Free deer tags available for youth deer hunters

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’s first youth deer hunt of the 2025-26 hunting season is Nov. 1-2, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is reminding all hunters to update their mobile app and download their youth hunter’s free deer tags to ensure an enjoyable hunt and smooth game-checking experience after the shot.

“Youth deer hunters need to have their own tags and account at agfc.com, and the process is pretty straightforward through the website or the mobile app,” Kyle Curry, an assistant chief of the AGFC’s Information Technology division. “You can also go to a license dealer and make sure their licenses and tags are up-to-date, but it’s easy to do online yourself. The biggest place where people get hung up is if they are trying to get the tags through the adult’s account. The youth tags will not show up as an option unless you’re logged in under the youth’s account.”

• Visit www.agfc.com and click “Get a License” on the top right-hand corner of the website and choose the Resident Youth Deer Tags (#YDT) or Nonresident Youth Deer Tags (#YDTN), depending on your residency. Both options are free.

• Click the prompt to “Buy Now,” and you will be asked to log in using your youth’s login information. If your youth hunter does not already have an account from previous years, you will need to create an account for them.

• Youth licensing options only appear under youth accounts, so if your youth hunter already has an account from previous years, be sure to sign in under their account. If you’ve never set up an account for your new hunter, click the “Create an Account” button to set them up.

Smartphone users can also link their youth hunter’s account to their profile in the AGFC app.

• Log in to the app using your account and click the profile button (the circle in the top right corner with your initials in it).

• Click “Profiles and Users.” Click “Manage Linked Users,” then click “Link a User.”

• Search for your youth’s customer profile using the prompts on-screen. When you have confirmed the account found is correct, click “Connect as Guardian.”

• You may now switch between your account and the youth account to procure tags, apply for special hunts, and check deer and other game.

Youths must check harvested deer just like adults. They may use the mobile app, www.agfc.com or call 833-289-2469 to check their deer at the location of harvest. If their deer remains within their immediate vicinity until it is home, it does not need to be tagged with a physical tag. If you are unable to immediately check your deer through one of the three options (app, website or phone), you must place a temporary physical tag on the deer indicating the hunter’s name, customer identification number, date, time, zone or WMA of harvest and the method they used. This paper tag must stay with the deer until it is checked. Hunters have 12 hours after the time of harvest to check their deer.

Hunters must be 6 to 15 years old to participate in Arkansas’s youth deer hunts. In addition to deer tags, a youth who has not yet passed their Hunter Education course must be in the direct supervision (within arm’s reach) of a licensed mentor. The mentor may call or rattle for the youth and assist in game recovery, but may not take any direct hunting action, such as aiming or firing the firearm. Mentors may not hunt other game species while accompanying the youth hunter.

Youths who have passed Hunter Education may legally hunt without a mentor at their parent’s or guardian’s discretion.

Visit www.agfc.com/deer to learn more about deer hunting in Arkansas.

####

CUTLINES:

YOUTH IN ORANGE WITH DEER: 
Camden Gorman tagged this deer, his first, during the alternative firearms hunt, but we’re sure he’ll be back out during the youth hunt to see if he can double up this deer season. Photo courtesy Sherry Holt. 

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER
Adult mentors may call and assist youth hunters during the youth hunt, but the youngster needs to aim and shoot on their own. AGFC photo.

CHECKING BUCK DEER BY PHONE
Be sure to download your youth hunter’s free deer tags before hitting the woods to make checking your deer easier. AGFC photo.