425,000 hunters killed 111,000 deer on Saturday and Sunday. That’s 16,000 more than the previous year. Wildlife research biologist for the Missouri department of conservation Lonnie Hansen says that first weekend will account for more than half of all the deer taken over the entire 10 day firearms season. Hansen says the kills have been pretty well spread out. The top three counties were Montgomery, Howell, and Macon Counties. He’s predicting a good year this year, maybe a record-breaking year, because of the number of permits issued and the cold weather, which keeps deer active. Missouri hunters killed 225,000 deer with firearms and bows in 1998.
