when is turkey season in mo

Increasing deer populations lead to decision to add antlerless harvest dates

Deer populations are at desired levels in most counties, but are continuing to increase. Because of this, additional antlerless harvest is needed to stabilize those deer numbers, Isabelle said.

“Hunters will have more opportunities to harvest antlerless deer and help meet our deer-management goals if antlerless permits are made more widely available in most counties and an early antlerless portion of the firearms deer season is created,” Isabelle stated.

The new firearms early antlerless portion Oct. 6-8, 2023, will be in the same 100 counties open for the firearms late antlerless portion Dec. 2-10, 2023. See regulation details and a map of open counties on MDCs website.

According to MDC, this shift to antlerless seasons for firearms is consistent with what a number of other Midwestern states have already implemented. Prior to the November firearms season, when many hunters concentrate on obtaining a buck, the early antlerless portion will help increase the harvest of antlerless deer, Isabelle continued.

“The early antlerless portion was planned to happen during a period that will minimize conflict with archery hunters, who spend the majority of their hunting season in late October and early November as the rut approaches,” Isabelle explained.

Regulation changes include: a new firearms early antlerless portion, a new firearms CWD portion and changes to firearms antlerless permit numbers in most counties.

Hold on to your seats, there are changes coming to Missouri hunting seasons in the new year.

The dates for the 2023–2024 deer and turkey seasons have been announced by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Additionally, modifications to the deer-hunting section of the regulations have been announced. A new section on firearms early antlerlessness, a new section on firearms CWD, and modifications to the numbers for firearms antlerless permits in the majority of counties are among these changes.

The Missouri Conservation Commission approved the hunting dates and regulations changes at its open meeting Dec. 2 in Jefferson City.

The changes to deer hunting regulations were prompted by the state’s increasing deer population and the spread of chronic wasting disease, or CWD, according to a news release from MDCs Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle.

“We’re expanding opportunities for hunters to harvest deer both inside and outside of the CWD Management Zone next year due to a growing deer population in most Missouri counties,” Isabelle stated.

Opening Day Double In Missouri | #turkeyseason24 #turkeyhunting

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