Key information for deer season

PARKLAND HUNTING GUIDE

MDC shares key info for deer season

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) wants deer hunters to know some key information for harvesting whitetails in Missouri this season.

Deer hunting opens Sept. 15 with the archery season, which runs through Nov. 11 and then again from Nov. 23 through Jan. 15. The two firearms youth portions occur on Oct. 29 and 30 and Nov. 25-27. The firearms November portion runs Nov. 12-22. The antlerless portion runs Dec. 3-11. The alternative-methods portion runs Dec. 24 through Jan. 3.

New This Year

Hunters who are 15 years or younger on Sept. 15 are now exempt from the antler-point restriction during the archery season and all portions of the firearms deer season. The antler-point restriction has been removed for Barton and Vernon counties. Hunters may now fill additional firearms antlerless permits in a number of counties. Get details at MDC’s website.

Share the Harvest

MDC encourages deer hunters to share their harvests by donating surplus venison to the Share the Harvest program to help feed hungry Missourians. The program is administered by the Conservation Federation of Missouri and MDC and has provided nearly 5 million pounds of lean, healthy venison to help feed hungry Missourians since it was started in 1992.

Donating is easy. Simply take harvested deer to an approved meat processor and let the processor know how much venison to donate. Meat-processing fees are covered entirely or in part by numerous local sponsors, along with statewide sponsors. The donated deer meat goes to local food banks and food pantries to help feed hungry Missourians all around the state. To get Share the Harvest venison, contact local food banks or food pantries.

The National Institutes of Health state that children need protein in their diets for proper growth and development, and adults need it to maintain good health. Yet many Missourians can’t afford or can’t get to good sources of protein. Through Share the Harvest, Missouri hunters can help provide those in need with high-quality protein in the form of naturally lean, locally harvested deer meat.

Follow CWD Regulations

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a deadly, infectious disease in deer and other members of the deer family (cervids) that eventually kills all animals it infects. There is no vaccine or cure. CWD is in Missouri and MDC continues its efforts to limit the spread of CWD by finding new cases as early as possible and managing the disease to slow its spread to more deer in more areas.

MDC’s CWD Management Zone consists of counties where or near where CWD has been found: Adair, Barry, Barton, Camden, Cedar, Chariton, Christian, Clark, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Howell, Jefferson, Knox, Laclede, Linn, Macon, McDonald, Mercer, Oregon, Ozark, Perry, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Ripley, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Vernon, Warren, and Washington. MDC notes that Barton, Greene, Ripley, and Vernon counties are new to the CWD Management Zone this year.

Special regulations apply in CWD Management Zone counties, including:

During Nov. 12–13, hunters who harvest deer in CWD Management Zone counties (except Gasconade, Knox, St. Charles, and Warren) must take the deer or deer head on the day of harvest to an MDC mandatory CWD sampling station.

The use of grain, salt products, minerals, and other consumable products used to attract deer is prohibited year-round in CWD Management Zone counties.

Deer harvested from CWD Management Zone counties must be reported through Telecheck before they can be removed from the county of harvest.

Hunters must follow carcass-movement restrictions for deer harvested in a CWD Management Zone county.

Hunters must also follow carcass-movement restrictions when bringing parts of harvested deer and other cervids into Missouri from another state.

CWD Sampling, Testing All Season

As part of its efforts to find cases of CWD early and help slow its spread, MDC is again offering free voluntary CWD sampling and testing of harvested deer during the entire deer season at select locations throughout the state, including some MDC offices and participating taxidermists and meat processors.

MDC also offers self-service freezer drop-off locations within the CWD Management Zone for hunters to deposit harvested deer heads to have tested for CWD. Instructions, packing supplies, and information tags are available at the sites. Get more information on voluntary sampling and dropoff locations online at mdc. mo.gov/cwd.

Hunters can get their CWD test results for free online at mdc.mo.gov/cwdResults. Results are usually available within four weeks or less from the time of sampling.

Watch for Cyclists

MDC reminds hunters that bicycles and certain types of electric bicycles are now allowed on service roads and multi-use trails at about 300 conservation areas, including some also open for deer hunting.

Approximately 30 of these areas will be closed to bicycle and electric bicycle use during all portions of the firearms deer hunting season. Bicycle use on most of MDC’s approximately 1,100 conservation areas is still restricted to roads open to public-vehicle traffic and some multi-use trails. Cyclists may not ride off-road or off-trail.

