Impressive bulls top elk harvest

JASPER — Twenty elk were harvested during Arkansas’s 2024 season, including some impressive bulls, according to Wes Wright, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s elk program coordinator.

Of the 20, 14 were taken on private land and six from public land. Nine were bulls and 11 were antlerless. All nine bulls had racks of 5×5 (number of points on each antler) or greater, including a 7×7 and a 6×7. The hunts were Oct. 7-11 and Oct. 28-Nov. 1; youth hunts were Oct. 5-6 and Oct. 26-27.

James Wray, 32, experienced an amazing day of hunting on Richland Valley Elk Conservation Area, part of the Gene Rush Wildlife Management Area. The cotton, corn, rice and soybean farmer from Jonesboro took an elk in Utah a few years back but had not had a chance to chase them in Arkansas until last fall.

He began his Arkansas elk quest by scouting with a friend, Mason Young, about a week before hunting. He returned Oct. 27 with another friend, Spencer Pruitt, to hunt the next day. They happened upon a hunter and his helper the morning of Oct. 28 who were about to hunt the assigned unit next to Wray’s. They exchanged cellphone numbers in case one or the other needed help, and it’s a good thing they did. A while later, Wray heard a shot, texted the other hunter and found out he had bagged a bull. Wray and Pruitt helped cape the elk and haul out meat.

With all the commotion and celebration after shooting the elk, Wray figured the herd, and the bulls, would be scattered.

“There’s two draws that led from where we were with (the successful hunter) back to the meadows,” Wray said. “We sat that afternoon where we could see both of those draws so I could shoot (along) both of them.”

With little hope, they heard a bugle, another, then a third.

“We looked at each other – ‘Was that closer?’ ” Wray said. “It sounded closer.”

About 15 minutes later, a bull “charges off the side of that mountain, crosses that road and then starts trottin’ out across one of those wheat fields.”

As he turned broadside at about 6:20 p.m., Wray took him with a 28 Nosler from 78 yards.

A taxidermist friend put together a shoulder mount of the 6×6, which Wray hopes won’t be his last.

“I will be putting in for the draw and going to (the Buffalo River Elk Festival) every year probably for the rest of my life, and hope that the stars align again,” Wray said. “I had my hands on two dead Arkansas bulls in one day – that’s absolutely crazy.”

The hunts are within the core elk management zone, which includes Boone, Carroll, Madison, Newton and Searcy counties. All public-land hunts are on the Buffalo National River, Bearcat Hollow Wildlife Management Area or Gene Rush WMA (hunters are assigned specific zones).

The application period for elk hunting permits is May 1-June 1. The permit draw is held each year at the Buffalo River Elk Festival in Jasper, set for June 27-28. About 6,600 people applied online for permits in 2024, plus 620 who applied during the festival in hope of winning one of three onsite permits. Only Arkansas residents may be granted permits.

Here’s a list of all successful hunters and their harvests.

Public Land
Bulls – Thomas Bridges, spike, Bearcat Hollow WMA; James Moorhouse, 6×6, Gene Rush WMA; and James Wray, 6×6, Richland Valley Elk Conservation Area.

Antlerless – Matthew Kingston, Bearcat Hollow WMA; Ronald Leming, Richland Valley Elk Conservation Area; and Gary Melson, Richland Valley Elk Conservation Area.

Private Land
Bulls – Jesse Deckard, 5×5; Jay Jackson, 6×6; William Linley, 7×7; Michael Saladin, 6×7; Kaitlin Sanders, 5×5; Harold Smith, 6×6; and Josh Ward, 5×5.

Antlerless – Stacy Barron, Matthew Dickhutt, Gene Griffith, Michelle Hale, Billy Harris, Dennis Nelms and Kevin Rea.

A version of this article appears in the January/February issue of Arkansas Wildlife magazine. An annual subscription to the magazine includes five bimonthly issues and the calendar. The 36-page issues (with no advertising) cover news about the AGFC not found anywhere else, as well as articles about hunting, fishing, conservation and other outdoor pursuits. A one-year subscription costs $12 and a two-year subscription is $20, but the best deal is three years for $25. Subscribe today at www.arkansaswildlife.com.

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WRAY
James Wray’s 6×6 bull capped an exciting day of hunting on Richland Valley Elk Conservation Area. Photo courtesy of Spencer Pruitt.

SALADIN
Michael Saladin and the 6×7 elk he took on private land. Photo by Wes Wright.