
Following the 2016 deer season, we sent 50,000 surveys to hunters (about 10% of our total deer hunters that received a firearms deer hunting permit during a the season.)
The MDC Deer Program surveys deer hunters to gauge public opinion regarding deer numbers and management strategies and for indicators of deer population trends in each county. We greatly appreciate the responses we receive which help make our surveys an effective management tool! Our surveys ask questions about perceived changes in the deer population (number of big bucks and total deer), opinions about deer population size and trends, and specific days that are hunted and number of deer that were killed. Data on specific days hunted and number of deer killed are important both for a “trips-per-kill” estimate and to better understand when hunters are spending time afield. “Trips-per-kill” often influences hunter satisfaction and is also an important indicator of deer population trends.
No datasets have been added to this project.
Missouri firearms deer hunters harvested 232,486 deer during the 2017-18 deer season, including an all-time high of 136,127 antlered bucks. See what they had to say about their experience during the deer season.
Missouri archers harvested 51,991 deer during the 2017-18 deer season, an all-time record for the state. See what they had to say about their experience during the deer season
The MDC Deer Program uses surveys such as this one to gauge public opinion regarding deer numbers and management strategies and as indicators of deer population trends in each county. We greatly appreciate the responses we receive which help make our surveys an effective management tool!
We have summarized the primary results of the 2016 survey and present the data.
Human Dimensions, Mammals, Wildlife Research