Deer season may be winding down, but there’s still a reward for those lucky and skilled enough to hit the trifecta of deer hunting. Applications for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Triple Trophy Award may be submitted online by April 10, 2019.
Hunters who qualify for the Triple Trophy Award must, within a single deer season, take at least one deer by each of the three legal hunting methods – modern firearms, muzzleloading rifle or pistol, and archery/crossbow tackle. Qualifying hunters receive certificates suitable for framing and a patch to place on their hunting vest or jacket.
The program began in the mid-1980s to encourage primitive weapons hunting. It was intended to accomplish two things – to increase the harvest of antlerless deer, and to spread out hunting pressure and reduce crowding during modern gun season.
In addition to more liberal seasons, hunters using archery tackle and muzzleloaders are more apt to harvest antlerless deer because of the increased difficulty of using those weapons.
Protecting does was essential decades ago, while managers were trying to increase the total number of deer in the state. Now that deer are plentiful, the management goal must shift to keeping the herd at healthy levels for the habitat available.
Applications are available from the AGFC, 501-223-6351, or online at www.agfc.com/tripletrophy.