Free workshops teach hunters, landowners about deer management

COLUMBIA, Mo. – A series of free workshops around the state in August and September will help landowners, hunters and others manage private land for deer.

“The white-tailed deer is one of Missouri’s most valuable natural resources,” said Bob Pierce, University of Missouri Extension wildlife specialist. Deer hunting contributes about $1.1 billion annually to the state and local economies and supports more than 12,000 jobs in Missouri.

A new series of MU Extension publications developed with the Missouri Department of Conservation will serve as part of the workshop’s curriculum, Pierce said. The publications are available for free download at www.extension.missouri.edu/deer.

Deer management is an important topic because private landowners and hunters are the primary stewards of Missouri’s 1.4 million deer, he said.

“Missouri is a great place to hunt and private landowners are the key,” said Emily Flinn, resource scientist and deer biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, which is sponsoring the five workshops. “More than 90 percent of land in Missouri is privately owned, so we work with and for private landowners to help them create and manage their land for deer. Managing private land for deer also benefits a variety of other wildlife.”

Workshop topics will include white-tailed deer ecology; quality deer management opportunities; improving habitat for deer and other wildlife; developing a deer-management plan; estimating deer numbers and aging deer; using camera surveys and other data; and antler growth and breeding behavior. There also will be sessions on cost-share opportunities that are available.

Workshops will be held at the following locations:

Springfield: Saturday, Aug. 11, 8 a.m.-noon, MDC Springfield Conservation Nature Center, 4601 S. Nature Center Way. To register, call 417-895-6880.

Columbia: Saturday, Aug. 18, 8 a.m.-noon, University of Missouri Bradford Research and Extension Center, 4968 Rangeline Road. To register, call 573-875-5540, ext. 3.

St. Joseph: Saturday, Sept. 8, noon-4 p.m., Missouri Western State University Kemper Recital Hall in Spratt Hall, 4525 Downs Drive. To register, call 816-271-3100.

Cape Girardeau: Wednesday, Sept. 12, 6-9:30 p.m., MDC Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center, 2289 County Park Drive. To register, call 573-290-5218.

St. Louis: Saturday, Sept. 22, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (lunch provided), MDC Powder Valley Nature Center, 11715 Cragwold Road in Kirkwood. To register, call 636-528-4877, ext. 3.

For more information on managing private land for deer and other wildlife, contact your MU Extension Center or www.extension.missouri.edu.  Also contact your local MDC office in your area, and visit www.mdc.mo.gov and search “deer management.”