Report on Missouri's deer herd

[Mudd]

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) continues to receive reports from people around the state of dead deer.

The culprit appears to be hemorrhagic disease (HD), a general term for epizootic hemorrhagic disease and the bluetongue virus.

I heard a report on the radio this morning that over 2,800 dead deer have been reported thus far.

They stated that these deaths were located in "spots" around the state but the overall herd numbers were still in good shape.

I guess if you happen to live in one of the affected areas you can expect to find hunting and killing a deer a little more difficult.

God bless,Mudd

[battman]

They have found a bunch on and around stepdads farm where I do most of my hunting.Thats gonna put a damper on the hunting for awhile.

[Tradcat]

Hey Battman...have you heard any reports about Howard Co. ? (Fayette, Mo.) I'm flying up from Florida on Oct 24th and wanted a heads up... thanks

[battman]

No I sure haven't but you may check with the Mo. Dept. of Conservation.

[awbowman]

It's all over the Midwest guys.  Had buddies go to  Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri this week, and all report lots of dead deer. Nebraska more than others

[Wind D Ranch]

I found a nice 8 point about 3 weeks ago here in the NW part of the state.  I hope we don't lose too many.

[countrygirl]

Sorry to hear it is in the Northwest part of the state.

There are several articles online at the Missouri Department of Conservation.  This is just one of them.  I think the drought seems to be the trigger for this occurring and the midge fly is the carrier.

I was able to read the articles online here. It usually runs August through September and the cold stop will make it decline or stop.

 http://mdc.mo.gov/newsroom/disease-biting-midge-flies-causing-deer-deaths-around-state

[non-typical]

Steve I'm in Howard County about 9 miles south of Fayette. Herd count is down and most of the HD damage I saw was over the previous two years. This year the drought was a bugger for everything. I had deer wading belly deep in my lakes to eat duckweed during the summer. With the rain we have had over the last few weeks some clovers and especially alfalfa has come back strong. This evening from my stand I watched several doe groups concentrating on the clover plots in my bottom ground.
Send me a PM and we can exchange info for when you get here.