MORE DEER COVERAGE • 2004 Deer Outlook, Part 1 • 2004 Rut Report in North American Whitetail Forums

By Kenn Young

In total, 111 Arkansas bucks score high enough for inclusion in the Boone and Crockett Club's all-time record book, the bible of trophy hunters. Not all of those have actually been entered, for a variety of reasons, but in every case they have been scored by official B&C scorers. They go all the way back to 1923, when George Matthews took his big 6x6 scoring 177 7/8 typical points down in Chicot County. Last season, five Natural State bucks made the list.

The 91 deer that are actually registered place Arkansas at the No. 18 spot nationwide in terms of book buck production. We rank No. 2, behind Kentucky, in the Southeast.

Several Natural State bucks also rank high in different nationwide categories. Lonnie Copeland's Prairie County buck from 1992 continues to rank No. 1 in the world in the 8-point category, at 185 7/8 B&C points. The Medusa Buck, taken in 1995 by El Dorado's Henry Thurlkill, ranks in the top handful in percentage of non-typical antler. Mr. Thomas Sparks' typical buck, taken near Natural Dam in 1975, continues to be the Arkansas State record typical at 189 0/8, and ranks No. 2 in the Southeast.

The five known bucks taken in 2003-04 that score above B&C minimums (170 for typicals, 195 for non-typicals) represent a number slightly above the annual average (4.4) for the last decade, but somewhat below the high-water mark achieved in 1996, when eight were taken. But to put that in proper perspective, we must also remember that this is the same state that not all that long ago went more than two decades (1966-87) without having a single buck entered into the B&C records.

As the above figures illustrate, our prime big-buck region is the Arkansas delta, that agricultural area east of Little Rock. The reason is simple: food. Big bucks are what they eat. If you look at the various national record books of B&C and Pope & Young (archery), you'll find that in recent years it was in agricultural regions that hunters killed the vast majority of the bucks entered. The stretch running from Kansas through Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois all the way up to the windswept prairies of Saskatchewan and Alberta, is the trophy whitetail hunter's Valhalla.

That holds true here in Arkansas, too. The same minerals and nutrients that go into the vast row crops you see along the sides of Interstate 40 go into the deer that feast on those crops. Equally important, that food source is available during the late-summer peak antler-growing period.

Photo by Jeff Palmer

Also, take a good look at the list accompanying this article that shows the foremost counties in terms of big buck production both past and present. It's not by accident that every single one of those listed would fall within the area I've just outlined. Big bucks have been there for decades, are there now, and will be there in the future.

But in addition to an available and nutritious food source, what else does it take to produce trophy deer? The three basic requirements can be reduced to the Big Buck Equation: Age + Genes + Food = Big Bucks.

Age was for decades the factor most often missing in Arkansas. In any given year before the inception of the 3-point rule back in 1998, about three-fourths of the state's annual kill was composed of 1 1/2-year-old deer. If there's one central fact in terms of big-deer production, it's this: If you kill a buck at 1 1/2, he'll never be a trophy at 4 1/2! Even though the 3-point rule continues to have its detractors, and no such measure is perfect, the overall age factor here in Arkansas today is about as good as I've ever seen.

Our bucks' genes are in recovery. When I was growing up, "bucks-only" was the rule, and that created a problem in many areas. It wasn't all that long ago that doe: buck ratios ran as high as 15:1 in some parts of the state. Many hunters from the Gulf Coastal Plain (GCP) region still feel that they have way too many does today. Both mountain ranges have been brought into line in recent years.

Why is this important? When the ratio's out of kilter (too many does) even the most genetically inferior buck is going to be able to breed, due to the lack of competition. Over time this creates a downward spiral, with herd quality gradually deteriorating to the point that superior bucks simply don't happen; we were there for a long time. But things have improved greatly in the last 20 years or so.

With all that in mind, let's take a look at your best bets to take a wall's worth of horns, region by region.

