Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – As late summer turns into early fall across Northeast Arkansas, local hunters know that familiar itch. The Delta heat is still lingering, but early September marks the official kickoff of hunting season in Craighead County.

Whether you’re gearing up for fast-paced opening day dove hunts over sunflower fields or hanging tree stands along Crowley’s Ridge for deer archery season, early preparation is what separates a successful hunt from missed opportunities.

At DNW Outdoors, our team has lived and breathed Northeast Arkansas hunting since 1987. Here is your field-tested checklist to make sure your gear, firearms, and strategy are locked in before opening morning.

Fast Wings & Tight Patterns: Prepping for Dove Season

Opening day of dove season is the unofficial homecoming for Arkansas sportsmen. But hitting fast-darting mourning doves after a long offseason requires practice and the right setup.

• Pattern Your Shotgun: Don’t wait until you’re sitting on a five-gallon bucket in a cut grain field to test your pattern. Drop by our Gun Counter to grab lead or high-performance non-toxic shotshells—such as Migra stacked loads—and pattern your choke at 30 to 40 yards. An Improved Cylinder or Modified choke paired with #7.5 or #8 shot is usually the sweet spot for Craighead County fields.
• Stay Hydrated & Invisible: September heat in the Delta is no joke. Gear up with lightweight, breathable camo tops and bring along a heavy-duty cooler—like a YETI Tundra or Hopper—packed with cold water and ice.
• Decoys & Motion: Doves are visual feeders. Adding a motorized spinning-wing decoy or a few static decoys to your fence line or field edge can draw birds right into shooting range.

Early-Season Whitetail Prep: Dialing in Deer Season

While dove season brings the firepower, deer preparation is all about stealth, scout work, and fine-tuning. Early buck archery season kicks off in late August/September, followed closely by the general archery and modern gun dates.

• Tune Your Bow at the Archery Counter: If you’re hunting early archery season, your bow needs to be performing flawlessly. Bring your rig to the DNW Archery Counter. Our technicians can check your string wear, paper-tune your arrows, adjust draw weights, and install updated broadheads so you can hit the woods with 100% confidence.
• Scout Smart with Optics & Trail Cams: Summer pattern bucks are moving between feed and bedding areas. Set up cellular trail cameras along field edges and creek bottoms to monitor movement without pushing deer out of their routine. If you’re glassing fields from a distance, invest in quality optics—such as Leupold rangefinders and binoculars—to spot bucks while keeping your scent out of the area.
• Prep Stands & Scent Elimination: Late summer storms can damage stands and cut limbs across shooting lanes. Inspect all stand straps, harnesses, and ladder rungs now. Remember: early season deer have sharp senses, so stock up on scent-eliminating sprays, soaps, and ozone units before stepping foot near your stand.

Get Field-Ready at DNW Outdoors

From high-performance ammo and custom bow tuning to top-tier boots and outerwear, the team at DNW Outdoors is ready to get you set up for another unforgettable season in Craighead County.

Stop by the store today, talk with our local experts, and make sure you’re fully prepared when shooting light breaks!

• Address: 1711 E. Parker Road, Jonesboro, AR 72404
• Main Store: (870) 972-5827
• Gun Counter: (870) 938-0080 | Archery Counter: (870) 938-0090
• Online: dnwoutdoors.com