3 Reasons Why Missouri Deer Harvest Numbers Have Plummeted

The firearms part of deer hunting season is underway in Missouri, but the opening weekend saw numbers absolutely plummet compared to what they've been in previous seasons and the authorities think they know why.

The Missouri Department of Conservation has just released numbers from the opening weekend of the firearms part of deer hunting season and while the harvest is massive, it's nothing close to what it's been recently. Here are the stats from deer taken in Missouri November 16 and 17:

• 68,312 total deer harvested
• 42,283 antlered bucks
• 5,105 button bucks
• 20,924 does

That's down from over 90,000 deer taken during the same season last year.

Why are the deer harvest numbers in Missouri so low this year?

The Missouri Department of Conservation believes these 3 reasons are key:

• Calendar change
• Warmer weather
• Tons of acorns

MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle said “The calendar shift this year put the November portion a week later than last year, which results in lower deer harvest...The peak of the rut in Missouri occurs around Nov. 10. When the calendar shifts, it puts the opener about a week past peak rut when deer movement isn’t as high as it is earlier in the month.”

It will be interesting to see if the deer harvest numbers pick up before the regular season end on November 26 before the CWD portion starts.