Dates set for fall firearms, archery seasons

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Deer hunters will find few changes in the deer-hunting regulations this year.

Rules have changed on a few conservation areas, and one county has been closed during the December antlerless-only hunt. Otherwise, Missouri's 2006 deer hunting regulations remain essentially unchanged from last year.

The Conservation Commission approved 2006 firearms and archery deer hunting regulations at its meeting May 19 in Jefferson City.

Season dates are:

* Firearms deer season: urban portion, Oct. 6 through 9 in the same counties as 2005; youth portion, Oct. 28 and 29; November portion, Nov. 11 through 21; muzzleloader portion, Nov. 24 through Dec. 3; and antlerless portion, Dec. 9 through 17.

Hunters may take one deer of either sex statewide on an any-deer permit. Additional deer may be taken on firearms antlerless permits in selected counties.

* Archery deer season: Sept. 15 through Nov. 10 and Nov. 22 through Jan. 15.

Archery hunters may take two deer of either sex, except that only one antlered deer may be taken before the November portion of firearms deer season. Additional deer may be taken on archery antlerless permits in selected counties.

* Archery turkey season: Sept. 15 through Nov. 10 and Nov. 22 through Jan. 15.

The limit is two turkeys of either sex.

The Conservation Commission removed Wright County from the list of counties open to hunting during the antlerless portion of firearms deer season.

It voted to continue for a third year the trial of the four-point antler restriction in the same counties as last year during the archery season and all portions of the firearms season except the youth portion.

Deer hunting regulations have changed on a few areas owned or managed by the Conservation Department. These changes are detailed in the 2006 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Information booklet, which will be available from permit vendors in July.

Jim Low is the news services coordinator for the Missouri Department of Conservation.