The Missouri Department of Conservation has scheduled public meetings for next month to receive input on proposed changes to the state's deer hunting regulations next season.
A March 3 meeting is scheduled in Springfield, and one in West Plains will take place on March 5.
MDC also welcomes public comments online.
Changes include:
- Maintaining the current timing of the November portion but reducing the length from 11 to nine days.
- Expanding the late youth firearms weekend from two days to three days and having it begin the Friday after Thanksgiving instead of early January.
- Reducing the length of the antlerless firearms portion from 12 days to three days and beginning it on the first Friday in December.
- Eliminating the urban zones portion.
Changes proposed for the fall archery deer and turkey season:
- Allowing crossbows as a legal method
- Reducing the limit of antlered deer during the archery season from two to one.
The proposed regulation changes are a result of public input and MDC deer management research and practices.
MDC will hold a public meeting on March 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. at its Springfield Conservation Nature Center, 4601 S. Nature Center Way.
On March 5, MDC will hold a public meeting from 5 to 8 p.m. at the West Plains Civic Center, 110 St. Louis St.
