MDC reports November firearms deer harvest ends with 199,427 mdc news release MDC reports November firearms deer harvest ends with 199,427

Top counties: Franklin with 4,021 deer checked, Howell with 3,858, and Callaway with 3,695.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested a near-record 199,427 deer during the November portion of fall firearms deer season, Nov. 10- 20. Of the 199,427 deer harvested, 102,930 were antlered bucks, 19,924 were button bucks, and 76,573 were does.

Top harvest counties were Franklin with 4,021 deer checked, Howell with 3,858, and Callaway with 3,695.

Last year hunters checked 192,797 deer during the 2017 November portion of firearms deer season with 100,161 being antlered bucks, 20,267 being button bucks, and 72,369 being does.

The recent-record season was 2012 with 204,668 deer harvested, including 87,368 antlered bucks, 27,143 button bucks, and 90,157 does.

For current ongoing preliminary harvest totals by season, county, and type of deer, visit the MDC website at on.mo.gov/1jjz7Ew. For harvest summaries from past years, visit on.mo.gov/2fyMaBN.

MDC reported eight firearms-related hunting incidents during the November portion of firearms deer season of which three involved fatalities -- two of which occurred incidental to hunting while at hunting camps and one self-inflicted incident while in the field. Of the five non-fatal incidents, four were self-inflicted and the fifth occurred when the shooter struck a victim while swinging on game.

Deer hunting in Missouri continues with archery deer hunting from Nov. 21 through Jan. 15, 2019. The late youth portion of firearms deer season runs Nov. 23-25. The antlerless portion of firearms deer season runs Nov. 30 through Dec. 2. Lastly, the alternative methods portion will run Dec. 22 through Jan. 1, 2019. Learn more about deer hunting in Missouri at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer

Missouri offers some of the best deer hunting in the country and deer hunting is an important part of many Missourians’ lives and family traditions. Deer hunting is also an important economic driver in Missouri and gives a $1 billion annual boost to the state and local economies.