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As a landowner and hunter in a CWD zone, I have worked closely with the Missouri Department of Conservation, and have invited them to speak at our coop meetings. While nobody likes having CWD in their area, our deer herds are looking good for 2024. The 2023 special CWD area firearms season and...

Monday April 15 is the start of Missouri’s Turkey Season. My turkey gun in a Tri-Star Viper Max (12g, 3 1/2”). Historically I have used Winchester Long Beard XR in 3 1/2”, but this year I am trying Federal TSS 3”. I patterned at 20, 30, 40 and 50 yards. The right is the TSS, the center is the...

As typical with my schedule, I missed a perfect day for burning, however, I did get the firebreaks put in around the main burn areas. This year I’ll be doing a dormant or early season burn in the areas with the NWSG and wildlife plots. During the first burn two years ago I mowed the firebreaks...

EHD has been a big topic given some of the major kills in Iowa. Here in Missouri, we had a higher than average kill rate, but nothing like 2012. Here is the latest EHD map for 2023. On a mid-Missouri mentored hunt one team had a buck die in front of the blind. While the actual numbers are...

DeerCast posted a feature on the work Hunters for Hunters is doing to address the wolf population in Minnesota. My wife’s small family farm, which she is now the executor over, is in hunting unit 176 near Lake Vermillion. We used to see deer regularly, and this was a property I enjoyed hunting...

While we all desire to have those hunts when 15 bucks are in the plot and the challenge is ”which of the 5 year olds do I want to shoot”-- that is not a reality for most of us. Here is a summary of my season hunts on our property (more than one hunter) Cabin: September bow, only, 11 hours...

How long to hang a deer? Does it really need to age? How old is too old? These are questions as a hunter I had no answers for despite having hunted for many years. In 2015 I had the opportunity to hunt with the lead butcher at Springfield‘s (MO) famous Harter House market. Based on his...

My son and I spent the weekend processing the venison from six deer harvested this season. This is the first year I have done everything from deboning, grinding and making a variety of sausages and oven/grill ready dishes. The tools for the weekend included: A) 1.5 hp grinder with a #12 blade...

Wishing everyone on this forum a blessed and Merry Christmas. Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel

My wife gave me the go ahead to get a new blind (even a Redneck or similar). Am I blessed or what! Blind size and shape was a consideration, as I wanted something I could sleep in-- if needed to ambush "that buck"--while ensuring a comfortable hunt. Ultimately, I opted to spend less and do...

I am enjoying the privilege of mentoring a first-time deer hunter this weekend. "John" is the leader of "Black People Who Hike," a network of urban black outdoor enthusiasts who hike parks and public areas. Hiking these public lands resulted in a desire to know more about the critters that...

The 2023-24 Deer and Turkey Seasons have been set for Missouri.

I got these pictures of some late season sparing this morning...the winner seems apparent :-)

Imagine my surprise to see an article I submitted ages ago in American Hunter covering my dad’s first buck. I hope you enjoy the article as much as I am enjoying the memories of this special hunt!

With the conclusion of Late Youth Season and the special CWD Zone Season, 285028 deer have been harvested in Missouri, including: Does: 119988 Button Bucks: 23859 Antlered Bucks: 141181 With seven more weeks of archery (including crossbows), 9 days of Antlerless firearms and 11 days of...

Have a blessed and Happy Thanksgiving, whether you are in the woods, visiting family, on the road or at home. Psalm 67:6: "The earth has yielded its harvest. God, our God, blesses us."

The 5th Senior Hunt sponsored by Baptist Homes & Healthcare Ministries and the National Deer Association resulted in two deer being harvest. This harvest was by a 94 year old hunter who was “reactivated” after 30 years. The work and effort of our volunteers to make this happening is as...

A nice way to end deer camp 2023 with a 210# mountain buck.

What are the deer camp traditions among forum members? I am privileged to once again join a friend’s deer camp in a very remote part of the Ozark Mountains for a week of hunting, and story telling. His cabin was built by the current owners great, great grandfather in 1870 and has been used for...

I received a free Muddy Matrix Cell Camera with my DeerCast renewal, so I thought I would post my "first impressions." This is my 9th year using cell cams, and they have come a long way from the original "two-piece" Moultrie Mobiles on 3G. I purchased the unlimited account for the camera, as I...