Deer, bear archery seasons open in western Arkansas
Deer season for archery started Saturday in western Arkansas and the drought may have affected the population and growth of deer this summer.
A healthy population of deer and bear has been noted by those in the field during the opening days.
Lack of vegetation can affect growth of deer during a drought. Young bucks may have smaller antlers, wildlife experts say, should the drought persist. But that has not been the case in Arkansas this year.
But the deer harvest this year in western Arkansas should be strong, because the drought did not start until mid to late June, said Ralph Meeker, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's statewide deer program coordinator. The does were able to produce enough milk for fawns that can adapt.
The number of deer harvested could increase because visibility increases for hunters when drought causes foliage to die off, taking away the cover for the deer. But the deer so far are healthy, Meeker said. Antler growth has not been affected, he has observed.
"Whitetail deer are a very adaptable species," Meeker said. "We had a good growing season before the drought started in mid to late June. Fawn production was phenomenal."
Observations from the field show a healthy population of older fawns.
The bear population has also reportedly increased this year in western Arkansas.
Meeker said acorns are starting to fall earlier due to the drought, providing less coverage for deer.
"We don't forecast the drought to have significant impact. If anything, we expect increase in visibility (for hunters)."
Fall archery season in the River Valley, including Sebastian County, opened Saturday, Sept. 24.
Archery season for bear is also underway.
Motorists may see more deer along the roads or in the road, as hunting can push more deer into traffic, and should slow down.
Western Arkansas was under severe drought conditions for most of the summer. Young animals growth rate can be affected in drought conditions with less variety of vegetation to forage.
Don White Jr., a professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Arkansas - Monticello, said the eastern part of the state has not experienced severe drought like the western part this year.
But drought can affect wildlife growth and development.
The types of plants that deer eat do not grow as well in times of drought. Drought started in July in western Arkansas, and fawns were born in June mostly, he said. So, as long as the drought does not continue, there may not be as many deaths due to the drought.
He said it is possible antlers may be smaller, although that has not been scientifically studied.
"I'm certainly aware of the impact of poor antler development," White said. Body size can also be affected with less nutrition. The varieties of vegetation decrease in drought, he said.
In an ongoing drought, the second year would affect wildlife worse, and likely cause more mortality, he said.
With winter months ahead, a time when there are fewer plants to eat for deer, a dry summer causes more stress. Animals may be smaller.
"But these are resilient organisms," White said. But time could make it worse.
"If it is only one year of drought we are going to be okay," White said.
More deer may be on the roadways with early morning hunters in the woods. Rutting season will also begin and does will be chased by bucks and hunters. Motorists are advised to slow down during daylight and dusk hours when deer are more active.Motorists should be aware. More deer and vehicle collisions are reported in fall.
Archery season for deer opened in Zone 7 Sept. 24. The zone includes Sebastian County, parts of southern Crawford, Franklin and Logan, Johnson, Pope and Scott counties.
The archery season for deer in Zone 7 ends Feb. 28, 2023.
Muzzleloader season starts Oct. 15 to Oct. 23 and then Dec. 10 to Dec. 12.
Antlerless-only modern gun hunts on private land are Dec. 29-31.
A special youth modern gun hunt is Nov. 5-6 and Jan. 7-8, 2023.
Modern gun hunting for deer starts Nov. 12 through Dec. 4 and then Dec. 26-28.
The deer limit per hunter is five deer, no more than two bucks and may include two antlered bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun, five antlerless deer with archery or three antlerless deer with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.
Bears out there
There is plenty of food in the woods for bears in western Arkansas due to the drought. Acorns fell early, after there had been plenty of rain in the spring before the rains stopped and conditions turned hot and dry. Bears could move into more suburban or residential areas in times of drought in search of food and water, should drought worsen. They have enough to eat for now.
The bear population thus far is healthy, and continues to increase despite drought, said Myron Means, a bear biologist for the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.
Since Sept. 17, the hunting has been slow, Means said. Drought caused acorns to fall early, and bears have plenty of food in the woods. So fewer bears are taking a hunter's bait and are harder to find. The early supply of acorns has been good for bears.
There was a bumper crop of wild blackberries in the spring before the drought started, he said.
Bear season for archery in Zone 2 of western Arkansas started Sept. 17 and runs through Nov. 30. Muzzleloader season is Oct. 15 to Oct. 23 and a special youth gun hunt is Nov. 5 and Nov. 6.
Modern gun hunting for bear in Zone 2 of western Arkansas, which includes Sebastian County, starts Nov. 12-30.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Deer, bear seasons open in western Arkansas
