Missouri has a deer firearm season. While archery season began on September 15 it stopped yesterday, October 11. Firearm season opened this morning one-half hour before sunrise. Whether one hunts or not, one ought to be prepared.
Legal
Firearm season for deer runs from Saturday, November 12, 2022, through Tuesday, November 22, 2022. It opens each day one-half hour before sunrise. It ends each day one-half hour after sunset. One must have a valid permit to hunt. One must also wear the bright hunter orange on the chest and the head. When you kill the deer, you need to check it in that day. If you kill a deer the first day, you need to practice safety and have an expert check it for chronic wasting disease [1]. For a complete list of the rules, regulations, and limits that are required in Missouri, you can click here.
Non-Hunters
Although you may not hunt, one does need to be aware of the season. Deer are often seen running across the roadways. Either hunters scare them up, or they travel in herds consisting of a few bucks and several does. Deer run through fields disrupting the regular wildlife activity. Deer can be seen any time of the day or night during hunting season. Normally, one sees the most deer at dawn and dusk. Non-hunters may want to think about wearing orange when going outdoors, especially if you live on a dirt road or have fields and woods nearby.
Although archery season has been going on, firearm season is what moves the deer around. Loud noises and many people in the woods stir up creatures in the wild. When driving, it is best to think ahead and drive defensively.
Deer season can be an enjoyable time to watch wildlife right outside your door. Using simple precautions will help the season pass smoothly.
Notes:
- ^https://www.bing.com/search?form=ISCHR1&PC=IS45&PTAG=SYS1000000&q=cwd (go back ↩)
