Modern gun deer hunting season starts in Arkansas this weekend

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’s biggest hunting weekend of the year will kick off on Saturday as modern gun deer season opens.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission says this weekend is the “Super Bowl” of hunting, and expects hunters to take 4-day weekends with Veterans Day coming up on Tuesday.

“Modern gun, that’s the traditional — that’s kind of our Super Bowl,” said Randy Zellers with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. “That’s the big deal. Everyone gets involved in that.”

He says usually more than 30,000 deer are harvested on opening weekend alone, but they expect that number to rise this year.

For Jeff Cathie, hunting is a family tradition that spans generations.

“We’ve been hunting down there for about 50 years, my grandpa, anyways, and then my dad, and now me,” Cathie said.

His plan for the weekend is simple:
“Get out there before daylight, stay till about 10, go back, take a nap, refuel, go back out until dark,” he said.

While some hunters aim for a trophy buck, Cathie simply enjoys time with family.
“I’m not really looking for anything that’s a super trophy,” Cathie said. “Just having a good time with my grandpa and all the members at my deer camp.”

He joked that last season, Grandpa took all the shots for him.

“If I get one, it’s great,” he said. “Last year, my grandpa shot both of mine.”

Beyond tradition and camaraderie, hunting plays a big role in managing the state’s deer population.
“Hunting is the way that we’re able to balance and make sure that deer herd is healthy and vibrant, and stays around for years to come,” Zellers said.

Cathie said he’s hopeful for cooler weather and good conditions this weekend.
“When it’s hot like this, you might not see a whole lot,” he said. “But Monday’s going to be a really good day. It’s going to be cold. The rut’s just starting up so they’re starting to move.”