It seems there has been a rumor going around that the Conservation Department is doing away with the January Extension
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by Jade Wright
It seems there has been a rumor going around that the Conservation Department is doing away with the January Extension portion of the Firearms Deer Season. The answer to this question is an EMPHATIC….maybe! Because a final decision has not been reached, this is your chance to have some input on the possible regulation change.
Conservation Department management efforts strive to maintain deer populations within biological and cultural limits, while also providing hunting opportunity. In northern Missouri, the deer population was considered too high. In response the Conservation Department introduced an extension to the Firearms Deer Season in January 1996. It was intended to increase the antlerless deer harvest in northern Missouri, in turn reducing deer reproduction and herd size.
Recently, Conservation Department staff have been evaluating the results of the January Extension in an effort to determine its effectiveness. In 2001, the Conservation Commission reviewed the January Extension and decided not to change the season for 2002. However, possible modifications are still being considered through the Department’s Regulations Committee during the February 2002 Wildlife Code Review.
The Regulations Committee welcomes input from both Conservation Department staff and the public. The public may provide input by writing to the Missouri Department of Conservation, Regulations Committee, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or by email at [email protected]. The Regulations Committee will review input and proposals, then make a formal recommendation to the Conservation Commission in April 2002 regarding the structure of the 2003 Firearms Deer Season. The Conservation Commission will then take action and determine the 2003 Firearms Deer Season. No changes in seasons will occur without formal Commission action.
Again, no decision has been made on the Firearms Deer Season for 2003, including the January Extension. The goal of the Conservation Commission and the Conservation Department continues to be the responsible management of Missouri’s wildlife resources.