MDC: More than 16,500 deer harvested during new early antlerless firearms season, 348 from Callaway County
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
There were 16,575 deer harvested around the state during the new three-day firearms season for antlerless deer, according to a press release from the Missouri Department of Conservation.
The new, three-day season lasted from Oct.6-8, and hunters in Mid-Missouri saw a benefit, with 338 deer harvested in Callaway County, while there were 177 reported in Boone, 166 in Audrain, 151 in Cole, 130 in Cooper and 105 in Howard, according to MDC data provided to ABC 17 News.
The top-three counties in the state were Franklin with 489, Howell with 454 and Ripley with 437, according to the release.
“With deer numbers being at desired levels in most counties but continuing to increase, additional antlerless harvest is needed to stabilize the deer population,” MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle said in a press release. “The goal of the new firearms early antlerless portion is to help increase antlerless deer harvest prior to the November portion of firearms season when many hunters focus on harvesting bucks.”
Deer hunting in Missouri continues with archery hunting through Nov. 10 and again Nov. 22-Jan. 15, 2024. Upcoming firearms portions, according to the MDC, are:
- Firearms early youth portion: Oct. 28-29
- Firearms November portion: Nov. 11-21
- New firearms CWD portion: Nov. 22-26 (in open counties)
- Firearms late youth portion: Nov. 24-26
- Firearms late antlerless portion: Dec. 2-10 (in open counties)
- Firearms alternative methods portion: Dec. 23 - Jan. 2, 2024
