KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri wildlife officials and deer hunters agree on one thing — something has to be done to reverse a continuing drop in deer population in the state.

The Department of Conservation reports Missouri hunters took 251,924 whitetail deer during last hunting season, the lowest total in a decade. In response, the state said hunters in some counties could take only one deer, rather than an unlimited number, during firearms season in the spring.

The Kansas City Star reports (http://bit.ly/1D9jJ2N ) more restrictions are being considered.

Missouri officials blame the drop on an outbreak of hemorrhagic disease and hunting regulations that allowed hunters to take an unlimited number of does in many counties.

Kansas is dealing with a declining population also but the numbers aren’t down as sharply as Missouri’s.