Deer Zone 3, lying over in the eastern Ozarks, comes in second in overall kill at 12,442 animals, while Zone 13, the southeastern Ouachitas, finishes third at 6,684. Among individual counties, Union again led the state with 5,788 animals taken, followed by Dallas at 5,056, and then Ashley (4,853) and Cleveland (4,732). Not by coincidence, all of those lie in Zone 12.

I have to interject here that numbers can be a little bit misleading when it comes to determining the best public places to hunt. High total kill figures for a wildlife management area or national wildlife refuge may sound impressive; but you must also consider the size of the parcel itself.

I'll use Ozark National Forest WMA as an example. This area basically consists of all Forest Service lands not part of White Rock and Piney Creeks WMAs, a total of some 678,000 acres. Last year the kill at this WMA amounted to 313 animals, a figure that ranks it among the state's leaders. But when you divide that number of deer killed into all that acreage you realize that there was only one deer harvested for every 2,166 acres -- a very low figure!

So is this WMA really one of the best areas for you to head to take your venison? Is it better than, say, Muddy Creek WMA, where 294 animals were taken on 146,000 acres, or 497 acres per deer? Or how about little Trusten Holder WMA, where 72 deer were taken on 8,173 acres, for an average of 114 acres per deer?

My point: When we deal with statistics, it frequently pays to look beyond the obvious. But, OK -- we know the region in which the most deer are taken. However, before you load up and head down that way there are some things you might want to consider.

Most of the best deer hunting today, in Arkansas and nationwide as well, is to be found on private property. The reason's obvious: Limiting access allows better herd management. In all of southern Arkansas, our "deer factory" region, most of the land belongs to paper companies, which in turn lease hunting rights for those acreages to private clubs or individuals. Considering the region as a whole, areas set aside for public hunting are few and far between.

FELSENTHAL NWR
One of the better spots is Felsenthal NWR, which is down in Ashley, Union and Bradley counties. As previously noted, all three of those annually rank among the state's leaders in overall kill.

To be successful, you have to hunt where the deer are, and this refuge fills the bill. Felsenthal showed a healthy increase in harvest numbers last season, with a total of 388, up from the 283 of 2003-04.

A large area at 65,000 acres, it exhibits great diversity of terrain, its topography ranging from pine ridges on the north to deep swamps, complete with hardwood bottoms and black-water sloughs, on the south. That lower portion is notably hard to hunt, requiring either a boat or, at the very least, hip waders. When the weather's warm, mosquitoes are a real problem, so plan on bug-proof clothing early in the season.

Gun hunting at Felsenthal is limited to a two-day muzzleloader season in mid-October and a pair of two-day modern gun seasons in November. A signed permit is required, but they are given out free of charge. Since this is a federal facility, antler restrictions don't follow state guidelines. State Highway 82 runs between Strong and Crossett, and provides access. For more information on hunting contact the refuge office at (870) 364-3167.

HOWARD COUNTY WMA
Over closer to the Arkansas-Oklahoma border lies Howard, a 26,000-acre area lying in Howard County (duh!). Last year at this relative newcomer to my list of the best public areas, 176 deer were taken, up from 119 in 2003-04, which breaks out to 148 acres per kill.