Editor’s note: We first spoke with Greensboro, North Carolina resident and Sparkman native Garland Craigg in 2023 about deer hunting in Clark, Dallas and Ouachita counties. With archery season beginning in Arkansas on Saturday, Sept. 28, the two-time Triple Trophy recipient’s recollection of last year’s hunt is just in time for opening day.
By GARLAND CRAIGG | Special to arkadelphian.com
While preparing for my 2023-2024 annual Arkansas deer hunt, my mind drifted back to the previous year’s hunt where my goal was to score my first Arkansas Triple Trophy Award. Could I do it again?, I wondered.
To earn the award, you must harvest a whitetail deer with a bow, a muzzleloader and a modern gun.
According to the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, out of more than 300,000 licensed deer hunters, only a handful accomplishes this task. Those who are successful are presented a certificate and a patch.
I personally find it very challenging and motivating to go after the award, especially being a non-resident. Although I was born and raised in Sparkman, Arkansas, I haven’t lived there since graduating high school in 1970. But through the years I’ve managed to return to my native home to hunt with family and friends.
Last year I dealt with a lower back issue and, on top of that, I didn’t arrive in Arkansas until the day before the bow season opener. I didn’t have a chance to scout my hunting property or set up stands and feeders.
The first three days of hunting were long and tiring, and I hadn’t even drawn my bow. I had spotted a number of deer, but they were all out of range. By the end of the third day my back was really in pain from too much standing, climbing and walking.
On the fourth morning I had decided to sleep in and rest, but would go out for the evening hunt. About an hour before the end of legal hunting time, I arrowed a nice seven-point at about 25 yards. One down, two to go.
With a buck tagged I could now relax a bit and give my back a break from the daily grind, plus muzzleloader season wouldn’t open for another couple of weeks.
Early October the deer movement picked up and I bagged another doe with my bow. But I still had two more deer to take in order to qualify.
After putting in my time chasing deer I finally scored with my muzzleloader, and later with modern gun.
Could 2024 be a three-peat? This year will be even more challenging since I had back surgery in February for a herniated disk in my lower back. Only time will tell.
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