By PAUL DAVIS
Outdoors Editor
During last year's first segment of Missouri's youth deer season, hunters had to deal with exceedingly warm weather, which kept deer movement, and the harvest, down. This year, the tables were turned - the weather was perfect and the number of deer killed was significantly higher.
Young hunters across the state killed 17,222 deer over the weekend, which is up significantly from the 11,171 they took last year.
"I attribute it mostly to the good weather," said Missouri Department of Conservation deer biologist Barbara Keller. "I think the deer population also is slightly up as it recovers from an EHD outbreak a few years ago."
Locally, every county saw significant increases in the deer harvest, with a couple nearly doubling their numbers from a year ago.
In Butler County, hunters killed 170 deer, compared to 147 last year.
Carter County youths killed 196 deer, up from 131 in 2016's early segment.
In Dunklin County, hunters almost doubled last year's take of 19 deer by tagging 37 this season.
Ripley County youths checked 327 deer over the weekend, well above the 225 they killed last year during the same period.
Stoddard County's early segment harvest of 145 deer was nearly 50 percent higher than the 99 taken there a year ago.
In Wayne County, which had the state's fourth-highest harvest over the weekend, young hunters killed 345 deer. That's a big jump from the 188 taken there in 2016's early segment.
The second portion of the youth deer season is much earlier on the calendar this year and will run Nov. 24-26, while the regular firearms deer season will run Nov. 11-21. The final firearms deer season, the alternative methods portion, will take place Dec. 23-Jan. 2.
Trending Downward
Just as expected, the 2017 fall firearms turkey season in Missouri will go on the record as the worst in the state's history.
Hunters killed a mere 2,899 birds statewide during the October-long season, short of the previous low record of 3,698 birds set just last year. For reference, hunters in Missouri killed 28,139 turkeys during the fall season in 1987.
"I'm not surprised at all," said MDC Resource Scientist Jason Isabelle. "With two consecutive years of poor hatches, I figured we'd have another record low."
Interest in fall turkey hunting has trended down for years, Isabelle noted, as bowhunting has gained in popularity, and the trend is happening nationwide.
Permit sales saw an all-time low last year, but were down again this year, with 10,243 sold.
"Low turkey numbers and a good white-oak acorn crop this year certainly didn't help, either," Isabelle said.
Every local county saw significant drops in its harvest.
In Butler County, hunters killed four birds (nine last year). And just for laughs, you know the season was bad locally when bowhunters in Butler County, to this point, have killed almost three times as many birds as shotgun hunters.
In Stoddard County, the season take was 42 birds (58 in 2016), and in Wayne County, it was 41 (92 a year ago).
Carter County hunters tagged nine birds during the October season (35 last year), and those in Ripley County checked four turkeys (23 in 2016).
If you're a turkey hunter, the numbers should make you a little nervous for the upcoming spring season - it's going to be a tough one.
"All we can do is hope we bounce back (with a good hatch) next year," Isabelle said.
Time to Get Quackin'
The first split of Missouri's Middle Zone duck season, which includes the Otter Slough and Duck Creek Conservation areas, opens Saturday and will continue through Nov. 10.
In public meetings last year, hunters across the southern portion of the state showed an interest in pushing the season back later in the winter by a week or two, when mallards are more numerous. Because the federal waterfowl management framework only allows for a 60-day hunting period, the Department of Conservation instituted a split season in the Middle and South zones this year to accommodate those late-hunting preferences.
The daily limit remains six ducks, which can include no more than four mallards (two hens), three scaup, three wood ducks, two canvasbacks, two redheads and, it's important to note this year, a single pintail.
Species not listed in the regulations booklet, like gadwalls, teal, wigeon or, heaven forbid, shovelers, can make up your full six-bird daily limit.
As always, you'll need to ensure your shotgun is plugged so it can hold only three shells total. If you're checked by a conservation agent, I can guarantee they will check to make sure your shotgun plug is installed.
To hunt ducks, you'll need a Missouri hunting license, a state migratory bird hunting permit ($6) and a federal duck stamp ($25).
Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise until sunset local time, though many public areas close to hunting at 1 p.m.
At the Otter Slough Conservation Area, 30 hunting positions will be available on opening weekend, according to biologist Kevin Brunke.
Habitat on the area this fall, he said, is excellent, so the property should hold ducks well.
At Duck Creek Conservation Area, MDC Southeast Region Wildlife Supervisor Matt Bowyer said, there should be 17 or 18 positions available during the early days of the season, all in units A and B.
"We won't have any of the timber units flooded (for the opener)," Bowyer said, because it's been too warm and dry lately and the trees need to begin their winter dormancy before officials can safely push long-term water onto their roots.
In units A and B, Bowyer said, the moist soil habitat looks good and there are some corn crops standing, though many have seen extensive damage from feral hogs.
The draw time at both Otter Slough and Duck Creek will be at 4:45 a.m. on opening day and, with the time change Sunday, 3:45 a.m. afterward.
The second split of the Middle Zone will open Nov. 16 and continue through Jan. 7.
Upland Bird Seasons
Other hunting seasons, which opened yesterday in Missouri, are those for quail and pheasants.
Both seasons are statewide, and there is a daily limit of eight quail and two male pheasants.
There are very few quail around anymore, and even fewer pheasants.
On a bright note, I did hear a quail whistling about month ago in an area I haven't seen or heard any in at least 15 years, so there's always hope the birds will make a comeback.
The Department of Conservation at one time stocked pheasants in the Bootheel, but they never really took off, and now only a very few remnant birds remain, primarily along the brushy drainage ditches in southern Stoddard, Dunklin and New Madrid counties.
Oh, and if you're into sniping crows with your .223 or calling them into shotgun range, the season on them also opened yesterday.
Delta Dinner
The Riceland chapter of Delta Waterfowl will host its annual waterfowl heritage dinner beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Elk's Lodge off Highway 67, north of Poplar Bluff.
Lots of raffles are planned, as are both live and silent auctions for items like hunting gear, fishing gear, home decor and guns. There also will be plenty of items for ladies and children on hand.
Tickets to the event cost $45 for a single or $60 for a couple. Tickets for youths less than 16 years of age cost $25.
Sponsorships also are available at various levels.
To purchase tickets, contact chapter president Chris Figge at 573-953-0041 or by email at c_figge@hotmail.com.
Area Closures
Once again, there are a few managed deer hunts this weekend which will affect public use on some areas.
The Mingo National Wildlife Refuge will be hosting its annual youth deer hunt both Saturday and Sunday, so all roads except Red Mill Drive will be closed to the public. That also means the Rabbit Ridge and Mingo Job Corps entrances will be closed. If you want to get on the refuge, you'll have to access it off Highway 51 at the maintenance shop.
At the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, a Wounded Warriors managed hunt will take place both Saturday and Sunday in the Big Spring area. The spring and the boat ramp will remain open, but other areas, like the hiking trails, Chubb Hollow area and Peavine Road and pavilion, will be closed until Monday morning.
At Clearwater Lake, a disability hunt will be held over the weekend in the watchable wildlife area below the dam. No road closures are needed, but the area will be closed to public entry during the hunt.