Get More Information

Get more information on deer hunting in Missouri — including seasons, CWD restrictions and other regulations, permits, methods, where to hunt, and more — from the MDC website at mdc.mo.gov/ hunting-trapping/species/ deer and from MDC’s 2022 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where permits are sold and on the MDC website.

Buy Missouri hunting and fishing permits from numerous vendors around the state, online at mdc.mo.gov/ permits, or through MDC’s free mobile app, MO Hunting, available for download through Google Play or the App Store.

MDC offices will be closed for permit sales and other activities on Veterans Day, Nov. 11.

Archery: Sept. 15-Nov. 11; Nov. 23-Jan. 15 Firearms/November portion: Nov. 12-22 Firearms Alternative Methods: Dec. 24-Jan. 3 Firearms Antlerless Portion: Dec. 3-11 Firearms Youth: Oct. 29-30, Nov. 25-27

Turkey

Fall Archery: Sept. 15-Nov. 11, Nov. 23-Jan. 15 Fall Firearms: Oct. 1-31 Spring Youth: April 9-10 Spring: April 18-May 8

Waterfowl

Teal: Sept. 10-25

Ducks, Coots and Geese

Youth Middle and North Zone: Oct. 22-23 Youth South Zone: Nov. 19-20

Ducks and Coots

Middle Zone: Nov. 5-13, Nov. 19-Jan. 8 North Zone: Oct. 29-Dec. 27 South Zone: Nov. 24-27, Dec. 7-Jan. 31 Ducks, Coots, and Mergansers Falconry: Feb. 10-March 10 Greater White-Fronted Geese: Nov. 11-Feb. 6 Brant Geese: Oct. 1-9, Nov. 11-Feb. 6 WHAT DO I DO IF I SEE A SICK Light Geese: Nov. 11-Feb. 6 Canada Geese: Oct. 1-9, Nov. 11-Feb. 6 OR DEAD ANIMAL? Light Goose Conservation Order: Feb. 7-April 30

Monitoring possible disease outbreaks is critical to protecting the health of wildlife in Missouri. Please report observations of the following: • Single deer that appear sick, especially deer that are skinny and acting oddly • Three or more sick or dead mammals • Five or more sick or dead birds • Groups of sick and dead amphibians or reptiles

Report any observations of sick or dead wildlife that meet these criteria to WildlifeHealth@ mdc.mo.gov

Avoid handling sick or dead wildlife.

If you must handle a dead animal, always wear gloves and wash your hands after.

Any mammal can carry rabies — be cautious of any mammal that is acting strangely.

IF YOU ENCOUNTER A BEAR

Never corner a bear — make sure it has an escape route.

Back away slowly with your arms raised.

Speak in a calm, loud voice.

Do not turn your back to the bear.

Walk away slowly — Do not run.

SEASONS

Archery: Sept. 15-Nov. 11; Nov. 23-Jan. 15 Firearms/November portion: Nov. 12-22 Firearms Alternative Methods: Dec. 24-Jan. 3 Firearms Antlerless Portion: Dec. 3-11 Firearms Youth: Oct. 29-30, Nov. 25-27

Turkey

Fall Archery: Sept. 15-Nov. 11, Nov. 23-Jan. 15 Fall Firearms: Oct. 1-31 Spring Youth: April 9-10 Spring: April 18-May 8

Waterfowl

Teal: Sept. 10-25

Ducks, Coots and Geese

Youth Middle and North Zone: Oct. 22-23 Youth South Zone: Nov. 19-20

Ducks and Coots

Middle Zone: Nov. 5-13, Nov. 19-Jan. 8 North Zone: Oct. 29-Dec. 27 South Zone: Nov. 24-27, Dec. 7-Jan. 31 Ducks, Coots, and Mergansers Falconry: Feb. 10-March 10 Greater White-Fronted Geese: Nov. 11-Feb. 6 Brant Geese: Oct. 1-9, Nov. 11-Feb. 6 Light Geese: Nov. 11-Feb. 6 Canada Geese: Oct. 1-9, Nov. 11-Feb. 6 Light Goose Conservation Order: Feb. 7-April 30

