Autumn is here and this means the beginning of deer season. We will need to be on the lookout for deer on the road for the next several weeks, especially around dawn and dusk.
One of the thrills of living in rural Missouri is the chance to get up on a cool fall morning and be in the woods at sunrise to try your luck at bringing home a six or eight-point buck. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) says deer have been on the increase through most of Missouri, so getting your limit should not be too difficult this year.
Safety is one of the most important things to keep in mind before beginning the hunt. Hunters need to ensure they are wearing a hat or cap and shirt, coat or vest that is hunter orange. Camouflage orange is not a substitute. Also remember, people born on or after Jan. 1, 1967, must have taken an approved hunter education program.
The archery season runs from Sept. 15 to Nov. 15 of this year. The main firearms season will be Nov. 16-26. As always, each person is allowed one deer and can be in the woods from 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset.
Enjoy the benefits of rural Missouri this fall. Have a good time with the younger kids who may be experiencing their first hunt. But, above all else, practice common sense and follow the rules. That way, we all come out ahead.
As always, please feel free to call, email or write with your ideas or concerns. My Capitol office number is (573) 751-1415, my email is dan.hegeman@senate.mo.gov and my mailing address is Room 332, State Capitol Building, Jefferson City, MO 65101