Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in the state harvested 12,080 deer during the alternative-methods portion of the fall firearms deer season, which ran Dec. 22 – Jan. 1.
Of the total harvest, 3,081 were antlered bucks, 1,586 button bucks and 7,413 does. Top harvest counties were Callaway with 304 deer harvested, Osage with 278 and Franklin with 263. In Texas County, the count was 158. The breakdown was: antered bucks, 39; button bucks, 11; and does, 108.
The harvest total for last year’s alternative-methods portion was 10,027.
Deer hunting continues in Missouri with statewide archery hunting through Jan. 15. For more information on deer hunting in Missouri, visit huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer.