"Hunters may notice a difference in harvest numbers in those areas in 2007 if they haven't already in 2006," Hansen said. "Overall though, I would consider this EHD a moderate one statewide."

Chronic Wasting Disease
The MDC has conducted random tests for CWD on harvested whitetails at check stations across the state. The testing period lasted from 2002 to 2004. There was not one infected deer found in Missouri throughout the study.

"We randomly tested about 22,000 deer over a three year period across the state," Hansen said. "We're currently just testing deer that appear to be sick or emaciated."

CWD is deadly and can spread quickly through a wild deer herd. The MDC asks that if you see a deer that appears to be sick, report it to your local MDC office or call the main deer line at (573) 882-9880.

2006 HARVEST NUMBERS
The year for breaking deer harvest records was 2006. Missouri hunters broke three records last year-total number of deer taken during all portions of the firearms seasons; deer totals during the November portion of the firearms season; and number of deer killed during archery season.

Urban Season
The four-day urban portion of the 2006 firearms deer season resulted in 1,348 deer taken. Hunters are only allowed to harvest antlerless deer in 11 counties. These counties surround the Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia, and St. Louis regions. Top counties: Boone, with 313 deer checked in; Webster, 167; and Cole, 137.

Youth Season
The two-day Youth portion of the 2006 firearm deer season, allowed for the harvest of 11,920 deer during. This total is up 9.8 percent from 2005's total of 10,860. However, the total fell short of the record of 13,466 deer taken in 2004. Top counties: Osage, 322 deer reported; Callaway, 259; and Pike, 226.

November Season
Missouri deer hunters broke the existing record number of deer taken during the November portion of the firearms deer season by taking 235,054 deer during the 11-day hunt. This total is up 12,725, or 5.7 percent, from the previous record of 222,329 deer taken in 2004. The 2006 total is also up by 29,594 deer, or 14.4 percent, from 2005's total of 205,460. High counties across the state: Callaway, with 4,473 deer checked in; Benton, 4,411; and Pike, 4,216.

Muzzleloader Season
Muzzleloader hunters managed to take 9,436 deer during the 10-day season. This total is down 679 deer, or 6.7 percent, from 2005's total of 10,115; it's also 21 percent less than the record-setting 11,938 muzzleloader harvest in 2004. Deep snow and ice across much of the state is to blame for the low harvest totals during this portion of the firearms deer season last year. Top counties: Franklin, with 227 deer taken; Osage, 218; and Ste. Genevieve, 212.

Antlerless Season
There were 23,098 deer checked in during the 9-day, antlerless portion of the firearms deer season in 2006. The antlerless deer kill total exceeded the 2005 harvest of 21,922 deer by 1,176. However, it fell short of the previous antlerless record harvest of 25,151 set in 2003. Top counties: Pike, with 930 deer taken; Callaway, 724; and Macon, 720.

Archery Season
The 92-day archery season of 2006 resulted in yet another record harvest with bowhunters taking 43,524 deer in Missouri. This beats the old record of 37,646 set in 2004, by 5,878 deer. Top counties: St. Louis, with 1,151 deer harvested; Callaway, 966; and Jackson, 964. The fact that St. Louis and Jackson counties, both urban counties, were in the top three in archery harvest, shows that the hard work that urban bowhunters and urban deer biologists/managers are both doing, is paying off in reducing deer numbers in these highly populated deer zones.

Combined Totals
The combined number of deer taken during the urban, youth, November, muzzleloader, and antlerless portions of the firearms deer seasons in 2006 was 280,856. This total exceeds the previous record of 275,329, set in 2004, by 5,527 deer. When the archery kill of 43,524 deer is added to the mix, Missouri hunters teamed up to reach a new plateau in harvest numbers by taking a record number of 324,380 deer last year!

REGULATIONS
At press time, the MDC had yet to meet regarding deer season regulations. Their first meeting comes in March, followed by subsequent meetings in April and May.

"I don't see any huge changes in regulations at this time," Hansen said. "We do want to carry through with the antler point restriction pilot test through 2007 and go from there."

DEER POPULATION FACTS
With 324,380 deer taken in 2006, is there room for any more records to be broken? The answer seems to be a resounding, yes! Missouri's deer herd is very resilient despite high harvest numbers year upon year.