Nearly 160,000 deer were claimed by hunters across Missouri in the recently concluded firearms portion of deer season, according to preliminary numbers from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

According to the MDC website (as of 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27), 82,610 antlered bucks were claimed by hunters during the 11-day season, along with 13,203 button bucks and 63,304 does.  That resulted in a reported total of 159,117.

Franklin County concluded with the highest harvest totals, totaling 3530 deer. Texas, Howell and Pike counties were the next three highest. Macon County continued to lead the way among our area counties by ranking fifth, as 2476 deer tags were checked. Benton County was eighth with 2323, while Morgan County rounded the top ten on 2097.

While the main firearms portion of deer season has concluded, counties in the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) management zone including Saline, Boone, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Howard, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Randolph, and Ray counties, will have an extended hunting window that will last until Dec. 1.

The Department of Conservation reminds the public that harvest totals are not official until all portions of deer season conclude and the data are verified.