The Missouri Department of Conservation reports the top harvest counties were Howell, with 3,418 deer checked; Franklin, with 3,338 and Texas, with 3,170.
This year’s harvest is 6-percent larger than last year’s figure and 10 percent below the previous 5-year average for the November portion of firearms deer season. When added to the previous, urban, and early youth portions of this year’s firearms deer season the November portion harvest brings the year-to-date total to 185,890.
Twenty-five days of firearms deer hunting remain in the antlerless, alternative-methods and late youth portions of deer season. Archery deer season runs through Jan. 15.
The white-tailed deer is Missouri’s most popular game species and one of the most prolific, with an estimated population of more than 1 million free-ranging deer statewide. Missouri has nearly 520,000 deer hunters and almost two million wildlife watchers who enjoy deer.
Activities related to deer hunting and watching annually contribute $1 billion in economic activity to state and local economies, and support more than 12,000 Missouri jobs. Many Missouri meat processors, taxidermists, hotels, restaurants, sporting goods stores, and other businesses rely on deer hunting as a significant source of revenue.
The Show-Me State’s white-tailed deer resource also helps feed needy Missourians through the Share the Harvest (STH) program. STH brings together thousands of deer hunters, more than 130 participating meat processors, the Conservation Department, the Conservation Federation of Missouri, and numerous supporting organizations to channel ground venison to tens of thousands of hungry Missouri families each year through donations to local food banks and food pantries. Since 1992, Missouri hunters have donated more than 3.1 million pounds of venison to the needy through STH.
Thousands of private landowners manage their land for deer and deer hunting, and rely on deer and deer hunting to maintain property values.
Adult gobblers accounted for 964 of the harvest, or almost 17 percent. Adult hens accounted for 1,588 of the harvest, or almost 28 percent. Juvenile gobblers accounted for 950, or almost 17 percent, and juvenile hens for 2,189 or about 38 percent.
MDC sold 14,117 fall firearms turkey hunting permits for this past season, a 5-percent drop from last year.
The central region of the state saw about an 8-percent increase in harvest from 2013 with 759 birds. The Kansas City region dropped about 1-percent from 2013 with 681 birds. The northeast region dropped about 3 percent from 2013 with 588 birds. The northwest region dropped about 13 percent from 2013 with 477 birds. The Ozark region dropped by about 9 percent from last year with 784 birds. The St. Louis region harvest increased by about 9 percent from 2013 with 528 birds. The southeast region fell by about 15 percent from last year with 687 birds. The southwest region dropped by about 4 percent from 2013 with 1,187 birds harvested.
Fall archery turkey hunting resumes again from Nov. 26 through Jan. 15, 2015.
For fall firearms turkey harvest results by county and type of bird, and other 2014 turkey harvest figures, go online to the MDC website at mdc.mo.gov/node/27845.
Dexter, Missouri – Pastor Dave Fowler and the Sadler Chapel United Methodist Church invite any interested musicians, pickers or music lovers to an evening of music!
Bring your instruments and plan to join others in creating a joyful noise. Whether you enjoy Country, Blue Grass or Gospel the evening will be filled with local homegrown entertainers. It's an open microphone night, but you don't have to be a singer to be a part of this crowd. You can simply be a toe tapper..
"Our first event was a lot of fun for everyone," added Pastor Fowler. "and we had 20 to 30 people. People joined us as their schedule allowed and we just enjoyed the evening of great fellowship and gospel music."
Bring your instruments and plan to sing throughout the night with like-minded individuals. Whether you enjoy Country, Blue Grass or Gospel the evening will be filled with local homegrown entertainers. You don’t have to be famous, just have a love for music to attend.
"I love playing guitar," commented Pastor Fowler. "and I have spoken to several people and everyone seemed interested in participating. The church loves having guests to sing and play for them. I also give guitar lessons to beginners and welcome anyone to pick-up an instrument and learn to play."
Come out to the Sadler Chapel United Methodist Church on Thursday, November 20th at 6:00 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend. Musicians, music lovers’ young and old, even coffee drinkers and brownie bakers are welcome to attend.
For more information contact Dave at 417-274-0182 or leave a message on their Facebook page by clicking HERE.
To share this EVENT with FRIENDS click HERE.
The Sadler Chapel is located across highway 60 at the Wal-Mart exit going north. Take the North Outer Road to the West (towards Poplar Bluff) about ¾ mile. Turn at the first right and travel north about 1.2 miles to the top of the hill. The church will be on your right.
The Missouri Department of Transportation wants to make sure all eight welcome centers, 15 rest areas, and 22 truck-only parking sites are clean, safe, and accessible, and they are asking travelers for their input when they stop at these facilities.
"We know thousands of people stop at Missouri's rest areas every day, and we do our best to make sure the sites provide customers with a good experience," said David Belanger, MoDOT's general services manager. "If you stop at any of Missouri's rest areas, welcome centers, or truck-only sites, we would like your feedback on your experience and what we could do to make it better."
Historically, MoDOT has asked rest area visitors to rate their satisfaction on the various amenities of the rest areas through an online survey. Now that feedback can occur instantly, as the department has installed posters at each location with QR codes that will take smart phone users directly to the online survey. Snapping the QR code with your smartphone camera will allow you to submit your comments quickly and easily. The posters are located at all Missouri rest areas, welcome centers and truck-only parking.
up by 30,000 from 2013
Top Harvest Counties were Franklin, Howell, and Callaway!
Jefferson City, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reports that hunters checked 91,460 deer during the opening weekend of the 2014 November Portion of Firearms Deer Season this past weekend. Top harvest counties for the opening weekend were Franklin with 1,839 deer checked, Howell with 1,793, and Callaway with 1,791.
Last year's firearms opening weekend deer harvest was 61,446. Other recent prior-year harvest totals for firearms opening weekend were: 2012: 69,614; 2011: 89,728, 2010: 97,856, and 2009: 86,202.
For 2014 harvest totals by hunting portion and county, visit mdc.mo.gov/node/29442.
MDC also reports that there were three deer-hunting incidents over the weekend with two being fatal. One fatality was in Ste. Genevieve County where a heater in a hunting blind exploded, killing the hunter. The second involved a fall from a tree stand in Crawford County. A third non-fatal incident involved a hunter in Phelps County shooting himself in the leg while loading his rifle.
Shown in the photos is Owen Flowers of Dexter, Missouri with his 8 pt buck he killed during bow season.
