Arkansas Game and Fish Commission opens applications for 2024 urban archery deer hunts

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is aiming at the deer population problem in Arkansas cities.

Soon, some in central Arkansas will be able to hunt the deer, inside the city limits.

The application period to apply to participate in urban deer hunts across the state is now open.

Urban deer hunts are taking place in select cities. Bow hunters will get the chance to hunt in city limits and they’re going to help some Arkansas families put food on the table while they’re at it.

Hoping to take care of nuisance issues that come with having a lot of deer within city limits is the goal of the urban deer hunt taking place in cities across Arkansas, including Russellville.

Lonnie Kennedy lives in an area of Russellville that sees quite a few deer.

“They come up in here we see deer tracks here in the yard all the time,” Kennedy said.

Lonnie Kennedy is an avid bow hunter and has deer that come to visit him from time to time.

“They like to get in these zinnias, and they eat our zinnias,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy has seen firsthand some problems that AGFC officials and the city of Russellville are trying to solve.

“Couple of years ago we were here late one afternoon, and we heard a clunk down on Seven Spur and a deer was hit,” Kennedy said.

Randy Zellers with the AGFC says that the hunt is specifically for qualified bow hunters in select cities. They must pay an application fee, go through an orientation, learn safety rules, have a qualifying shoot, and more.

“There are also a lot of places where that they have some deer and car collisions and that’s probably one of the things that we see the largest reductions of in these hunts,” Zellers said.

However, it’s not just for hunters and the cities.

“Every first deer, that a hunter takes, is required to be donated to Arkansas hunters feeding the hungry,” Zellers said.

Kennedy has never done the urban deer hunt, however he’s for it.

“It’s probably a good thing because there may be some overpopulation here,” Kennedy said.

The approved hunters with get to start hunting on September 1. A few weeks earlier than the beginning of bow season in Arkansas.

For a full list of cities participating and how to apply, visit AGFC.com .

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