The 2025-2026 Urban Archery Deer Hunts are set to begin on September 1, 2025, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) is reminding all interested hunters that registration and qualification are now required in advance of the season.
Ralph Meeker, AGFC’s Deer Program Coordinator, emphasized the importance of these specialized hunts, particularly in managing deer populations within urban areas.
“Urban hunts are the best tool wildlife managers and cities have to reduce deer populations to acceptable social levels,” Meeker said. “Most deterrents devised for wild animals don’t work in the long term, and the few methods that do work can be very expensive to a community or landowner. Hunting is safe, efficient, and effective.”
Urban archery hunts follow strict safety protocols to ensure protection for both hunters and residents. Participation requires:
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Completion of the International Bowhunter Education Program (IBEP) course
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Attendance at a mandatory orientation covering added regulations
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Passing an archery proficiency test using the bow intended for hunting
Additionally, all hunters must donate their first adult deer harvested to Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry, a program that supports food-insecure Arkansans.
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Deer harvested during the urban hunts do not count toward a hunter’s seasonal bag limit.
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There are no antler restrictions or harvest limits in urban hunts.
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However, all deer must be checked and reported to the appropriate urban deer zone.
Hunters can register for hunts in the following cities through the Arkansas Bowhunters Association:
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Cherokee Village
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Fairfield Bay
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Heber Springs
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Helena-West Helena
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Horseshoe Bend
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Russellville
For the Bull Shoals and Lakeview hunts, contact Joseph Gentry at (870) 733-4343 or via email at [email protected].
For the Hot Springs Village hunt, contact David Harper at (501) 356-5880 or [email protected].
With deer populations growing rapidly in urban areas, these hunts play a vital role in maintaining balance between wildlife and human communities. AGFC encourages hunters to act quickly to ensure they meet all requirements before the season begins.
