online. Not only will hunters need their education card if they plan on taking part in the Christmas hunt, they will also need a pen and hunting license which includes their tags. 

   According to Clyde Beard, a hunter's education instructor, you fill your tag out with the pen and put it on the deer before you ever take it out of the woods.  You then have 24 hours to call and report your kill to the Arkansas Game and Fish office in Little Rock where they will give you a number to put on your tag to show you reported the kill.

   It is important to follow all the rules and regulations because of the spot checks, which the local game warden of the zone makes.

   According to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the zone you are hunting in decides how many deer you can kill. For example, Drew County is in zone 12. This means when hunting in Drew County, hunters can kill either five doe, two bucks and three doe or one buck and four doe. This number is not only for the Christmas hunt, but for all deer hunts combined.

   Once all the tags are used, the hunter is "limited out" and his or her deer hunting experience for this season is over.

   For more information about hunting, go to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website.

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