Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation show deer hunters in Missouri harvested 10,025 deer during the alternative-methods portion of the fall firearms deer season, Dec. 23-Jan. 2.
Of the total harvest, 2,827 were antlered bucks, 1,312 button bucks and 5,886 does, according to an MDC news release.
Top harvest counties were Howell with 249 deer harvested, Franklin with 215 and Oregon with 214.
In Mid-Missouri, Cole County saw 58 deer harvested during the alternative-methods portion, Callaway 196, Osage 179, Morgan 155, Boone 122, Maries 109, Miller 102 and Moniteau 39.
The harvest total for last year's alternative-methods portion was 10,602, consisting of 2,787 antlered bucks, 1,496 button bucks and 6,319 does.
The alternative-methods portion of Missouri's deer season allows for hunting by methods such as muzzleloading or cap-and-ball firearms, centerfire pistols or revolvers, air-powered guns, longbows, crossbows and atlatls. For more information on deer hunting in Missouri, visit huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer.
Deer hunting continues for this season with statewide archery hunting through Jan. 15.