Young Hunters Harvest Over 6,000 More Deer Than 2016

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows that young hunters ages 6 through 15 harvested 17,222 deer during Missouri’s early youth portion of the 2017 deer hunting season.

According to a Missouri Department of Conservation Deer Biologist, excellent weather and good deer movement was the main factor for the great number of deer harvested over the weekend of October 28 and 29.

Top counties for the early youth portion were Osage with 380, Howell with 377, and Franklin with 354 deer checked. Last year’s harvest total for the early youth portion was 11,171. The reason for poor numbers last year was temperatures in the 80's through out the state.

The Deer Youth Early Total in 2017 for Pettis County inculded 85 Antlered Bucks, 11 Button Bucks and 63 Does. For a complete listing, visit MDC’s website at http://on.mo.gov/1jjz7Ew.

The late youth portion of the firearms deer season is November 24-26.