Missouri Deer Hunting Season Statewide Results

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MDC reports final deer harvest for season at 301,954​

Top harvest counties were Franklin, Howell, and Callaway. Hunters harvested 275,656 deer during 2024-2025 deer season.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri's 2025-2026 deer-hunting season ended Jan. 15 with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reporting a preliminary total deer harvest for the season of 301,954. Of the deer harvested, 145,222 were antlered bucks, 25,129 were button bucks, and 131,603 were does. Top harvest counties for the overall deer season were Franklin with 6,770, Howell with 5,490, and Callaway, with 5,346.

Hunters harvested 275,656 deer during the 2024-2025 deer season. For more harvest information from past years, visit mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/deer-harvest-reports/deer-harvest-summaries.

Deer hunting ended with the close of the archery season. Preliminary data from MDC showed that hunters checked 62,203 deer during the 2025-2026 archery deer season. Top counties for the archery deer season were Jefferson with 1,571, Franklin with 1,272, and St. Louis with 1,076. Last year’s archery deer-harvest total was 56,516.

According to MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle, Missouri hunters enjoyed a successful 2025-2026 deer season. “As expected, deer harvest rebounded nicely from the lower harvest total we had last year, especially across much of southern Missouri,” said Isabelle.

Isabelle noted that the 2025-2026 harvest total was slightly above the five-year average and the sixth time the harvest total has exceeded 300,000 deer.

For more on 2025-2026 deer-harvest totals by season, county, and type of deer, visit the MDC website at extra.mdc.mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table/.

On a personal note, I see this year's harvest as a good, sustainable number for our state. Most portions of Missouri are experiencing a stable or growing deer population. My county was eight lowest in the state, with a harvest of 1018 deer, up from 926 last year.

 

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I had opportunity to hunt 56 times over 47 days here in Missouri. 158 hours of actual hunting from the stand, on the ground or still hunting resulted in 79 deer sightings. 36 hours of hunting was on public, with 11 deer seen on public. This does not include the deer I heard, but didn't see (which generally means I was busted). Overall it was a great season, with the highlight being the number of new hunters introduced to the sport and the joy of being with my 8 year old granddaughter for her two harvests.