Deer hunters will have a rare opportunity to harvest a whitetail deer in five Missouri state parks during two weekends in November and December.
The managed deer hunts are taking place to alleviate deer overpopulations. During the hunts, the parks will be closed to everyone except the deer hunters. By law, state parks are established as wildlife refuges and hunting is not permitted except under special circumstances. However, these special hunts are being used as a resource management tool because the deer population is too large for the environment of the park and resources in the park are being damaged.
Special hunts will be conducted at the following parks on the following weekends:
Nov. 19-20 - Pomme de Terre State Park near Pittsburg, including the campground and state park marina (the Hermitage area of the park will remain open).
Dec. 10-11 - Ha Ha Tonka State Park near Camdenton. Knob Noster State Park near Knob Noster. Rock Bridge Memorial State Park near Columbia. And Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and Historic Site near Lawson.
