Deer kill total down in 1st weekend

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri hunters killed fewer deer than expected in the weekend's firearms season opening.

Hunters killed 110,995 deer statewide Saturday and Sunday, down 16,256 from last year. Benton County had the most deer killed with 2,118 checked.

A Department of Conservation spokeswoman said one reason for the low kill count might be a good crop of acorns, a primary food source, which would keep deer from having to roam far in search of food.

The firearms season ends Tuesday.