Missouri Deer Harvest 2023

[356]

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 Alternative firearms remaining, 2023-24 is set to be a record harvest for the state. The previous 5 year high was last year, at 299719 deer harvested. 2023-24 will likely eclipse those numbers, as the two remaining firearms seasons generally result in 25,000 additional harvests. Records going back to 1944 reflect average harvests of 290K per year from 2017-22 and 270K per year from 2012-2016.

While the CWD results are VERY preliminary, the numbers are somewhat encouraging.

CWD Sampling Results​

Area	Positives	Negatives	Pending	Total
Inside CWD Management Zone	2	13007	9369	22378
Statewide (Outside of Zone)	1	972	449	1422
TOTAL	3	13979	9818	23800

While EHD was a factor in some areas, most of the state is enjoying robust deer numbers. The “early” antlerless season and new “CWD zone season” are helping ensure Missouri sportsman, not hired sharpshooters, are helping manage Missouri’s deer, especially in CWD zones. At this point, it appears Missouri’s landowners and hunters are stepping to meet statewide goals for sustainable harvests in a CWD state.

 

[Bill]

My understanding is that as a land owner you can reject the states offer/request to bring sharpshooters on to your land.
Then you have to hope the neighbors do the same.

 

[bwoods11]

Seasons are way too long in Missouri, might be worse than Minnesota. Kill all the deer seems to be a pattern for the M states !!

 

[Mortenson]

My understanding is that as a land owner you can reject the states offer/request to bring sharpshooters on to your land.
Then you have to hope the neighbors do the same.

A few neighbors allowed it here several years back, but have since all said no more. Now the snipers find all the local public land and park there. Be prepared to try talking your neighbors out of it. I'm sure money exchanges hands also.

 

[356]

My understanding is that as a land owner you can reject the states offer/request to bring sharpshooters on to your land.
Then you have to hope the neighbors do the same.

That is correct, which is why landowners need to be proactive. As a landowner and Coop leader, one of the coop goals is to monitor the deer herd and be proactive in our harvest plans. So far, the MDC (state) has been great to work with and our local private lands specialist shares a common vision. For the most part, the other coop leaders in the state are having positive experiences with the state. The "CWD hotspot" is Franklin County, with 22 cases since 2012, and is also the "harvest capital" with 6612 harvested so-far in 2023. Franklin is part of the St. Louis metroplex.

While CWD was first found in a captive deer in Linn County(Northern Missouri), it is suspected that the disease came through carcass transport from out of state, although that is speculation.

I have not heard of anyone being offered $ to allow sharpshooters, although I know of some "hunters" who have asked to be sharpshooters, and wisely (IMO), not been given the opportunity. These are the same "hunters" who don't see an issue with taking the backstraps and calling it good.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Is 3 infected deer even worth keeping testing stations open? Good lord the government consistently worries about the wrong crap.

 

[MN Slick]

I bought my first farm in MO in 2005 to escape the debacle that is MN deer managment. The debacle has since followed me to MO.

 

[bwoods11]

I bought my first farm in MO in 2005 to escape the debacle that is MN deer managment. The debacle has since followed me to MO.

LOL

 

[Tree Spud]

That is correct, which is why landowners need to be proactive. As a landowner and Coop leader, one of the coop goals is to monitor the deer herd and be proactive in our harvest plans. So far, the MDC (state) has been great to work with and our local private lands specialist shares a common vision. For the most part, the other coop leaders in the state are having positive experiences with the state. The "CWD hotspot" is Franklin County, with 22 cases since 2012, and is also the "harvest capital" with 6612 harvested so-far in 2023. Franklin is part of the St. Louis metroplex.

While CWD was first found in a captive deer in Linn County(Northern Missouri), it is suspected that the disease came through carcass transport from out of state, although that is speculation.

I have not heard of anyone being offered $ to allow sharpshooters, although I know of some "hunters" who have asked to be sharpshooters, and wisely (IMO), not been given the opportunity. These are the same "hunters" who don't see an issue with taking the backstraps and calling it good.

We don't use sharp shooters here in Wisconsin, we hand out Ag tags (damage permits) to farmers like a hooker hands out condoms.

 

[356]

Seasons are way too long in Missouri, might be worse than Minnesota. Kill all the deer seems to be a pattern for the M states !!

I really like the seasons—and the science—behind them. 1/3 of the total harvest is taken opening firearms weekend. Personally, I wish archery season was moved to September 1 rather than September 15 to improve odds of harvesting a velvet buck. The data is showing a good cross section across the age groups.

 

[TenPoint]

We don't use sharp shooters here in Wisconsin, we hand out Ag tags (damage permits) to farmers like a hooker hands out condoms.

Don't get me started on ag tags. 150 near us in the last 3 years.

 

[bwoods11]

I really like the seasons—and the science—behind them. 1/3 of the total harvest is taken opening firearms weekend. Personally, I wish archery season was moved to September 1 rather than September 15 to improve odds of harvesting a velvet buck. The data is showing a good cross section across the age groups.

There’s a huge push to change the seasons in Missouri and not try to kill every deer , and with a goal of more mature bucks...The guy was on Iowawhitetail explaining it.

I’m not from Missouri, but from an outsider looking in, you have way too many seasons and long gun seasons! Bad news for bucks to make it past 3 years old.

Maybe you don’t care about that ?

 

[g squared 23]

If you look at record high harvest numbers and see that as a good thing , then quality bucks aint a priority. Show me the trend of the number of booners and pope and young bucks harvested and I’d be more interested. That number has plummeted in Illinois, the quality is a fraction of its former glory. More efficient weapons + long seasons = Michigan quality bucks.


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[Howboutthemdawgs]

We don't use sharp shooters here in Wisconsin, we hand out Ag tags (damage permits) to farmers like a hooker hands out condoms.

Yep. I hope whoever did this rots

 

[Hoytvectrix]

There’s a huge push to change the seasons in Missouri and not try to kill every deer , and with a goal of more mature bucks.The guy was on Iowawhitetail explaining it.

I’m not from Missouri, but from an outsider looking in, you have way too many seasons and long gun seasons! Bad news for bucks to make it past 3 years old.

Maybe you don’t care about that ?

Do you have a link to the thread?

 

[Mortenson]

Cultures are sure different across not very far distances. Ag tags here would result in no deer being killed, because the farmers who own the hunting farms either hunt themselves or have close family/friends who hunt.

 

[bwoods11]

Do you have a link to the thread?

I’ve never posted links, but it’s under this topic . By Deep Woods Goat Hunter.

 

[bwoods11]

 

[Mortenson]

I was just on there yesterday and noticed that guy hadn't logged on in quite a while. Maybe not a good sign, for that effort anyhow.

 

[bwoods11]

I think he’s got some good ideas.. except raising NR tags !!