Deer hunting camps a favorite among hunters

Brothers Jeff Mahan, left, Bolivar, and Phillip Mahan, Pleasant Hope, who have been deer hunting together for more than 30 years,wait out the rain in the campground. (Photo by Ken White/special to the Daily Mail)

The 2015 firearm November portion brought out a lot of deer hunters across Missouri last Saturday. The opening day usually finds at least a quarter of the deer harvested during the 11-day season. The chances of a hunter getting a deer on any other day after the opening weekend falls off dramatically.

Missouri deer hunters took 91,171 deer during the weekend with 53,359 antlered bucks, 10,320 button bucks and 33,492 doe. During last years opening weekend, hunters took 92,460 deer. The top counties this year were Texas with 2,184 deer checked followed by Howell with 1,959. There were four hunting related accidents over the weekend, all self-inflicted. One in Howard County, one in Newton and two in Butler County.

Jim Harper, Carthage, said, "Before the season opened I saw more deer than I had seen in the past several years, so I expected to see a lot of deer taken during the firearm season. On my way to town last week, I had a nice 10-point buck run across the highway in front of me and my neighbor hit a doe that same day. I know there are a lot of deer out there."

Nick Jarosz, Joplin, with his six-point buck he shot in Dade County over the weekend. Dade County is a non-antler restriction county for deer hunters. (Ken White/Daily Mail)

Two brothers, Phillip Mahan, Pleasant Hope and Jeff Mahan, Bolivar, have been hunting together for more than 35 years. They had their deer camp set up before the opening of the season and have seen deer, but were not able to get a good shot.

On Monday morning they were the only campers at the campground and Phillip said, "We plan on hunting all week if it takes that long before we score. Usually we get at least one good buck during the firearm season. We both enjoy being in the deer woods and close to nature. Having a deer camp makes it even more enjoyable, even in the rain."

Deer hunting camps are a big part of the hunt for many hunters. Paul Davis, Blue Springs, once told me that if he didn't get a deer he still looked forward to being in camp because of the atmosphere and all the stories, true or not, were a big part of the season. Davis recalled one such camp near Ava in Douglas County. He said, " There were 10 hunters in camp who had been hunting together for years. All of them looked forward to the season no matter what the weather. One year all 10 hunters got their deer, but the next year not a one of them scored. In fact, near the end of the week they gave up hunting and went fishing at Lake Norfolk and caught lots of crappie and went home happy."

The rain early in the week of deer season drowned out the footsteps of hunters as well as cut down on the noise that dry branches make giving hunters a muted sound as they walk. Bob Rodgers, Joplin, was scouting for deer, but was discouraged to not see any game except squirrels until he was nearly back to his truck. Then he took a double take as a b ig buck that had been standing next to a big oak tree suddenly bolted away with his white flag flying high in the air. Rodgers said, " That buck took four jumps and was out of sight in seconds. Had I been hunting, I don't think I could have gotten a shot off quick enough to get that deer."

Four Springfield hunters, Mike Merenghi, Robert O'quinn, Joel Merenghi and Julian Jackson, set up camp in Dade County on Friday night and started hunting on Saturday morning. Both Jackson 14, and Mike Merenghi shot a deer opening day. For Jackson 14, it was his first deer he had ever shot. The hunters reported seeing a lot of deer over the weekend.

Joel Merenghi said, " I knew the area well because I grew up just about four miles down the road. Its like hunting in my backyard. We also hunt near Rolla."

Nick Jarosz, Joplin, was hunting in Dade County when he shot a six point buck. Since there is no antler restriction in that county, the deer was legal.

The November portion of the firearm season runs through Nov. 24 and the firearm antlerless portion opens on Nov. 25 through Dec. 6. The Alternative Methods portion runs from Dec. 19 to Dec. 29 and the late youth weekend portion is Jan. 2-3.