Missouri's urban deer harvest nets nearly 600 deer

Hunters killed nearly 600 deer during the state's annual urban deer hunt last weekend.

The Missouri Department of Conservation says hunters took 587 deer in the hunt, which is far below the 1,200 deer taken last year.

Department of Conservation spokesman Jim Lowe says the hunt reduces the likelihood of traffic accidents involving deer. He says it's especially helpful that 461 of the deer taken were female.

KMOX reports that more than 200 deer were killed in the St. Louis area, with 91 taken in St. Charles County. Boone County had the highest outstate total, with 97.

Lowe says the lower total is mostly due to the weekend's warm weather, which neither deer nor hunters like.