It’s high up among the most read publications in the state, but you can’t call it a best seller. It is free.

The Arkansas Hunting Guidebook of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission offers in concise form the dates of hunting season, the rules and especially changes and various other information on hunting in the 2005-06 season in the state. It’s available for the asking at all license dealers in Arkansas and at all AGFC offices. The official code of regulations for the AGFC can be found at http://www.agfc.com/pdf/agfc_code_of_regulations.pdf.

There is a world of information in the book that is 132 pages, largest ever, this year. It’s in easy-to-read form. Along with the essentials of dates and regulations, there is much how-to information in the book.

This year, the Hunting Guidebook has four essential pages on Bag It and Tag It. This is the new, but old system of hunters having to tag their deer and turkey immediately in the field after making a kill.

The required tags are on hunting licenses now. They are also in the Hunting Guidebook. Deer and turkey hunters can use either form. For persons not required to have hunting licenses, like youths under 16 years old, one of the tags in the guidebook will work. For hunters with lifetime licenses, like persons over 65, there are three tags in the book to use. Need more? Get another guidebook with three more.

The basic rule for tagging is it must be done in the field before a deer or turkey is moved. “I’ll do it at the check station” or “I’ll take it back at camp” doesn’t work and could get someone a citation from a wildlife officer.

The tags must be fastened to the deer or turkey carcass, and the most convenient means is with the common twist-tie used for many grocery and other household items. AGFC staffers suggest hunters make a habit of carrying several twist-ties in their gear at all times. Tags can be securely fastened to the antlers of a buck, the leg of a doe and the leg of a turkey.

Hunters should be sure to read Page 8 of the Hunting Guidebook and read it closely. It is headed New This Season, and it summarizes the changes in rules. Bag It and Tag It is the biggest change, along with the new system of all hunting licenses valid July 1 to June 30 each year. But other changes could affect hunters in some areas.

A new rule this year prohibits the “hunting or harassing wildlife” from any moving vehicle anywhere in the state. Yes, you cannot “herd” a deer with a pickup or a four-wheeler, nor can you shoot one if the vehicle is moving.