JEFFERSON CITY– Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows deer hunters in Missouri harvested 68,312 deer during the opening weekend of the November portion of firearms deer season, Nov. 16 and 17. Of the 68,312 deer harvested, 42,283 were antlered bucks, 5,105 were button bucks, and 20,924 were does.
In Perry County, there were a total of 870 deer harvested during opening weekend. Of that number, 492 were antlered bucks, 79 were button bucks, and 299 were does.
The top harvest counties for the opening weekend were Franklin, which had 1,627 deer harvested; Texas, which had 1,305; and Pike, which had 1,161.
Last year, hunters checked 90,253 deer during the opening weekend of the November portion of firearms deer season.
According to MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle, the drop in harvest this year was due to a combination of factors.
“The calendar shift this year put the November portion a week later than last year, which results in lower deer harvest,” said Isabelle. “The peak of the rut in Missouri occurs around Nov. 10. When the calendar shifts, it puts the opener about a week past peak rut when deer movement isn’t as high as it is earlier in the month.”
Another factor that Isabelle believes significantly affected this year’s harvest total is an abundant acorn crop.
“Throughout much of Missouri, there are a lot of acorns in the woods this year,” said Isabelle. “When that happens, deer don’t need to move as much to find food, and they frequent fields and other open areas less often, making them less visible to hunters.”
Warm temperatures were another factor that contributed to this year’s lower opening weekend harvest total.
“Although the warm temperatures this weekend made it comfortable for hunters to be in the woods, it likely had an adverse effect on deer movement,” said Isabelle, who also noted that the unseasonably mild temperatures probably also affected the desire of some hunters to harvest deer, given the necessity for rapid processing.
“Fortunately, there are cooler temperatures in the forecast for the latter half of the November portion, which should result in better hunting conditions,” said Isabelle.
For current preliminary harvest totals by season, county, and type of deer, visit the MDC website at extra.mdc.mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table/.
For harvest summaries from past years, visit mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/deer-reports/deer-harvest-summaries.
Firearms deer hunting in Missouri continues with the November portion running through Nov. 26, followed by the CWD portion from Nov. 27 – Dec. 1 in open counties. The Late Youth portion runs from Nov. 29 – Dec. 1, followed by the Late Antlerless portion from Dec. 7-15 in open counties, and then the Alternative Methods portion from Dec. 28 through Jan. 7, 2025. The archery deer season reopens Nov. 27 and runs through Jan. 15, 2025.
More information on Missouri deer hunting can be found in MDC’s 2024 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where hunting permits are sold and online at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer.
