Firearm season for deer begins Saturday

Archers will lay down their bows Friday as their portion of deer hunting season winds down, making way for deer hunters with firearms.

The archery season began Sept. 15, with a brief break for a youth hunting season Oct. 29 and 30.

During the youth weekend, hunters between the ages of 6 and 15 bagged 11,171 deer, down 22 percent from 2015’s total of 13,582, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Unofficial totals from the department suggest a total of 34,635 deer have been taken so far in the archery season.

Russell Duckworth, protection-district supervisor for the agency, said deer season has been slow because of unseasonably warm and windy weather.

“Typically, deer do not move as much when you have warmer conditions,” Duckworth said. “They’ll be more nocturnal, moving after dark.”

In addition, a strong acorn crop is hindering hunters because a plentiful food source also hinders deer movement.

But the outlook is good for the opening weekend of firearms season, with lower temperatures predicted, he said.

Permits are doled out to hunters by the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The number of permits a hunter can receive depends on the deer population of the county.

In Cape Girardeau County, Duckworth said, hunters can purchase a permit for one buck and one antlerless deer.

“Our deer population here is growing,” Duckworth said, which explains the two permits.

But in counties such as Bollinger, he said, “you don’t have the firearms antlerless permit.”

He said in any given year, deer harvest will be between 200,000 and 250,000 statewide.

The agency may limit the number of permits each hunter receives but not the number of permits it gives out overall.

“As long as the deer herd is doing well,” Duckworth said, “we try to allow as much deer-hunting opportunity as we can.”

Duckworth encourages all hunters to consider their safety before heading out. Orange vests and hats are a requirement, as are harnesses when a tree stand is used. Most hunters know the rules, but there is a population that does not, Duckworth said.

“Hunting is a very safe sport,” Duckworth said, “But there are ways to be safer.”

Firearms hunting season begins Saturday and ends Nov. 22. On Nov. 23, the second half of archery season will begin, running through Jan. 15.

bbrown@semissourian.com

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