Triple Trophy Award available to deer hunters

LITTLE ROCK - The 2004-2005 Arkansas deer seasons are closed, but a unique reward awaits those hunters who qualify for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Triple Trophy Award.

Hunters who qualify for the Triple Trophy Award must, within a single annual deer season framework, take at least one deer by each of the three legal hunting methods - modern firearms, muzzle-loading rifle or pistol, and archery/crossbow tackle. Certificates suitable for framing are given to qualifying hunters.

The program was started in the mid-1980s to encourage primitive weapons hunting. It was hoped to accomplish two things - to increase the harvest of antlerless deer, and to spread out hunting pressure and reduce crowding.

Primitive weapon hunting increases antlerless harvest partly because antlerless regulations are generally less restrictive for primitive weapons seasons, and partly because hunters seem more willing to take antlerless deer with primitive weapons than with modern forearms. Harvest of antlerless deer is essential for maintaining the health of a high-density deer herd, as is present in most of Arkansas.

Triple Trophy Award applications can be found in the back of the AGFC's popular Wildlife Calendar.  Applications also are available from the AGFC's Communications office at (501) 223-6351 or online at www.agfc.com.  The application deadline is April 10