Preliminary data from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) shows deer hunters in Missouri harvested a near-record 199,427 deer during the November portion of fall firearms deer season, November 10 through 20.

Of the deer harvested, 102,930 were antlered bucks, 19,924 were button bucks and 76,573 were does.

Top harvest counties were Franklin, with 4,021 deer checked; Howell, with 3,858; and Callaway, with 3,695.

Nodaway County had 1,432 deer checked with 792 being antlered bucks, 110 button bucks and 530 does. Regionally, Andrew County saw 505 antlered bucks, 108 button bucks and 349 does for a total of 962. Atchison County had 316 antlered bucks, 54 button bucks and 205 does with a total of 575. Gentry County hunters harvested 1,191 deer with 638 antlered bucks, 98 button bucks and 455 does. Holt County had 428 antlered bucks, 54 button bucks and 308 does adding up to 790 total.

MDC reported eight firearms-related hunting incidents during the November portion of firearms deer season of which three involved fatalities;  two occurred incidental to hunting while at hunting camps and one self-inflicted incident while in the field. Of the five non-fatal incidents, four were self-inflicted and the fifth occurred when the shooter struck a victim while swinging on game.

Deer hunting in Missouri continues with archery deer hunting from November 21 through January 15, 2019. The late youth portion of firearms deer season runs November 23 through 25. The antlerless portion of firearms deer season runs November 30 through December 2. Lastly, the alternative methods portion will run December 22 through January 1, 2019.