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Deer Hunting Opening Weekend Opens With High Numbers

Close to 100 thousand deer were harvested in Missouri’s deer hunting’s opening weekend November 10 and 11. That’s up from last year’s opening weekend’s numbers which brought in close to 95 thousand. The Missouri Department of Conservation says this increase is partly because of last weekend’s good weather. The counties of Franklin, Callaway, and Benton were the top three counties recording the most harvests in the state.

Hunting is not only a popular sport in Missouri but a tradition among many. Joe Jerek, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Conservation, said hunting has been an important part of Missouri culture for generations. 

“Deer hunting in Missouri is an incredibly rich family tradition going back generations,” Jerek said. “Families, groups of friends and even whole communities, you know, it’s a really important and rich tradition for them.”

Tom Strother, a conservation agent at the MDC’s Columbia Regional Office, said that because he was introduced to hunting and fishing at a young age he was pointed to becoming a conservation agent. He said that one of the most enjoyable parts of his job is watching kids get their first big harvest or catch.

“Having those kids relate those stories to me of how exciting it is and how it was,” Strother said. “Brings me back to my youth when I was excited about hunting and fishing as a kid.”

The last day for the firearm season in Missouri is Nov. 20. Nov 21 marks the first day of the Archery season which ends on Jan. 15. The late youth season runs from Nov. 23-25, the antlerless season runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 and the alternative methods seasons runs from Dec 22 through Jan. 1.