The great outdoors: Archery deer season opens in Bootheel

JEFFERSON CITY — This weekend marks the official start of the whitetail deer archery season here in the Bootheel.

The first portion of the season will run through Nov. 11. There is a second hunting period from Nov. 23-Jan. 15, 2024.

White-tailed deer are typically reddish-brown to tan, with winter colors grayish to grayish brown. The white tail resembles a flag as the deer bounds across openings in the woods.

Hunting is allowable from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.

The limit is two deer of either sex, and one only antlered deer may be taken before Nov. 11. Only two antlered deer may be taken during the archery and firearms seasons combined, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation’s website.

Hunters will need an archer’s hunting permit.

The following hunting methods are allowed: use of longbows, compound bows and recurve bows of any weight, crossbows, hand-held string-releasing devices, illuminated sights or scopes and altatls.

There are several other specialized deer hunting seasons listed below:

Youth firearms: Oct. 29-30, Nov. 25-27

Antlerless firearms: Dec. 3-11

Firearms, alternative methods: Dec. 24-Jan. 3, 2024

Firearms: Nov. 12-22