Missouri deer harvest sees 10% increase, nearing 302,000 this season

Hunters in Missouri harvested just under 302,000 deer this season, marking about a 10% increase from last year, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

This figure aligns with the five-year average and represents the sixth time the state has surpassed the 300,000 mark.

MDC Cervid Program Supervisor, Jason Isabelle noted, “Just shy of 302,000 — it’s the sixth time we’ve broken that mark, so it was a good season for deer hunters.”

The lower numbers in 2024 were attributed to a bumper acorn crop, which kept deer from moving much, making them harder to find.

“Whenever we have a really good acorn crop, there’s food all over the place in the woods. The deer don’t have to move very far and whenever we have that, we expect harvest to be down,” Isabelle explained.

This year’s more typical acorn crop helped increase harvest totals, particularly in southern and central Missouri.

Weather conditions also influenced the season, with warm opening-weekend temperatures leading to more nighttime deer movement and challenging decisions for hunters regarding processing deer in the heat.

Despite concerns about declining participation, the Missouri Department of Conservation reports that hunter numbers have stabilized, aiding in maintaining the state’s deer population.

Isabelle stated, “By removing 300,000 deer from Missouri’s landscape each year, hunters are providing a service to keep that population at socially desirable levels.”

You can find more information on the details from this season here.