Missouri deer harvest tops 300k as season closes

Missouri’s 2025-2026 deer-hunting season ended Thursday with hunters harvesting a preliminary total of 301,954 deer, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.
The total included 145,222 antlered bucks, 25,129 button bucks and 131,603 does. The statewide harvest marked an increase from the 2024-2025 season, when hunters harvested 275,656 deer.

Franklin County led the state in overall harvest with 6,770 deer, followed by Howell County with 5,490 and Callaway County with 5,346.

Deer hunting concluded with the close of the archery season. MDC reported that hunters checked 62,203 deer during the 2025-2026 archery season, up from 56,516 the previous year. Jefferson County led archery harvest totals with 1,571 deer, followed by Franklin County with 1,272 and St. Louis County with 1,076.

MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle said the season showed a strong rebound from last year’s lower totals. He noted that the harvest was slightly above the five-year average and marked the sixth time Missouri’s total deer harvest has exceeded 300,000.

MDC reported four non-fatal, self-inflicted firearms-related hunting incidents during the season. One involved deer hunting, while the others occurred during hunts for different game species.

More detailed harvest totals by season, county and type of deer are available through the Missouri Department of Conservation.

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