By JIM FARIS
The Missouri Department of Conservation is reminding hunters and landowners of several changes to state regulation for deer season this year.
First, non-Missourians are now limited to one deer, from two. This was adopted in an effort to keep tourist hunters' harvest lower. More information on that can be found HERE.
The early youth season has been moved up one week, and will run October 24th and 25th, to avoid Halloween activities.
MDC has also totally removed the antler-point restriction, both to simplify regulations and enforcement, and as part of a larger effort to control deer with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
Also in that effort, MDC has removed CWD management zones. A majority of Missouri's counties have either had a case, or been within ten miles of a case of CWD, so the entire state would fall under such management.
Likewise, placing feed and minerals for deer is entirely banned, to avoid congregating deer and spreading CWD. The CWD portion of deer season has been removed, as well.
The mandatory sampling of harvested deer for CWD has also changed. Going forward, every county in the Show-Me State will be on a four-year rotation, with 28 counties scheduled for this season. That area includes Buchanan, Andrew, Holt, Nodaway, and Atchison counties, and will take place November 14th and 15th.
Further details on these new regulations can be found on MDC's website. Deer season in Missouri begins September 15th with archery. Firearms hunts start November 14th.