The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds deer hunters, landowners, and others of changes to regulations of the Wildlife Code of Missouri for the upcoming deer-hunting season. [1] The changes focus on simplifying regulations and responding to public input.
Reduced Buck Limit
MDC has reduced the antlered buck limit for those hunting on nonresident deer hunting permits from two to one. Nonresidents who qualify for nonresident landowner permits will maintain an antlered buck harvest limit of two.
Early Youth Portion
MDC has moved the Early Youth Portion one week earlier this year to October 24th and 25th to help avoid conflicts with Halloween activities at the end of October. The Early Youth Portion typically occurs two weekends prior to the November portion. This year it will occur three weekends prior.
APR Removed
MDC has removed the antler-point restriction (APR) for the final 18 counties where it was most recently in place. Yearling bucks, which the APR protects, travel many miles and can spread chronic wasting disease (CWD) long distances. Removing the APR will help to minimize the spread of CWD while also simplifying regulations.
CWD Management Zones
MDC has removed the designations of the CWD Management Zone. A majority of Missouri counties either have had a case of CWD or are within 10 miles of a confirmed case of the disease, so a designated CWD Management Zone is no longer needed.
Prohibiting Feed and Minerals
Placing feed and mineral for deer has been prohibited in counties close to where CWD has been detected since CWD was first found in Missouri. Placing feed and mineral for deer artificially congregates them, resulting in an increased risk of disease transmission.
Removed CWD Portion
MDC has removed the CWD Portion of firearms deer season to simplify the structure of the season while not significantly affecting deer harvest.
Mandatory CWD Sampling
MDC has moved mandatory CWD sampling during the opening weekend of the November Portion of the firearms deer season to a four-year county rotation. Mandatory CWD sampling will now be conducted in every county of the state once every four years.
Mandatory sampling for this season will be conducted in 28 counties on Nov. 14 and 15.
CWD Management Permits
MDC has increased the minimum acreage requirement for CWD Management Permits and simplified the application process. Landowners are now required to have at least 20 contiguous acres in a CWD Core Area to receive CWD Management Permits. The change will make the acreage requirement consistent with other no-cost landowner deer hunting permits, reducing potential confusion for landowners.
No Post-Season Removals
As a result of public engagement and continued evaluation, MDC will not conduct targeted deer removals after the season and currently has no plans to resume the activity.
Instead, MDC staff will work with hunters, landowners, and other partners to develop a localized approach in which hunter harvest is the primary tool to manage deer numbers and CWD during the regular deer season.
