By PAUL DAVIS
Outdoors Editor
Weather conditions were good for the opening weekend of Missouri's firearms deer season and deer movement was strong in the days leading up to the opener, but hunters ended up taking fewer deer than they did a year ago.
The statewide harvest for the first two days of the season was 94,977 deer, just slightly shy of the 96,131 taken during last year's opening weekend.
That's not to say folks weren't seeing deer. Most were - it appeared they were just being selective, waiting for a larger buck to show.
"Everyone I talked to that had spent much time in the woods at all saw multiple deer," said Butler County Conservation Agent Frank Campa, who described hunting pressure locally as very heavy. "Hunters are getting pickier about what they take, and most are holding out for antlered bucks."
Most local counties were down a little compared to the 2016 opening weekend, though not by much.
In Wayne County, hunters tagged 1,634 deer compared to 1,871 a year ago. In Dunklin County, the harvest was 114 deer, down ever-so-slightly from last year's 119.
In Carter County, hunters killed 784 opening-weekend deer, a drop from last year's 831, and in Ripley County, they checked 1,218, which was down from 1,293 in 2016.
Two local counties, Butler and Stoddard, saw higher harvest numbers this season, if only by a little.
Butler County hunters killed 725 deer over the weekend compared to 653 a year ago, and in Stoddard County, the opening-weekend harvest was 589 deer, up from 583 last year.
The top counties in the state were Howell with 2,095, Franklin with 2,060 and Texas with 1,855.
Four incidents have been reported since the season opened, with one fatal.
In one, a woman without a safety harness fell from a tree stand in Phelps County and was found dead Sunday evening.
On Saturday, a hunter in Benton County shot at a deer and his bullet grazed the head of another hunter beyond the target.
On Monday, a Bates County hunter suffered a self-inflicted wound to the chest when his rifle discharged while he was exiting a tree stand.
On Wednesday, a Washington County juvenile took a bullet to the leg as his father was loading a rifle inside their truck.
I mention these incidents because every one of them is senseless and could have been prevented by following basic safety precautions.
The firearms deer season continues through Tuesday, and on Wednesday, the archery season will pick back up and continue through Jan. 15.
The second portion of the youth deer season will run Nov. 24-26, followed by the antlerless season Dec. 1-3 in some counties (none locally).
The final firearms deer season will be the alternative methods portion Dec. 23-Jan. 2.
Ducks Again
Missouri's Middle Zone duck season second split opened today and will continue through Jan. 7.
Duck numbers at the two big managed areas locally are strong.
At the Duck Creek Conservation Area, this week's survey showed 54,633 ducks after a big influx of mallards early last week.
On the adjacent Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, 17,480 ducks were reported, about half of which were mallards.
At the Otter Slough Conservation Area, 23,600 ducks were counted, with a good mix of mallards, teal, gadwalls, pintails and others.
The South Zone season's first split will open Thanksgiving Day and run for only four days, until Nov. 26.
Managed waterfowl areas in the South Zone include Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area outside of East Prairie, Mo., Little River Conservation Area east of Kennett, Mo. (only open a few days per week) and the Coon Island Conservation Area in southern Butler County.
You may recall Coon Island suffered a lot of damage during the May flooding, so habitat quality will be marginal at best this season. In fact, biologist Kevin Brunke said, it's the worst he's ever seen it there since he's been the property manager.
Arkansas Season
For those who hunt ducks in Arkansas, the Natural State's first duck season split will open Saturday and run through Nov. 26.
Remember, if you're hunting Arkansas as a nonresident, there are new restrictions this year on Wildlife Management Area General Use Permits.
Also, if you're hunting on any state wildlife management area (for instance, the Dave Donaldson Black River WMA outside Corning, Ark.), all electronic or motion-creating decoys are illegal (except jerk string rigs remain legal).
If you aren't sure about the regulations, do yourself a favor and check them before you go. The website is www.agfc.com, or you can call the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission's Region 1 office in Jonesboro at 877-972-5438.
Empty Water
"I haven't seen hardly anybody fishing," said Charlie Brotherton this week at Wappapello Lake. "There's just a lot of deer and duck hunters."
Those who are venturing onto the lake are catching a few crappies, mainly in shallow water.
Some nice largemouth and spotted bass have been taken lately from the spillway as well, but otherwise, the fishing has been slow.
Crappie Tourney
The Wappapello Crappie Club will host a tournament on Saturday, with fishing from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Participants can launch from any ramp on the lake, but must be in line for the weigh-in at the Wappapello VFW by 2 p.m.
For more information, give Dave Maddux a call at 573-718-2756.
Free Bat Program
Finally, if you're looking for something to do Friday evening, the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge will be hosting a free program at its visitor center about bats.
The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the program will start at 7.
After the program, an optional night hike will be offered for those interested, so dress appropriately and bring a flashlight.
For more information on Mingo's programs or to register for the event, call Visitor Services Ranger Debbie Koenigs at 573-222-3589.