Missouri deer season ends with two accidental hunter deaths

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Department of Conservation said two hunters died this season from gunshots, and eight others were wounded. Both fatalities were being investigated as incidents in which other hunters mistakenly fired at what they thought were deer, said Bryan Bethel, the department's hunter education and unmanned shooting range coordinator.

Bethel said hunter education contributed to the decline in fatalities. During 1985, there were 15 fatalities involved in hunting all types of game.

"Since 1990, we have not had more than five fatalities for any calendar year," he said.

When the hunt ended Tuesday, Missouri hunters had bagged 205,460 whitetails, compared with the 2004 record of 222,329, according to department totals.

Northwest Missouri hunters met expectations, and northeast Missouri hunters were down about 2,000 deer from 2004. Hunters in Callaway County accounted for the most deer, with 4,502.

The archery season continues through Jan. 15. The muzzle-loader hunt runs through Dec. 4, and an antlerless deer hunt goes from Dec. 10 to Dec. 18.