Upland soil is mostly thin, and often relatively infertile. So unless they live by a farm or crop field, mountain deer must rely on browse as their primary food source. Most hunters think of the white oak acorn as a staple food, but in reality acorns are cyclic, appearing in some years and not in others. In those years when the "deer candy" doesn't fall, quality (including antler size) suffers in the following season(s).

The mountains are unique, in that much of the land is public, but that's really a good-bad situation. On the one hand, hunters have unlimited access to hundreds of thousands of acres, all at no charge. On the other hand, that same unlimited access pretty much dictates that no quality-oriented program can be implemented on anything approaching a large-scale basis.

So in the uplands you have to seek out those pockets that bigger deer haunt. Usually this will be in some relatively small area in which crops are available, or in a remote area where access is controlled either by design or by topography.

Over in the Ouachitas, Fort Chaffee WMA stands out as one of the gems. This 66,000-acre area lying just east of Fort Smith in Crawford, Sebastian and Franklin counties is tightly controlled, and all gun hunting is limited and by permit only. Permits are available by draw, and a $15 bi-annual sportsmen's permit is also required, along with attending a Sportsmen's Orientation class. Gun permits (the season is typically about four days total for rifle and black powder) are hard to come by. For information call 1-877-478-1043.

Muddy Creek WMA is 160,000 acres of upland lying east of Waldron. Outsiders should learn to think big, rough and rugged when considering any upland WMAs in the Ozarks or Ouachitas. Hunting here follows statewide guidelines. Area biologists tell me that the doe:buck ratio at Muddy Creek runs somewhat better than the surrounding territory's. Kill figures are never really high (137 in 2003-04), but the steep hills and draws around such landmarks as High Peak and Brushy Mountain annually give up at least one good buck. Daniel Boyd of Waldron killed his big 220 0/8 non-typical buck along the edge of Muddy Creek back in 2001.

Across the Arkansas River, the Ozarks offer even more unlimited opportunity. Among the better spots are Piney Creeks WMA, 180,000 acres in Newton, Pope and Johnson counties, and White Rock WMA, 280,000 cares located in Johnson, Madison, Franklin, Crawford and Washington counties. Both of these are huge areas, and their very size dictates that there are remote hollows where an old buck can get some age on him. Get a topographic map, or aerial photo, and then look for spots more than a mile from access trails. Then leave the 4-wheeler in the truck and ease in and out.

The northern tier of Ozark counties outproduces the southern reaches in harvest numbers. Harold Alexander WMA, 13,858 acres in Sharp County, is another area in which the bucks taken annually achieve above-average age structure. Last season, gun hunting days there totaled 10. Permits are available via drawing; call 1-877-297-4331. The Sharp-Stone-Izard tri-county area consistently leads the state's bowkill lists.

Only 14 B&C bucks are known ever to have been taken from the mountain areas of this state: five from the Ozarks, eight from the Ouachitas. One of those was Thomas Sparks' longstanding state-record typical taken in Crawford County back in 1975. On another positive note, four of those Ouachita bucks were killed in the last decade.

The primary reason is that privately owned timberland leased to hunting clubs comprises the vast majority of the GCP's acres. On these tracts, the clubs are able to manage their deer herd. Antler restrictions are enacted, doe harvest takes place, and kill numbers are regulated. These changes are possible because access to private property can by definition be controlled. The inferior food source there, when compared to the delta, is the limiting factor, but both genes and age structure seem to be changing for the better.

But again, most of the better land is private, and public choices are limited. Here are the few I annually mention as being above average.

Felsenthal NWR's 65,000 acres are down in the southeast corner of the state in Union, Ashley and Bradley counties. In total, six days of gun hunting were allowed in 2003-04: four via rifle and two for muzzleloader. Permits are available via the refuge office or by calling (870) 364-3167. While there has never been a B&C buck taken there, Felsenthal consistently produces bucks that are above average for the area. The topography ranges from pine ridges on the north to hardwood swamps on the south. Locals tell me that the primary reason few truly big bucks have been taken there is that the hunting is so hard that few pay the price. To be successful you have to get back in the swamps and hunt the fingers of dry land. A small flatbottom boat would be helpful.

