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Archery season begins Monday

By GRANT GELLY

Sunday, September 14, 2008

The 2008 Missouri Archery Deer and Turkey season is fast approaching. It won’t be long before cool fall nights will put deer in the rut mode. With a good acorn crop, this fall should prove to be a good season for deer and turkey hunters.

This year’s archery season will again open on September 15 and run until November 14, 2008. Archery season will then take a brief break for firearms season and again be open from November 26 until January 15, 2009. Shooting hours for archers is one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

Valid permits include Resident or Nonresident Archer’s Hunting Permit, Resident or Nonresident Landowner Archer’s Permit, Resident and Nonresident Archery Antlerless Deer Permit, and Resident Landowner Archery Antlerless Deer Permit.

Hunters may purchase and fill any number of Archery Antlerless Deer Hunting Permits in Perry, Ste. Genevieve, and St. Francois counties. Hunters are reminded to immediately tag their harvest and check their deer or turkey by 10:00 pm on the day of harvest.

The season limit is two turkeys and two deer, which may be of either sex, provided that only ONE antlered deer may be taken prior to November 15. Hunters may use a long, recurve, or compound bow of any draw weight. However, prohibited methods include a bow fastened to a stock or other device that maintains the bow in a drawn position, any sight that casts a beam of light on the game, dogs, bait, electronic calls, and electronically activated calls or live decoys. Archers hunting deer or turkey during the archery season may not be in possession of a firearm.

With milder temperatures this summer, hopefully fall is just around the corner. More hunters are injured each year using treestands than by firearms. This can be avoided by using a safety harness at all times. Be cautious when entering treestands with frost on them, as they may be slick. Always tell someone where you plan to hunt before each trip, but don’t get too specific or they may harvest your trophy.