Outdoor Guide
January-February 2021
Page 11
Veteran, 98, gets 9-pointer first weekend Missouri Department of Conservation
Robert McGrath, a World War II Marine veteran from Callaway County, took home a 9-point buck on private land as Missouri hunters completed a strong early firearms deer season. The Department of Conservation congratulated McGrath, 98, who is from the Millersburg area and still owns property there. “His family sent us the picture and says he has inspired and encouraged many generations of hunters, anglers, shooting sports enthusiasts and nature lovers,” a department spokesman said. “They find it quite incredible that he can continue to go out and enjoy one of his lifelong passions. No matter what your
age, you can still get out and enjoy the outdoors, and bragging rights!” The department reported that 80,525 deer were harvested Saturday and Sunday during firearms opening weekend, Nov. 14 and 15. Of those, 48,695 were antlered bucks, 6,867 were button bucks and 24,963 were does. STRONG SEASON In the full November firearms season, Nov. 14-24, deer hunters in Missouri harvested 176,604 deer – 95,654 antlered, 16,045 button bucks, and 64,905 does. Top harvest counties were Howell with 3,496 deer harvested, Franklin with 3,409, and Texas with 3,374. In the previous year, hunters had checked 179,960 deer during November, with 91,917 being
Robert McGrath brought home the buck. – MDC photo
Illinois opening hunt down a little
In Illinois, hunters harvested a preliminary total of 47,147 deer during the first weekend of the Illinois Firearm Deer Season, Nov. 20-22, compared with 50,173 deer taken during the first firearm weekend in 2019. Illinois’ seven-day Firearm Deer Season was Dec. 3-6. The muzzleloader season was Dec. 11-13. Hunting opportunities in January are the late-winter antlerless season, Dec. 31-Jan. 3 and Jan. 15-17; CWD deer season in select counties, same dates; and archery deer season, through Jan. 17. For more details on deer hunting, open counties and other information, check the Department of Natural Resources website at https:// www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/ Pages/DeerHunting.aspx COUNTY TOTALS Preliminary firearm deer harvest totals by county for the first weekend of the 2019 season,
followed by comparable totals for 2020, in the southern Illinois region include: • Alexander, 311, 257 • Clinton, 453, 474 • Bond, 500, 426 • Fayette, 1,004, 980 • Franklin, 853, 743 • Gallatin, 249, 232 • Hamilton, 717, 657 • Hardin, 602, 419 • Jackson, 1,422, 1,227 • Jefferson, 1,251, 1,080 • Jersey, 401, 350 • Johnson, 1,026, 857 • Macoupin, 1,025, 987 • Madison, 442, 379 • Marion, 995, 910 • Massac, 261, 219 • Monroe, 699, 667 • Perry, 882, 716 • Pope, 1,064, 884 • Pulaski, 209,177 • Randolph, 1,553, 1,340 • Saline, 602, 534 • St. Clair, 478.474 • Union, 913, 772 • Washington, 640, 599 • Wayne, 943, 861 • Williamson, 1,220, 943
antlered bucks, 17,330 button bucks, and 70,713 does. “Hunters posted an impressive harvest total given the challenging conditions, particularly on opening weekend,” MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle said. “Typically, about half of the harvest occurs during the first two days of the season. Unfortunately, hunters were greeted by rain and high winds to start the season, resulting in harvest numbers falling behind last year’s mark early.” MDC reported three firearms-related hunting incidents during the November portion
of the firearms deer season with all being non-fatal and self-inflicted. THE HUNT CONTINUES Preliminary data shows that deer hunters in Missouri harvested 15,425 deer during the antlerless portion of the firearms deer season, Dec. 4-6. Top harvest counties were Callaway with 438 deer harvested, Morgan with 377 and Osage with 352. Last year’s antlerless-portion harvest total was 10,597. “Much like the late youth portion of firearms deer sea-
son, Missouri deer hunters had some fantastic hunting conditions for the antlerless portion,” Isabelle said. “Cool, crisp mornings were followed by comfortable afternoons with very light winds. Weather-wise, we couldn’t have asked for much better conditions this past weekend.” For current ongoing preliminary harvest totals by season, county, and type of deer, visit the MDC website at extra.mdc. mo.gov/widgets/harvest_table. For harvest summaries from past years, visit huntfish.mdc. mo.gov/hunting-trapping/
species/deer/deer-harvestreports/deer-harvest-summaries. OTHER SEASONS Archery deer season runs through Jan. 15. The alternative methods season was being held Dec. 26 through Jan. 5. Find more information on deer hunting from MDC’s 2020 Fall Deer & Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet, available where hunting permits are sold and online at huntfish. mdc.mo.gov/sites/default/files/ downloads/2020FDT.pdf.