Lafayette WMA, in Miller County is another area, with low deer numbers but a better-than-average age structure. Hunting seasons adhere fairly closely to statewide guidelines; a special No. 20 leased land permit is required. Call 1-877-777-5580 for information. Charles Self, who used to be the resident International Paper biologist for the site, tells me that body size on Lafayette has increased year by year and consistently averages above that of the surrounding area. Billy Bland of Taylor took his 171 7/8 typical along the edge of the area in 1986.

The various Big Timber WMAs scattered throughout the region, particularly those west of Arkadelphia, also provide open-hunting opportunity; these also follow state guidelines. Call 1-877-734-4581 for info and maps.

With fourteen bucks listed in the B&C all-time book, the GCP now ranks No. 2 among the state's regions. With the age structure there on the increase, things will likely continue to get better!

Arkansas, White and Desha counties currently tie for the state lead in all-time B&C deer at 10 apiece. Cross and White tie in B&C production for the last decade with six apiece. If you need any more proof, every county listed in the Top 10 in B&C production comes for this region!

But such big-buck success has a price. As mentioned, just about all of the best hunting land is private. It's not an area where you grab your gun and head on down. However, there are a few good-to-great public hunting areas available.

White River NWR runs along the White River in Arkansas, Monroe, Desha and Phillips counties. It is the state's No. 1 public trophy area, and its 160,000 acres have produced big bucks virtually since it was established back in the 1950s. Hunting is via permit system; season dates vary from the surrounding area. Contact 1-870-946-1468 for complete info. Jim Finch of Forrest City took his 174 6/8 B&C typical buck at the Mozart Hunt Club in 1999. Mozart forms the western border of the refuge itself. Wayne Lindsey of Harrisburg took the state record typical bowkill, a 177 7/8 5x5 there in 1998. In wet weather, this can be deep-swamp hunting, so take along hip boots and several changes of socks.

Bayou Meto WMA, 33,832 acres in Arkansas and Jefferson counties) is another semi-public area that offers opportunity for the "outsider." Gun hunting is by permit only, and days are limited. The contact number is 1-877-367-3559. Bayou Meto has produced one B&C buck in recent years, that being John Yount's 175 7/8 typical, taken in 1994.

Both Cache River NWR and White River are actually the upper end of the same drainage. The former has had a flurry of big-buck activity in recent years. Again, gun hunting is by permit with limited days. Call the refuge office at (870) 347-2614 for permits and info. Bill Dooley killed his state record non-typical, which scores 238 3/8, along its edge in 1999. Jerry Griggs took his 201 4/8 non-typical in 2002.

That fact was again brought home last year at the Arkansas Sportshow (held each February in Jonesboro). More than 15 bucks were scored that were large enough to make the Pope & Young Club record book. At that show I visited at length with James DeSpain of Manila, a longtime P&Y scorer who knows where the big deer are coming from in that area. He advised me that, overall, larger deer are on the increase throughout the region.

Most of those deer were taken from the controlled confines of private property, but there are several public spots within the region that, being a bowhunter myself, I would check out. James mentions the St. Francis Sunken Lands (Craighead and Poinsett counties) between Lake City and Marked Tree as being a prime spot, complete with the heavy cover that big bucks crave. The entire area was clearcut several years ago, and is now one big thicket. Big Lake WMA and Big Lake NWR (Mississippi County) lie side-by-side up near the Missouri border and total some 24,000 acres. There's a two-day shotgun/muzzleloader season on the WMA, none on the NWR. If you bowhunt the NWR a permit is required, and is available from the refuge office. Call (870) 347-2614 for info. Whichever area you choose, this is swamp hunting at its best.