Hunters in Missouri took 80,525 deer over the first weekend of the firearms season, down about 10% from the same period a year ago.
Weather conditions were far from ideal, with rain across much of the state on Saturday and strong, gusty winds Sunday. Both situations likely kept hunters in the field for shorter periods of time and kept deer movement down.
From my perspective, the number of shots heard opening morning was a little lower than normal, but not bad. However, only a few were heard Saturday evening.
Locally, hunters took 600 opening-weekend deer in Butler County, 696 in Carter County, 117 in Dunklin County, 777 in Reynolds County, 1,187 in Ripley County, 519 in Stoddard County and 1,267 in Wayne County.
The top counties in the state for the first two days were Howell with 1,499 deer taken, Bollinger with 1,453 and Franklin with 1,446.
The weather improved quite obit after the weekend, and by Wednesday morning, the harvest had gone up to 829 in Butler County, 946 in Carter County, 168 in Dunklin County, 1,150 in Reynolds County, 1,723 in Ripley County, 713 in Stoddard County and 1,783 in Wayne County. Statewide, the total was 116,107.
There’s still quite a ways to go to reach last year’s total season harvest of 178,936, and hunters have until dark on Tuesday, Nov. 24, to get it done.
I will say I was a bit discouraged Saturday morning when I heard several people shooting at least 15 minutes before legal time, and with it being cloudy and that dark, I can only imagine they were either spotlighting or shooting at noises. Is getting a deer really so important that you’d risk that type of behavior?
And later in the day, after taking a nice 8-pointer that morning, I went to check out a field while waiting for a friend who was still hunting, and I found a young guy in a climbing tree stand with no orange on and no safety harness. Deer can’t see orange, and pretty much the only reason people don’t wear it is because they don’t want to get caught where they are.
The second portion of the youth deer season in Missouri opens next Friday, Nov. 27, but with this page being moved to Friday because of the holiday, it was important to get that info in today.
That season will run through Nov. 29.
All the same rules apply as during the first portion, except more than one deer can be taken in the late season if a youth has the proper permits.
Again, read the regulation booklet to keep yourself out of trouble.
Missouri’s Middle Zone duck season, after a short closure, reopens today (Thursday) and will continue through Jan. 10.
If you hunt the Duck Creek or Otter Slough conservation area in the Middle Zone, be aware the Department of Conservation this week placed both in its red level because of high COVID-19 prevalence in the area. That means all hunting positions will be given by online drawing only, and there will be no poor line and no interaction with staff.
Missouri’s South Zone youth duck season is this weekend, running both Saturday and Sunday.
The same six-bird daily limit and species restrictions apply as during the regular season.
Popular hunting areas in the South Zone include the Little River Conservation Area east of Kennett, the Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area in Mississippi County and the Coon Island Conservation Area in Butler County.
Just like at Duck Creek and Otter Slough, MDC has moved Ten Mile Pond to its red level.
Thanksgiving Day next week also marks the opening day of the first segment of the regular duck season in the South Zone.
That first segment will run through Nov. 29, so it’s a short one.
The second segment of the season will open Dec. 7 and continue through January.
If you hunt ducks in Arkansas, and there are a lot who do, that state’s first duck season segment opens Saturday and will continue through Nov. 30.
Unlike Missouri’s three zones, Arkansas uses a statewide system with three season segments.
The second segment will run Dec. 11-23, and the final segment will take place Dec. 26-Jan. 31.
With the deer season ongoing, I haven’t heard of anyone crappie fishing at the moment.
Still, fishing should be pretty decent if you do go.
My guess is fish will be deeper in the mornings, and they should move shallower in the afternoons as the skinny water starts to warm up.