History of deer in Missouri
Once abundant in the Show-Me State, white-tailed deer populations plummeted during the late 1800s and early 1900s due to unregulated harvest and habitat loss. Missouri’s deer population reached a low point in the mid-1920s when it was estimated that only 400 deer existed in the state. The establishment of the Department of Conservation and the Conservation Commission, and a change in public attitudes toward deer and other wildlife, helped to set the stage for the recovery of Missouri’s deer herd — one of the state’s great conservation success stories. Today, deer are the state's most pursued big game animal and are socially and economically important to the citizens of Missouri. Annually, Missouri’s nearly 500,000 deer hunters take millions of trips pursuing deer, contributing more than $1.5 billion to the state’s economy and supporting more than 13,000 jobs.
Deer management in Missouri
During the early years of deer management in Missouri, the goal was relatively simple — allow a limited harvest of antlerless deer so the population could continue to grow. As the deer population increased, management goals eventually shifted from a desire to increase deer numbers to a goal of stabilizing the population. Today, population management efforts largely center around maintaining deer numbers within biologically and socially acceptable levels and minimizing the effects of chronic wasting disease (CWD).
Since MDC’s last deer management plan was written a decade ago, the complexities of deer management have continued to increase. The expansion of CWD and declines in deer hunter numbers represent two significant challenges to the future of deer management in Missouri. By revising its White-tailed Deer Management Plan, MDC is ensuring that deer management efforts adapt to these and other challenges during the next decade.
White-Tailed Deer Management Plan (2025-2034)
Like the previous plan, the updated White-tailed Deer Management Plan provides long-term strategic goals and a framework that directs deer management for the next 10 years. Operational details, such as regulation changes, research proposals, and work-plan adjustments will be evaluated through the appropriate processes. The plan describes many deer-management activities that are already occurring and proposes new concepts to be evaluated during implementation of the strategic plan.
The main areas of focus within the new plan include maintaining deer numbers at biologically and socially acceptable levels, minimizing the effects of CWD on the deer herd, providing citizens with information about deer management and satisfactory opportunities to enjoy deer hunting and other deer-related recreational activities, and conducting research to help inform management of the deer herd.
Goals and objectives
The five goals and 24 objectives of the deer management plan are listed below.
Goal 1: Deer Population Management: Proactively manage deer populations so they exist within biological and social carrying capacity within defined management units using science-based management practices.
- Objective 1.1: Establish deer population goals for each county considering habitat availability, recreational demand, status of CWD, and the potential for deer-human conflict.
- Objective 1.2: Monitor deer population status (in relation to population goals) and trends using science-based techniques.
- Objective 1.3: Establish deer hunting seasons and regulations within each county to meet deer population goals.
- Objective 1.4: Establish regulations on public lands within each county to meet deer population goals on those areas.
- Objective 1.5: Develop regulations and provide flexible and innovative management tools and opportunities for hunters and landowners to achieve local deer management goals.
- Objective 1.6: Evaluate the effectiveness of deer management tools and strategies in urban and suburban communities.
Goal 2: Hunting and Recreation: Provide opportunities for all citizens to enjoy deer-related recreational activities and promote deer hunting as a socially and culturally important tradition that is the primary tool to achieving deer population goals.
- Objective 2.1: Evaluate ways to increase and adapt efforts to recruit, retain, and reactivate deer hunters.
- Objective 2.2: Establish a deer hunting season structure and regulations that promote hunter participation, recruitment, and retention.
- Objective 2.3: Create a simple regulatory system that ensures fair and equitable allocation of hunting opportunities (e.g., seasons, methods, and permits) on private lands.
- Objective 2.4: Create a simple regulatory system that ensures fair and equitable allocation of hunting opportunities (e.g., seasons, methods, permits) on public lands.
- Objective 2.5: Continue to promote recreational hunting as the primary tool to manage the deer population.
- Objective 2.6: Provide opportunities and support for Missourians interested in viewing deer and managing land for the benefit of deer.
Goal 3: Deer Health and Disease: Ensure the maintenance of a healthy deer population and minimize the threat and impacts of CWD and other diseases on the deer population.
- Objective 3.1: Conduct surveillance for CWD and other diseases that pose a significant health risk to the deer population.
- Objective 3.2: Conduct management practices that limit CWD prevalence and minimize the spread of CWD in the deer population.
- Objective 3.3: Regulate confined cervids in a manner that minimizes the risk of disease transmission among cervids within these facilities and with free-ranging cervids.
- Objective 3.4: Implement policies and regulations to minimize the risk of introducing diseases not currently established in Missouri.
- Objective 3.5: Minimize risks from diseases that impact cervids, humans, and livestock.
Goal 4: Education, Communication, and Public Engagement: Provide information to stakeholders about deer, deer hunting, and deer management and create opportunities for public engagement in deer management decisions and in collection of biological information that influences deer management.
- Objective 4.1: Communicate effectively with stakeholders about CWD and the Department’s CWD surveillance and management strategies.
- Objective 4.2: Clearly and effectively communicate deer management strategies and deer hunting regulations to stakeholders.
- Objective 4.3: Ensure stakeholder engagement in deer management decisions and clearly communicate outcomes.
- Objective 4.4: Provide information about deer, deer hunting, and deer management to the public.
- Objective 4.5: Provide opportunities for the public to contribute to biological data collection that is used to help manage Missouri’s deer population.
Goal 5: Research: Support and conduct applied research to help inform the management of Missouri’s deer population.
- Objective 5.1: Conduct research to inform deer management.
- Objective 5.2: Conduct research to inform management of, and communication about, CWD.
Questions?
Contact Jason Isabelle, MDC Cervid Program Supervisor, 573-815-7901, ext. 2902, Jason.Isabelle@mdc.mo.gov.