Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

22 Arkansans Going After Elk In December Permit Hunt

COMPTON – Twenty-two Arkansans will go into the rugged country of the Buffalo River beginning Monday, Dec. 3, to hunt elk.

This is the largest number to be in action in the 10 years of the limited and highly coveted elk hunting permits. The hunt is scheduled for five days, ending Friday, Dec. 7.

Two of the permits went to youths, hunters 15 or younger. Winners of the youth permits were Kylan Larsen of Bentonville and Walker Davis of Crossett. Both will be hunting in Elk zone 3, which is mostly the Gene Rush Wildlife Management Area of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. They can take either a bull or an antlerless elk.

This is the sixth year for youth elk permits.  The AGFC continues tolook for chances to involve and encourage young people of the state to participate in hunting and fishing. To be eligible to win the elk permit, youths must have successfully completed a hunter education course.

The other December hunters will be:

Bull Permits: Jim Palmer, Conway, Zone 1; Boyce Brown, McCrory, Zone 2; Josh McCurry, Waldron, Zone 4; John Unwer, Huntsville, Zone 4.

Antlerless Permits: Amanda Adair, Cabot; Jody Swaffar, Quitman; Mike Johnson, Evening Shade, all in Zone 1. Jeremy Brown, Jonesboro; Woodrow Armfield, Yellville;

Michael Alexander, Little Rock, all on Zone 2. Johnnie Tash, Jessieville; Sandy West, Mayflower; John Hintson, Pleasant Grove; Jerry Medley, Bethel Heights; Scotty Rush, Cave City, all on Zone 3. Randy McGrew, Hot Springs; Brian Weaver, Jessieville; Joshua Burns, Bella Vista; Robert Smith, Quitman; Gregory Smith, Sherwood, all in Zone 4.

The applications and permits were free, although a number of applicants send donations earmarked for elk program work. Applications for the elk permits are made during May each year, and several thousand Arkansans apply annually for the permits.

Along with the public land permit hunts, elk will be pursued under a different format on private land in the area. Zone A is land in Newton, Boone and Carroll counties where some landowners give permission for elk hunting. There is a quota of three either-sex elk for Zone A.

New for this hunt is Zone B. which is private land in western Newton County and eastern Madison County. It is west of Boxley Valley, an area closed to hunting but highly popular for viewing elk from Arkansas Highways 43 and 21. Zone B’s hunt is scheduled Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and will have a quota of five elk (two bulls and three antlerless elk).