Missouri hunters checked 6,528 deer during the early antlerless firearms portion on October 9-11, 2026, and Franklin County led every county in the state with 204. Statewide, the three-day season produced 5,662 does, 819 button bucks and 47 antlered bucks, according to preliminary numbers from the Missouri Department of Conservation’s harvest table.
The statewide total is down from 8,494 last year, and MDC pointed to record and near-record heat over the three days as the main reason. Franklin County still finished on top.
That’s not a one-time showing. Franklin County also led the very first early antlerless season in 2023, with 489 deer (MDC).
How east central Missouri finished
The five counties we work in accounted for 462 deer, about 7% of the statewide harvest.
| County | Antlered | Button bucks | Does | Total | Statewide rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin | 5 | 30 | 169 | 204 | 1 |
| Dent | 0 | 9 | 75 | 84 | 26 |
| Crawford | 0 | 7 | 60 | 67 | 42 |
| Gasconade | 0 | 12 | 49 | 61 | 45 |
| Phelps | 0 | 10 | 36 | 46 | 64 |
| Five counties | 5 | 68 | 389 | 462 | 7.1% of state |
Does made up 84% of the five-county harvest, which is exactly what this season is built to do. For the longer view, my look at five seasons of deer and turkey harvest in the eastern Ozarks lays out full-season totals for the same five counties.
Why the antlerless season matters
Taking does is how a deer herd is actually managed. One buck can breed many does, so buck harvest barely changes next year’s fawn crop. Every doe taken removes her and the fawns she would have raised.
MDC added the early antlerless portion in 2023 for exactly that reason. With deer numbers at desired levels in most counties but continuing to increase, Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle said “additional antlerless harvest is needed to stabilize the deer population” (MDC). Holding it in early October gives hunters a chance to fill antlerless tags before November, when most attention turns to bucks.
For landowners, a herd kept in line with its habitat means more food per deer, healthier does and fawns, and less browse pressure on crops and young timber. If you own hunting ground in this part of Missouri, a steady doe harvest is one of the simplest ways to protect both the land and the quality of the deer on it.
Got more venison than you need? Share the Harvest
If the freezer is already full, MDC’s Share the Harvest program turns your extra deer into meals for Missouri families. Donated venison stays local and goes to area food pantries, and it costs the hunter nothing to donate.
- Harvest and Telecheck your deer as usual, and field dress it.
- Find a participating processor on MDC’s Share the Harvest map.
- Tell the processor whether to donate the whole deer or just the part you don’t need.
- Drop it off and fill out a short form. There’s no fee.
The program has been running since 1992 and brings in roughly 5,000 deer a year, with a goal of 6,500 this season. A single deer provides about 160 meals. You can also give in $5 increments when you buy your permits. It’s run by MDC with the Conservation Federation of Missouri, the Missouri Association of Meat Processors and Feeding Missouri.
Looking for ground of your own?
Franklin, Crawford, Gasconade, Dent and Phelps counties hold good deer and good habitat, and the numbers keep showing it. If you’re looking for hunting land or a farm in east central Missouri, or thinking about selling yours, give me a call, or reach Justin Head at 573.308.7376. Good luck the rest of the season, and if you end up with more venison than you need, consider sharing it.
Thinking about buying or selling land in the eastern Ozarks? I’d be glad to talk.
Ryan Record · 573.259.6360 · ryan.record@whitetailproperties.com