OUTDOOR CORNER: DEER HUNTERS TOP '96 TAKE; MISSOURI HARVESTS 180,395 DEER IN ITS 11-DAY SEASON

For many of Missouri's Firearms Deer Hunters, the 1997 season came to a close last Tuesday. Statewide, hunters harvested 180,395 deer. That represents an increase of 6,057 deer over the 1996 total for the eleven day "November" portion of the season.

In southeast Missouri, 9,811 deer were checked. Bollinger County led the way with 1,256 (a decrease of 171 deer from 96). Next was Ste. Genevieve County 1,194 (-127 from 96), followed by Perry County with 1,049 (-67 from 96). Wayne County came in fourth with 995 (-711). Butler county checked 833 deer, a drop of 307 from 96. Cape Girardeau County reported 670 (-44 from 96). Stoddard County had 503 deer taken (-134) while Scott County had 210 (-26). The "Bootheel" counties of Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid and Pemiscot combined for a total of 362 deer. This represents an increase of 79 deer for those counties compared to the 1996 season.

Although the major portion of the firearms season is over, not all hunters will be giving their guns the final cleaning prior to storing them until next November. Those hunters who purchased Muzzleloading Firearms Deer Hunting Permits, and did not "fill" them, will be able to hunt deer again from December 6 through December 14, 1997. In addition, any landowner who failed to take his/her limit of deer allowed during the firearms deer season may hunt with a muzzleloading firearm during the Muzzleloading Deer Season on the land that they own.

A person who purchased a regular (modern) Firearms Deer Hunting Permit may not also purchase a Muzzleloading Firearms Deer Hunting Permit.

If that's not enough deer hunting to satisfy you, then you may be eligible for the January season extension. This special two-day extension applies to management units in north Missouri only and is not statewide. The extended season runs January 3-4, 1998 for antlerless deer only for persons with unused Any-Deer and Bonus Deer Hunting Permits for Units 1-17, 20, 23, 58 and 59. Deer must be taken within the unit specified on the permit. The season limit still applies.

During the muzzleloading firearms deer season, legal shooting hours are one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise to one-half (1/2) hour after sunset. Deer must be checked by the taker at an established checking station within twenty-four (24) hours of take.

During the muzzleloading firearms deer season, all persons hunting deer, except archers, must wear a cap or hat and a shirt, vest or coat having the outermost color commonly known as daylight fluorescent orange, blaze orange or hunter orange which must be plainly visible from all sides while being worn. Camouflage orange garment do not meet this requirement.

For further information, consult the 1997 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting information booklet available from vendors statewide.

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