Texas County finishes fourth in fall firearms deer season

Texas County finished fourth place in the fall firearms deer season that ended Tuesday, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. The kill was down significantly in the county from the previous year, an unofficial tally shows.

The 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, 3,695. 

Last year, deer hunters harvested 4,375 deer in Texas County, which was the second highest in the state. 

Statewide, preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (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 2017 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. Lastly, the alternative methods portion will run Dec. 22 through Jan. 1, 2019. Learn more about deer hunting in Missouri at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer

Preliminary data shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 99,567 deer during the opening weekend. Of those, 55,887 were antlered bucks, 9,573 were button bucks and 34,107 were does. Last year, hunters checked 94,886 deer during the opening weekend.