Deer season unofficially begins in July when hunters who want to participate in the managed hunts offered throughout the state must apply for the opportunity. Other hunters would do well to get a copy of the annual regulations booklet, which is now available online and wherever permits are sold.
The managed hunt application process is open through July 31. With more than 100 options to consider, it requires some study to make an informed choice of the one hunt to try. Hunters who apply, but do not get selected, earn preference points to improve their chances for future drawings.
None of the managed hunts are in Jefferson County, but there are several to consider in neighboring counties if you base your choices on proximity to home. Because managed hunts are utilized for deer population control, St. Louis County has the most. A muzzleloader hunt is planned at Robertsville State Park in Franklin County, and a modern firearms hunt is scheduled at St. Joe State Park in St. Francois County.
The most interesting opportunities are archery hunts at several St. Louis County parks, including Jefferson Barracks where the abundant deer have quite a reputation for their numbers. Creve Coeur, Greensfelder, McDonnell and Queeny parks also will invite bow-and-arrow hunters to help thin the herd.
The number of hunters selected for each hunt range from five at McDonnell Park to 45 at Greensfelder, but what really makes a difference is how many people apply. Last year 389 applied for Creve Coeur, 205 for Greensfelder, 256 at Queeny, and 997 took a shot at getting picked for 20 spots at Jefferson Barracks.
Hunters can take up to three deer during the 25-day season in the county park program from Oct. 21 through November 15, but they must check-in at least one antlerless deer before they can harvest an antlered buck. Selected hunters must attend a mandatory pre-hunt orientation to participate.
Other archery hunting opportunities of interest in St. Louis County – for their potential and proximity to Jefferson County – include three, week-long hunts at Fabick Nature Preserve near Fenton; two, two-week seasons at the massive Columbia Bottoms area at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, and five different events at Rockwoods Range and Rockwoods Reservation near Eureka.
Muzzleloader hunting opportunities, like the one mentioned above at Robertsville, are also offered at Babler and Castlewood State Parks and Forest 44 Conservation Area. Last year 36 hunters took 44 deer in the hunt at Robertsville State Park.
Most interesting and most challenging is a hunt at Pelican Island in north St. Louis County. Those 2,200-plus acres are usually only accessible by boat. There were 219 applicants for 80 spots last year, and 44 deer were harvested in the three-day hunt.
There was not a modern firearms hunt at St. Joe State Park last year, but a similar event was held at nearby St. Francois State Park in 2023. The two-day hunt on Nov. 9 and 10 this year will allow 30 hunters to take up to three deer each, but two antlerless deer have to be checked in, before taking an antlered deer. Difficult weather conditions can spoil a two-day hunt pretty easily. Forty-eight hunters harvested only nine deer at St. Francois last year.
The program also has managed hunts for youth, people who have never hunted, and for anyone who is required to use a wheelchair. The application process is online at the state Department of Conservation website. Managed hunt statistics including the numbers of people who apply and their success rates, can also be found at mdc.mo.gov. All of the hunts are outlined in the annual 2024 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information booklet.
John Winkelman has been writing about outdoors news and issues in Jefferson County for more than 30 years and was the Associate Editor for Outdoor Guide Magazine.
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