Numbers are slightly down after Missouri's alternative methods portion of firearms deer season wrapped up this week.
Missouri Department of Conservation released preliminary data showing hunters harvested 8,599 deer between Dec. 24, 2022 to Jan. 3. The previous alternative methods season garnered 10,038.
Top harvest counties were Franklin with 200 deer harvested, Harrison with 186 and Macon with 162.
The archery deer and turkey season runs through Jan. 15.
According to MDC's harvest summaries, alternative methods portion numbers for deer killed include:
- 2021-2022 with 10,038
- 2020-2021 with 14,623
- 2019-2020 with 12,024
- 2018-2019 with 12,109
- 2017-2018 with 10,027
Allowed Alternative Methods include:
- Muzzleloading or cap-and-ball firearms, .