OUTDOOR CORNER: DEER SEASON OPENER IS FAST APPROACHING FOR MISSOURI HUNTERS

Next Saturday, November 14, marks the start of the 1998 firearms deer hunting season in Missouri.

Although the basic challenges and thrills of pursuing white-tailed deer in Missouri haven't changed much over the years, the opportunities have increased dramatically. In 1944 the firearms deer hunting season in Missouri reopened after an extended closure. That year 7,557 hunters took 583 deer during a two day bucks-only season in 20 southern counties.

In 1997, almost one-half million hunters took a record setting 196,306 deer during an eleven day season that was open in every county in the state.

The southeast portion of the state accounted for its fair share with a total of 9,680 deer taken by firearms hunters. Ste. Genevieve County led the local list with 1,511 deer taken. Wayne, Bollinger and Perry counties were next with 1,393 deer, 1,198 and 960 deer respectively. Madison County checked 706 while Cape Girardeau County checked 666. Butler, St. Francois and Reynolds counties added 661 deer, 619 deer and 487 deer in turn. Iron County checked 469 deer while Stoddard and Scott counties added 433 and 235 deer each. The Bootheel counties of Mississippi, New Madrid, Dunklin and Pemiscot combined for a total of 342 deer.

The 1998 firearms deer season has the potential to match, or even exceed, last year's record numbers. The statewide season runs from Saturday, November 14, through Tuesday, November 24. The eleven day season increases the odds of having suitable weather conditions for at least a portion of the season. Heavy rains and warm temperatures in past seasons have often resulted in reduced harvest due to limited movement by the deer and restricted access to hunting areas for the hunters.

Shooting hours for firearms deer season will be one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset each day of the season.

Tagging requirements have changed from last year. For the past two years, hunters received a single computer-generated permit showing all the hunting privileges they purchased. Transportation tags were separate from deer hunting permits. They were required to carry pens to fill out the tags after taking game and they had to notch their permits after taking game to show that they had used the permit. Notching will not be required this year.

This year, after taking a deer, the hunter must immediately attach their hunting permit to the animal with string or wire. The permit must remain attached until the deer has been checked by the hunter (taker) at an established check station. The check station operator will remove the permit and attach it to the check station records sheets. Only the taker may possess and transport deer prior to checking at an established checking station.

Deer must be submitted for checking with head attached in the county where taken or in an adjoining county between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on the day taken.

During the firearms deer season other wildlife may be hunted only with a shotgun and shot not larger than No. 4. However, this does not apply to waterfowl hunters, trappers, landowners on their own land, or lessees on land they lease and live on.

A hunter who has both an unused 1998 Firearms or Muzzleloading Firearms Deer Hunting Permit and a valid Small Game Hunting Permit may hunt coyotes using methods allowed for deer, but coyotes may not be pursued or taken with the aid of dogs during daylight hours November 1 - 24. Hunters with the above permits may take bobcats using deer methods, but only after November 20 and south of U.S. Interstate 70. Hunters may not use dogs to chase, pursue, or take furbearers, squirrels, or rabbits during daylight hours of the firearms deer season in Bollinger, Butler, Carter, Dent, Iron, Madison, Oregon, Reynolds, Ripley, Shannon, or Wayne counties.

During the firearms deer season all deer hunters must wear a hat and a shirt, vest or coat of "hunter orange" (also known as daylight fluorescent orange or blaze orange) so that the color is plainly visible from all sides while being worn. "Camouflage orange" does not meet this requirement. Hunter orange is not required for archers on federal or state public hunting areas where deer hunting is open only to archery methods.

For complete information and regulations consult the 1998 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Information brochure available from permit vendors statewide.

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