The most popular hunting season of the year is almost upon us, and for most, it can’t get here quickly enough.
Missouri’s firearms deer season kicks off Saturday and will run 11 days, through Nov. 24.
The weather forecast doesn’t look especially good for opening weekend. Both Saturday and Sunday look to be a bit windy, with rain thrown into the mix on Saturday. Temperatures also look to be a bit warmer than average, reaching the low- to mid-60s in the afternoons.
I’d prefer high pressure and no wind, but it is what it is.
Deer movement still could be pretty good considering the timing of the rut, though some bucks may be locked down with does for a few days at this point.
You’ll need a firearms any-deer hunting permit, a firearms antlerless hunting permit (only in some counties), a nonresident permit or landowner any-deer or antlerless permit. Be sure to check the regulations booklet for clarity.
Keep in mind, antlerless firearms permits are not usable in Butler, Wayne, Carter, Stoddard, Reynolds or Dunklin counties.
When the Department of Conservation made antlerless archery permits available everywhere except the bootheel a few years ago, a lot of hunters got themselves in trouble by assuming they could buy and use antlerless firearms permits in those same counties, but that wasn’t, and still isn’t, the case.
Again, it pays to read the regulations booklet and not make any assumptions.
As with all firearms deer seasons, hunter orange is required, and you must wear a cap or hat and either a vest or jacket.
Shooting hours will be one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset each day, and if you’re successful, you’ll need to Telecheck your deer by 10 p.m. that day.
Several meat processors will be open late this weekend to accommodate successful deer hunters.
Hours will vary, and some will be closed on Sunday, so it’s a good idea to call before you head their direction to ensure they can take your deer.
The processors I know of include Ozark Meats at Grandin, 573-593-4199; Mars Meats at Grandin, 573-660-1115; Pennington Meat Packing in Fairdealing, 573-996-4169; Piedmont Processing in Piedmont, 573-223-4950; Elderland Meats in Zalma and Bloomfield, 573-722-3622; the Meat Shop in Dexter, 573-891-2020; and the Deep Freeze in Poplar Bluff, 573-785-2327.
Bowhunters in the region continue to have plenty of success, but the statewide harvest has finally fallen below the same point in the season last year. Until this week, the harvest had been a bit above last year’s total.
As of Wednesday morning, bowhunters had taken 47,862 deer statewide, compared to 48,399 a year ago.
The harvest in our local counties is mostly similar to last year, with some counties up and others down.
In Butler County, 497 deer have been taken so far (474 last year). In Carter County, the total is 548 (491).
In Dunklin County, 72 deer have been arrowed (96), and in Ripley County, 563 have been tagged (517).
Stoddard County bowhunters have killed 527 deer (581), while those in Wayne County have taken 923 (842).
Reynolds County hunters have taken 547 deer with archery gear.
I expected better deer movement last Saturday morning before the temperatures got up into the lower 70s, but only saw a single deer.
Fortunately, it was a nice 8-point buck coming to the sounds of my grunt call.
He had been walking directly toward me, and at 20 yards, he stopped, looked around and spotted me 20 feet up an oak tree. He didn’t get too bent out of shape and re-routed himself a bit farther away.
At 25 yards, he gave me a good shot opportunity and I let the arrow fly.
A short time later, I was dragging that heavy joker back to my vehicle.
He was my second bow kill of the season, so from this point on, it’s going to have to be all does with antlerless permits for me.
The archery season closes one-half hour after sunset Friday and will reopen after the firearms deer season on Nov. 25. It will continue through Jan. 15.
Sunday marks the opening day for Missouri’s furbearer hunting and trapping seasons.
Badger, bobcat, gray fox, red fox, opossum, raccoon and striped skunk are all fair game from Nov. 15 through Jan. 31 with a hunting or trapping permit.
Coyotes are open year-round.
A trapping permit also allows you to take rabbits from Nov. 15 through Jan. 31, otter and muskrat from Nov. 15 through Feb. 20 and beaver and nutria from Nov. 15 through March 31.
Anyone taking bobcats or river otters must have them tagged by a county conservation agent before they can be sold.
Speaking of selling furs, buyer Marc Romine emailed me today with the expected dates he’ll be at Poplar Bluff’s Sale Barn this season.
Romine will be at the Sale Barn from 9-11 a.m. on Jan. 8, Feb. 19 and March 12.
That’s less visits than he’s made in the past, but a depressed fur market makes it necessary.
Romine would prefer bobcats and foxes to be whole for the best prices.
Prices for everything else likely will remain pretty low, so don’t expect a lot.