Other Hunting Seasons

Badger: Nov. 15-Jan. 31 Bear: Oct. 17-26 Beaver and Nutria: Nov. 15-Feb. 28 Bobcat: Nov. 15-Jan. 31 Coyote: Jan. 1-Dec. 31 Coyote trapping: Nov. 15-Feb. 28 Crow: Nov. 1-March 3 Dove/Falconry: Sept. 1-Dec. 16 Dove Hunting: Sept. 1-Nov. 29 Elk: Oct. 15-23 Elk Hunting/Firearms: Dec. 10-18 Fox (red/gray) hunting/trapping: Nov. 15-Jan. 31 Frog (green or bull): June 30-Oct. 31 Groundhog: May 9-Dec. 15 Mink Trapping: Nov. 15-Feb. 28 Otter and Muskrat Trapping: Nov. 15-Feb. 28 Opossum: Nov. 15-Feb. 28, Aug. 1-Oct. 15 Pheasant: Nov. 1-Jan. 15 Pheasant Youth: Oct. 29-30 Quail: Nov. 15-Jan. 31 Quail Youth: Oct. 29-30 Rabbit: Oct. 1-Feb. 15 Rabbit trapping: Nov. 15-Jan. 31 Raccoon hunting/trapping: Aug. 1-Oct. 15, Nov. 15-Feb. 28 Sora and Virginia Rails: Sept. 1-Nov. 9 Squirrel: May 28-Feb. 15 Striped Skunk: Aug. 1-Oct. 15, Nov. 15-Feb. 28 Wilson’s Snipe: Sept. 1-Dec. 16 Woodcock: Oct. 15-Nov. 28

Bear Permit Application (May 1-31) Elk Permit Application (May 1-31) Upper Mississippi Blind Draw (June 18 - July3) Elk/Bear Permit Draw Results (July 1) In-Season Waterfowl Draw (Oct. 12 - Jan. 17)

In-Season Waterfowl Draw Results

Managed Deer Hunt Application (July 1-31) Managed Deer Hunt Results (Aug. 15) Pre-Season Waterfowl Draw (Sep. 1-18) Pre-Season Waterfowl Draw Results (Oct. 1) Spring Turkey Managed Hunts (Feb. 1-28) Spring Turkey Managed Hunt Results (March 15)

WHY IS IT WRONG TO ADOPT WILD ORPHANS?

Baby animals are rarely abandoned. The wildlife parent is afraid of people and will retreat when you approach. If the baby animal is left alone, the parent will usually return. In addition, parent animals cannot constantly attend their young. Often they spend many hours each day gathering food.

Wild animals, if they are to survive in captivity, often require highly specialized care. Without such care they will remain in poor health and may eventually die.

As wild animals mature, they can become dangerous to handle and damaging to property.

Animals are better off in their natural habitat where they are free to reproduce and carry on their species.

If a wild animal is broken to captivity, it will probably die if returned to the wild.

Many wild animals are nocturnal. This means that they are not active until after dark. They sleep during the day and can be quite disturbing at night while people sleep.

Native wildlife carry mites, ticks, lice, fleas, flukes, roundworms, tapeworms, rabies, distemper, tuberculosis, respiratory diseases, and skin diseases. Some of these diseases can be transmitted to humans.

It is illegal to possess many wild animals without a valid state or federal permit. See the Wildlife Code of Missouri for details, or contact the Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102.

Buck’s Jerky

Ingredients:

2 pounds venison strips, cut 1/4-1/8” thick 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/2 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon salt

A few drops of liquid smoke 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1/4 teaspoon garlic 1 teaspoon hickory smoke salt

Dash of cayenne pepper

Instructions:

To cut thin, even slices, use meat that is partially frozen. Cut the strips lengthwise with the grain and about 1 to 2 inches wide. Mix the seasonings and place the meat and seasonings in a resealable plastic bag. Work the seasonings into the meat with your hands. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

To dry, place on dehydrator trays and follow the directions of the appliance. Jerky can also be dried in an oven by hanging the strips with toothpicks from the racks. Cook for 10-12 hours at 150F. with the door slightly ajar to allow moisture to escape. Place a tray under jerky to catch drips.

Stroganoff

Diversify your venison cuisine with this savory stroganoff.

Ingredients:

1 pound venison sirloin steak 1 8-ounce carton sour cream 2 tablespoons flour 1/2 cup water 2 teaspoons beef bouillon 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 tablespoons margarine or butter 1 1/2 cups sliced mushrooms 1/2 cup chopped onion 1 clove garlic

Hot cooked noodles

Instructions:

Partially freeze venison and slice across the grain into bitesize strips. Set aside. Stir together sour cream and flour. Stir in water, bouillon, salt and pepper. Set aside. In a large skillet, cook and stir the meat in hot butter until done. Remove from skillet. Add mushrooms, onion and garlic. Cook and stir until done. Mix meat and vegetables together. Stir flour mixture into skillet. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Serve over noodles. Serves 4.