From the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel, Charles Carroll, 97 of Harrisonville, formerly of Butler passed away Friday, December 2nd at his home. Funeral services are pending and will be announced by the Schowengerdt Funeral Chapel at a later time.

MDC sets deer and turkey hunting dates and proposed deer regulation changes for 2023-2024 seasons

Some counties will have two new firearms deer-season portions and additional antlerless permits.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) recently set turkey and deer hunting dates for the 2023-2024 seasons along with regulation changes for the 2023-2024 deer-hunting season. The regulation changes include a new firearms early antlerless portion, a new firearms CWD portion, and changes to firearms antlerless permit numbers in most counties. The hunting dates and regulation changes were approved by the Missouri Conservation Commission at its Dec. 2 open meeting in Jefferson City.

“The changes to deer hunting regulations for the 2023-2024 deer season were motivated by increasing deer numbers throughout much of Missouri and in response to changes in the distribution of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the state,” said MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle. “With a growing deer population in most Missouri counties, we’re increasing opportunities for hunters to harvest deer both within and outside of the CWD Management Zone next year.”

2023-2024 Hunting Dates

2023 Spring and Fall Turkey Hunting Dates

• Spring Youth Portion: April 1 – 2
• Regular Spring Turkey Season: April 17 through May 7
• Fall Firearms Turkey Season: Oct. 1 – 31

2023 – 2024 Archery Deer and Turkey Hunting Dates

• 15 through Nov. 10 and Nov. 22 through Jan. 15, 2024

2023 – 2024 Firearms Deer Hunting Dates

• New! Firearms Early Antlerless Portion: Oct. 6-8 (in open counties)
• Firearms Early Youth Portion: Oct. 28-29
• Firearms November Portion: Nov. 11-21
• New! Firearms CWD Portion: Nov. 22-26 (in open counties)
• Firearms Late Youth Portion: Nov. 24-26
• Firearms Late Antlerless Portion: Dec. 2-10 (in open counties)
• Firearms Alternative Methods Portion: Dec. 23 – Jan. 2, 2024

New Firearms Early Antlerless Portion Oct. 6-8

MDC will offer a new firearms early antlerless portion Oct. 6-8 for 2023 in the same 100 counties open for the firearms late antlerless portion Dec. 2-10. Get regulation details and a map of open counties from the MDC website at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/regulation-changes-2023-24-deer-season

“With deer populations being at desired levels in most counties but continuing to increase, additional antlerless harvest is needed to stabilize deer numbers,” said Isabelle. “The creation of an early antlerless portion of firearms deer season and increasing the availability of antlerless permits in most counties will provide hunters with more opportunities to harvest antlerless deer and help meet our deer-management goals.”

According to MDC, firearms antlerless seasons that occur prior to the primary firearms season are not uncommon and several Midwestern states have established similar season portions.

“The early antlerless portion will help to increase antlerless deer harvest prior to the November portion of firearms season when the focus of many hunters is on harvesting a buck,” said Isabelle. “The timing of the early antlerless portion was designed to occur when weather conditions are generally comfortable and during a time that will minimize conflict with archery hunters, who spend the most time hunting during late October and early November as the rut approaches.”

New Firearms CWD Portion Nov. 22-26

MDC will offer a CWD portion of firearms deer season Nov. 22-26 in CWD Management Zone counties during the 2023-2024 deer season. Get regulation details and a map of open counties from the MDC website at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/regulation-changes-2023-24-deer-season

According to MDC, hunters will be able to use any unfilled firearms deer permits during the CWD portion and must abide by the statewide limit of one antlered deer during the firearms deer season, all portions combined. They must also abide by county-specific firearms antlerless permit numbers.

“Like they are in most of the state, deer populations are increasing in most CWD Management Zone counties,” said Isabelle. “Because higher deer densities can increase the rate of CWD spread, additional deer harvest in the CWD Management Zone is needed to prevent further increases in deer numbers and help minimize the spread of the disease.”

He added that the timeframe of the CWD portion was selected because it occurs during the tail end of the primary rut, or breeding season, when deer activity is typically high and when hunter interest remains strong.

“When looking for the best time to provide hunters with more opportunity in CWD Management Zone counties, we considered a number of factors including the potential for good deer movement, level of hunter interest, and potential conflict with other hunters,” said Isabelle. “The late November timeframe avoids peak archery hunting weeks and occurs during a time when deer movement is generally good, and when hunters are eager to be in the woods.” 

Changes to Firearms Antlerless Permit Numbers

MDC has also increased the number of firearms antlerless permits hunters can fill in most counties, including allowing hunters to fill a firearms antlerless permit in Butler, Carter, Scott, and Wayne counties. MDC has also increased the number of firearms antlerless permits from two to four in 82 counties.

“Prior to 2014, firearms antlerless permit numbers were unlimited in 74 counties,” said Isabelle. “However, following the severe hemorrhagic disease outbreak that occurred throughout much of the state in 2012, we became much more conservative with firearms antlerless permit numbers to allow the deer population to rebound.”

He noted the deer population has steadily increased during the last decade, necessitating the liberalization of antlerless harvest opportunities to slow population growth and keep the deer population at desired levels.

Get regulation details and a list and map of allowed antlerless permit numbers by county from the MDC website at mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/species/deer/regulation-changes-2023-24-deer-season

Detailed information on the new firearms early antlerless portion, the new firearms CWD portion, and changes to firearms antlerless permit numbers by county will also be included in the MDC 2023 Fall Deer & Turkey Regulations and Information booklet, available starting in July where permits are sold and online at mdc.mo.gov.

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The Community Food Pantry located at 709 West Ohio Street in Butler, announces its hours of service.  92.1 would like to share this information with the public.

 The Community Food Pantry is open for food distribution on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only. The hours are 8:15 am until 4:00 pm. The Food Pantry in Butler is closed for the lunch hour, between 11:30 and 12:30.

Admission to the grocery isles inside the pantry is not an option as of today, Those using this service stay in the automobiles. Volunteers go to the vehicles taking orders for the need of the family. the food is gathered and stored until they move to the front of the line at the dock, where they pick up their food. . The pantry feeds over 40 to 60 families per day. The volunteers working in this system are an average age of 60 or over. It takes the donations of the community to continue to provide this amount of food for those in need in our community.

If your church or organization would like to donate to the Butler Community Food Pantry, they appreciate cash donations or donated food items. There is a need for other items besides food, including personal hygiene products, diapers, and wipes, toothpaste and toothbrushes, toilet paper. and other daily essentials.

Your donations may be taken to the loading dock at the back of the building any day they are open. The     Butler Community Food Pantry does have walk-in coolers and freezer space for storing meat, milk, and butter.

To reach the Butler Community Food Pantry, call 660-679-3951, that number again 660-679-3951. Now open Tuesday and Wednesday only. Open by appointment only on Monday and Thursday.