Early Arkansas buck-only ‘velvet hunt’ in September will kick off deer season

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A 2024 change to Arkansas hunting regulations will allow bowhunters to get an early start on bow season this September.

Bowhunters will be able to participate in buck-only archery season during Sept. 6-8. Called the “velvet hunt,” it provides an opportunity for hunters to harvest deer that have not yet rubbed the velvet coating from their antlers.

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission officials said the deer does not have to be in velvet, but does need to meet antler point or size requirements for its hunting zone.

In 2024, the first year for the early hunt, 1,200 bucks were harvested.

Hunters can check AGFC.com or the AGFC app to determine if their licenses and tags are current.

The season is only open on private land, AGFC-owned Wildlife Management Areas and AGFC WMAs listed as leased lands in the 2025-26 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook. Officials said that U.S. Forest Service or Army Corps of Engineers-owned land is off-limits for this early season.

Officials warn hunters who want to preserve antler velvet should not touch the antler or allow it to rub while being transported. A product called Velvelock can also be sprayed onto antlers to protect the velvet while it is waiting to be taken to the taxidermist.

Officials also recommend preparing for comparatively warm weather hunting using a DEET-based insect repellent. Some hunters use a Thermacell to create a small bug-proof barrier, they said.