Missouri deer harvest totals released for 2024 season

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., (KBSI) — Missouri Department of Conservation has released its 2024 deer harvest summary, reporting a total of 275,656 deer checked statewide during all portions of the season.

The harvest included 128,935 antlered bucks, 23,779 button bucks and 122,942 does, according to MDC data.

The highest harvest occurred during the November portion, when hunters checked 158,577 deer, including 82,314 antlered bucks. Other season totals included 56,516 deer during archery season and 13,868 during the early youth portion.

During the alternative methods portion of firearms season, held Dec. 27 through Jan. 6, Missouri hunters harvested 13,063 deer, an increase from 10,083 during the same portion last year. The counties with the highest harvest during alternative methods were Callaway with 284 deer, Pike with 283 and Franklin with 271.

Opening weekend of the firearms season accounted for 68,057 deer, including 42,112 antlered bucks, MDC reported.

Additional harvest data and county-by-county breakdowns are available through MDC’s online harvest reporting tools.