Six days into Missouri's alternative methods deer season, hunters have taken 5,238 deer, well above the 3,800 they took during the same period a year ago.
If you don't count this morning's rain, the weather has been pretty good for hunters, and without a decent acorn crop in most places, deer have been quite visible as they feed in the open.
In Ripley County, alternative season hunters have killed 89 deer so far, and in Carter County, they've tagged 42.
Twelve deer have taken a ride home in Dunklin County, and in Wayne County, the total is 70. In Stoddard County, the season take is up to 59 deer.
In Butler County, where Conservation Agent Frank Campa said hunting pressure has been "pretty light," 47 deer have been taken.
Most, he said, have been taken on private land, which isn't really a surprise considering the pressure they've received on public ground the last two months.
The alternative methods season closes Tuesday, marking the end of firearms deer hunting in Missouri for this fall and winter.
Staying Strong
Local archery deer hunters had a particularly good weekend, thanks to some good weather and deer movement, and the harvest continues to climb.
The statewide harvest of 50,850 deer by bowhunters is less than 1,000 off the mark for last year's season total with just more than two weeks to go. It's unlikely hunters will break the record of 53,997 they took in 2012-13, but if everything holds together, this season's kill should end up being the second-highest on record. Then again, with duck hunting so poor, a lot of folks may decide to bowhunt instead, and that record just might be reached.
As of yesterday afternoon, the archery harvest in Ripley County was 618, and in Carter County it was 664.
In Butler County, 568 deer have been arrowed at this point, and in Stoddard County, the tally is 521.
Hunters in Dunklin County have tagged 99 deer with archery gear, and as expected, Wayne County leads the region with 939 deer taken. Wayne County also is ranked fourth in the state at the moment behind Jefferson, Franklin and Callaway.
Stagnant and Slow
I know it sounds like a broken record, but duck numbers remain low across the area, to the tune of about one third of what they should be. It's almost unheard of how bad its been. Plus, given that most of the birds we do have are stale as month-old bread, hunting has been especially difficult for a long time.
While the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge continues to hold about 55,000 ducks, the Duck Creek Conservation Area next door has only 16,400 birds this week. The count at Otter Slough Conservation Area is around 18,500 ducks this week, though it is holding 56,000 geese. The latest survey data taken Wednesday at the Coon Island Conservation Area showed about 6,000 ducks, which is a pretty good jump from last week.
Given the conditions, it's probably best for hunters to change things up and hunt differently, whether that entails more or less decoys, using lots of white, black or magnum-sized decoys, trying new locations, less calling or whatever.
For those who travel to Missouri's North Zone to hunt ducks, the season there ends on Tuesday.
There's also not a lot of time left in the Middle Zone, which includes most of the managed wetlands locally, as it closes on Jan. 6.
If you hunt ducks in Arkansas, that state's third and final statewide split opened Wednesday and will continue through Jan. 27.
Small-game Option
With all the focus by hunters on deer and waterfowl, small game tends to get forgotten, but that's a big mistake. Right now is a great time to hunt for squirrels and rabbits.
Squirrels have been active for much of the day, and they're easy to see and hear from long distances.
The daily limit on squirrels is 10.
There seems to be a good number of rabbits around, too. I've seen several lately and almost shot one with my bow walking out the other evening, but I didn't want to lose an arrow. Considering how many rabbits I've seen the last few weeks, I'll definitely be making a special trip to hunt them.
The daily limit on rabbits is six, which can include no more than two swamp rabbits.
Returning to Normal
Wappapello Lake remains high from recent rains, but it is dropping about 4 to 5 inches daily.
Even better, I've seen some reports of some nice catches of crappies, even on the drop.
If you can find some water that's not murky and doesn't have a lot of current because of the discharge, and if you spend some time searching, you might just find yourself catching some good fish.
Clearwater Lake is pretty much back to its regular December level of 494 feet, or close enough to it, so fishing should be back to normal there.