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Pictured are John Hightree of rural Jameson and his daughter Morgan. Morgan, a student at the University of Central Missouri, is an avid hunter. Both father and daughter got nice bucks on Nov. 11.
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that deer hunters in Daviess County harvested 1,718 deer during the November portion of fall firearms deer season, Nov. 10-20. Of the 1,718 deer harvested, 911 were antlered bucks; 169 button bucks; 638 does. Last year Daviess County harvested 1,553 deer during the November portion.
Across the state a near-record 199,427 deer were taken. 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.
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.
According to Missourinet, one fatality involved a Willard High School coach in southwest Missouri. Justin Atchison, 24, was killed while hunting near Cave Spring in Greene County.
The Macon County Sheriff’s Department in northern Missouri is investigating a rifle that allegedly went off accidentally – killing an Illinois hunter Sunday afternoon near Atlanta, MO. According to a press release, Charles Bark, 70, and other hunters were preparing to go hunting when a rifle discharged by another hunter.
An eastern Missouri man has also been killed in northeast Missouri while getting ready to go hunting. St. Louis television station KMOV reports that Randell Reising of Arnold, 52, was shot in the chest by a hunting friend at a cabin near Lewiston.
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.