OUTDOOR CORNER: HUNTERS SET MO. DEER RECORD

Missouri firearms deer hunter took advantage of generally good weather conditions and harvested a record-setting 186,596 deer statewide. The 11-day season, which ended last Tuesday, resulted in an increase of 24,476 more deer being taken than the previous record, set just last year.

Southeast Missouri hunters checked a total of 8,617 deer. That was an increase of 719 over 1994's regional total. Bollinger County led the area with 1,457 deer, Wayne County had 1,423 and Perry County checked 1,187. Cape Girardeau County reported a total of 686 deer.

Following are the Southeast Missouri deer check station totals along with the increase over the 1994 season: Bollinger 1,457 (+193), Butler 919 (+151), Cape Girardeau 686 (+43), Dunklin 40 (+6), Iron 846 (+23), Madison 965 (+44), Mississippi 176 (+30), New Madrid 85 (+14), Pemiscot 21 (+5), Perry 1,187 (+21), Scott 233 (+34), Stoddard 579 (+69), Wayne 1,423 (+86).

Same as last year, there were no hunting accidents recorded in Southeast Missouri. Statewide, there were seven non-fatal accidents. This matched the 15-year low set in 1993. Last year there were a total of 15 hunting accidents reported statewide. Two of those were fatal.

The second segment of the muzzle-loading firearm deer hunting season begins Saturday, Dec. 2, and runs through Sunday, Dec. 10. The first segment ran concurrent with the regular (modern) firearms deer season, Nov. 11 through Nov. 21.

Any person who has previously purchased a 1995 firearms deer hunting permit may not purchase a muzzle-loading firearms deer permit. this rule applies regardless of whether or not the firearms permit holder was successful during the November season.

Deer may be taken by the holder of a muzzle-loading firearms deer hunting permit with a muzzle-loading or cap-and-ball firearm not smaller than .40 caliber capable of firing only a single projectile at one discharge. Multiple barreled muzzle-loading or cap-and-ball firearms and muzzle-loading or cap-and-ball handguns may be used to hunt deer. A person, while in the act of pursuing or hunting deer on a muzzle-loading firearms deer hunting permit, may have and use more than one muzzle-loading or cap-and-ball firearm but shall have no other firearm, longbow or crossbow on his/her person. Scopes are legal.

Any resident landowner, corporate shareholder or assigned lessee who failed to take the limit of deer allowed during the November firearms season may hunt with a muzzle-loading firearm during the muzzle-loading firearms season on his/her land, or in the case of a lessee, on the land on which she/he resides with any valid unused landowner deer hunting permit(s).

Shooting hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST daily from Dec. 2 through Dec. 10. Deer must be checked at any established checking station within 24 hours of being taken.

All persons hunting deer on a muzzle-loading firearms deer permit 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 garments do not meet this requirement.

All hunters born on or after Jan. 1, 1967, are required to have an approved hunter education certification card which they must display to a permit vendor before they can purchase a muzzle-loading firearms deer hunting permit. A person under 11 years of age may not purchase any type of firearms hunting permit.

Gene Meyers is a Missouri Conservation Agent in Cape Girardeau County.