Missouri’s 2019-20 deer-hunting season ended January 15, with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reporting a preliminary total deer harvest of 285,483. Of the deer harvested, 133,914 were antlered bucks, 27,931 were button bucks, and 123,638 were does.
According to MDC, top harvest counties for the overall deer season were Franklin with 6,247 deer checked, Callaway with 5,703 and Texas with 5,157.
In the KMMO listening area, the top county was Pettis with 2,503 deer checked. It was followed by Howard with 2,401; Cooper with 2,390; Carroll with 2,196; Saline with 1,999; Chariton with 1,812; and Lafayette with 1,303.
Hunters harvested 290,224 deer during the 2018-19 overall deer hunting season.
ARCHERY DEER RESULTS
Deer hunting ended with the close of the archery season. Preliminary data from MDC showed that hunters checked 61,209 deer during the 2019-20 archery deer season.
Top counties for the archery deer season were Jefferson with 1,604 deer checked, Franklin with 1,294, and St. Louis with 1,227.
In the KMMO listening area, the top county was Pettis with 491 deer checked. It was followed by Howard with 482; Cooper with 439; Saline with 401; Carroll with 386; Chariton with 313; and Lafayette with 251.
Hunters checked 52,923 deer during the 2018-19 archery deer season.
ARCHERY TURKEY RESULTS
Fall archery turkey hunting also ended January 15. Preliminary data from MDC showed 2,406 turkeys harvested.
Top counties for the fall archery turkey season were Callaway with 69 birds checked, Greene with 63 and Franklin with 62.
In the KMMO listening area, the top county was Carroll with 20 birds checked. It was followed by Cooper with 13; Saline and Chariton with 12 each; Lafayette with nine; Pettis with eight; and Howard with five.
Hunters harvested 2,055 turkeys during the 2018 fall archery turkey season.
HUNTING INCIDENTS
MDC reported six firearms-related hunting incidents during the 2019-2020 fall deer and turkey hunting seasons. The incidents included one fatality involving a shooter and victim, one nonfatal incident involving a shooter and a victim, and four nonfatal incidents where the injuries sustained were self-inflicted.