Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested more than 20,000 less deer this year than last during the November portion of fall firearms deer season.
MDC says hunters bagged 178,936 deer from November 16-26. Of the deer harvested, 91,420 were antlered bucks, 17,237 were button bucks and 70,279 were does.
Top harvest counties were Franklin with 4,008 deer checked, Texas with 3,734, and Callaway with 3,369.
In the KMMO listening area, the top county was Pettis with 1,577 deer checked. It was followed by Cooper with 1,507; Carroll with 1,446; Howard with 1,373; Saline with 1,254; Chariton with 1,192; and Lafayette with 869.
Last year hunters checked 200,738 deer during the November portion of firearms deer season with 103,582 being antlered bucks, 20,040 being button bucks, and 77,116 being does.
MDC reported six firearms-related hunting incidents during the November portion of the firearms deer season with four being self-inflicted; one nonfatal incident involving a shooter and victim; and one fatal incident involving a shooter and victim.
Deer hunting in Missouri continues with archery deer hunting through January 15, 2020. The late youth portion of firearms deer season runs November 29 through December 1. The antlerless portion of firearms deer season runs December 6-8. And, the alternative methods portion will run December 28 through January 7, 2020.