The Hunt Is On
Arkansas Deer Seasons (2025 – 2026)
Archery: September 27, 2025 – February 28, 2026
Early Buck Archery: September 6–8, 2025 (in specific zones)
Alternative Firearms: October 18–26, 2025
Modern Gun: November 8–30, 2025
Special Youth Modern Gun Hunt: November 1–2, 2025, and January 3–4, 2026
Other Game Seasons
Dove: September 6–October 26, 2025, and December 8, 2025–January 15, 2026
Quail: November 1, 2025–February 1, 2026
Important Notes
Zone regulations: Deer seasons and bag limits vary significantly by zone. It is crucial to check the specific regulations for the zone where you plan to hunt.
New regulations: The 2025-2026 season includes changes, such as turkey zones being expanded to five, and updates to CWD management zones.
Regulations: The official Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) 2025-26 Hunting Guidebook has the full details and is available online and at license dealers.
Oklahoma Deer Seasons (2025 – 2026)
Archery: October 1, 2025 – January 15, 2026
Youth Gun: October 17–19, 2025
Muzzleloader: October 25 – November 2, 2025
Gun: November 22 – December 7, 2025
Holiday Antlerless Gun: December 18–31, 2025
Other Notable Seasons
Turkey (Fall Archery): October 1, 2025 – January 15, 2026
Turkey (Fall Gun): November 1–21, 2025
Rabbit: October 1, 2025 – March 15, 2026
Squirrel: May 15, 2025 – February 28, 2026
Quail: November 8, 2025 – February 15, 2026
Pheasant: December 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026
Important Reminders
Combined Season Limit: The combined limit for deer is six, with no more than two being antlered.
Non-Resident Check-in: Non-residents hunting on certain public lands must now check in and out.
Required Licenses: All hunters must possess the appropriate licenses, stamps, and permits for their target species.
Hunting Safety
Hunting safety includes following the four fundamental rules of firearm safety:
- treat every firearm as if it were loaded
- control the muzzle
- be certain of your target and what’s beyond it
- keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot
Additionally, always wear blaze orange clothing for visibility, plan your trip by letting someone know your plans and location, check weather conditions, inspect your equipment, and never use alcohol or drugs before or while hunting.
Firearm safety
- Treat every firearm as if it’s loaded: Never assume a gun is unloaded.
- Control the muzzle: Always point the muzzle in a safe direction and never point it at anything you don’t intend to shoot.
- Know your target and what’s beyond: Positively identify your target and be sure of what is behind it before you fire.
- Keep your finger off the trigger: Do not place your finger on the trigger until you are ready to fire.
- Unload when not in use: Unload firearms when climbing, crossing fences, or in other situations where a mishap could occur. Transport firearms unloaded.
Personal and Situational Awareness
- Wear blaze orange: Wear at least one article of blaze orange clothing, such as a vest and hat, to make yourself visible to other hunters.
- Plan your trip: Tell a friend or family member where you are going and when you expect to return.
- Check the weather: Be prepared for any weather conditions and dress in appropriate layers to avoid hypothermia.
- Stay sober: Never use alcohol or drugs before or while hunting.
- Use a tree stand safety harness: Wear a full body fall arrest harness when using a tree stand.
- Protect yourself: Always wear eye and ear protection, especially when firing a firearm.
Equipment and planning
- Inspect your gear: Check all equipment, including steps and straps on your tree stand, especially before each use.
- Carry a safety kit: Pack essential supplies such as a first-aid kit, flashlight, fire starter, and navigation tools.
- Know the local laws: Be familiar with all hunting and firearm laws for the area you are hunting in.
- Communicate with your group: Stay aware of your companions’ locations and agreed-upon “safe zones of fire” to prevent accidents.
Good luck to all the hunters out there. Remember to HUNT SAFE!
Tying off in the workplace is important for worker safety and preventing falls, especially when working at heights, as it keeps a worker connected to a secure anchor point at all times. It can also refer to establishing boundaries, which is important for work-life balance, preventing burnout, and improving overall employee well-being and productivity.
Proper anchorage and equipment
Use a competent anchor: Only use approved and designated anchor points. Do not tie off to vent pipes, electrical conduit, water pipes, light fixtures, or guardrails.
Ensure system compatibility: A competent person must verify that all components of the fall arrest system are compatible.
Check equipment regularly: Always inspect lanyards and harnesses for damage before use. Never use a lanyard without a self-locking snap hook.
Don’t tie knots in lanyards: Knots weaken the strength of the lanyard.
Avoid multiple lanyards: Do not join multiple lanyards together to extend reach. Limit one person per anchor unless the anchor is designed and approved for multiple users.
Positioning and fall distance
Maintain 100% tie-off: Be continuously connected to an anchor at all times when exposed to a fall hazard.
Work under the anchor point: Always work directly under the anchor point to prevent a swing fall injury.
Limit free fall: The maximum free fall distance should not exceed 6 feet.
Use shock absorbers: Employ shock absorbers to reduce the impact forces on the body in a fall, which can elongate to reduce fall-arresting forces.
When to tie off
Heights above 7.5 feet: Tie off when working at heights over 7.5 feet on a structure’s perimeter or through openings.
Higher elevations: Tie off when working on beams, trusses, or skeleton steel at heights over 15 feet.
Suspended scaffolds: Always tie off when using any type of suspended scaffold, including boatswain chairs or needle-beam scaffolds.