The Northwest Region is Missouri's largest in numbers of counties within its borders. These 19 counties are Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clinton, Daviess, Dekalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Ray and Worth. It would only make sense that having the most counties would mean more deer taken, but as you can see, that's not the case.

Firearms Deer Season: Statewide rank third place with 35,124 deer killed. The top five counties were Carroll 2,713, Nodaway 2,605, Harrison and Linn each with 2,507, Chariton 2,473 and Daviess 2,466.

In 1996, this region's top four counties were Linn 2,961, Caldwell 2,747, Dekalb 2,561 and Harrison 2,370. As you can see, these numbers were slightly higher than they are today.

Archery Deer Season: Statewide rank sixth place with 4,949 deer taken. The top five counties were Linn 442, Carroll 400, Chariton 397, Nodaway 351 and Daviess 330.

Muzzleloader Deer Season: Statewide rank sixth place with 1,076 deer harvested. The top five counties were Carroll 110, Harrison 101, Nodaway 96, Atchison 83 and Chariton 69.

Antlerless Deer Season: Statewide rank second place with 4,583 deer killed. The top five counties were Chariton 430, Carroll 389, Linn 383, Nodaway 367 and Harrison 339.

OZARK REGION
The Ozark Region placed fourth statewide in overall numbers of deer taken with a grand total of 38,041 whitetails. The top five counties were Howell 4,778 (8th statewide), Texas (9th), Oregon 4,683 (11th), Ripley 3,570 (27th) and Phelps 3,134 (46th). This region's last place county was Pulaski with 1,702 (95th).

The Ozark Region is the sixth largest statewide in number of counties. These 12 counties include Carter, Dent, Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Ozark, Phelps, Pulaski, Ripley, Shannon, Texas and Wright. With three counties in the top 20 overall, the Ozark Region may change a few minds about deer hunting south of the Missouri River.

Firearms Deer Season: Statewide rank fourth place with 29,677 deer killed. The top five counties were Howell 3,876, Texas 3,869, Oregon 3,731, Ripley 2,647 and Dent 2,407.

This region's top four counties in 1996 were Howell with 3,805, Texas 3,264, Oregon 3,244 and Phelps 1,674. Although relatively the same as this year, the slight decrease could be the result of a shift of hunters that now hunt northern counties.

Archery Deer Season: Statewide rank fourth place with 5,219 deer taken. Top five counties were Ripley 594, Oregon 565, Carter 524, Howell 515 and Texas 508.

Muzzleloader Deer Season: Statewide rank first place with 1,499 deer checked in. The top five counties were Oregon 197, Howell 185, Phelps 175, Texas 167 and Dent 147.

Antlerless Deer Season: Statewide rank seventh place. Although 18 deer were taken in Wright County, please note that there were no counties in the Ozark Region open to the antlerless portion of the deer season last year.

SOUTHWEST REGION
The Southwest Region finished in fifth place in overall deer harvest last year with 37,577 deer checked in. The top five counties were Hickory 3,311 (39th statewide), Laclede 3,300 (40th), Cedar 3,052 (48th), Dallas 2,800 (53rd) and Jasper 2,450 (64th). Finishing last in this region was Stone County with 1,161 deer taken (106th).

The Southwest Region is the second largest in numbers of counties. These 17 counties include Barry, Barton, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Laclede, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Polk, Stone, Taney and Webster. Here are the season totals. This region has moved up in the ranks over the past several years.

The Northwest Region ranks first place overall in total number of deer taken in 2006-07 during the six portions of Missouri's deer seasons that pertain to this region.

Firearms Deer Season: Statewide rank fifth place with 26,753 deer killed. The top five counties were Hickory 2,449, Laclede 2,318, Cedar 2,297, Dallas 2,013 and Polk 1,695.

In 1996, the Southwest Region's top three counties were Barry with 1,340, Jasper 1,242 and Webster 1,079. You can see that this region has definitely made great strides in terms of deer harvested over the last 10 years.

Archery Deer Season: Statewide rank seventh place with 4,896 deer arrowed. The top five counties were Newton 421, Greene 390, Jasper 389, Laclede 378 and Dallas 344.

Muzzleloader Deer Season: Statewide rank fourth place with 1,227 deer killed. The top five counties were Laclede 137, Jasper 89, McDonald 88, Newton 85 and Christian 82.

Antlerless Deer Season: Statewide rank fifth place with 2,638 deer taken. The top five counties were Hickory 346, Laclede 329, Cedar 265, Dallas 250 and Barton 228.

Urban Deer Season: Statewide rank second place with 390 deer taken in three counties. These counties were Webster 167, Christian 122 and Greene 101.