Deer hunters in Missouri harvested 176,604 deer during the November portion of firearms deer season, Nov. 14-24, according to preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Of the 176,604 deer harvested, 95,654 were antlered bucks, 16,045 were button bucks, and 64,905 were does.
Top harvest counties were Howell with 3,496 deer harvested, Franklin with 3,409, and Texas with 3,374, according to an MDC news release.
Last year hunters checked 179,960 deer during the November portion of firearms deer season, with 91,917 being antlered bucks, 17,330 button bucks, and 70,713 does.
In Mid-Missouri, there were 955 deer checked in Cole County, 1,677 in Boone County, 2,694 in Callaway County, 1,998 in Camden County, 1,298 in Maries County, 1,796 in Miller County, 1,110 in Moniteau County, 2,573 in Morgan County and 2,138 in Osage County.
For current ongoing preliminary harvest totals by season, county and type of deer, visit the MDC website at extra.mdc.mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table.
"Hunters posted an impressive harvest total given the challenging conditions, particularly on opening weekend," MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle said in the news release. "Typically, about half of the harvest occurs during the first two days of the season. Unfortunately, hunters were greeted by rain and high winds to start the season, resulting in harvest numbers falling behind last year's mark early."
MDC reported three firearms-related hunting incidents during the November portion of the firearms deer season, with all being non-fatal and self-inflicted.
Archery deer season resumes Nov. 25 through Jan. 15, 2021. The late youth portion runs Nov. 27-29. The antlerless portion of firearms deer season runs Dec. 4-6, followed by the alternative methods portion Dec. 26 through Jan. 5, 2021.
More information on deer hunting is available in MDC's 2020 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where hunting permits are sold and online at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/downloads/2020FDT.pdf.