Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 176,604 deer during the November portion of firearms deer season, November14-24. Of the 176,604 deer harvested, 95,654 were antlered bucks, 16,045 were button bucks and 64,905 were does.

MDC says top harvest counties were Howell with 3,496 deer harvested, Franklin with 3,409 and Texas with 3,374.

In the KMMO listening area, Pettis County hunters checked 1,765 deer, followed by Carroll with 1,466 and Cooper with 1,381. Saline County hunters harvested 1,373 deer, followed by Howard with 1,355, Chariton with 1,323 and Lafayette with 947.

Last year, hunters checked 179,960 deer during the November portion of firearms deer season.

MDC reported three firearms-related hunting incidents during the November portion of the firearms deer season with all being nonfatal and self-inflicted.

Archery deer season resumes November 25 through January 15, 2021. The late youth portion runs November 27-29. The antlerless portion of firearms deer season runs December 4-6; followed by the alternative-methods portion December 26 through January 5, 2021.

For current ongoing preliminary harvest totals by season, county, and type of deer, visit the MDC website at extra.mdc.mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table/.

Photo: Among successful deer hunters during the November firearms portion was WWII Marine Veteran 97-year-old Robert McGrath, who took a nine-point buck on private land. He is from the Millersburg area and lives in Columbia with his son. Photo courtesy of the McGrath family.