OUTDOOR CORNER: A VARIETY OF DEER PERMITS ARE AVAILABLE TO MISSOURI HUNTERS

It's summertime. The time of year when you are busy with a variety of outdoor activities. Maybe a fishing trip. Maybe mowing the lawn. Maybe planning a vacation trip or a Fourth of July picnic. If you deer hunt in Missouri, you should also be making plans for the November firearms deer season because permits go on sale July 1.

For many years, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) has controlled the state's deer harvest by using a quota system. Because female deer (does) produce next year's deer, harvest of does regulates herd size. The quota system allows for regulation of doe harvest.

Missouri is divided into 59 deer management units. Highways and rivers are easily recognized unit boundaries. Deer population goals are set for each unit.

A number of Any-Deer and Bonus Deer permits are made available for each unit. Units with below-goal deer numbers have few permits available, thereby protecting does so deer numbers can increase. Units with above-average deer numbers have many permits available to reduce doe numbers.

An Any-Deer Hunting Permit allows the hunter to take either one deer of any sex or age (any deer) in the unit specified on the permit or one antlered deer statewide.

In many units there is no limit on the number of permits that can be sold (open quota); that is, all hunters who want to purchase permits can do so. However, in some units Any-Deer or Bonus Deer permits are limited or unavailable (limited quota).

In open quota units, hunters may purchase Any-Deer and Bonus Deer permits over the counter from any permit vendor from July I until Jan. 9 (the last day of the January extension). In limited quota units, a lottery is held. For a limited quota Any-Deer Permit, purchase a regular firearms (bucks-only) permit by Aug. 15 and tell the vendor you want to apply for an Any Deer Permit for a specific limited quota unit. Those drawn will be mailed a sticker to convert their firearms bucks-only permit to any Any -Deer Permit for their unit of choice; those not drawn will be mailed a sorry card.

You no longer have to choose between hunting with a centerfire firearm during November or with a muzzleloading firearm during December. The Muzzleloading Firearms Deer Hunting Permit has been eliminated because the Firearms Deer Hunting Permit is now valid for both methods.

The firearms deer hunting season is now composed of three segments: the November portion, the December muzzleloader portion and the January extension portion. As before, Firearms Deer Hunting Permits (regular Bucks Only, Any-Deer, and Bonus Deer) may be used to hunt during the November portion of the season using any legal method.

However, if you do not fill your permits during November (or choose not to hunt in November), you may use your permits to hunt during the December muzzleloader portion of the season, but you are restricted to using muzzleloading methods. The unit restriction still applies; that is, permits are valid only in the unit for which they are issued, except during the January extension portion of the season when any unfilled Any-Deer or Bonus Deer permit is valid in any unit that is open during the January extension. This provides you with more hunting opportunity and greater flexibility in choosing when and how you hunt.

A Youth Deer & Turkey Hunting Permit is available to both resident and nonresident youths under age 12. It allows the youth to take either one antlered deer statewide or one anterless deer in any deer management unit except Unit 57 during the firearms deer hunting season. The youth must abide by appropriate season portion dates and methods. The youth must be in the immediate presence of a properly licensed adult who has a valid Hunter Education Certificate Card (the youth is not required to have a Hunter Ed card, but the adult must have a card, regardless of the adult's age). This permit also allows the youth to take one turkey of either sex during the fall firearms turkey season.

Youths who purchase a Youth Deer & Turkey Hunting Permit but who turn age 11 during the pen-nit year may relinquish the unused portions of their permit and then purchase regular firearms deer and turkey hunting permits during that same permit year. For example, a youth who purchases a Youth Deer & Turkey Hunting Permit to hunt spring turkey, but who turns 11 in, say, June, may turn in (mail to Fiscal in Central Office) the unused portions of their youth permit (in this example, the fall deer and turkey portions of their youth permit) and purchase regular firearms permits for fall deer and turkey, as long as they have completed the required Hunter Ed class in time for the season. There are no refunds for unused portions of the youth permit.

If you are interested in participating in one of Missouri's managed deer hunts, you should be aware of changes in permits and application procedures.

Missouri offers several managed deer hunts for archery, muzzleloading and modem firearms from October through January. These hunts achieve deer management goals while also providing additional hunting opportunity. The number of hunters allowed at each hunt is restricted to ensure both safety and a quality hunting experience. Hunters are selected by random drawing and all hunters have an equal chance of being selected.

All hunters selected in the random drawing must purchase either a Resident ($15) or Nonresident ($125) Managed Deer Hunting Permit before the hunt. Only a Managed Deer Hunting Permit is valid; no other deer hunting permit may be used at any managed deer hunt. Hunters born on or after January 1, 1967 must complete an approved Hunter Education program and display their card before they can purchase a Managed Deer Hunting Permit. Purchase permits after Sept. 11 from any Missouri permit vendor or by phone with a credit card at (800) 392-4115. There is a $2 surcharge on permits purchased by phone.

A single Managed Deer Hunting Permit allows each hunter to take the number of deer allowed at the hunt he/she is attending. Some hunts allow one deer, others two, and some three. Deer taken at managed deer hunts do not count toward the regular season bag limit.

The application period is July 1 through Aug. 15. Applications are made either by using a touch-tone phone to call the interactive voice response (IVR) telephone system or through the MDC web page. Hunters may apply individually or as a party of up to six hunters. Each hunter may apply for only one managed deer hunt each year; hunters who apply for more than one hunt will be disqualified from this year's drawing.

To apply, designate one member of your party to either call the IVR system or access the web page.

That person must have ready the following information: 1) the two-digit number for the preferred hunt, and 2) the nine-digit Conservation I.D. Number of each hunter in the party.

Complete the worksheet before you apply so you will have the information ready. Then, either call (800) 829-2956 between 4 a.m. and midnight or go to our website at www: conservation. state.mo.us/hunt/deer/ to apply.

After applying you will be given a six-digit confirmation number; write it down so you will have it later to learn if you were drawn. Most successful applicants will receive in the mail an area map and other information regarding the hunt before September 11, so calling or logging-on will be unnecessary.

From Sept. 11 through Dec. 31, either call the IVR phone system between 4 and midnight or go to our web page. Both require that you enter either your six-digit Confinnation Number or your nine-digit conservation I.D. number. All successful applicants will each receive in the mail an area map and other information regarding the hunt.

A detailed list of unit quotas and managed deer hunts can be found in the "2000 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Brochure" available from permit vendors statewide.

Gene Myers is a Missouri Department of Conservation agent in Cape Girardeau County.