LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas deer season officially kicks off this year with the new early buck archery hunt scheduled for Sept. 7-9, and that has many bowhunters chomping at the bit to get in the woods. If you’re looking for an early taste of the season to come, The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation and many of their partners in conservation have two opportunities to get excited to climb into a tree with a stick and string.
The first bowhunting blast for central Arkansas will be a special Introduction to Archery and Bowhunting from 8:30 a.m.-noon Aug. 17 at the AGFC’s Fiocchi Shooting Sports Complex in Mayflower. Range staff have teamed up with the Arkansas Bowhunters Association to offer a one-stop shop for learning all things archery. Staff will provide a few Mathews Genesis bows identical to those used for the AGFC’s Archery in the Schools Program, and the ABA will help newcomers to the sport learn about more advanced archery techniques and equipment. Participants are encouraged to bring their own bows to learn about proper setup and equipment, and ABA volunteers will give advanced lessons in how to take those archery skills into the woods to be successful this deer season.
“The range has both known-distance bag targets to shoot and lifelike 3D targets for anyone to come and enjoy,” Bill Haynes, facility manager at the complex, said. “A lot of archers really like the elevated platform that lets you shoot multiple targets just like you were in a tree stand for a more realistic shooting experience than standing flat-footed on the ground.”
Sign up for this special archery class at https://register-ed.com/events/view/215978.