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Weather and reduced number of counties contribute to decline.
JEFFERSON CITY— Hunters checked 15,036 deer during the Antlerless Portion of Firearms Deer Season Dec. 13 through 21. That is down by almost 23 percent from last year (19,472). High winds, very cold weather conditions and considerable ice in many of Missouri’s northern counties took a toll on this year’s antlerless harvest numbers. In addition, there were six fewer counties open during this year’s Antlerless Portion.
High counties during the 2008 Antlerless Portion were the same as in 2007. Hunters checked 527 deer in Macon County, 468 in Pike and 415 in Callaway.
When added to the harvests during the Urban Portion of Firearms Deer Season (678), the November Youth Portion (10,400), the November Portion (200,679) and the Muzzleloader Portion (10,254), the Antlerless Portion harvest brings the 2008-2009 firearms deer harvest to 237,047, down by almost nine percent from 2007 (260,162).
Missouri’s remaining 2008-2009 deer seasons are the Archery Season, which runs until Jan. 15, and a portion of the Youth Season January 3 and 4.
The Missouri Department of Conservation recorded no firearms-related hunting incidents during the Antlerless Portion of Firearms Deer Season. It recorded four during the preceding segments. Two involved self-inflicted injuries. None were fatal.
