Alternative-methods hunters successful in Callaway this season

Hunters harvested 10,602 deer during Missouri's alternative-methods portion. Top harvest counties were Oregon with 262 deer harvested, Callaway with 199, and Pike with 195. During the alternative methods-portion of firearms deer season, hunters are allowed to use muzzle-loading firearms, center-fire pistols, air-powered guns, bows, crossbows, or atlatls.
Hunters harvested 10,602 deer during Missouri's alternative-methods portion. Top harvest counties were Oregon with 262 deer harvested, Callaway with 199, and Pike with 195. During the alternative methods-portion of firearms deer season, hunters are allowed to use muzzle-loading firearms, center-fire pistols, air-powered guns, bows, crossbows, or atlatls.

Hunters in Callaway County harvested 199 deer this fall with alternative methods. State Conservation officials said the total ranked to be second in Missouri.

During the alternative-methods firearms season, hunters are allowed to use muzzle-loading firearms, centerfire pistols, air-powered guns, bows, crossbows or atlatls.

So far, the total of deer harvested this fall and winter in Callaway County is 3,607. Archery season continues until Jan. 15, but in 2015-16, archers harvested 785 deer in the county.

Callaway County's success for deer hunters has to do with a number of factors, according to Robert Hellelgarn, a media specialist with the Department of Conservation.

"Some of why is a result of quality habitat and managment strategies," he said Thursday, adding there is public and private land in the Mark Twain National Forest. "The Department of Conservation has state public land in Callaway County, too."

A list of publically owned spaces in and near Callaway County can be found on MDC's online atlas: nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/places.

Preliminary data from the department shows deer hunters in Missouri harvested 10,602 deer during the alternative-methods portion of the fall firearms season, which ran Dec. 24 through Tuesday.

Of the total harvest, 2,787 were antlered bucks, 1,496 button bucks and 6,319 does. Top harvest counties during the alternative-methods portion were Oregon with 262 deer harvested followed by Callaway with 199 and Pike with 195.

Callaway County deer harvest numbers are kept up-to-date on Missouri Department of Conservation's website. During the Oct. 29-30 early youth firearms season, 171 bucks and does were harvested in Callaway. During fall firearms opening weekend, 1,552 deer were harvested Nov. 12-13. The entire season, Nov. 12-22 netted 2,982 deer harvested in Callaway County. Late youth firearms season, Nov. 25-27, netted a harvest of 39 deer, and antlerless firearms season, Dec. 2-4, netted 216 deer here.

The MDC filed a 2015-16 Deer Season Summary and Population Status Report, available online as a PDF document (on.mo.gov/2hWVJgZ). A map in that report shows Callaway County in the Central Region along with Cole and Boone counties. The report states deer densities in this region vary due to diverse habitat. While the population declined between 2004 and 2013, populations increased by 5 percent from 2014 to 2015. In the region, Callaway County had the highest in total harvest (2015-16 season).

2017-18 Seasons

In December, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved recommendations for the 2017-18 deer-hunting season dates including:

Archery Deer: Sept. 15 through Nov. 10 and Nov. 22 through Jan. 15, 2018

Firearms Deer Early Youth Portion: Oct. 28 and 29

Firearms Deer November Portion: Nov. 11-21

Firearms Deer Late Youth Portion: Nov. 24-26

Firearms Antlerless Portion: Dec. 1-3

Firearms Alternative-Methods Portion: Dec. 23 through Jan. 2, 2018

For 2016 harvest totals by county and season portion, visit the MDC website at on.mo.gov/2iFmvM2 under "Telecheck: Deer and Turkey Harvest Data." For past season numbers, visit the same link under "Deer Harvest Summaries."

Missouri offers some of the best deer hunting in the country, and deer hunting is an important part of many Missourians' lives and family traditions. 

Deer hunting is also an important economic driver in Missouri and gives a $1 billion annual boost to the state and local economies. For more information on deer hunting in Missouri visit MDC's website at on.mo.gov/2hOHcpp.