The first segment of Missouri's youth deer season was held last weekend, and relatively warm and windy conditions may have contributed to a sharp 21.3-percent drop in the harvest compared to the same segment last year.
Overall, young hunters took 13,560 deer compared to 17,222 last year.
Antlered bucks made up more than 57 percent of the harvest.
Locally, the early youth-season harvest was down in every county, though some saw only small declines.
Young hunters took 108 deer in Butler County, down quite a bit from last year's first segment total of 170. This year's early take in Stoddard County also was 108, a little worse than the 145 taken a year ago.
In Dunklin County, young hunters tagged 33 deer compared to 37 last year, and those in Wayne County took home 232 deer. That's down a big chunk compared to the 345 taken last year.
Carter County youths killed 120 deer, well below 2017's total of 196, while those in Ripley County tagged 249, down significantly from the 327 they killed last year.
The top counties in the state were Howell with 350, Osage with 316 and Franklin with 263.
No accidents were reported during the early youth deer season.
The second split of the Missouri youth deer season is coming up Nov. 23-25. In the meantime, youths also can hunt deer during the regular November portion of the deer season, which runs Nov. 10-20.
Gaining Momentum
While Missouri's early youth deer season harvest was down, the archery harvest continues to be a little stronger than a year ago at this point in the season.
Rut activity is picking up, and bowhunters have been taking advantage of it. As of yesterday, 28,937 deer had been taken statewide, with about 32 percent of those being antlered bucks.
To date, bowhunters have taken 410 deer in Ripley County and 409 in Carter County. In Butler County, they've killed 331, and in Stoddard County, the total is 302. Dunklin County hunters have arrowed 57 deer, and Wayne County still leads the region with 570 deer tagged.
Duck Season Opener
The first split of Missouri's Middle Zone duck season will open Saturday and run through Nov. 9, which is, not coincidentally, the day before the firearms deer season opens.
Shooting hours will be one-half hour before sunrise until sunset, with a six-bird daily limit. That limit can be comprised of up to four mallards (only two females) three wood ducks, two canvasbacks, two pintails, two redheads, two black ducks, three scaup, one mottled duck and two hooded mergansers. Other species not listed, like gadwalls, wigeon and teal, can make up your entire daily limit.
At the Duck Creek Conservation Area north of Puxico, biologist Nicky Walker expects to have 14 to 16 hunting positions available on opening weekend, mostly in Units A and B.
"Our water is looking pretty good," Walker said, though some areas will not get flooded until later in the season to allow for the standing timber to go dormant, a process which depends on cold ground temperatures.
"We have intentions of flooding pools 2 and 3," she said. "I anticipate flooding Pool 2 by Thanksgiving and Pool 3 by the first week in December."
She's also hopeful Pools 7 and 8 on the adjacent Mingo National Wildlife Refuge will be at least partially flooded by Thanksgiving (last year they remained completely dry throughout the season because of a lack of water).
On Monday at Duck Creek, Walker said, the area was holding 17,000 ducks, mostly gadwalls, ringnecks and even about 7,000 early mallard migrants, on Pool 1.
At the Otter Slough Conservation Area in Stoddard County, biologist Kevin Brunke said 30 spots will be available for hunters during the early split.
Brunke reports water conditions are "pretty decent" at this point, and there's "lots of green vegetation" on the area.
On Monday, he said, 19,100 ducks were counted on Otter Slough.
On the Saturday opener, the draw time at both locations will be at 4:45 a.m., but with the overnight time change, it will move to 3:45 a.m. on Sunday.
The second split of the Middle Zone season will open Nov. 15 and run through Jan. 6.
Clearwater Hunt
If you're heading to Clearwater Lake this weekend, maybe to look at the fall colors, you'll want to take note of a managed muzzleloader deer hunt for Wounded Warriors and mobility-impaired hunters taking place Saturday and Sunday.
Three hunters will be stationed in the watchable wildlife area below the dam, while three more will hunt in the Charlton Bluff area off Highway AA. Signs will be posted in both areas to alert the public of the hunt.
If you have questions about the closures, call Clearwater's management office at 573-223-7777.
Riverways Hunt
Just like Clearwater Lake, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways will host a managed deer hunt for 10 mobility-impaired veterans this weekend in the Big Spring area.
Beginning Friday, the Big Spring campground, Peavine pavilion and all hiking trails in the Big Spring area will be closed.
Big Spring itself and the boat ramp will remain open, but must be accessed from Peavine Road because of bridge construction below the spring.
All closed areas will reopen to the public Monday morning.
If you aren't sure about a specific area, call the Riverways office at 573-323-4236.
Mingo Hunt
The Mingo National Wildlife Refuge will host its annual managed youth deer hunt this weekend, with 40 hunters drawn for the event.
As in the past, the hunt will take place in the area west of Ditch 4.
Beginning Friday at sunset, the Rabbit Ridge and Job Corps entrances will be closed to the public, as well as Bluff Road west of the boardwalk trail parking lot. Those areas will reopen on Monday morning.
During the hunt weekend, the Red Mill Drive area will remain open for visitors to travel.
Questions about the closures can be addressed by calling Mingo's office at 573-222-3589.
Better Fishing
Crappie fishing at Wappapello Lake is picking up, though there haven't been many anglers on the water. For those who have been trying it, some nice fish have been caught lately.
With the highly-variable temperatures, the lake is in a bit of a flux each day, and it usually takes some work to find the fish.
Fishing around brush piles should get you into some crappie, and you may find some in shallower water on a warm afternoon.
Surprisingly, catfishing also remains pretty good.