Archery: Sept. 25, 2021- Feb. 28, 2022

Muzzleloader: Oct. 16-24, 2021

Private Land Antlerless-only Modern Gun Hunt: Dec. 29-31, 2021

Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: Nov. 6-7, 2021 and Jan. 1-2, 2022

Modern Gun: Nov. 13-Dec. 19 and Dec. 26-28, 2021

Zone 12 Bag Limit

Five deer, no more than two bucks, which may include:

• Two bucks with archery, muzzleloader or modern gun, OR

• Five does with archery, OR

• Five does with muzzleloader and modern gun combined.

To note:

• Dogs allowed for deer hunting Nov. 13-Dec. 19.

• Legal bucks must be button bucks or have at least three points on one side of their rack.

• Button bucks do count toward a hunter’s buck limit in Zone 12.

Statewide bag limit

Six deer, of which no more than two may be bucks. The statewide seasonal bag limit may be taken in any combination of zones or methods, as long as zone bag limits are not exceeded.

Deer hunting regulations

Antler point restrictions: The end of the main beam and all points 1 inch long count as points in regard to antler-point restrictions.

For youth hunters: Hunters who are 6 to 15 years old may harvest any buck without regard to antler size or points.

Three-point rule: A legal buck must have both antlers shorter than 2 inches (button buck) or have three or more points on one side of his rack. The three-point rule applies statewide unless mentioned below.

On Bald Knob, Big Lake, Cache River, Felsenthal, Holla Bend, Overflow, Pond Creek, Wapanocca and White River NWRs; Rex Hancock Black Swamp and U of A Pine Tree Experimental Station WMAs any buck deer may be legally harvested during all deer hunts.

Hunter orange requirements: Hunters and those accompanying hunters in areas where modern gun or muzzleloader deer, bear or elk seasons are open must wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange, chartreuse or blaze camouflage above the waist and a head garment of those same safety colors.

Baiting deer: Baiting is the direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of salt, grain or other feed that could serve to lure or attract wildlife to, on or over an area where hunters are attempting to take them. An area is considered baited for 10 days following complete removal of bait.

• Hunters may bait and feed deer on private land outside of the CWD Management Zone year-round.

• Food plots may be used year-round.

• Baiting is not allowed on wildlife management areas.

Bait may be used to hunt deer and elk on private land from Sept. 1-Dec. 31.

Deer hunting near water:

• Swimming deer may not be hunted.

• Deer may not be driven or captured from a boat.

• Deer may not be hunted from a watercraft on public water.

Legal hunting equipment

Archery

Long, recurve and compound bows: Must have at least a 35-pound pull. Scopes, string locks and mechanical string releases may be used. Big-game hunters must use arrowheads at least 7/8-inches wide (mechanicals OK). Arrows and arrowheads containing firearm ammunition or poison may not be used.

Crossbow: Crossbows must have at least a 125-pound pull and a mechanical safety. Scopes may be used. Big-game hunters must use arrowheads at least 7/8-inches wide (including mechanicals). Arrows and arrowheads containing firearm ammunition or poison may not be used.

Propelled Arrows: Arrows propelled from a compressed air system or by the action of an explosive or combustible propellant may not be used.

Muzzleloader

To be used for deer hunting, muzzleloading rifles must have a barrel 18 inches or longer and be .40 caliber or larger. Magnifying sights may be used. The use of shot is not legal. Legal muzzleloaders use flint, percussion cap, primer or electronic pulse, must have the bullet loaded through the muzzle and are not capable of firing a cartridge.

Hunters may use muzzleloading handguns with:

• barrels 9 inches or longer

• .45 caliber or larger if they shoot conical bullets (200 grains or heavier), or

• .530 caliber or larger if they shoot round balls.

A hunter may carry a muzzleloading handgun of any caliber as backup to a muzzleloading rifle.

Modern gun

Modern guns may be used for deer EXCEPT:

• buckshot in a .410 shotgun.

• shot smaller than No. 4 buckshot in any shotgun.

• rimfire cartridges, military or full metal jacketed ammunition.

• centerfire rifles or handguns smaller than .22 caliber.

• handguns with barrels shorter than 4 inches.

The AGFC has approved for modern gun deer season the use of large-bore air rifles that meet certain standards. The large-bore air rifle must be at least .40-caliber, shoot a single, expandable slug, produce at least 400 feet/pounds of energy at the muzzle, and be charged from an external tank. Large-bore air rifles are not legal for harvesting bear or elk.