The Missouri Department of Conservation is proposing changes to the state’s deer hunting regulations for the 2016-2017 hunting season, and it wants to know what you think.
Changes include:
- Maintaining the current timing of the November portion but reducing the length from 11 to nine days.
- Expanding the late youth firearms weekend from two days to three days and having it begin the Friday after Thanksgiving instead of early January.
- Reducing the length of the antlerless firearms portion from 12 days to three days and beginning it on the first Friday in December.
- Eliminating the urban zones portion.
Changes proposed for the fall archery deer and turkey season:
- Allowing crossbows as a legal method
- Reducing the limit of antlered deer during the archery season from two to one.
MDC also wants to simplify conservation area regulations and wants to know what the public thinks about increasing, decreasing or not changing permit fees for nonresidents.
According to MDC, the proposed changes are the result of public input and MDC deer management research and practices. Last summer, the department gathered more than 4000 public comments on deer management and possible regulation changes through open houses, online comments, letters and emails. It also surveyed deer hunters regarding potential regulation changes. Final regulation recommendations will be presented to the Conservation Commission later this year.
MDC will hold public meetings around the state to explain the proposed changes and get public feedback. Meetings will be held March 3rd from 5 to 8 pm at the Springfield Conservation Nature Center and March 5th from 5 to 8 at the West Plains Civic Center.
You can also share your opinions online.
