Arkansas' two mountainous deer regions -- the Ozarks and the Ouachitas -- offer the hunter large-scale opportunities. Photo by Robert Franz.

In 1974, outdoor writer John Cartier estimated that the state of Arkansas had a deer population of "around 300,000 animals," a figure that ranked the Natural State at 17th nationwide. Cartier also pegged the state's annual hunter success rate at about 11 percent, which ranked 38th nationally.

Those figures are important today. To know where you are, you first have to know where you've been.

Today, nearly all published estimates put our state's deer herd in the range of 1 million animals. Our checked harvest for last season was 169,853 animals, according to Arkansas Game and Fish Commission figures. Since current reports put our hunter numbers at about 275,000 or so, that means our success ratio is today somewhere in the 60-62 percent range.

I was brought up by a group of old Johnson County deer hunters, most of whom had lived through the days when catching a glimpse of a whitetail in this state was roughly akin in rarity to seeing the president of the United States. So it's only natural that I find myself contemplating from time to time what they would think about the wealth that we enjoy.

I remember one year, about 1969 or '70, when we hunted every day of the December segment of what was then a two-part Arkansas season. There were five of us who "took it serious," and, hunting from can-see until can't-see, we saw four deer, one of those a 5-point buck that Elbert Ramsey killed.

By comparison, modern times are good. So what can we look forward to this coming season? Last winter was another mild one, and the green food sources were available to the deer far later than is usual. That's a good thing, particularly in the uplands, since in many areas white oak mast was virtually nonexistent. This past spring was also mild, which means that little weather-related stress was put on the does during that crucial two- to three-month period prior to fawning.

Most of this will have limited impact on harvest numbers this fall, but it's good to know for the future. Probably more important is that the mast crop should be much improved this season, barring some form of summer blight. According to Cory Gray of the AGFC, there seems to be no major disease problems affecting our herd today.

"Cautiously optimistic" is the general attitude of about everyone with whom I've spoken about the upcoming Arkansas deer season. If no unexpected variables come into play, everything seems ripe for another good season in 2007-08!

With that optimism at the fore, let's look at some of the better "public" places where you can get your venison this season. But before we begin, it would probably be helpful to understand the different types of land that are prevalent here in Arkansas.

"Public land" is just that -- land open to the public. Prime examples are the Ozark and Ouachita National Forests, where hunting seasons follow state guidelines and there are no special permits required.

"Managed public land" is state- or federally-controlled property where hunting is allowed, but with special seasons and/or restrictions in place. Access on this type of land is typically controlled, there may be defined harvest quotas in effect, and permits are required. Examples are the various wildlife management areas and national wildlife refuges scattered throughout the state.

"Private land" belongs to individual landowners who may or may not allow hunting on their property and sometimes only in return for a fee. The vast timber company lands of southern Arkansas are the most common example of this type of land.