Preliminary data shows deer hunters in Missouri harvested 185,066 deer during the November portion of fall firearms deer season, Nov. 12-22.
Of the 185,066 deer harvested, 95,383 were antlered bucks, 18,889 were button bucks, and 70,794 were does. Top harvest counties were Howell with 3,910 deer checked, Franklin with 3,738, and Texas with 3,562.
Early data also shows young deer hunters ages 6 through 15 checked 2,944 deer during the late youth portion of this year’s deer season, Nov. 25 to 27.
Of the 2,944 deer harvested, 1,149 were antlered bucks, 426 were button bucks, and 1,369 were does. Top harvest counties were Pike with 70 deer checked, Howell with 55, and Lincoln and Osage with 52 each.
Last year's late youth portion harvest total was 2,353 with 664 being antlered bucks, 376 button bucks, and 1,313 does.
Last year, adult hunters checked 186,542 deer during the 2015 November portion of firearms deer season with 90,094 antlered bucks, 20,911 button bucks, and 75,537 does.
The Conservation Department reported three firearms-related hunting incidents during the fall firearms November portion. Two of the three incidents involved self-inflicted firearm wounds and occurred in Barry and Camden counties. The third involved one hunter in a party in Grundy County wounding another while shooting at a deer.
Archery deer hunting which began Nov. 23 runs through Jan. 15; firearms antlerless portion Dec. 2 to 4, and firearms alternative methods portion Dec. 24 through Jan. 3.
For current, preliminary harvest totals by season, county, and type of deer, visit the MDC website.
For harvest summaries from past years, click here.