Missouri deer hunting regulation changes due to abundance of deer
Regulation changes are on the horizon for the 2023-2024 deer hunting season by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
www.wgem.com
What's your solution?Yes, we have far too many deer. Yes, the additional seasons may(?) help. Yes, it appears that MDC is 'making an effort' to reduce deer population. B U T
From a farmers' standpoint, the new regulations are a foul ball that went far off into the bleachers. The only change that will have a positive effect (for my operation) is the increase in antlerless limit to 4 per county. We farm in two counties allowing me to remove a total of 9 deer vs 2022 total of 5. We have 4 hunters and one 'iffy' hunter in the family so this would add up to a significant localized herd reduction if all the allowed tags were filled.
What the new regulations failed to address is the problems related to individual farms with crops near areas of cover. I have a high density of deer but came up 40 acres short of meeting the minimum farm size to get extra tags in 2022. Our north farm met the criteria but we didn't have crops there in 2022 so nothing gained.
The new regulations seem to be beneficial until one realizes that most of the seasons appear to be tailored for the city hunters' access.
Early seasons in October? Many acres of crops (especially corn) still in the fields. Farmers are far too busy harvesting to be out deer hunting. The weather is too warm to even hang a carcass overnight.
Increased youth seasons? Maybe OK but again, crops are still in the fields limiting access to hunting spots and it's too warm to handle meat.
November is basically one continual open season. Even the dumbest deer in the woods is going to be nocturnal within the first couple of weeks.
No allowance for increased landowner tags is a big thumbs down for me. At no point has a bunny cop showed up at my house asking if I have too many deer and how many tags should farmers be given.