JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation reports hunters harvested 5,741 antlerless deer during the state’s early firearms portion of deer season over the weekend.
2024 marks the second year hunters could use firearms to harvest antlerless deer during the early season in Missouri.
The harvest total is down 65% from last year’s inaugural season when hunters bagged 16,553 deer. MDC attributes the drop in harvest to warm weather across the state.
“We were fortunate to have caught a cold front during last year’s inaugural early antlerless portion, which resulted in increased deer movement and greater hunter participation,” said MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle.
Deer hunting continues in Missouri with archery hunting through November 15. Another archery period runs from November 27 through January 15, 2025.
Upcoming firearms portions are:
- Firearms Early Youth Portion: Nov. 2-3
- Firearms November Portion: Nov. 16-26
- Firearms CWD Portion: Nov. 27 – Dec. 1 (in open counties)
- Firearms Late Youth Portion: Nov. 29 – Dec. 1
- Firearms Late Antlerless Portion: Dec. 7-15 (in open counties)
- Firearms Alternative Methods Portion: Dec. 28 – Jan. 7, 2025