Callaway County is no slouch when it comes to numbers of deer. There were 2,982 deer taken by hunters overall between Nov. 12-22.
Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation shows deer hunters in Missouri harvested 185,066 deer during the November portion of fall firearms deer season, Nov. 12-22. Of the 185,066 deer harvested, 95,383 were antlered bucks, 18,889 were button bucks and 70,794 were does.
Top harvest counties were Howell with 3,910 deer checked, Franklin with 3,738 and Texas with 3,562.
In Callaway County, 1,559 antlered bucks were taken for the season, 321 button bucks and 1,102 does, for a total of 2,982. Cole County ended with 572 antlered bucks taken, 124 button bucks, 434 does and a total of 1,130 deer.
Last year, hunters checked 186,542 deer during the November firearms deer season with 90,094 being antlered bucks, 20,911 being button bucks and 75,537 being does.
MDC reported three firearms-related hunting incidents during this season. Two of the three incidents involved self-inflicted firearm wounds in Barry and Camden counties. The third involved one hunter in a party in Grundy County wounding another while shooting at a deer.
Deer hunting in Missouri continues with firearms late youth portion ending today, archery hunting through Jan. 15, firearms antlerless portion Dec. 2-4 and firearms alternative methods portion Dec. 24 through Jan. 3.
Missouri offers some of the best deer hunting in the country, and it 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. Learn more about deer hunting from MDC at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer.