If You Hit a Deer in Arkansas is it Legal to Take the Antlers?

If you are traveling through the natural state in the coming weeks stay alert and look out for deer crossing the roadways.

According to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, it's prime mating season and that means more deer than usual standing on the highways or on the side of the road.

Crashing into a deer can lead to deadly consequences and severely damage your vehicle, everything from a smashed headlight to front grills, bumpers, and mirrors are just a few of the damage that deer can do. Depending on how fast you were going and how big the deer was, it could even total your car completely. Not a great way to spend the holiday in the hospital or stranded on the side of the road.

The best thing you can do to avoid a major accident is to slow down if you can to hopefully avoid the collision. Of course, swerving to miss one is our first instinct but sometimes that could lead to a more serious wreck with another vehicle or to losing control and going off the road.

If you do hit a deer, you must report it to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and if the accident is really bad call the police or 911.

By the way, if you are wondering can you take the dead deer home for deer meat?

Arkansas is one of 20 states that will allow you to do that but there are some requirements furthermore in some states, you may have to have a permit. Keep in mind though, if there is too much damage done to the inside of the deer, it may not be safe to eat the meat.

Deer Antlers

What you are not allowed to do is remove the antlers off the dead deer, according to the AGFC, you have to have the deer tagged and checked, otherwise, it's not legal.

15.03 ANTLER REQUIREMENTS 04-98 It is unlawful to remove the antlers from the carcass of a buck deer prior to checking the deer using an official wildlife check method. PENALTY: Class 1