Deer harvest up from previous year, Commission told

LITTLE ROCK Commissioners from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission were briefed last week on the state's recent deer season harvest. Brad Miller, AGFC deer program coordinator, told the Commission the harvest was up almost 4,200 deer from the 2006-07 season.

The northwest part of the state saw the greatest harvest increase from the previous year, Miller explained. "I think that can be attributed to the Easter freeze of 2007." Zone 3 in north central Arkansas had the greatest increase in harvest with a 41 percent increase in deer taken as compared to the previous season. Deer harvest numbers also were up along the Mississippi River in extreme eastern Arkansas.

Last year's late April freezing temperatures damaged vegetation across much of Arkansas. Trees and shrubs began to produce tender leaves early because of record high temperatures, which were followed by the freeze. Miller said that the hard mast production, such as acorns, was reduced due to the Easter freeze. "Limited mast production often increases hunting success," he said.

Deer harvest numbers stayed essentially the same in the southwestern corner of the state. Harvest numbers were down in the northeast and southeast portions of the state. Zone 16A had the largest drop in harvest with a 39 percent decrease.

Miller also briefed the Commission on deer depredation issues to farmers in Chicot County. Deer near the Mississippi River were displaced by the April floods and were destroying crops in surrounding agricultural lands. "We received some complaints, primarily in fields near the Mississippi River Levee in Chicot County. We worked with the media, hunting clubs and landowners to address the problem," he said.