Hunters in northwest Missouri can harvest deer with radio collars

Some white-tailed deer in northwest and southeast Missouri have radio collars and ear tags. They are part of a comprehensive MDC and University of Missouri study about deer population, movements and survival. Hunters may harvest these day if appropriate to seasons and methods, as hunter harvest is a part of the data gathered for the study. Photo courtesy of MDC/Van Ellis — Some white-tailed deer in northwest and southeast Missouri have radio collars and ear tags. Photo courtesy of MDC/Van Ellis

St. Joseph, Mo. – Deer hunters in northwest Missouri are being asked to harvest collared deer this fall that have been part of a five-year study.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is asking hunters harvest these deer wearing radio collars this fall during appropriate seasons with the appropriate methods.

Emily Flinn, MDC deer biologist said the collars are a tool in a five-year study to evaluate white-tailed deer reproduction and movement patterns. She saidnormal harvest of collared deer will make data collected for the study more useful.

“To keep the study accurate to what actually happens to the herd, we don’t want to alter what happens during deer hunting season,” Flinn said. “If a hunter sees a collared deer that they could legally, and would normally, harvest, they should still do so, even if it’s wearing a collar.”

MDC crews last winter captured and placed radio collars and ear tags on about 90 deer at locations scattered throughout Nodaway, Gentry, Andrew and DeKalb counties. Then the deer were immediately released. Similar research is underway in a study area in the southern Missouri Ozarks. The tracking collars regularly transmit each deer’s location using Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology. Computers then help biologists collect and analyze the data. More deer will be collared starting in early January.

This study is one of the most comprehensive deer research projects conducted in Missouri, Flinn said. Data collected will aid biologists in years to come with applications to population models and disease management protocols. MDC utilizes several sources of data to monitor Missouri’s deer population. This study includes monitoring bucks and does of all ages throughout the year. The study includes collecting data on deer mortality, whether by natural causes or hunter harvest.

In addition to normal checking procedures, MDC asks hunters to call the phone number on the collar or small ear tag to report that they harvested a collared deer.

This study is a cooperative partnership with the University of Missouri at Columbia and is funded with assistance from the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Funds.