Missouri hunters harvest 187,967 deer in firearms portion of the season
Hunters garnered big numbers for the firearms portion of deer season.
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation showed that 187,967 deer were harvested between Nov. 13-23. Of the 187,967 deer harvested, 101,501 were antlered bucks, 16,435 were button bucks, and 70,031 were does.
Top harvest counties included Franklin with 4,144 deer harvested, Texas with 4,050 and Howell with 3,244.
In 2020, hunters checked 177,769 deer during the November portion of firearms deer season with 96,298 being antlered bucks, 16,128 being button bucks, and 65,343 being does.
There were at least two firearms related hunting incidents, according to MDC. Both were non-fatal and self-inflicted.
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Previously, hunters told the News-Leader the season was a success, especially opening weekend. Billy Stoffer, from Wright County, landed a 10-point buck while Kendra Dykes snagged an eight pointer in Harwood, part of Vernon County. Six-year-old Max Blackiston got his first buck on a hunt with his dad, Robert, and older brother, William Scott, in Howell County.
Father-son duo David and JD Kennedy were hunting in southern Benton County when the 21-year-old shot an eight pointer Nov. 13. It wasn't until that evening that the senior Kennedy shot a tagged 10-point buck.
Missouri’s archery deer and turkey season resumes Nov. 24 through Jan. 15, 2022. The late youth portion of firearms season runs Nov. 26-28. The antlerless portion of firearms deer season runs Dec. 4-12 followed by the alternative methods portion Dec. 25 through Jan. 4, 2022.
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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/.
For harvest summaries from past years, visit mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/deer-reports/deer-harvest-summaries.
Sara Karnes is an Outdoors Reporter with the Springfield News-Leader. Follow along with her adventures on Twitter and Instagram @Sara_Karnes. Got a story to tell? Email her at skarnes@springfi.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri hunters harvest 187,967 deer in firearms portion of season
