Hunters can help increase deer numbers in areas by limiting doe harvest where needed.
Missouri offers some of the best deer hunting in the country for more than 500,000 deer hunters and deer hunting is an important part of many Missourians’ lives and family traditions. 
Deer hunting is also an important economic driver in Missouri and gives a $1 billion annual boost to the state and local economies.
With deer hunters gearing up for fall hunting, experts with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) offer their insights on Missouri deer numbers and factors that can impact fall deer hunting.
According to MDC Deer Biologists Emily Flinn and Jason Sumners, deer populations in the northern, western, and central parts of the state remain below desired levels. However, they note that populations in these areas should be slowly rebounding because of recent cuts in firearms antlerless permit allocations and hunters voluntarily reducing antlerless harvest.
In southern Missouri, deer populations range from stable to slowly increasing. In southeastern counties, deer populations have increased.
