OUTDOOR CORNER: ARCHERS TAKE AIM AT OCT. 1 OPENER

Next Sunday (Oct. 1), marks the start of Missouri's archery deer and turkey season. After 41 days, on Nov. 10, it will close for firearms deer hunting. On Nov. 22, it will reopen for another 55 days and close on Jan. 15, 2001. That means archers can pursue their quarry for a total of 95 days.

The basic challenge of harvesting a deer or turkey with a bow and arrow hasn't changed much over the years but the equipment used and the regulations that apply continue to evolve. In 1946, the first special archery season was held in Missouri. It was only three days long and was limited to bucks only in Crawford County. Seventy-three archers, using longbows and recurves, participated. No deer were taken until the 1950 archery season.

Resident archer's hunting permit sales totaled 94,890 in 1999, a decrease of 2 percent from 1998 sales. Archers took 21,885 deer during 1999 (up 2 percent). Of this total, there were 8,746 (40 percent) does, 2,748 (13 percent) button bucks and 10,215 (47 percent) antlered bucks. There were 176 "unknowns."

For the 2000 archery season, hunters will be allowed to take two deer and two turkeys of either sex, except that only one antlered deer may be taken from Oct. 1 through Nov. 10.

This means that you can take two archery deer prior to firearms season but only one of them can be antlered. You could take two antlerless deer (or one antlered and one anterless). An archer who was not successful prior to firearms season could take two deer of either sex during the second segment from Nov. 22 through Jan. 15, 2000.

Hunting hours for both deer and turkey are: one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset daily. As in past years, deer and turkey must be checked at an established checking station within 24 hours of take.

Anyone who kills a deer or turkey must immediately validate the harvest by notching their permit and attaching a transportation tag, containing their full name and address, to the game. The transportation tag must remain attached until the animal has been checked by the hunter (taker) at an established checking station. Only the taker may possess and transport deer and turkey before checking at an established checking station.

Deer must be submitted for checking with head attached; turkeys must be submitted with head attached and plumage intact.

Deer inspected and marked with a locking seal at an established checking station may be possessed by anyone if the deer/deer parts are labeled with the taker's full name, address, permit number and the date taken. The check station locking seal must remain attached to the carcass until a processor begins the act of processing the meat for packaging. Properly checked turkeys may be possessed by anyone if labeled with the taker's full name, address, permit number and the date taken.

Deer left at commercial processing or cold storage plants must be claimed by May 1 following the season taken. Turkeys may not be possessed after Feb. 15 following the season taken.

Legally obtained turkey bones and feathers, deer heads, antlers, hides and feet may be sold by the taker, but the taker must give a bill-of-sale showing: 1) the taker's full name and address, 2) the species and number of the parts, and 3) the full name and address of the buyer.

For deer heads and/or antlers attached to skull plates, the bill-of-sale must also include the transaction date and a signed statement from the seller that the head/antlers were taken legally.

Prospects for the 2000 archery deer and turkey hunting season are bright. Strong deer populations in most areas, combined with liberal regulations, add up to excellent opportunities for Missouri archers.

For additional information, and complete regulations, consult the "2000 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Information" booklet available from permit vendors statewide.

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