Hunting News

November firearms harvest sees uptick at 191,368 deer

November firearms harvest sees uptick at 191,368 deer

By Missouri Department of Conservation

Preliminary data shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 191,368 deer during the November portion of fall firearms deer season Nov. 11- 21.

Of the 191,368 deer harvested, 99,431 were antlered bucks, 20,148 were button bucks, and 71,789 were does. Top harvest counties were Howell with 4,564 deer checked, Texas with 4,374, and Franklin with 4,095.

Last year hunters checked 185,062 deer during the 2016 November portion of firearms deer season with 95,381 being antlered bucks, 18,888 being button bucks, and 70,793 being does. Top harvest counties for opening weekend were Howell, Texas and Franklin.

“The uptick in harvest this year is likely due to a combination of favorable weather and the continued recovery of deer populations in some areas hit hard by the 2012 drought,” according to deer biologist Barb Keller. “As the November firearms portion creeps one day earlier each year, it tends to coincide with more of the deer in rut – resulting in higher deer harvest.”

The Department of Conservation reported three firearms-related hunting incidents during the fall firearms November portion. One of the hunting incidents involved a hunter wounding another hunter while hunting in Benton County. Another incident involved a hunter loading a gun in a truck and it went off hitting another hunter sitting in the truck in Washington County. Another hunting incident involved a self-inflicted firearm wound that occurred in Bates County.

Deer hunting in Missouri continues with archery deer hunting through January 15.

For current ongoing preliminary harvest totals by season, county, and type of deer, visit here.
For harvest summaries from past years, visit here.

Copyright 2024 by Buckmasters, Ltd.

Copyright 2020 by Buckmasters, Ltd