OUTDOOR CORNER: MISSOURI DEER HUNTERS HAVE POTENTIAL TO BAG NEW RECORD

Next Saturday, Nov. 11, marks the start of the 1995 Firearms Deer Hunting Season in Missouri. Although the basic challenge and thrills of pursuing white-tailed deer in Missouri haven't changed over the years, deer hunting has come a long way since the season reopened in 1944 after an extended closure. That year, 7,557 hunters took 583 deer during a two-day bucks-only season in 20 Southern Missouri counties.

In 1994, almost one-half million hunters took a record-setting 162,120 deer during a nine-day season that was open statewide. The southeast portion of the state accounted for its fair share of the record. Bollinger County led with 1,603 deer taken. Perry, Madison and Cape Girardeau counties were next with 1,073 deer, 930 and 703 deer respectively. Stoddard County checked 295 while Scott County checked 159. The Bootheel counties of Mississippi, New Madrid, Dunklin and Pemiscot combined for a total of 246.

The 1995 Firearms Deer Season has the potential to match, or even exceed, last year's numbers. Hunters will have an additional two days to harvest their deer this year. The season runs from Saturday, Nov. 11 through Tuesday, Nov. 21. This increases the odds of having suitable weather conditions. Heavy rains and warm temperatures in past seasons have often resulted in reduced harvest due to limited movement by the deer and limited access to hunting areas by the hunters.

Some more recent changes in the deer hunting regulations include: Any person killing a deer must furnish the string or other appropriate material used to attach the transportation portion of their permit to the deer. Detachment of the transportation portion of the permit prior to taking a deer renders the permit void. Cap-and-ball firearms, as well as muzzle-loading firearms are legal during both firearms and muzzle-loading firearms deer season as long as they are not smaller than .40 caliber and are capable of firing only a single projectile at one discharge.

As in past years, hunters may take deer between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central Standard Time. Successful hunters must check their deer at an established checking station in the county where taken or an adjoining county between the hours of 8 a.m and 8 p.m. CST on the day taken.

During firearms deer season, all persons hunting deer 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.

For more detailed information, consult the 1995 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Information Brochure or your local conservation agent.

~Gene Myers is a Missouri Conservation Agent in Cape Girardeau County.