Texas County finished in fourth place in the fall firearms deer season that ended last Tuesday, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. The kill was down significantly in the county from the previous year.
The Texas County total was 3,447. The breakdown: 1,704 antlered deer; 400 button bucks and 1,343 does. Leading the state was Franklin County with 4,021. Second was Howell with 3,858 and third was Callaway at 3,695.
Last year, deer hunters harvested 4,375 deer in Texas County, the second highest total in the state.
Preliminary data from MDC shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested a near-record 199,427 deer during the November portion of fall firearms deer season. Of the 199,427 deer harvested, 102,930 were antlered bucks, 19,924 were button bucks, and 76,573 were does.
Last year hunters checked 192,797 deer during the November portion of firearms deer season with 100,161 being antlered bucks, 20,267 being button bucks, and 72,369 being does.
The recent-record season was 2012 with 204,668 deer harvested, including 87,368 antlered bucks, 27,143 button bucks and 90,157 does.
For current ongoing preliminary harvest totals by season, county, and type of deer, visit the MDC website at on.mo.gov/1jjz7Ew. For harvest summaries from past years, visit on.mo.gov/2fyMaBN.
MDC reported eight firearms-related hunting incidents during the November portion of firearms deer season of which three involved fatalities — two of which occurred incidental to hunting while at hunting camps and one self-inflicted incident while in the field. Of the five non-fatal incidents, four were self-inflicted and the fifth occurred when the shooter struck a victim while swinging on game.
Deer hunting in Missouri continues with archery deer hunting through Jan. 15. The late youth portion of firearms deer season runs Nov. 23-25. The antlerless portion of firearms deer season runs Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 and the alternative methods portion run Dec. 22 through Jan. 1, 2019. Learn more about deer hunting in Missouri at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/huntingtrapping/species/deer.
Young hunters kill 25 deer in county during second youth season
Hunters ages 6 to 15 killed 25 deer in Texas County during the second part of youth firearms deer season held Friday through Sunday.
The breakdown: seven antlered deer, three button bucks and 15 does.
Top leaders in the state were: Wayne County, 47; Ripley, 46; and Franklin, Macon and Osage, 45.
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that young hunters harvested 2,556 deer. Of the 2,556 deer harvested, 1,140 were antlered bucks, 336 were button bucks, and 1,080 were does.
Last year’s harvest total for the late youth portion was 3,115 with 1,299 being antlered bucks, 453 button bucks, and 1,363 does.