Missouri deer hunters will find some hot spots and some areas with below-average deer numbers this year. The state’s top deer expert says he won’t be surprised if the statewide firearms deer harvest equals or exceeds last year’s record mark.
The firearms season runs Nov. 10 – 20. The youth portion is this Saturday and Sunday. The muzzeloader season is Nov. 23 – Dec. 2.
Resource Scientist Lonnie Hansen has been tracking white-tailed deer population and deer harvest trends for the Missouri Department of Conservation for more than 20 years. He said the outlook is bright for deer hunters this year, due largely to one weather event.
A severe freeze in late April destroyed virtually all the flowers of oak trees. Acorns from trees in the red oak group – the northern and southern red, black, pin, shingle, willow, water, blackjack, cherrybark, shumard and scarlet oaks – are bitter because they contain more tannin. They mature the year after flowers are set. Acorns from trees in the white oak group – the white, post, bur, swamp white, chinquapin, overcup and swamp chestnut oaks – are less bitter and therefore are the preferred food of white-tailed deer. They mature the same year flowers set.
“There are essentially no white oak acorns in Missouri this year, thanks to the record-breaking cold spell in April,” said Hansen. “That means deer are going to have to make do with acorns from red oaks this year.”
The conservation department’s annual survey of acorns and other durable wild fruit used by wildlife shows an average red oak acorn crop. The relative scarcity of acorns will tend to concentrate deer around red oaks and other food sources, such as crop fields and food plots. Deer behavior will be most predictable in the southern half of the state, where food alternatives to acorns are scarcer.
Hunters can take advantage of this by focusing their efforts around areas where red oak acorns are plentiful or near crop fields and other alternate food sources.
“It should be easier to kill a deer in the Ozarks this year,” said Hansen. He noted, however, that hunting could be more difficult in some areas due to another weather-related circumstance.
This summer’s hot, dry weather has led to an increase in hemorrhagic disease. Hemorrhagic disease may be caused by two similar viruses, epizootic hemorrhagic disease and blue tongue virus, but most deer deaths are caused by EHE. Drought promotes EHD, because it concentrates deer around water sources, where biting insects known as midges multiply and spread the disease.
“We had a pretty bad outbreak of EHD in the southeastern quarter of the state this year,” said Hansen. “There appears to have been significant loss in local populations, so some county populations might be depressed somewhat for a few years.”
He said the total impact of local EHD outbreaks is difficult to predict, but he does not expect it to make a significant difference in the statewide deer harvest. He said he thinks the advantage hunters will enjoy due to acorn scarcity will offset local harvest decreases due to EHD.
“I think harvest will be as good or possibly better than last year,” he said. “I won’t be surprised if we have a record harvest or if we don’t have a record harvest. It could go either way, depending on weather.”
Hunters set a harvest record during the November portion of last year’s firearms deer season, killing more than 235,000 deer. In Texas County, the kill was 3,869 last year, dropping from the top three list, but an increase from 2005.
EHD does not pose a threat to domestic livestock or to hunters. Deer tend to die within days of contracting the disease, so it is rare for hunters to encounter deer suffering from the disease. Hunters who kill deer that appear to be in poor health are encouraged to contact the nearest conservation agent to obtain a replacement permit so they can continue hunting.
Hansen also predicts an increase in the number of large-antlered deer taken in the 29 counties where antler-point restrictions have been in place for the past three years. This experimental restriction was designed to increase the number of does taken by hunters. At the same time, it allows more bucks to survive long enough to grow impressive antlers.
“Based on trends the last couple of years, we should take more adult bucks in antler restriction counties than in adjacent control counties,” said Hansen. “There should be more 3- and 4 -year-olds around this year.”
Hansen said unseasonably warm weather will not affect the timing of deer mating, a period known as the “rut.”
The timing of the rut is determined by day length, not temperatures. However, warm temperatures can affect daily feeding patterns. Overall feeding activity is lower when we get warm temperatures, and that can affect hunter success.
Hansen noted that deer hunting regulations on some conservation areas have changed this year. Hunters should check area regulations listed in the 2007 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulation Information booklet, which is available from hunting permit vendors statewide. The information also is available online at www.mdc.mo.gov/hunt/deer/.
Another change this year is the new Youth Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permit. The $7 permit allows youths age 6 through 15 who are not hunter-education certified to take antlerless deer during any segment of the firearms deer hunting season. It is available to both residents and nonresidents.
Young hunters can buy as many Youth Firearms Antlerless Deer Hunting Permits as they want. This increases the number of deer they can take legally. However, they can still take only one deer during the youth portion.
Also, the use of antlerless permits is restricted in some counties. See the 2007 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet for details.
Youths who are hunter-education certified have the added options of taking part in deer season using a Youth Deer and Turkey Hunting Permit or a resident or nonresident Firearms Deer Hunting Permit. Each permit has restrictions, so hunters should consider their particular circumstances and preferences before deciding which to buy.
The Youth Deer and Turkey Hunting Permit is available to both residents and nonresidents. It allows youths age 6 through 15 to hunt deer and turkey when in the immediate presence of a qualified adult. It allows the holder to take one deer of either sex. However, only antlerless deer may be taken during the urban and antlerless portions of the season.
A regular resident or nonresident Firearms Any-Deer Hunting Permit also allows hunter-education certified holders to take one deer of either sex during any of the firearms deer season segments except the urban and antlerless portions. These permits cost the same as the y outh version, but do not restrict the holders to hunting with adults.
Regardless of which permits a hunter may hold, he or she may only take one antlered deer during all segments the firearms deer season.