MO deer hunting regs have changed

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Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
9,936
Location
missouri
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.
 

mogwai

Nortwuds
Joined
Apr 27, 2017
Messages
17
Location
Wisconsin
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.
What's your solution?
 

contender

Ruger Guru
Joined
Sep 18, 2002
Messages
25,145
Location
Lake Lure NC USA
"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."

Here in NC,, our Wildlife Commission has meetings to get input from citizens as to what THEY experience & wish for. Sometimes,, we get good stuff passed because of this. Have you by chance tried to get in touch with the people in charge & voice your thoughts? Have you gotten several of your fellow farmers involved in the same thing to put forth a solid front for a good change in the laws that might help protect your crops?

Just an idea.
 
Joined
May 28, 2017
Messages
1,353
Location
Nut Bush City Limits
As to warm weather and hunting, growing up in FL we considered ourselves lucky to have days with highs under 70 during deer season.

The day I killed my 10 point this past December the temperature hit 70+ by 11 am. Kill em, clean em and cooler em.

Cooler = ice chest, walk in cooler or custom processor.

The club I hunted with in LA bought a cooler from a florist that went out of business.

In the south, if we only hunt when it will be cold enough to hang meat, we won't get many opportunities.
 
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
9,936
Location
missouri
'What's your solution?'
Missouri is primarily privately owned land meaning private land supports the majority of the game animals. The landowners are 'expected' to feed and support these animals w/o any compensation for damages. Give this some thought. Last year the average soybean yield was around 45 bushels per acre and the average price per bushel was in the $12-14 range($540-630 per acre). If deer damage accounted for 10% (I'm making this pretty low as I've seen damage much higher) the cost to a farmer growing 40 acres of soybeans would be around $2160-2520. In 'compensation' for this damage, the farmer gets 2-3 free deer tags worth $25-30. Pretty darned good trade for MDC. At the same time, another farmer who has 100% grassland/pasture gets the same number of tags even though he has very little or no damage. In addition, the 'compensatory' deer tag provision has no allowance for rented land. The 'owner' gets the free tags even though his renter suffers the damage.
How do the bunny cops know just what the localized deer population is? Apparently, THEY GUESS because they sure as heck don't ask. Once in a while MDC has an opportunity for public input. If you're not computer literate or whatever, you have no input. The questions are often vague and/or leading with very limited options for answering which can easily be taken out of context to fit whatever intent MDC has in mind.
MDC is not really receptive to input which doesn't match their intent. When CWD became a big blip on the radar, I attended a public meeting. I began telling the big wigs just how, when, where, and why CWD had sprung up like a mushroom in the spring and in short order was told to leave the meeting and not return. When MDC re-introduced river otters to north Missouri and it was soon discovered the critters had a knack for cleaning out privately owned and stocked farm ponds, I attended a meeting at the Regional MDC office and asked if this possibility was known but hidden. Escorted from the building and told not to return.
My solution? Well, that won't happen. MDC is controlled by an appointed group that has total freedom from responsibility.
 
Joined
Dec 25, 2007
Messages
9,936
Location
missouri
I (and others like me) may have struck a nerve with our complaints. Today I received a landowner population/damage survey from of all places, the data collection agency where I work.
Many of the questions mirror the comments I've made above.
 
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