Callaway County posts most antlerless deer kills

The Missouri Department of Conservation reports 16,032 deer were harvested during the antlerless portion of the 2022 deer season from Dec. 3-11. Top harvest counties were Callaway, Pike and Macon. (Photo courtesy of MDC)
The Missouri Department of Conservation reports 16,032 deer were harvested during the antlerless portion of the 2022 deer season from Dec. 3-11. Top harvest counties were Callaway, Pike and Macon. (Photo courtesy of MDC)


Hunters participating in the antlerless portion of this year's firearm deer season had the best harvest in Callaway County.

Approximately 452 deer were killed in Callaway County this season, according to preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation. One was an antlered buck, 56 were button bucks and 395 were does. Callaway had the most kills of any county in the state, which had a total of 16,070 deer hunted during the antlerless portion.

The antlerless portion ran from Dec. 3-11 and produced a greater yield than last year's harvest of 15,019.

Behind Callaway County, Pike County had the second best harvest with 413 deer killed and Macon County had the third best with 349 deer killed.

Missouri hunters have taken 285,069 total deer so far this year across all portions of the hunting season, according to preliminary data from MDC. More than 136,800 have been antlered bucks, 122,915 have been does and 25,342 have been button bucks.

Callaway County has the second greatest harvest so far this season with 5,181 deer taken. Franklin County leads the state with 6,149 deer taken so far.

The archery season continues through Jan. 15, and the alternative methods portion of the deer season begins Dec. 24 and ends Jan. 3.

The Missouri Department of Conservation recently announced regulation changes and set deer hunting dates for next year's season, adding two new portions to the season and changing the number of antlerless permits allowed to be issued in most counties.

New to next year's firearms season are an early antlerless portion running Oct. 6-8 and a CWD portion running Nov. 22-26.

"The changes to deer hunting regulations for the 2023-2024 deer season were motivated by increasing deer numbers throughout much of Missouri and in response to changes in the distribution of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the state," Jason Isabelle, MDC cervid program supervisor, said in a news release announcing the changes. "With a growing deer population in most Missouri counties, we're increasing opportunities for hunters to harvest deer both within and outside of the CWD Management Zone next year."

All 100 counties that can currently participate in the antlerless portion of the firearms deer season can participate in the new early antlerless portion next year, including Callaway County.

Isabelle said deer populations are at desired levels in most counties but continuing to increase, and the additional antlerless hunting will stabilize deer numbers.

"The early antlerless portion will help to increase antlerless deer harvest prior to the November portion of firearms season when the focus of many hunters is on harvesting a buck," he said. "The timing of the early antlerless portion was designed to occur when weather conditions are generally comfortable and during a time that will minimize conflict with archery hunters, who spend the most time hunting during late October and early November as the rut approaches."

On the same front, the state is doubling the number of antlerless permits allowed to be issued in 82 counties and adding four new counties to the season. The number of permits each county can issue increased from two to four.

The additional CWD portion is intended to curb the population of deer in the state most likely exposed to the disease.

"When looking for the best time to provide hunters with more opportunity in CWD Management Zone counties, we considered a number of factors including the potential for good deer movement, level of hunter interest and potential conflict with other hunters," Isabelle said. "The late November timeframe avoids peak archery hunting weeks and occurs during a time when deer movement is generally good, and when hunters are eager to be in the woods."