Last year nearly 25,000 hunters applied for almost 6,000 permits to hunt for deer in 143 managed locations in Missouri. The annual application period is open from July 1 through July 31, so now is the time to study the results from previous seasons to determine when and where works best for you.
The Managed Hunts page at mdc.mo.gov includes links to data from previous years, so hunters can review statistics to gauge their opportunities for being selected and for harvesting deer at most locations.
The primary factor in completing an application is that hunters may only choose one hunt. The drawing is conducted through the state Department of Conservation website and accumulates preferences points for those who were not selected in previous years to earn extra chances.
If simply getting picked to participate is success enough, be aware that everyone who applied last year had their names drawn for two archery hunts in Cape Girardeau, one at Caney Mountain Conservation Area, and one at Marais Temps Clair. Applicants also had 100% draw rates for a muzzleloader hunt at Forest 44 Conservation Area and a firearms hunt at Weldon Springs.
Those six events were obvious exceptions among the 143 hunts last year. The most popular opportunities in 2024 were an archery hunt at Jefferson Barracks Park in St. Louis County with 942 applicants for 30 permits, 1,115 people who applied for 75 chances to hunt at Whetstone Creek Conservation Area, and 1,207 hunters who wanted one of 100 spots at Cuivre River State Park.
While earning the chance to hunt is nice, the statistic that may matter most is the success rate for those who participate. Outstanding in last year’s data was the work of five hunters who were selected from among 40 applicants for the archery hunt at McDonnell County Park in St. Louis County. The took home 12 deer in the effort to reduce the population at that small park.
Everyone knows the reputation the park at Jefferson Barracks has for deer density. That is why so many people apply for the 20 permits available just north of the Jefferson County line. Sixteen of the 20 hunters last year harvested 29 deer from the park.
Places like the St. Louis County Parks and Missouri State Parks are included in the conservation department’s managed hunt program to assist with population control. Those options are usually good places to consider for hunters who are interested in putting meat in their freezers. Proximity is also a key consideration.
In addition to the St. Louis County Parks archery hunts, Jefferson County hunters would want to consider regional locations like the August A. Busch Conservation Area in St. Charles County and the Columbia Bottoms Conservation Area at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers in north St. Louis County.
Other nearby hunts include the Fabick Nature Preserve near Fenton, Forest 44 Conservation Area near Valley Park, Rockwoods Range and Rockwoods Reservation near Eureka, Dr. Edmund Babler and Castlewood State Parks in west St. Louis County, Robertsville State Park in Franklin County, and St. Joe State Park in St. Francois County. Last year 22 hunters at St. Joe harvested 51 deer.
The managed deer hunt program also has special events exclusively for youth, disabled hunters, and for women. A beginner category added recently provides hunts for anyone who has never taken a deer in the past to hunt with a mentor. Most hunts have pre-event meetings with mandatory attendance required to participate.
The application is available through July 31 at mdc.mo.gov. Hunters need to review all of their options and hope for the best of luck in finding an opportunity that fits their circumstances. Results are posted online in August.
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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