After 5: All A-Quiver for Whitetails

Aaron Jeffreys has hunted his whole life, or at least, "ever since I was old enough that my dad would let me shoot something," he says.

In his early hunting years, he was interested in shooting just about any game out there, but in high school he discovered bow hunting.

"I don't even hunt with my rifle anymore," Jeffreys says. He likes that bow hunting is a more challenging way to hunt, and he also said it feels safer.

"I don't think I'm going to get shot or anything," he adds.

Jeffreys was delighted when he heard from an O'Reilly Automotive co-worker about the Fellows Lake Managed Archery Deer Hunt, managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation on about 1,230 acres of City Utilities-owned land near Fellows Lake. The hunt began Nov. 1 and continues through Dec. 31, and Jeffreys got one of only 25 permits issued.

"I thought it'd be kind of fun to be one of the first ones to hunt in there legally ... and try to do a managed hunt like that," he says.

Francis Skalicky, metro media specialist with MDC, says the department had fielded complaints about problems in that area, including increased deer-vehicle accidents and property damage caused by deer. A survey revealed there are about 44 deer per square mile in that region, compared to a statewide average of 22.

Because the Fellows Lake land has been off-limits to hunting, the deer population has faced no threat to growth, Skalicky says.

There are no predators - "we may have a roving mountain lion, but nothing that will affect the deer numbers," he adds - and food is abundant.

Skalicky notes, though, that there are downsides to a thriving deer population.

"Habitat is a finite resource, food runs out, disease is passed more easily from one to the next ... (overcrowding) ends up not to the benefit of the deer," Skalicky says.

There's also the threat to human life and property.

An Oct. 21 report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol shows there were 3,603 traffic crashes caused statewide by deer strikes last year, meaning one deer strike occurred every 2.4 hours. Two people were killed and 336 injured.

A Sept. 28 report issued by State Farm Insurance shows deer-vehicle collisions are up 18.3 percent nationwide over the last five years, with an average property damage cost of $3,050. That same report estimated that the average Missouri driver has a 1 in 140 chance of hitting a deer this year.

The goal of the Fellows Lake managed hunt is to reduce the herd by 50 antlerless deer.

"With an average of 44 deer per square mile, 50 females isn't going to hurt the viewing opportunities for anybody out there," Skalicky says.

While the hunt is the first of its kind in the Springfield metropolitan area, it is by no means the first in the state. Managed hunts are held annually in the Kansas City, St. Louis and Columbia areas.

Several steps were taken to ensure public and hunter safety for the duration of the hunt. Each of the 25 hunters, who are allowed to take two antlerless deer, is assigned to a specific zone in the hunting area. All zones, which are scattered throughout the property, are well away from public access areas.

In addition, hunters whose names were drawn for the permits were required to attend an Oct. 10 pre-hunt orientation that covered the lay of the land in addition to safety, Skalicky says.

"These hunters probably already knew that, but it never hurts to remind them what good bow-hunting safety is," Skalicky adds.

Jeffreys says the rules for this hunt differ somewhat from traditional bow-hunting season, citing the mandatory use of tree stands and cleanup rules if a hunter is fortunate enough to claim a deer.

Jeffreys has yet to bag a deer, but he's not alone. Skalicky says as of early November, only two deer had been taken.

Jeffreys is not deterred. "It's more challenging," he says. "You've gotta play the wind right - there's that many more deer coming in on you, more noses to smell you and eyes to see you."

He's only made it out to the managed hunt site twice, but he plans to spend more time at the Fellows Lake hunting area as the season progresses.

"I was just excited because of all the deer numbers that I've heard," Jeffreys says. "It's just exciting hunting a new place you've never hunted before."